Polk 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.
38
Tornado reports
140
Hail reports
19
Floods since 1996
524
All events
0
Deaths
$96.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Polk County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 37 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 F5 Tornado
The second EF3 tornado of the day touched down approximately 4 miles east of Polk and continued north for nearly 10 miles before lifting approximately 6 miles west-northwest of Osceola. Damage was noted right at the start of the path, with a brick home on Highway 66 west of Polk …
A strong tornado entered Polk County from Hamilton County.
Tornado touched down four miles south of Blue Hill in northern Webster county. Two farm homes, and outbuildings were damaged. Two 12,00 bushel grain bins were destroyed. The tornado moved north into southeast Adams county, where it damaged 75 to 100 homes in Ayr and Pauline. It t…
Six employees working on the construction of a new grain elevator on the northeastern fringe of Shelby were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries when lightning struck the structure.
Blowing dust was caused by outflow winds, estimated to be around 50mph, from a nearby thunderstorm. This occurred about 3 miles east of Shelby.
Drought Drought
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day based on surrounding observations.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail up to quarter size was reported, was accompanied by wind gusts near 60 MPH.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH, accompanied by quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
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
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Minor damage was reported to roof and farm equipment.
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 59 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located eight miles east of Silver Creek.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged anywhere from 3 to 5 inches. The highest reported totals included the following: 6.5 inches from Osceola; 6.0 from Polk; 5.7 from three miles northeast of Shelby; 5.5 from one mile east of Stromsburg. This snow, combined with the strong northerly winds, re…
High Wind High Wind
The peak measured wind gust was 58 MPH, recorded by a mesonet station located three miles northeast of Shelby.
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 2 to 5 inch range, with the highest reported total of 4.7 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located three miles northeast of Shelby.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county generally ranged from 1 to 4 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 3.5 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Polk.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Storm total amounts generally ranging from a trace to 3 inches were reported across the county.
Drought Drought
Tornado EFU Tornado
A brief touchdown occurred in rural northern Polk County, causing no damage. Location was approximated from radar data and a photo provided by a deputy.
Flood Flood
Based on radar estimation and various totals from NWS/NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, widespread rainfall of 2.50-4.50 inches fell across mainly the northern half of the county mainly between 10 p.m. CDT on the 21st and 3 a.m. CDT on the 22nd. Among the known impacts, Davis Creek floo…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NWS COOP Observer estimated 60 MPH winds that downed some tree limbs in town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 74 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles east-southeast of Osceola.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A brief EF0 rated tornado skirted its way across northern Polk County in the early morning hours of May 21st. The tornado damaged trees, downed power lines and poles, and overturned several irrigation pivots. The peak wind was estimated to be 80 MPH.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 60 MPH. Scattered tree limbs were downed across town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The roof was blown off of a building used for 190 head of cattle...unfortunately one died and a few others were injured. Other outbuildings at the farmstead suffered minor damage. Wind gusts were estimated to have been near 75 MPH.
Drought Drought
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Measured and estimated snowfall totals ranged from a trace to 1 inch. Freezing drizzle mainly on the evening of the 25th resulted in some slick roads.
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
Wind chill values of -30 to -45 were common mainly on the 13th-14th, based on area observations.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow amounts of 7 to 12 inches fell across the county. Measured amounts included 12.0 inches from a CoCoRaHS observer located seven miles west of Osceola, 9.8 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located three miles northeast of Shelby, 8.5 inches from the NWS Cooperative Obs…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 10 inches across the county. Highest totals included the following: 9.4 inches, reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located three miles northeast of Shelby; 8.5 inches, reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located in Osceola; 8.1 inches,…
Drought Drought
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 20 | 2 |
| 2023 | 28 | 0 |
| 2022 | 21 | 0 |
| 2021 | 19 | 3 |
| 2020 | 15 | 0 |
| 2019 | 11 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 23 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 10 | 0 |
| 2014 | 27 | 1 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 14 | 0 |
| 2011 | 40 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 |
| 2008 | 15 | 0 |
| 2007 | 12 | 0 |
| 2006 | 15 | 0 |
| 2005 | 19 | 1 |
| 2004 | 11 | 0 |
| 2003 | 10 | 0 |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10 | 3 |
| 2000 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 | 1 | 1 |
| 1992 | 5 | 1 |
| 1991 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 8 | 2 |
| 1985 | 4 | 2 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 4 | 2 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 4 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 2 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 2 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 3 | 2 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | 2 | 2 |
| 1960 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 1 |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Polk County, measured to its path.
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