Dakota County, Nebraska
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
8
Tornado reports
100
Hail reports
34
Floods since 1996
511
All events
3
Deaths
$37.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Dakota County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 8 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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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.
Freezing rain overnight and through the morning resulted in ice accumulation of a quarter inch, especially on elevated surfaces, including powerlines. Brief power outages were reported. Snowfall developed later morning and through the afternoon, and accumulated to 3.0 inches at E…
Rainfall amounts across Dakota County from June 20-22 were generally a half inch or less. However, farther north and upstream 6 to 10 plus inches fell across portions of southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa. Record flood waters along the Vermillion and Big Sioux Rivers empti…
Nebraska Highway 26E Spur was closed due to flooding, with water reaching into portions of Ponca. In addition, flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
A tornado completely destroyed at least ten houses and heavily damaged several others. The tornado heavily damaged the town school, including taking most of the roof off the school. The only church in town and a telephone company building were also heavily damaged. Power lines, p…
Hail Hail
A couple stones were as large as a golf ball, but most hail was from dime to quarter size.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 108 degrees at North Sioux City and Sergeant Bluff.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions temporarily improved to moderate (D1) during the first half of June but returned to severe (D2) late month.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions eased briefly to moderate (D1) drought around mid-month before returning to severe (D2) late month.
Drought Drought
Moderate (D1) drought conditions worsened to severe (D2) very late month.
Blizzard Blizzard
Northerly winds gusted as high as 50 mph near Emerson and 45 mph at South Sioux City. During and after a period of snow which totaled 1.5 inches at Emerson, visibility was reduced to one-quarter mile or less at times with blowing snow.
High Wind High Wind
A Nebraska Road Weather Information System site near Emerson recorded sustained winds from 40 to 47 mph at times.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained at 40 to 46 mph near Emerson and gusted as high as 59 mph at South Sioux City.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Sustained winds reached 30 to 32 mph at times with a peak gust of 50 mph at a personal weather station in South Sioux City and 49 mph at a Nebraska Road Weather Information System site 1 mile north of Emerson.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained at times from 40 to 51 mph 1 mile north of Emerson.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.3 inches near Ponca, 5.1 inches 2 miles west-northwest of Jefferson, and 4.2 inches in Sergeant Bluff.
High Wind High Wind
Synoptic northwest winds were occasionally sustained from 40 to 47 mph at a Nebraska Road Weather Information System site 1 mile north of Emerson.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.1 inches at Sergeant Bluff and 1.0 inch at Emerson.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
A long-duration snowfall totaled 5.0 inches 3 miles southwest of Hubbard. During a brief break in snowfall during the evening of November 28, a period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle resulted in a few hundredths of an inch ice accumulation.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained winds reached 40 to 46 mph at a Nebraska Road Weather Information System site 1 mile north of Emerson.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 114 degrees at Dakota City on August 16.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index values peaked as high as 107 degrees near Dakota City.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached an afternoon peak on July 27 as high as 117 degrees near Dakota City and 106 degrees in South Sioux City.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Dangerous heat index readings reached afternoon peaks as high as 105 degrees near Dakota City on July 23.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Daily afternoon and evening heat indices ranged from 105 to 112 degrees with a maximum heat index of 112 degrees at a personal weather station near Dakota City and 106 degrees near Sergeant Bluff on June 20.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained easterly winds reached 40 to 43 mph 1 mile north of Emerson.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totaled 5.0 inches at Sioux City and 2.0 inches at Emerson. Northwest winds gusted between 35 and 50 mph with a peak gust of 55 mph reported by the ASOS at Sioux Gateway Airport (KSUX). The combination of snow and wind resulted in white-out conditions, especially in rura…
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall totaled 3.5 inches at Emerson and 3.0 inches at the Sioux City Airport. Northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 47 mph at times with a few gusts as high as 62 mph near Ponca and 60 mph in Sergeant Bluff. The combination of snow and wind resulted in widespread white-out…
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds were sustained from 40 to 47 mph with a peak gust of 62 mph near Ponca and a peak gust of 60 mph in Sergeant Bluff.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions improved to moderate (D1) late month.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 30 to 35 below zero with 35 below zero observed at the South Dakota Road Weather Information System site near North Sioux City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.0 inches at Emerson.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The lowest wind chills ranged from 30 to 35 below zero with 35 below zero observed at the Iowa Department of Transportation site near Sioux City. The Sioux Gateway Airport (KSUX) near Sioux City reported a minimum wind chill of 32 below zero.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totaled 3.4 inches at Sergeant Bluff and 3.2 inches 2 miles west-northwest of Ponca. Visibility was as low as one-half mile for a brief time.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted through the month.
High Wind High Wind
Winds near Emerson were sustained at times from 40 to 45 mph with gusts over 50 mph.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
A brief period with wind gusts as high as 46 mph occurred at South Sioux City.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought persisted through December.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought persisted through November.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought developed with precipitation 5 to 6 inches below normal since August 1.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Afternoon and early evening heat index values near Dakota City reached as high as 112 degrees on August 25 and 106 degrees on August 26.
Heat Heat
Two-day heat index values peaked very briefly at 106 degrees at a personal weather station near Dakota City.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large tree limbs were downed around South Sioux City, some on top of vehicles or residential structures.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A car was stalled in flood waters along South Ridge Drive near U.S. Highway 77.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 0 |
| 2025 | 24 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 29 | 0 |
| 2022 | 22 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | 21 | 0 |
| 2019 | 19 | 0 |
| 2018 | 17 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 0 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 1 |
| 2013 | 9 | 1 |
| 2012 | 16 | 0 |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 |
| 2010 | 14 | 0 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 12 | 0 |
| 2007 | 14 | 0 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 |
| 2005 | 11 | 0 |
| 2004 | 16 | 0 |
| 2003 | 16 | 0 |
| 2002 | 15 | 0 |
| 2001 | 22 | 1 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 | 9 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 17 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 11 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Dakota County, measured to its path.
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