Washington storm history
Storm events recorded in Washington, Nebraska between 1950 and 2025.
548
Total events
23
Tornadoes
160
Hail
29
Floods
2
Deaths
$28.2M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
This segment of the tornado is a continuation of the EF-4 tornado that tracked through western Douglas County. After crossing Dutch Hall road into southern Washington County, the tornado damaged homes and farm outbuildings between County Road 29 and County Road 31 from Dutch Hall…
Area automated observations indicated winds of 40 to 45 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.
Flooding along the Missouri River gradually worsened during June as record releases from Gavins Point Dam brought widespread flooding along the river. The river near Blair climbed to around its 26.5 foot flood stage late in May, and then steadily rose into mid to late June climbi…
A damaging wind event swept across Washington County, Nebraska, during the morning hours of August 9th, 2025, with a path of damage extending from the southwest to the eastern portion of the county. Measured wind reports indicated damaging wind speeds, with a maximum measured gus…
Hail up to baseball size fell in Blair and west through south of town. The hail caused extensive damage to cars and at least two large car dealerships were hit with over 4500 cars damaged. Houses and trees in town were also damaged and Dana College sustained 1 million dollars in …
Thunderstorm downburst winds produced a 5 to 6 mile wide path of damage from around 5 miles southwest of Ft. Calhoun into the Ft. Calhoun area. The wind damage was from the same storm complex that produced the damage in northwest Douglas county. Winds with this damage path were e…
Very heavy rain, Blair received 8 inches, fell over much of Washington county from Friday afternoon into early Saturday morning 8/7/99. Street flooding was reported in Arlington, Blair and Herman, especially along Bell Creek. A 20 foot deep gorge was carved out along highway 75 n…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow squall conditions impacted the county between 10:55 AM and 11:10 AM CST. KOAX radar indicated a robust convective band with high reflectivity moving rapidly through the area. During the passage of this band, the KBTA AWOS recorded a minimum visibility of 1/2 mile (0.50 mi), …
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 62 mph near Kennard, NE.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 59 mph near Arlington, NE. Nebraska Mesonet 6E Winslow measured gust of 58 mph.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
The office received snowfall reports of 4 to 6 inches from the public and Amateur Radio. The heaviest snowfall was estimated around the eastern edge of the county.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 62 mph near Kennard, NE.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
On the morning of August 9, 2025, flash flooding struck the Blair, Nebraska area, particularly Southern Washington County, following a storm that delivered 3 to 4 inches of rain. Rainfall rates peaked at 2.5 to 3 inches per hour. Public reports confirmed significant impacts, incl…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 58 mph.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KBTA AWOS measured heat index up to 111 degrees with a minimum heat index of 69 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 111, 117 and 122 degrees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 62 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 61 mph.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
KBTA AWOS measured heat index up to 106 degrees with a minimum heat index of 79 degrees through the period. Personal weather station measured heat index of 109, 114 and 115 degrees.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of snapped tree limbs of 3 inches in diameter.
Tornado EF2 Tornado
This is a continuation of the Douglas County segment of this EF-3 tornado. At the start of this segment, the tornado began to move more northeasterly, snapping several trees and flipping recreational vehicles at Nashville, NE. It directly impacted another home, destroying two out…
Hail Hail
Storm chaser report measured up to 3 in diameter. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 2.75 in diameter. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 4 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail measured up to 2.5 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter report of hail measured up to 1.75 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail measured up to 1 in diameter. Report received via mPING.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 2 in diameter.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 1.75 in diameter. Report received via mPING.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 1 in diameter. Report received via mPING.
Hail Hail
Amateur radio report of hail measured up to 2 in diameter. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail measured up to 3.25 in diameter. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Public report of hail estimated up to 2 in diameter. Report received via mPING. Delayed report with the time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Personal weather station measured wind gust of 60 mph.
Blizzard Blizzard
Highway 91 closed between Blair and Nickerson. Snowfall amounts generally in the 5 to 10 range with wind gusts measured up to 64 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Personal weather station measured gust of 64 mph.
Hail Hail
Report from mPING of 1 inch hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter report of a measured 70 mph wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter reported 61 mph measured wind gust from their weather station.
Blizzard Blizzard
General snowfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches throughout the county. KBTA AWOS reported 3/4 mile visibility from 19:35 CST to 20:55 CST with surrounding conditions supporting blizzard criteria. Wind gusts up to 60 mph.
High Wind High Wind
KBTA measured wind gust of 60 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill got as low as -37 in the county.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill got as low as -35 in the county.
High Wind High Wind
Several hours of high winds were observed during the afternoon hours. The strongest observed wind gust in the county was 58 miles per hour, observed by a personal weather station at 1:22 pm CDT.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
Two consecutive afternoons of excessive heat were observed across Washington County. The first afternoon, a max heat index of 111 was observed at the Tekamah ASOS. The following day, heat indices up to 117 were reported across the county by ASOS and Nebraska Mesonet sites.
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
A maximum heat index of 111 degrees was observed the afternoon of the 15th.
Flood Flood
This is a continuation of river flooding from the end of June. River levels crested along this stretch of the Missouri at the end of June, hence flood waters were receding by this time. As such, the greatest impacts were felt in June (and discussed in the June entry for StormData…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 59 miles per hour wind gust was measured by a Union Pacific weather station.
Heat Heat
A max heat index of 112 was observed at the Tekamah ASOS. 111 was also observed at the Blair AWOS.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 | 1 |
| 2024 | 24 | 3 |
| 2023 | 16 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2019 | 15 | 0 |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 |
| 2017 | 8 | 0 |
| 2016 | 14 | 3 |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 |
| 2014 | 20 | 0 |
| 2013 | 16 | 0 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 27 | 1 |
| 2010 | 26 | 0 |
| 2009 | 10 | 0 |
| 2008 | 13 | 2 |
| 2007 | 23 | 1 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 15 | 0 |
| 2004 | 16 | 0 |
| 2003 | 11 | 0 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 18 | 1 |
| 2000 | 10 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 1 |
| 1998 | 29 | 0 |
| 1997 | 12 | 0 |
| 1996 | 19 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1992 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 6 | 2 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 6 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 8 | 0 |
| 1979 | 3 | 0 |
| 1978 | 4 | 1 |
| 1977 | 6 | 1 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |