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Nelson County, North Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1971 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
41
Tornado reports
187
Hail reports
59
Floods since 1996
725
All events
0
Deaths
$34.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Nelson County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 41 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 EF3 Tornado
This tornado continued into western Grand Forks County, where it dissipated 3 miles west-northwest of Logan Center at 716 pm CST. The total tornado track was about 6 miles long, with about 5 miles of this total occurring in Nelson County. The tornado destroyed a garage and farm o…
Tornado F3 Tornado
A tornado hit the home of the Nelson county sheriff, who was out of town at the time. The tornado tore the roof off the house and destroyed the barn. A piece of farm machinery was thrown through the bedroom wall and a tractor was hurled 75 yards. The sheriff's squad car was crush…
After 10 to 15 inches of rain fell across portions of east central Nelson county, flash flooding occurred. Part of the road shoulder washed out at the US Highway 2 overpass near Petersburg, reducing the traffic to one lane. Several farmsteads were surrounded by water. 45 percent …
Most of the 190 homes in Michigan suffered roof damage and broken windows. Many vehicles were also dented. The two implement dealers in Michigan suffered extensive damage to their inventories.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
A low temperature of 30 was reported at the Michigan, ND NDAWN at 1 AM CST. A low temperature of 32 was reported at the Pekin, ND NDAWN at 4:50 AM CST.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Michigan, ND NDAWN observed a low temperature of 30 at 4:10 AM CST. Pekin, ND NDAWN observed at low temperature of 31 at 5:05 AM CST.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Pekin, ND DAWN observed a low temperature of 28 at 5:20 AM CST. Michigan, ND DAWN also observed a low temperature of 28 at 5:30 AM CST.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Received a report of 14 inches of snow measured by emergency management in Michigan, ND.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The NDAWN station Michigan 2W consistently reported wind chills -40 or lower on the morning of January 25. The lowest wind chill value during this period at the station was -50.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The NDAWN station Michigan 2W 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 -51.
Blizzard Blizzard
Visibility reductions under a quarter mile started at 5:00 am and persisted through 1:00 pm. Peak winds were 59mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Based on reports by Nelson County and matching NOHRSC analysis, we can extrapolate that 6 to 8 inches of snow fell across the majority of Nelson County, ND.
Hail Hail
Largest hail was quarter size.
Hail Hail
Report of quarter size hail.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NDAWN station 3W of Michigan reported a wind gust of 67 mph. Mesonet station 325769 Michigan ND NDAWN.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NDAWN station 1NNE Pekin reported a 62 mph wind gust at the 10 meter sensor. Mesonet station 325765 Pekin ND NDAWN.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Pekin ndawn reported a wind chill of minus 41.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet station 325769 Michigan ND NDAWN reported a wind chill of minus 49.
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 -50F on the morning of the 20th at the Pekin NDAWN.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snow fall total measured at 9.0 inches in Lakota by law enforcement.
High Wind High Wind
NDDOT sensor 1 E of Lakota reports 67 mph peak gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Peak gust from a Davis personal weather station.
High Wind High Wind
High wind gust from the NDAWN station in Pekin.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
NDAWN site 2 northeast of Pekin reports a 59 MPH wind gust.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Logan Center NDAWN reports a minimum wind chill of -46F.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
NDDOT station in Lakota reports wind chill of -41F.
Ice Storm Ice Storm
Emergency Manager reports that several locations in Nelson county received 0.25 inches of storm total ice accumulation.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Public reports 10 inches of storm total snowfall 1 W Petersburg.
Hail Hail
Public reports 20 minutes of quarter sized hail. Also reports crop damage occurred with 100% loss.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Broadcast Media relays 6 inches of snow in Aneta.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
At 5 AM 4/21, Michigan CO-OP observer reported 6 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Michigan Co-OP Observer reports 11 inches of storm total snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Storm total snow of 10 inches in Michigan. Liquid equivalent of 0.51 inches.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
NDAWN Station in Michigan 2W reports wind chills lower than -40 from 2/22 9P through 2/23 6A with the lowest being -44 degrees.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Michigan2W NDAWN reports wind chills of -40F or lower, with the lowest being -47F.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
NDAWN site Michigan 2W reports wind chills of -40 to -44.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
NDAWN station Michigan 2W reports an average wind chill of -50 from 9 to 10 AM on December 20th, 2022. Averages throughout the day ranged from -40 to -50.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A CoOp observer in Michigan, ND reported a measurement of 9 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
The CoOp observer in Michigan, ND reported a storm total of 18.5 inches of snow for the time spanning Tuesday morning through Friday morning.
Blizzard Blizzard
Widespread Blizzard conditions with visibility below 1/4 mile and winds gusting over 35 MPH from noon to 7 PM.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Storm total snowfall of 13.5 inches from COOP station MCEN8 in Michigan, ND.
High Wind High Wind
NDAWN station 2 NE Pekin reports a 10-meter wind gust of 58mph.
Drought Drought
Portions of SW Nelson county in D2 drought from November 1st - November 14th, 2022.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree branches were blown down at the northern Lakeview campground. Boats and boat dock flipped on northern stump lake. One small metal storage shed was blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several large, 4 to 8 inch tree branches were broken down, and large spruce trees were snapped.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 0 |
| 2025 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 7 | 0 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2022 | 41 | 3 |
| 2021 | 21 | 0 |
| 2020 | 17 | 1 |
| 2019 | 33 | 1 |
| 2018 | 24 | 2 |
| 2017 | 16 | 2 |
| 2016 | 31 | 1 |
| 2015 | 23 | 2 |
| 2014 | 18 | 1 |
| 2013 | 18 | 0 |
| 2012 | 14 | 0 |
| 2011 | 19 | 0 |
| 2010 | 16 | 1 |
| 2009 | 19 | 1 |
| 2008 | 20 | 0 |
| 2007 | 33 | 4 |
| 2006 | 28 | 0 |
| 2005 | 38 | 0 |
| 2004 | 28 | 1 |
| 2003 | 23 | 0 |
| 2002 | 18 | 0 |
| 2001 | 29 | 7 |
| 2000 | 41 | 0 |
| 1999 | 12 | 2 |
| 1998 | 8 | 0 |
| 1997 | 21 | 1 |
| 1996 | 26 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1991 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 1 |
| 1988 | 4 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 3 |
| 1986 | 4 | 1 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 3 | 1 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Nelson County, measured to its path.
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