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McKenzie County, North Dakota
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.
24
Tornado reports
225
Hail reports
8
Floods since 1996
626
All events
5
Deaths
$32.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in McKenzie County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 24 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.
Light snow and blowing snow developed during the afternoon hours in advance of blizzard conditions developing during the late evening hours of March 10. This led to icy roads. An accident in McKenzie County, on Highway 85 near mile marker 178, resulted in the death (indirect) of …
Ongoing snow and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard. One direct death occurred, a 60 year old male in Watford City who was found along the 200 block of 25th Avenue NE, about one block from his residence.
About 135 people were displaced from their homes. One fatality occurred and 28 people were injured, about 13 of them seriously. Based on the damage the tornado was rated EF2 and from that winds were estimated to have been around 127 mph. This tornado developed just to the west of…
A traffic accident about 8 miles south of Watford City resulted in the fatality (indirect) of a 10 year old female. Three others were injured (indirect). The North Dakota Highway Patrol reported that the driver of the vehicle lost control on compacted snow. The vehicle went into …
Frosty roads were the blame for this accident. A pickup lost control on the slick roads and hit the deceased's van head on. The driver of the pickup was injured as well as 2 passengers in the van.
Thirteen campers, serving as homes, were completely destroyed and two more were damaged by this tornado. Other damage included a snapped wooden power line pole, automobiles, and fences, both wooden and metal. One automobile was tossed sixty feet and flipped onto its roof, with a …
There were three significant wildfires and multiple other fires in McKenzie County, resulting in over 20,000 acres burned. The first significant fire started very early in the morning when a cold front passed through, and threatened the town of Arnegard. This fire was controlled …
Strong winds and heavy snow combined to produce a blizzard. In addition, periods of freezing rain occurred which accreted on power lines. This, combined with strong winds, led to extensive damage to power lines, cross arms, and poles, and thus widespread power outages.
Significant ice jam related high waters created flooding along the Yellowstone River through McKenzie County in northwest North Dakota from March 21 to March 28. Homes and infrastructure that had not been inundated in over a generation were impacted. In addition, farm equipment w…
Upwards of three inches of rain in parts of McKenzie County led to significant overland flooding. There was significant damage to roads and crops. A county emergency declaration was issued.
Softball-size hail reported by Department of Emergency Services. Eighty-five sections in NE McKenzie County affected with nearly $7 million damage to crops and buildings.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Charbonneau NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 63 mph.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Watford City NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 67 mph.
Drought Drought
High Wind High Wind
Arnegard NDDOT station reported wind gusts up to 60 mph.
High Wind High Wind
NDAWN station 3 SW Watford City reported wind gusts up to 63 mph.
Dust Storm Dust Storm
Widespread blowing dust with visibility down to a quarter mile.
High Wind High Wind
Charbonneau NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 63 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Keene NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 62 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Watford City RAWS reported wind gusts to 67 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Watford City AWOS reported wind gusts to 62 mph.
High Wind High Wind
Watford City RAWS reported wind gusts to 65 mph.
Blizzard Blizzard
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
High Wind High Wind
McKenzie County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
High Wind High Wind
McKenzie County had estimated gusts to 60 mph.
Tornado EFU Tornado
The tornado touched down in an open field northwest of Arnegard and moved south-southeast. The tornado impacted no structures, thus there was no damage to evaluate. By National Weather Service policy the tornado is rated EF-U (Unknown).
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A single wide manufactured home was blown off its cinder block foundation, displaced approximately 50 to 60 feet, and completely destroyed. A livestock trailer was flipped onto its roof, a metal storage container was shifted and tipped onto its side and a large dumpster was blown…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A pull-behind camper was tipped onto its side.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several panels on the roof of a metal industrial building were displaced, and a couple were completely blown off.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill values dropped to between 45 below to around 60 below over most locations.
Drought Drought
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill values dropped as low as 60 below.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 13 | 0 |
| 2025 | 21 | 1 |
| 2024 | 20 | 0 |
| 2023 | 21 | 0 |
| 2022 | 21 | 0 |
| 2021 | 31 | 3 |
| 2020 | 18 | 0 |
| 2019 | 19 | 0 |
| 2018 | 26 | 2 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| 2016 | 23 | 1 |
| 2015 | 18 | 1 |
| 2014 | 24 | 2 |
| 2013 | 35 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 0 |
| 2011 | 26 | 1 |
| 2010 | 28 | 0 |
| 2009 | 17 | 0 |
| 2008 | 17 | 0 |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 14 | 0 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 |
| 2004 | 16 | 0 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 | 16 | 1 |
| 2000 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 1 |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 17 | 1 |
| 1995 | 11 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 8 | 0 |
| 1990 | 12 | 2 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 2 |
| 1983 | 8 | 2 |
| 1982 | 4 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 7 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 1 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | 1 | 0 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in McKenzie County, measured to its path.
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