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Ward County, North Dakota
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1954 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
57
Tornado reports
290
Hail reports
25
Floods since 1996
810
All events
5
Deaths
$159.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Ward County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 57 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.
This tornado crossed from Burke County into Ward County. Note that for roughly three miles in the vicinity of the Des Lacs River, U.S. Highway 52 runs right on the Burke and Ward County line. The tornado was right on the highway in this area. This was the location of the worst da…
Ongoing snow and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard. One direct death occurred, a 73 year-old female in the city of Minot who was found near the Minot Post Office, which is located near the intersection of 5th Avenue SW and South Broadway.
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.
Runoff from very heavy rain forced rapid dam releases along the Souris River which resulted in an overtopping of levees and eventual levee failure. Communities through Ward County along the Souris River were very severely impacted. A mandatory evacuation was ordered along the riv…
See the event episode narrative for details.
A severe thunderstorm moved through Ward County in the early morning hours. Hail the size of walnut to grapefruit did extensive damage to crops and property. A camper-bus convention was occuring at the time with extensive damage done to campers ranging in value up to 0.5M. Many w…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Max NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 70 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Sawyer NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 59 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trained spotter estimated wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Minot NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked down tree branches in the city of Minot.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Sawyer NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 72 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Ward County Emergency Manager reported damage in Sawyer due to thunderstorm wind gusts. Damage includes power outages, numerous trees down on roads, and a large tree fell onto a house and made a hole in the roof. Damage is consistent with wind speeds around 90 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Max NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 86 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Sawyer NDAWN station reported wind gusts up to 69 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Damage from thunderstorm wind gusts occurred in Sawyer. Photos showed multiple trees broken and a few tin roof panels pulled up.
Tornado EFU Tornado
A white rope tornado came down south of Berthold and was on the ground for about 3 minutes, kicking up dust in a field. There were no structures impacted from this tornado and no damage to evaluate. By National Weather Service policy the tornado is rated EF-U (Unknown).
Tornado EFU Tornado
This tornado is a continuation of the entry from Burke County. A brief, dusty tornado touched down southeast of Bowbells. The tornado formed and soon after knocked over a grain bin and sheared off the top half of pine trees. The tornado then tracked to the northeast for a couple …
High Wind High Wind
Ward County had estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Kenmare received seven inches of snow.
High Wind High Wind
Minot ASOS reported wind gusts to 64 mph.
Blizzard Blizzard
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
High Wind High Wind
Minot ASOS reported wind gusts to 59 mph.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree fell on a camper and totaled it.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree fell onto a mobile home and caused 6 large holes in the roof. The tree may have been struck by lightning.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated by the public.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Minimum wind chill values dropped to between 45 below to around 60 below over most locations.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chill values dropped as low as 60 below.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Locations near Foxholm received seven inches of snow.
Blizzard Blizzard
Strong winds and snow combined to produce a blizzard.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Locations north of Minot received six inches of snow.
High Wind High Wind
Minot ASOS reported wind gusts to 74 mph.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 2 |
| 2025 | 19 | 0 |
| 2024 | 25 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 |
| 2022 | 22 | 0 |
| 2021 | 24 | 0 |
| 2020 | 24 | 0 |
| 2019 | 22 | 0 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| 2016 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | 13 | 0 |
| 2013 | 29 | 0 |
| 2012 | 28 | 0 |
| 2011 | 36 | 0 |
| 2010 | 46 | 1 |
| 2009 | 16 | 0 |
| 2008 | 31 | 0 |
| 2007 | 32 | 1 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 22 | 1 |
| 2004 | 30 | 3 |
| 2003 | 20 | 0 |
| 2002 | 22 | 1 |
| 2001 | 23 | 1 |
| 2000 | 28 | 2 |
| 1999 | 20 | 3 |
| 1998 | 18 | 3 |
| 1997 | 14 | 3 |
| 1996 | 13 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 1 |
| 1994 | 8 | 3 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 8 | 0 |
| 1990 | 13 | 5 |
| 1989 | 3 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 4 | 3 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 |
| 1984 | 3 | 1 |
| 1983 | 15 | 1 |
| 1982 | 5 | 1 |
| 1981 | 4 | 0 |
| 1980 | 8 | 2 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 5 | 3 |
| 1977 | 9 | 2 |
| 1976 | 3 | 2 |
| 1975 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | 4 | 2 |
| 1973 | 2 | 0 |
| 1972 | 3 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 3 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 2 |
| 1968 | 3 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 3 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1963 | 5 | 2 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 3 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Ward County, measured to its path.
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