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Benson County, North Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1958 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
49
Tornado reports
299
Hail reports
65
Floods since 1996
853
All events
0
Deaths
$84.2M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Benson County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 49 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 F3 Tornado
Downburst winds and tornadoes tore down 31 miles of 230 kV power transmission lines crossing far eastern Pierce and western Benson counties. The 25 mile section from the Pierce county line to 2 miles northwest of Minnewaukan was blown down between 5:00 am to 5:20 am CDT by winds …
Hail Hail
Report of quarter size hail.
Hail Hail
Report of quarter size hail. Siding damage to multiple homes in Leeds and vehicle damage from hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured gust by NDDOT site 6.4 miles west of Churchs Ferry, ND.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured gust by NDAWN 33ft sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured gust by NDAWN 10ft wind sensor.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by personal weather station.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Low temperatures of 31 and 32 were reported at sites across the western half of Benson County. The Lowest value of 31 was reported at the Maddock, ND NDAWN at 3:15 AM CST.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Maddock, ND DAWN observed a low temperature of 25 at 3:30 AM CST. Baker, ND DAWN observed a low of 27 at 5:15 AM CST, and Niles, ND NDAWN observed at low of 28 at 5:40 AM CST. A personal weather station at Leeds, ND 2 NE observed a low temperature of 30 at 5:15 AM CST.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust of 58 mph on 10m sensor at NDAWN station located near Maddock, ND.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Received a public report of 10 inches of snow in Minnewaukan, ND.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Received a public report of 8 inches of snow 5 miles miles northwest of Oberon, ND.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Received a public report of 7 inches of snow 4 miles miles southwest of Oberon, ND.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Received a public report of 12 inches of snow in Leeds, ND.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The NDAWN station at Baker 1N along with other mesonet sites across Becker County consistently reported wind chills -40 or lower from midnight through midday on January 25th. The lowest wind chill value during this period at the station was -49.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The NDAWN station at Baker 1N along with other mesonet sites across Becker County consistently reported wind chills -40 or lower from January 22 through midday January 23. The lowest wind chill value during this period at the station was -55.
Hail Hail
Social media report - Time estimated via radar. Handful of nickel to quarter sized hail with one larger stone of at least half dollar size.
Hail Hail
Social media report of hail up 1.25 inches.
Hail Hail
Report relayed through social media. Time estimated by radar.
High Wind High Wind
Mesonet station ND028 Leeds ess,US-2.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet station 320509 Baker ND NDAWN reported a wind chill of minus 52.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet station 320509 Baker ND ndawn reported wind chill of minus 57.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet station 320509 Baker North Dakota ndawn measured a -41 wind chill.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind and cold air temperatures combined to create excessive cold conditions with apparent temperature as cold as -54F on the morning of the 20th at the Maddock NDAWN sensor.
High Wind High Wind
Measured gust of 62mph at the ND DOT sensor near Saint Michael on hwy 20.
Blizzard Blizzard
Based on wind reports from the Niles 3 SE NDAWN over the course of the day showing max wind speeds over 35 MPH for over 3 hours combined with falling snow, we can infer that blizzard conditions of 1/4 mile or less visibility did occur in Benson county.
High Wind High Wind
NDDOT sensor 7 E of Leeds reports 67 mph peak gust.
High Wind High Wind
NDAWN station 3 SE Niles reports 66 mph at 10 meters.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reports large trees down in town. Time estimated.
Hail Hail
Public reports 1.25 inch hail. Time estimated from caller and radar.
Hail Hail
Public reports quarter sized hail. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Emergency Manager reports 1 inch hail. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Half dollar to ping pong ball sized hail. Covered 15 to 20% of the ground.
Hail Hail
Emergency Manager reports quarter sized hail. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Nearby personal weather station measured maximum sustained winds of 53 MPH, with gusts to 72 MPH.
High Wind High Wind
Leeds RWIS reports a high wind gust of 62 MPH.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
ND DOT station reports peak gust of 55 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Leeds NDDOT station reports a minimum wind chill of -48F.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
NDDOT station 4 west of Churchs Ferry reports a wind chill of -51.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public reports 7.5 inches at Black Tiger Bay Campground in Saint Michael.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public reports 11 inches of storm total snowfall 4 SW of Oberon.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 45 | 0 |
| 2021 | 22 | 0 |
| 2020 | 24 | 3 |
| 2019 | 21 | 0 |
| 2018 | 17 | 1 |
| 2017 | 26 | 2 |
| 2016 | 40 | 0 |
| 2015 | 24 | 1 |
| 2014 | 11 | 0 |
| 2013 | 18 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 27 | 2 |
| 2010 | 31 | 2 |
| 2009 | 20 | 1 |
| 2008 | 38 | 1 |
| 2007 | 36 | 1 |
| 2006 | 20 | 0 |
| 2005 | 71 | 6 |
| 2004 | 32 | 0 |
| 2003 | 15 | 1 |
| 2002 | 42 | 2 |
| 2001 | 32 | 5 |
| 2000 | 36 | 2 |
| 1999 | 21 | 3 |
| 1998 | 13 | 0 |
| 1997 | 21 | 0 |
| 1996 | 26 | 1 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 11 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 5 | 0 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 8 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 4 | 3 |
| 1974 | 1 | 1 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 1 |
| 1965 | 2 | 2 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Benson County, measured to its path.
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