Brown County, Nebraska
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 31017 · population 2,898 · 1,221 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 620 records for Brown County, Nebraska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 414 days; the most frequent are hail reports (284 records). The most damaging was the July 1, 2012 drought ($51.4 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1967, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on March 21, 2019.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 620on 414 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $86Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 38strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 2020
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Brown County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 284 since 1966. 55% of its hail reports since 1966 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Nebraska's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 284 | 172 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 85 of 93 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 117 | 94 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | 73 of 93 |
| Winter storms | 65 | 65 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $71K | 82 of 93 |
| Drought | 50 | 49 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 0 | $51M | 52 of 93 |
| Tornadoes | 38 | 27 | 1955-2025 | 0 | 1 | $16M | 75 of 93 |
| High wind and dust storms | 26 | 26 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $105K | 88 of 93 |
| Extreme cold | 18 | 18 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 75 of 93 |
| Floods | 12 | 9 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 79 of 93 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2011-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 93 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2009-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 64 of 93 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2012-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.8M | 31 of 93 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 93 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 68 of 93 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Brown County had?
NOAA records 38 tornadoes in Brown County from 1955 to 2025, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 38 tornadoes whose track touched Brown County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 38, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nebraska.
Every tornado record filed for Brown County (38)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-18 | Johnstown, Brown County | EFU 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-18 | Johnstown, Brown County | EFU 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-18 | Johnstown, Brown County | EFU 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-07-30 | Ainsworth Municipal, Brown County | EFU 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-20 | Ainsworth, Brown County | EF1 0.05 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2024-06-20 | Long Pine, Brown County | EF1 0.05 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $941 |
| 2020-08-13 | Johnstown, Brown County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-07-26 | Long Pine, Brown County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-08-11 | Ainsworth Municipal, Brown County | EF0 0.02 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-08-11 | Johnstown, Brown County | EF0 3.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2011-08-11 | Johnstown, Brown County | EF0 0.02 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-17 | Ainsworth, Brown County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-17 | Ainsworth, Brown County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2007-05-05 | Ainsworth, Brown County | EF1 14.29 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2005-09-06 | Ainsworth, Brown County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-21 | Ainsworth, Brown County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-07-02 | Ainsworth, Brown County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2002-07-02 | Long Pine, Brown County | F0 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-07-24 | Johnstown, Brown County | F1 10 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $257K |
| 1998-07-06 | Long Pine, Brown County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-07-06 | Ainsworth, Brown County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-07-06 | Johnstown, Brown County | F1 10 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 1992-06-16 | Brown County | F1 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1987-07-10 | Brown County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1986-08-31 | Brown County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1984-07-09 | Brown County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-06-14 | Brown County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-07-07 | Brown County | F2 3.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1978-06-21 | Brown County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1976-06-10 | Brown County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-07-03 | Brown County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-07-03 | Brown County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1967-06-27 | Brown County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1965-05-08 | Brown County | F2 9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-05-08 | Brown County | F2 4.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1958-07-13 | Brown County | F1 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1956-08-15 | Brown County | F1 5.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-07-12 | Brown County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Brown County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 19, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Wet microbursts with wind speeds estimated up to 95 MPH, led to severe tree damage along highway 20 from approximately 3 miles east of Ainsworth to just north of Long Pine. There were several cases of mature-soft and hard wood trees heavily damaged along this line. Tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter were reported along with numerous uprooted trees.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1282814)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-25 | High WindBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-16 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth Municipal, Brown County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-17 | HailAinsworth, Brown County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth, Brown County | 82 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2025-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth, Brown County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2025-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth Municipal, Brown County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-07-19 | HailLong Pine, Brown County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-07-20 | WildfireBrown County · forecast zone Brown Lightning ignited a wildfire in northwest Brown County north of Johnstown, along the Fairfield Creek, a tributary of the Niobrara River. The fire's initial 7 mile wide reach was fanned by strong winds to spread the fire north and jumped the Niobrara River into southwest Keya Paha County. The wildfire was named the ... | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | |
| 1979-07-07 | TornadoBrown County | F2 3.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-07-01 | DroughtBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 0 | 0 | $51M | |
| 1997-06-30 | HailJohnstown, Brown County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $8.5M |
| 1997-06-30 | HailAinsworth, Brown County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| 2012-07-20 | WildfireBrown County · forecast zone Brown | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | |
| 2010-08-30 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth, Brown County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 2025-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth, Brown County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1997-06-30 | Flash FloodLong Pine, Brown County | 0 | 0 | $919K | |
| 2013-07-08 | Thunderstorm WindAinsworth, Brown County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $633K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 7, 1979 (tornado, Brown County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Brown County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 15 | 11 | 48 | 114 | 67 | 27 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 27 | 35 | 17 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 26 | 17 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 20 | 30 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 9 | 8 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its hail reports since 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 26 · Feb 21 · Mar 21 · Apr 34 · May 74 · Jun 133 · Jul 134 · Aug 98 · Sep 25 · Oct 13 · Nov 14 · Dec 27 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Brown County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Brown County: 9 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4521 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3483 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-03-21 | DR-4420 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-07-15 | DR-1924 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-02-25 | DR-1878 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2008-06-20 | DR-1770 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-06-06 | DR-1706 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2007-01-07 | DR-1674 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3245 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| 2001-05-16 | DR-1373 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| 1967-07-18 | DR-228 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Brown County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Brown County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $548K | 42 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $489K | 5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $49K | 17 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $550K | 6.6 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $92K | once in about 790 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $144 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $267K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $12K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Brown County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in NebraskaEvery Nebraska tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in NebraskaThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Nebraska recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Brown CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Brown County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis