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Tornado in Nowata County, Oklahoma
43 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 43 tornado events in Nowata County, Oklahoma, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 24 years.
April is the busiest month, with 12 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 5,054 tornado events recorded in Oklahoma; its 7.6 per 100 square miles compares with 7.4 statewide.
By rating: 15 at (E)F0, 16 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 5 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Oklahoma
| Measure | Nowata County | Oklahoma | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 43 | 5,054 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.6 | 7.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 46.2 | 12.7 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 364 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
0Mar
6Apr
12May
11Jun
5Jul
1Aug
0Sep
0Oct
2Nov
2Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 43 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Nov 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 30 Jan 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jan 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $75K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1981 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 23 May 1981 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 18 Mar 1979 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1961 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 1959 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1958 | Tornado | — | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1956 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1956 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Nowata County had?
43 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Nowata County?
4 Nov 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Nowata County?
The tornado of 23 May 1981, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Nowata County compare with Oklahoma for tornado?
7.6 events per 100 square miles against 7.4 statewide; the county holds 43 of the state's 5,054 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.