Merrick County, Nebraska
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
25
Tornado reports
194
Hail reports
18
Floods since 1996
574
All events
2
Deaths
$27.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Merrick County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 25 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.
Snowfall totals of 2 to 4 inches were reported across the county. A local newspaper reported that 2 teenagers were killed in a car accident near Silver Creek, and officials said slick roads contributed to the accident.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day. The peak measured wind gust was 58 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located two miles south-southeast of Central City.
Drought Drought
Hail Hail
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
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged anywhere from 3 to 5 inches. The highest reported totals included 4.5 inches from Central City. This snow, combined with the strong northerly winds, resulted in widespread white-out conditions.
High Wind High Wind
Wind gusts anywhere from 55 to near 70 MPH were common across the area, based off of surrounding observations.
High Wind High Wind
The peak measured wind gust was 62 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located two miles southwest of Chapman.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Transient bands of at times heavier snow combined with strong north-northwest winds gusting over 50 MPH at times resulted in brief periods of near-blizzard conditions due to snow squalls. Overall snowfall amounts were less than one inch.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 3 to 5 inch range, with the highest reported total of 5.0 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Central City.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Some of the coldest wind chills of the event were recorded across the county, including -44 degrees by a Nebraska Mesonet station located three miles west of Central City and -37 degrees by a mesonet station located near Palmer.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county generally ranged from 1 to 4 inches, with the highest totals located across northeastern portions of the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range, with the highest reported total of 3.0 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Central City.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm total amounts generally ranging from a trace to 3 inches were reported across the county.
High Wind High Wind
A peak gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles south-southeast of Central City.
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 65 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located two miles south-southeast of Central City. Tree damage was reported in Central City, including a few larger downed branches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Clarks.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Based on radar estimation and various measured totals from NWS/NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, widespread rainfall of 2-6 inches fell across mainly the northern half of the county (highest totals far north) mainly between 7:30 p.m. CDT on the 21st and 1 a.m. CDT on the 22nd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts estimated to be near 75 MPH resulted in tree and crop damage in the area, as well as flipped irrigation pivots. Power outages were reported in the area, and trees were reported down in Clarks. A wind gust of 70 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles w…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 67 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles northeast of Clarks.
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 …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts estimated to be near 65 MPH resulted in some power pole damage four miles west of Archer. Power outages were also reported in the Central City and Palmer areas.
Drought Drought
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Measured and estimated snowfall totals ranged from a trace to 3 inches.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Winter Weather Winter Weather
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
A Nebraska Mesonet site located three miles west of Central City recorded wind chills of -41 at 11:50 AM on January 13th and -41 at 2:10 AM on January 14th.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow amounts of 7 to 12 inches fell across the county. A total of 7.1 inches was measured by the NWS Cooperative Observer located one mile west of Orleans. Social media reports of an estimated 10 to 11 inches came from the Palmer area and an estimated 7 inches from the Worms area…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 10 inches across the county, partially based off totals from surrounding counties. A local total of 9.0 inches was reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located in Central City.
Drought Drought
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts of mainly 3-6 inches blanketed the county, based primarily on nearby observations. Totals of 4-6 inches were reported via both social media and by the NWS Cooperative Observer in Central City.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Heat Heat
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree damage was reported in the area, including downed limbs which damaged a home, and a power pole was also damaged.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 13 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 1 |
| 2023 | 22 | 1 |
| 2022 | 23 | 1 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | 19 | 1 |
| 2019 | 14 | 0 |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 10 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 |
| 2013 | 19 | 0 |
| 2012 | 12 | 0 |
| 2011 | 30 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 | 0 |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 16 | 0 |
| 2005 | 17 | 0 |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 |
| 2003 | 22 | 0 |
| 2002 | 14 | 0 |
| 2001 | 16 | 4 |
| 2000 | 13 | 1 |
| 1999 | 14 | 2 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 15 | 0 |
| 1996 | 6 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 8 | 1 |
| 1992 | 6 | 3 |
| 1991 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | 4 | 3 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 9 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 7 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 4 | 0 |
| 1979 | 4 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 | 9 | 1 |
| 1973 | 6 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2 | 0 |
| 1968 | 7 | 1 |
| 1967 | 4 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | 5 | 0 |
| 1963 | 3 | 0 |
| 1961 | 5 | 0 |
| 1960 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | 6 | 1 |
| 1958 | 4 | 0 |
| 1957 | 5 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Merrick County, measured to its path.
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