Buffalo County, Nebraska
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
83
Tornado reports
385
Hail reports
29
Floods since 1996
1,053
All events
6
Deaths
$197.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Buffalo County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 83 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F4 Tornado
After producing tornadoes in the Elm Creek area, this supercell thunderstorm continued on a northward path and produced what would be the strongest and one of two EF3 tornadoes of the day. This tornado touched down approximately 5 miles southwest of Amherst, curving to the north-…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Snowfall totals of 2 to 4 inches were reported across the county.
Freezing drizzle caused area roads to become slick in spots, especially bridges and overpasses. These conditions may have contributed to a fatal accident on Interstate 80 near the Shelton exit in Buffalo county. The driver of a westbound pickup lost control, cross the median, and…
All injuries were minor
Hail up to the size of ping pong balls was reported across Kearney.
There were several reports of hail ranging from 2-4 inch diameter in and near Ravenna. Widespread home siding and window damage was reported. Vehicles sustained damage, including shattered windows and windshields of the town's fire trucks.
Wind gusts estimated to be as high as 80 MPH, tree damage, and power outages occurred along and near this path. The peak measured gust was 68 MPH, recorded at 10:38 PM CDT by a mesonet station located three miles east-southeast of Kearney. Other measured gusts included 66 MPH at …
Wind gusts estimated to up to 80 MPH caused damage in the Kearney area. Around 10 pine trees were blown down, as were a few irrigation pivots. Construction trailers were blown over near Kearney High School and a barn lean-to was damaged on 46th Avenue.
Strong outflow from the parent thunderstorm located to the east of this path produced wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH. There were numerous reports of tree damage in the area, including a large tree limb estimated to be 12 inches in diameter downed and a tree estimated to b…
Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 70 MPH, with a gust of 68 MPH measured 3 miles south of Gibbon. Accompanied by hail up to the size of golf balls, the combination caused significant crop and tree damage in the area, with many fields reduced to stubble with crops determine…
Hail up to the size of golf balls accompanied wind gusts of at least 70 MPH through the area. This combination led to significant tree and crop damage, with many fields reduced to stubble and crops were complete losses. Damage to campers was also reported at the Windmill State Re…
This tornado was the most organized tornado that hit the city of Kearney this night and was the most persistent. It appeared to stay on the ground for the majority of its 22 mile path in Buffalo County. The tornado did exit Buffalo County and entered Hall County. The tornado star…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day. Peak measured wind gusts included 67 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located three miles north-northeast of Kearney, and 59 MPH, measured by the Kearney Airport AWOS.
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by the Kearney Airport AWOS.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located six miles southwest of Boelus.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency management estimated wind gusts near 60 MPH.
Dust Storm Dust Storm
The combination of a passing synoptic cold front and an outflow boundary from convection well to the north produced wind gusts over 50 MPH at times. These wind gusts along with the dry conditions across the area resulted in widespread blowing dust, at times dropping visibility to…
Drought Drought
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Wildfire Wildfire
At approximately 2PM CDT, a wildfire started roughly three miles north-northwest of Riverdale, near the intersection of Dove Hill Road and 133rd Road. Driven by south-southwesterly winds gusting over 40 MPH, this fire quickly spread, burning approximately 700 acres along a 2-3 mi…
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged from around 2 inches in northwestern portions of the county to near 5 inches in the southeast. The highest reported totals included the following: 5.0 inches in Kearney; 2.7 inches in Ravenna; 2.4 inches in Miller. This snow, combined with the strong north…
High Wind High Wind
Wind gusts anywhere from 55 to near 70 MPH were common across the area. The peak measured wind gust for the county was 72 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located six miles south-southeast of Kearney.
High Wind High Wind
The peak measured wind gust was 70 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located six miles south-southeast of Kearney.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 5 inch range, with the highest reported total of 4.5 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Miller.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Some of the coldest wind chills of the event were recorded across the county, including -55 and -49 degrees by mesonets in the Shelton area and -43 degrees by the Kearney Airport AWOS.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county generally ranged from 1 to 4 inches, with the highest totals located across northwestern portions of the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 6 inch range, with the highest reported total of 5.3 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observers in Miller and Kearney.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm total amounts generally in the 2 to 4 inch range were reported across the county.
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile east of Odessa.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 63 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located eight miles south-southwest of Poole.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 50 | 1 |
| 2023 | 46 | 0 |
| 2022 | 62 | 0 |
| 2021 | 28 | 2 |
| 2020 | 30 | 0 |
| 2019 | 38 | 0 |
| 2018 | 33 | 0 |
| 2017 | 33 | 0 |
| 2016 | 11 | 2 |
| 2015 | 27 | 0 |
| 2014 | 41 | 0 |
| 2013 | 36 | 1 |
| 2012 | 23 | 0 |
| 2011 | 54 | 4 |
| 2010 | 19 | 0 |
| 2009 | 25 | 4 |
| 2008 | 28 | 3 |
| 2007 | 25 | 0 |
| 2006 | 22 | 1 |
| 2005 | 33 | 4 |
| 2004 | 22 | 0 |
| 2003 | 14 | 0 |
| 2002 | 23 | 1 |
| 2001 | 23 | 0 |
| 2000 | 20 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 | 25 | 2 |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 |
| 1996 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 7 | 1 |
| 1994 | 15 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 8 | 0 |
| 1991 | 12 | 4 |
| 1990 | 15 | 6 |
| 1989 | 5 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 3 |
| 1985 | 8 | 3 |
| 1984 | 6 | 2 |
| 1983 | 3 | 1 |
| 1982 | 7 | 1 |
| 1981 | 3 | 1 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 8 | 1 |
| 1978 | 11 | 0 |
| 1977 | 13 | 5 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 7 | 2 |
| 1974 | 9 | 2 |
| 1973 | 11 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 2 |
| 1971 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | 1 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 2 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 6 | 5 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 2 | 2 |
| 1963 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | 3 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 2 |
| 1958 | 2 | 2 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Buffalo County, measured to its path.
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