Dundy County, Nebraska
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 31057 · population 1,654 · 920 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 774 records for Dundy County, Nebraska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 493 days; the most frequent are hail reports (348 records). The deadliest single record is the January 13, 2024 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Dundy, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1993, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 20, 2024.
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
- 774on 493 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 14 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $118Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 36strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2024
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 Dundy County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 348 since 1956. 53% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. 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 | 348 | 198 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 2 | $112M | 41 of 93 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 153 | 111 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 58 of 93 |
| Winter storms | 69 | 69 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $218K | 71 of 93 |
| High wind and dust storms | 67 | 63 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $28K | 23 of 93 |
| Drought | 64 | 64 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 93 |
| Tornadoes | 36 | 28 | 1953-2025 | 0 | 2 | $4.3M | 65 of 93 |
| Floods | 18 | 14 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $470K | 63 of 93 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 12 | 1997-2024 | 1 | 0 | – | 78 of 93 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2021-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 11 of 93 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 68 of 93 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 70 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 Dundy County had?
NOAA records 36 tornadoes in Dundy County from 1953 to 2025, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries 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 36 tornadoes whose track touched Dundy County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 36, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-06-06 19:00, as SPC files it | Hamlet | F3 | 40.1 mi | 0 |
| 1953-06-05 19:15, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 9.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nebraska.
Every tornado record filed for Dundy County (36)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-18 | Max, Dundy County | EFU 0.13 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-05-11 | Max, Dundy County | EFU 3.02 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-06-24 | Benkelman Jones Airport, Dundy County | EFU 2.07 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-26 | Max, Dundy County | EFU 4.37 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-26 | Benkelman, Dundy County | EFU 1.55 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-26 | Max, Dundy County | EFU 0.15 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-26 | Max, Dundy County | EF2 8.29 mi x 575 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-26 | Benkelman, Dundy County | EF0 1.88 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-06-04 | Colfer, Dundy County | EFU 0.82 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-08-11 | Parks, Dundy County | EFU 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-04-08 | Benkelman, Dundy County | EF1 0.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $317K |
| 2011-06-19 | Max, Dundy County | EF0 1.93 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-19 | Max, Dundy County | EF0 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2010-05-16 | Parks, Dundy County | EF0 0.25 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Benkelman, Dundy County | EF1 12 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $655K |
| 2005-05-11 | Benkelman, Dundy County | F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-05-11 | Parks, Dundy County | F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-08-26 | Benkelman, Dundy County | F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-08-21 | Benkelman, Dundy County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1996-08-04 | Parks, Dundy County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-22 | Benkelman, Dundy County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-03-08 | Dundy County | F0 0.5 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1991-06-03 | Dundy County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-09-02 | Dundy County | F1 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-06-11 | Dundy County | F2 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-06-12 | Dundy County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-07-09 | Dundy County | F1 0.8 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-05-04 | Dundy County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-05-26 | Dundy County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1971-05-30 | Dundy County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-05-30 | Dundy County | F0 22.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-05-30 | Dundy County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-06-06 | Dundy County | 0 | 1 | $25K step | |
| 1962-05-14 | Dundy County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1957-07-07 | Dundy County | F2 34.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $30 step |
| 1953-06-05 | Dundy County | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Dundy County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 17, 2025 high wind ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | HailMax, Dundy County | 3.20 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | HailMax, Dundy County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | HailMax, Dundy County | 2.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-21 | HailMax, Dundy County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-20 | HailColfer, Dundy County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindParks, Dundy County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-20 | HailSanborn, Dundy County | 1.61 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-08 | HailColfer, Dundy County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtDundy County · forecast zone Dundy | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtDundy County · forecast zone Dundy | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtDundy County · forecast zone Dundy | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindDundy County · forecast zone Dundy | 56 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-13 | Cold/Wind ChillDundy County · forecast zone Dundy This event was based on nearby observations in Yuma, CO, Imperial, NE, and McCook, NE. The AWOS at the airport in Yuma, CO report reported -25F wind chills starting at 1215 AM with Imperial starting at 1245 AM on the 13th. There were brief times during the day time hours that wind chills warmed above -25F, generally ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1994-07-24 | HailBenkleman, Dundy County Wind driven hail up to baseball-size heavily damaged property and crops in a six mile wide swath from 19 miles north of Benkleman, south to the Kansas/Nebraska state line. Homes, autos, farm equipment and corn were damaged. After breaking windshields, the hail injured at least two motorists. Property damage was ... | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 2 | $110M |
| 1967-06-06 | TornadoDundy County | 0 | 1 | $25K step | |
| 1957-07-07 | TornadoDundy County | F2 34.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-07-24 | HailBenkleman, Dundy County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 2 | $110M |
| 1993-08-06 | HailHaigler, Dundy County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1994-06-08 | HailHaigler, Dundy County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1994-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindHaigler, Dundy County | 0 | 0 | $995K | |
| 2007-03-28 | TornadoBenkelman, Dundy County | EF1 12 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $655K |
| 2013-04-08 | TornadoBenkelman, Dundy County | EF1 0.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $317K |
| 2008-04-24 | Thunderstorm WindBenkelman, Dundy County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $104K |
| 1998-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindBenkelman, Dundy County | 0 | 0 | $91K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 4, 1982 (tornado, Dundy County); July 9, 1982 (tornado, Dundy County); June 11, 1984 (tornado, Dundy 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 Dundy 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 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 51 | 129 | 79 | 71 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 48 | 43 | 38 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 29 | 22 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 18 | 21 | 23 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 7 | 24 z | 33 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 |
Drought in the 2010s: 24 records against 7 in the decade before, 24 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Dundy County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
53% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 33 · Feb 23 · Mar 35 · Apr 60 · May 161 · Jun 159 · Jul 127 · Aug 88 · Sep 21 · Oct 22 · Nov 16 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dundy County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Dundy County: 10 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-20 | DR-4808 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4521 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3483 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-06-25 | DR-4225 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-08-12 | DR-4014 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2008-06-20 | DR-1770 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-08-29 | DR-1721 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-01-07 | DR-1674 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2006-01-26 | DR-1627 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3245 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| 2001-05-16 | DR-1373 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| 1993-07-19 | DR-998 | Flood | Severe Storms and 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.
How many floods has Dundy County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 18 flood or flash flood records for Dundy County from 1998 to 2024, on 14 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dundy County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3,019 on 1 claim filed in Dundy County; the most in one year was 1 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Dundy County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dundy County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.8 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 | $645K | 79 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $687K | 8.2 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $279K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $17K | once in about 1,836 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | $30K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $359K | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $24K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $243K | about once a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Dundy 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 Dundy CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dundy County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis