Howard 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.
45
Tornado reports
234
Hail reports
22
Floods since 1996
621
All events
0
Deaths
$66.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Howard County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 44 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
Initially narrow, this tornado started south of Farwell with eyewitness reports, and would eventually turn into a large, EF3-rated tornado. The tornado moved across rural areas north of Farwell, causing tree damage and overturning center irrigation pivots. As the tornado emerged …
Tornado F3 Tornado
Hail ranging from the size of quarters to at least the size of baseballs was reported in and around St. Paul. There were numerous reports of vehicle damage, along with window, siding, and gutter damage to homes. A local greenhouse had 21 roof panels destroyed.
Tornado touched down just northeast of Ashton. Two center pivots were destroyed. A house roof, barn and grain bins were damaged. Tornado was last seen two miles west of Coatsville.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day based on surrounding observations.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall ranging from 1 to 4 inches fell across the county.
Drought Drought
Tornado EFU Tornado
This tornado was seen by local storm spotters approximately four miles west-northwest of St. Paul, who took a brief video of the tornado. No damage was documented with this tornado.
High Wind High Wind
Northwest winds with sustained speeds near 40 MPH and gusts near 50-60 MPH were common across the county during the afternoon hours.
Drought Drought
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged from around 2 inches in northwestern portions of the county to near 5 inches in the far southeast. The highest reported totals included the following: 4.7 inches from three miles west of Elba; 4.4 inches from St. Paul; 4.0 inches from St. Libory. This snow…
High Wind High Wind
Wind gusts anywhere from 55 to near 70 MPH were common across the area, based off of surrounding observations.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall amounts generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches across the county.
High Wind High Wind
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 3 to 5 inch range, with the highest reported total of 4.0 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in St. Paul.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county generally ranged from 1 to 3 inches.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range, with the highest reported total of 3.7 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in St. Paul.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm total amounts generally in the 1 to 3 inch range were reported across the county.
High Wind High Wind
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles southwest of St. Libory.
Drought Drought
Hail Hail
Flood Flood
Based on radar estimation and various totals from NWS/NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, widespread rainfall of 3-6 inches (localized 7+ inches) fell across most of the county mainly between 7 p.m. CDT on the 21st and 12:30 a.m. CDT on the 22nd. A river gage along the Turkey Creek north …
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Based on radar estimation and various totals from NWS/NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, widespread rainfall of 3-6 inches (localized 7+ inches) fell across most of the county mainly between 7 p.m. CDT on the 21st and 12:30 a.m. CDT on the 22nd. A river gage along the Turkey Creek north …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts estimated to be near 60 MPH resulted in tree damage in St. Paul.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Radar estimates and local reports showed that between 2 and 5 inches of rain fell across the area, mostly in a period of two hours from approximately 7AM to 9AM. The highest amounts occurred in central and west-central portions of Howard County. Emergency management and law enfor…
Flood Flood
Following the 2 to 5 inches that fell across the area on the 30th, another round of showers and thunderstorms brought an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain to the area during the early afternoon hours of the 31st. Numerous rural roads remained closed, and some bridges were washed o…
Tornado EF1 Tornado
This EF1 rated tornado started in extreme eastern Howard County and ended in extreme southern Nance County, with most of its time spent in Merrick County north-northeast of Palmer. There were several spots of tree damage along its roughly 7 mile path. The most significant damage …
Tornado EFU Tornado
A fairly visible landspout touched down four miles of St. Paul. No damage occurred with this tornado, timing and location was approximated from reports and video.
Hail Hail
Tornado EF2 Tornado
Through a roughly 10 minute process, during which the parent supercell did not move much, a fourth tornado formed in northern Howard County before crossing into Greeley County. This tornado was rated an EF2 with estimated peak wind speeds of 135 MPH based upon metal power pole da…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
An eyewitness, who provided photos, times, and detailed locations, documented a short-lived tornado south of Farwell in Howard County. This tornado occurred just prior to the development of the tornado which eventually passed near Elba. Along its curvy path, this nearly three mil…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Minor outbuilding damage was reported three miles west of Dannebrog.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. A trampoline was blown onto the roof of a home.
Blizzard Blizzard
Measured and estimated snowfall totals ranged from 3 to 7 inches.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Any additional snowfall during this period was light. A reinforcing push of northerly winds gusting between 35 and 45 MPH resulted in blowing and drifting of the snowfall from the 11-12th, causing poor visibility and hazardous conditions through the daytime hours on the 13th.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill values of -30 to -45 were common mainly on the 13th-14th, based on area observations.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 1 |
| 2024 | 24 | 5 |
| 2023 | 18 | 0 |
| 2022 | 27 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | 17 | 0 |
| 2018 | 9 | 0 |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 26 | 0 |
| 2013 | 25 | 1 |
| 2012 | 22 | 0 |
| 2011 | 21 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 1 |
| 2007 | 9 | 0 |
| 2006 | 18 | 0 |
| 2005 | 26 | 0 |
| 2004 | 28 | 5 |
| 2003 | 19 | 1 |
| 2002 | 18 | 1 |
| 2001 | 15 | 0 |
| 2000 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 3 |
| 1998 | 16 | 0 |
| 1997 | 21 | 0 |
| 1996 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | 12 | 0 |
| 1994 | 14 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | 7 | 2 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 9 | 2 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 4 | 1 |
| 1987 | 4 | 0 |
| 1986 | 8 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 4 |
| 1982 | 4 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 0 |
| 1979 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 1 |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 | 2 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 3 | 3 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 2 | 2 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Howard County, measured to its path.
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