Saunders County, Nebraska
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
46
Tornado reports
284
Hail reports
82
Floods since 1996
843
All events
1
Deaths
$69.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Saunders County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 46 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.
Area automated observations indicated winds of 35 to 40 mph were common from late morning and into the afternoon hours on the 10th. The combination of the winds and heavy falling snow resulted in considerable blowing and drifting snow and very low visibilities for several hours. …
A severe thunderstorm moved across the southeast portion of Saunders County, Nebraska, generating a swath of damaging straight-line winds on the morning of August 9th, 2025. The strongest reported wind was an estimated gust of 95 mph from an emergency manager in Ithaca at 04:40 C…
Training thunderstorms brought a swath of heavy rain to portions of southern Nebraska, beginning in Dawson County, and expanding into portions of northeast and east-central Nebraska. Areas upstream the Platte River, primarily in Merrick, Howard and Nance counties saw over 5 inche…
This is for flooding along the Platte River. The river gage at Ashland, operated by the USGS, peaked at 24.35 feet at 7 am on March 16th. Minor flood stage is 20 feet, moderate flood stage is 22 feet while major flood stage is 26 feet. Preliminary this peak is the highest on reco…
Hail Hail
Trained spotter report of hail measured up to 1.00 inch in diameter.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A tornado developed in an open field, snapping and throwing several large branches in a field. It then progressed east northeast to the Sandy Pointe lake area where it threw a dock approximately 100 yards, removed shingles from one house, and removed much of a roof from another h…
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions were present across portions of Saunders County at the beginning of the month, but conditions improved steadily throughout May. Severe drought coverage was reduced to zero by the end of the month, while the coverage of moderate (D1) drought shrank f…
Hail Hail
Public report shared via photo on social media of many quarter sized or slightly larger stones. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated at 1.00 inch in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated at 1.00 inch in diameter.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought conditions persisted across Saunders County through the month of April, though significant improvements in areal coverage were observed. The coverage of severe drought shrank from around 83 percent at the beginning of the month down to 19 percent by the end of…
Drought Drought
A D2 (Severe) drought was introduced across the western portion of the county on March 24, persisting through the remainder of the month. The cooperative observer near Mead, Nebraska recorded 0.43 inches of precipitation for the month, which was 1.10 inches below average.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated at 1.00 inch in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail measured at 2.00 inch in diameter.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The office received snowfall reports of 6.8 to 8 inches from both the public, with the heaviest amounts estimated along the eastern edge of the county. Measured wind gusts of 25 to 30 mph, combined with the heavy snowfall, reduced visibility to around one-half mile.
High Wind High Wind
No observations within the county. Estimated maximum wind gusts of 58-62 mph based on surrounding observations.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow squall conditions impacted the county between 11:35 AM and 12:10 PM CST. KOAX radar indicated a robust convective band with high reflectivity moving rapidly through the area. During the passage of this band, the KAHQ AWOS recorded a minimum visibility of 1/4 mile (0.25 mi), …
High Wind High Wind
No observations within the county. Estimated maximum wind gusts of 58-60 mph based on surrounding observations.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 59 mph near Ceresco, NE and 58 mph near Ithaca, NE.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 60 mph near Ithaca, NE.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail measured up to 1.75 inches in diameter.
Hail Hail
Amateur radio report of hail measured up to 1 inches in diameter. Hail lasted an estimated 7 minutes.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 1.50 inches in diameter. Report received via mPING.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 1.00 inches in diameter. Report received via mPING.
Hail Hail
Storm chaser report of hail measured up to 1.50 inches in diameter.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter report of hail measured up to penny sized.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Amateur radio report of wind gusts estimated up to 60 mph.
Flood Flood
Excessive rainfall across portions of eastern Nebraska led to river flooding along the North Oak Creek at Valparaiso. The river crested at 20.21 feet, minor flood stage.
Flood Flood
Excessive rainfall across portions of eastern Nebraska triggered riverine flooding along the Wahoo Creek extending from September 1 into September 2, 2025. Initial impact was noted at 5:45 PM CST when a National Weather Service (NWS) employee reported water moving over Country Ro…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KAHQ AWOS measured heat index up to 114 degrees. Personal weather stations and mesonets measured heat index of 113, 116 and 117 degrees.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KAHQ AWOS measured heat index up to 114 degrees with a minimum heat index of 71 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 113, 117 and 118 degrees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet measured wind gust of 65 mph along the outflow boundary of a thunderstorm.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
KAHQ AWOS measured wind gust of 62 mph along the outflow boundary of a thunderstorm.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KAHQ AWOS measured heat index up to 106 degrees with a minimum heat index of 78 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 1110, 111 and 114 degrees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NWS employee reported large tree branches (6 to 8 inches in diameter) down. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 58 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 58 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 64 mph.
Hail Hail
Public reported estimated 1 hail with a snowball-like formation.
Hail Hail
Public reported estimated 1.5 hail.
Blizzard Blizzard
Power lines down along County Road M/Nebraska 92 between Mead and Yutan. Snowfall amounts generally in the 6 to 10 range with wind gusts measured up to 59 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station reported gust of 58 mph. Public report of downed power lines laying across a county road during evening hours of March 19th. Public report of seven power poles knocked down in between Wahoo and Weston.
Blizzard Blizzard
General snowfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches throughout the county. KAHQ AWOS reported 1/4 mile visibility from 17:00 CST until an unknown time due to data errors. Surrounding conditions supporting blizzard criteria. Wind gusts up to 60 mph.
High Wind High Wind
KAHQ measured wind gust of 60 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill got as low as -37 in the county.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 31 | 0 |
| 2024 | 29 | 5 |
| 2023 | 18 | 0 |
| 2022 | 18 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27 | 2 |
| 2020 | 15 | 0 |
| 2019 | 35 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 2 |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 |
| 2014 | 39 | 2 |
| 2013 | 18 | 0 |
| 2012 | 29 | 0 |
| 2011 | 31 | 0 |
| 2010 | 35 | 0 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 31 | 2 |
| 2007 | 38 | 0 |
| 2006 | 27 | 1 |
| 2005 | 32 | 0 |
| 2004 | 24 | 1 |
| 2003 | 13 | 2 |
| 2002 | 25 | 0 |
| 2001 | 21 | 2 |
| 2000 | 14 | 0 |
| 1999 | 22 | 2 |
| 1998 | 21 | 0 |
| 1997 | 17 | 0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 3 | 0 |
| 1990 | 4 | 0 |
| 1989 | 15 | 3 |
| 1988 | 8 | 1 |
| 1987 | 7 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1981 | 8 | 0 |
| 1980 | 8 | 1 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 3 | 2 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 1 |
| 1970 | 4 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 5 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | 4 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 4 | 3 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 2 |
| 1956 | 3 | 2 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Saunders County, measured to its path.
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