Lancaster County, Nebraska
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 31109 · population 322,200 · 838 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,227 records for Lancaster County, Nebraska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 642 days; the most frequent are hail reports (510 records). The deadliest single record is the May 22, 2004 tornado: 1 death, 30 injuries and $156 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1967, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on October 22, 2025.
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
- 1,227on 642 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 692 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $371Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 52strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 2025
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 Lancaster County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 510 since 1957. 52% of its hail reports since 1957 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 | 510 | 244 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.2M | 8 of 93 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 352 | 207 | 1956-2026 | 1 | 17 | $7.6M | 8 of 93 |
| Winter storms | 98 | 93 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 1 | $30M | 51 of 93 |
| Floods | 62 | 44 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $133M | 19 of 93 |
| Tornadoes | 52 | 36 | 1950-2024 | 1 | 35 | $194M | 35 of 93 |
| High wind and dust storms | 46 | 45 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 2 | $61K | 46 of 93 |
| Extreme cold | 36 | 36 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 12 | $188K | 30 of 93 |
| Heat | 27 | 27 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 23 | – | 22 of 93 |
| Drought | 17 | 17 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 78 of 93 |
| Lightning | 11 | 10 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 1 | $1.5M | 3 of 93 |
| Heavy rain | 9 | 7 | 2010-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 93 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 5 | 2019-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 93 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 1 | $249K | 16 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 Lancaster County had?
NOAA records 52 tornadoes in Lancaster County from 1950 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 35 injuries recorded in the county. That is 35th of 93 Nebraska counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 58 tornadoes whose track touched Lancaster County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 52: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 1 of them in Lancaster County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05-22 18:30, as SPC files it | Wilber to Hickman | F4 | 54 mi | 1 |
| 1957-04-25 18:00, as SPC files it | Omaha | F4 | 89.8 mi | 1 |
| 2024-04-26 13:52, as SPC files it | Lincoln | EF3 | 5.25 mi | 0 |
| 1993-06-06 21:23, as SPC files it | Amherst | F3 | 10 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nebraska.
Every tornado record filed for Lancaster County (52)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-01 | Rokeby, Lancaster County | EF1 2.28 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-26 | Waverly, Lancaster County | EF1 2.96 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-26 | Waverly, Lancaster County | EF0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-26 | Waverly, Lancaster County | EF0 1.9 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-04-26 | Havelock, Lancaster County | EF3 5.25 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 3 | – |
| 2023-07-29 | Martell, Lancaster County | EF1 0.28 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-12-15 | Pleasant Dale, Lancaster County | EF2 9.22 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-05 | Emerald, Lancaster County | EFU 0.02 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-05 | Lakeview, Lancaster County | EF2 0.55 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-06-16 | University Place, Lancaster County | EF0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-09 | Cheneys, Lancaster County | EF1 0.19 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-09 | Cheneys, Lancaster County | EF1 0.53 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-06 | Princeton, Lancaster County | EF1 6.16 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-03 | Firth, Lancaster County | EF0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-11 | Raymond, Lancaster County | EF1 5.27 mi x 280 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-11 | Raymond, Lancaster County | EF2 2.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-11 | Malcolm, Lancaster County | EF1 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-10-03 | Bennet, Lancaster County | EF2 11.19 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-03-23 | Bennet, Lancaster County | EF1 7.58 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-03-23 | Holland, Lancaster County | EF2 1.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-03-23 | Hickman, Lancaster County | EF1 2.42 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-07-08 | Bennet, Lancaster County | EF0 0.05 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-19 | Havelock, Lancaster County | EF0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-13 | Davey, Lancaster County | F0 2 mi x 240 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-13 | Davey, Lancaster County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-22 | Hallam, Lancaster County | F4 19.5 mi x 4,400 yd | 1 | 30 | $156M |
| 2001-06-13 | Agnew, Lancaster County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-05-07 | Hallam, Lancaster County | F0 1.8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-05-07 | Firth, Lancaster County | F0 2.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-05-07 | Hallam, Lancaster County | F0 1.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-05-07 | Princeton, Lancaster County | F1 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $552K |
| 1996-05-22 | Lincoln, Lancaster County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-06-16 | Lancaster County | F0 0.1 mi x 73 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1984-06-12 | Lancaster County | F2 20 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1982-06-14 | Lancaster County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1981-04-03 | Lancaster County | F2 8.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-08-15 | Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1975-04-27 | Lancaster County | F0 0.6 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-05-27 | Lancaster County | F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-06-06 | Lancaster County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-06-06 | Lancaster County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1967-05-10 | Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | $250K step | |
| 1964-04-20 | Lancaster County | F1 19.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-08-30 | Lancaster County | F2 4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1958-07-10 | Lancaster County | F1 1.7 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1957-06-15 | Lancaster County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1957-04-25 | Lancaster County | F4 51.7 mi x 333 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1956-06-06 | Lancaster County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1956-06-06 | Lancaster County | F1 0.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K step |
| 1956-06-06 | Lancaster County | F2 1.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K step |
| 1955-04-27 | Lancaster County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1950-09-21 | Lancaster County | F1 22.5 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Lancaster County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 11, 2026 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
Delayed report of an estimated 10 inch in diameter tree limb falling on a home. Time estimated via radar. Wind gust estimated up to 80 mph.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1352953)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | HeatLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-11 | Flash FloodDenton, Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindPrairie Home, Lancaster County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindCheneys, Lancaster County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | HailCheneys, Lancaster County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | HailWaverly, Lancaster County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindArrow Airport, Lancaster County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindWest Lincoln, Lancaster County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindWaverly, Lancaster County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindArbor, Lancaster County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindHuskerville, Lancaster County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindWest Lincoln, Lancaster County | 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05-22 | TornadoHallam, Lancaster County See description below. | F4 19.5 mi x 4,400 yd | 1 | 30 | $156M |
| 2018-10-03 | High WindLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster Estimated wind gusts to 59 mph as a cold front moved through. Two children were playing on a bounce toy at a pumpkin patch on the north side of Lincoln, NE when it was tossed by the wind. 1 child was injured with a broken arm. Another child received extensive injuries after being trapped in the bounce house. This ... | 51 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 2011-01-09 | Winter WeatherLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster A prolonged period of light to moderate snow fell over the county with snow totals between 6 and 8 inches. Lincoln reported 6.7 inches and Raymond 7.6 inches for two of the highest amounts received. The snow fell over a 36 hour period and caused several accidents, including one on the 10th which claimed a life after ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2013-03-10 | BlizzardLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster Area automated observations indicated winds of 35 to 40 mph were common from late morning and into the afternoon hours on the 10th. The combination of the winds and heavy falling snow resulted in considerable blowing and drifting snow and very low visibilities for several hours. These conditions resulted in ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-12-03 | Winter WeatherLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster Snowfall of 2 to 4 inches fell along Interstate 80 creating slick roads and poor visibilities. This lead to an semi truck rear-ending a car which had slowed down due to traffic. The collision killed a 2-year-old boy who was properly restrained in the back seat of the car. The driver, the boy's father, was injured in ... | 1 | 0 | $98K | |
| 2010-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindHickman, Lancaster County Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 40 to 50 mph caused a boat carrying 3 people to capsize during a fishing tournament at Wagon Train Lake near Hickman. One man drowned. | 45 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-24 | HeatLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster A max heat index of 111 was observed by the Lincoln ASOS. 13 heat related hospitalizations were reported in Lancaster County by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. | 0 | 13 | – | |
| 2024-01-12 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster Wind chills across the county dropped under 35 degrees below zero every night during the duration of this event. The coldest wind chills were felt on January 13th and 14th. The coldest recorded wind chill in the county was minus 40 degrees, observed in Hallam on the evening of the 13th and again in Firth on the ... | 0 | 12 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05-22 | TornadoHallam, Lancaster County | F4 19.5 mi x 4,400 yd | 1 | 30 | $156M |
| 1997-10-25 | Heavy SnowLancaster County · forecast zone Lancaster | 0 | 0 | $30M | |
| 2000-07-20 | HailFirth, Lancaster County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5.1M |
| 2025-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindBerks, Lancaster County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 5 | $3.4M |
| 1996-05-08 | Flash FloodPanama, Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | |
| 1996-05-22 | Thunderstorm WindLincoln Airport, Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2016-05-09 | Flash FloodUniversity Place, Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2008-06-04 | Flash FloodHollam, Lancaster County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
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: April 25, 1957 (tornado, Lancaster County); June 12, 1984 (tornado, Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 30 | 48 | 156 | 145 | 94 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 25 | 20 | 32 | 23 | 50 | 72 | 127 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 32 | 39 | 15 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 11 | 29 | 16 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 6 | 13 | 15 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 48 · Feb 42 · Mar 58 · Apr 149 · May 231 · Jun 308 · Jul 153 · Aug 90 · Sep 61 · Oct 33 · Nov 12 · Dec 42 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lancaster County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Lancaster County: 14 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-22 | DR-4896 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2025-05-21 | DR-4868 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2024-10-21 | DR-4838 | 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 |
| 2019-03-21 | DR-4420 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2015-06-25 | DR-4225 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-04-21 | DR-1902 | Flood | Severe Storms, Ice Jams, 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 |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3245 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| 2004-05-25 | DR-1517 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1997-11-01 | DR-1190 | Severe Storm | Severe Snow Storms, Rain, and Strong Winds |
| 1993-07-19 | DR-998 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1973-10-20 | DR-406 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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.
How many floods has Lancaster County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 62 flood or flash flood records for Lancaster County from 1996 to 2026, on 44 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lancaster County ranks 719th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.0 million on 313 claims filed in Lancaster County; the most in one year was 127 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 6 · 1979: 2 · 1980: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 4 · 1984: 5 · 1986: 2 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 3 · 1990: 2 · 1992: 4 · 1993: 26 · 1995: 3 · 1996: 4 · 1998: 3 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 7 · 2003: 5 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2007: 6 · 2008: 14 · 2010: 17 · 2011: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2014: 31 · 2015: 127 · 2016: 10 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 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 Lancaster County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lancaster County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $115 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Very High | $12M | 4.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very High | $1.6M | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively High | $12M | 7.8 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively High | $42M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.7M | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.3M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $3.3M | once in about 659 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $34M | 1.4 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lancaster County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis