McKenzie County, North Dakota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 38053 · population 14,685 · 2,760 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 626 records for McKenzie County, North Dakota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 393 days; the most frequent are hail reports (225 records). The deadliest single record is the July 9, 2018 tornado: 1 death, 28 injuries and $4.1 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1969, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds” on December 24, 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
- 626on 393 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 555 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $57Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 24strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 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 McKenzie County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 225 since 1963. 63% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among North Dakota'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 | 225 | 117 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 6 | $6.4M | 53 of 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 144 | 98 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 47 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 92 | 88 | 1996-2025 | 3 | 6 | $10.0M | 53 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 59 | 56 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $13M | 52 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 28 | 26 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 3 | $28K | 53 of 53 |
| Drought | 25 | 25 | 2021-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 24 | 20 | 1952-2025 | 1 | 40 | $7.8M | 52 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 16 | 12 | 2010-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 53 |
| Floods | 8 | 8 | 2003-2019 | 0 | 0 | $6.7M | 49 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 13 of 53 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 53 |
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 McKenzie County had?
NOAA records 24 tornadoes in McKenzie County from 1952 to 2025, the strongest rated EF2, with 1 death and 40 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 24 tornadoes whose track touched McKenzie County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 24, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-09 23:45, as SPC files it | Watford | EF2 | 0.53 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Dakota.
Every tornado record filed for McKenzie County (24)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-17 | Arnegard, McKenzie County | EFU 1.14 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-10 | Fairview, McKenzie County | EFU 2.09 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-10 | East Fairview, McKenzie County | EFU 1.01 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-10 | Fairview, McKenzie County | EFU 0.57 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-07-09 | Watford City, McKenzie County | EF2 0.53 mi x 400 yd | 1 | 28 | $4.1M |
| 2018-06-01 | Mandaree, McKenzie County | EF0 0.29 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-21 | Arnegard, McKenzie County | EF0 0.4 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-06-30 | Fairview, McKenzie County | EF1 5.98 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-07-06 | Charlson, McKenzie County | EF0 3.77 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-05-26 | Watford City, McKenzie County | EF2 0.46 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 9 | $3.1M |
| 2011-07-22 | Grassy Butte, McKenzie County | EF0 0.45 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 2 | $131K |
| 2001-07-26 | Watford City, McKenzie County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-13 | Keene, McKenzie County | F0 1 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-09-04 | Keene, McKenzie County | F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-07-02 | McKenzie County | F0 | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1990-06-18 | McKenzie County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1985-08-21 | McKenzie County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-08-21 | McKenzie County | F0 0.2 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-07-09 | McKenzie County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1983-07-09 | McKenzie County | F0 0.5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-06-03 | McKenzie County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-05-17 | McKenzie County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-06-27 | McKenzie County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1952-07-01 | McKenzie County | F2 9.7 mi x 33 yd | 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 McKenzie County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 29, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Several panels on the roof of a metal industrial building were displaced, and a couple were completely blown off.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1285440)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindCharbonneau, McKenzie County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindWatford City, McKenzie County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | HailArnegard, McKenzie County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | HailArnegard, McKenzie County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | HailAlexander, McKenzie County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-15 | High WindMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | High WindMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | High WindMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | Dust StormMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-14 | High WindMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-09 | TornadoWatford City, McKenzie County About 135 people were displaced from their homes. One fatality occurred and 28 people were injured, about 13 of them seriously. Based on the damage the tornado was rated EF2 and from that winds were estimated to have been around 127 mph. This tornado developed just to the west of a large recreational vehicle, camper, ... | EF2 0.53 mi x 400 yd | 1 | 28 | $4.1M |
| 2006-10-30 | Winter WeatherMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie A traffic accident about 8 miles south of Watford City resulted in the fatality (indirect) of a 10 year old female. Three others were injured (indirect). The North Dakota Highway Patrol reported that the driver of the vehicle lost control on compacted snow. The vehicle went into a ditch and rolled 1 1/4 times. A few ... | 1 | 3 | $22K | |
| 1997-11-27 | Frost/FreezeMandaree, McKenzie County Frosty roads were the blame for this accident. A pickup lost control on the slick roads and hit the deceased's van head on. The driver of the pickup was injured as well as 2 passengers in the van. | 1 | 3 | $28K | |
| 2023-03-10 | Winter WeatherMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie Light snow and blowing snow developed during the afternoon hours in advance of blizzard conditions developing during the late evening hours of March 10. This led to icy roads. An accident in McKenzie County, on Highway 85 near mile marker 178, resulted in the death (indirect) of a 29 year old male and the injury ... | 1 | 1 | $194K | |
| 2022-04-12 | BlizzardMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie Ongoing snow and strong winds combined to produce a blizzard. One direct death occurred, a 60 year old male in Watford City who was found along the 200 block of 25th Avenue NE, about one block from his residence. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-05-26 | TornadoWatford City, McKenzie County Thirteen campers, serving as homes, were completely destroyed and two more were damaged by this tornado. Other damage included a snapped wooden power line pole, automobiles, and fences, both wooden and metal. One automobile was tossed sixty feet and flipped onto its roof, with a trailer parked next to its initial ... | EF2 0.46 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 9 | $3.1M |
| 1995-08-18 | HailKeene, McKenzie County Softball-size hail reported by Department of Emergency Services. Eighty-five sections in NE McKenzie County affected with nearly $7 million damage to crops and buildings. | 4.50 in hail | 0 | 5 | $3.9M |
| 2011-07-22 | TornadoGrassy Butte, McKenzie County A brief tornado occurred and resulted in a traffic accident with injuries (indirect). A local newpaper article stated that a semi truck hit a downed power line which cut into the cab of the truck. The line then snapped, sending it into a parked vehicle. The semi truck then collided with a third vehicle. Two people ... | EF0 0.45 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 2 | $131K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-10-31 | High WindMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2024-10-05 | WildfireMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2019-03-21 | FloodFairview, McKenzie County | 0 | 0 | $4.6M | |
| 2018-07-09 | TornadoWatford City, McKenzie County | EF2 0.53 mi x 400 yd | 1 | 28 | $4.1M |
| 1995-08-18 | HailKeene, McKenzie County | 4.50 in hail | 0 | 5 | $3.9M |
| 2014-05-26 | TornadoWatford City, McKenzie County | EF2 0.46 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 9 | $3.1M |
| 2022-04-23 | BlizzardMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 1997-04-04 | BlizzardMcKenzie County · forecast zone McKenzie | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 2, 1990 (tornado, McKenzie County); July 1, 1952 (tornado, McKenzie County); June 18, 1990 (tornado, McKenzie 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 McKenzie 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 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 35 | 41 | 94 | 27 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 27 | 46 | 40 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 35 | 29 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 15 | 16 | 26 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 8 | 13 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
63% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 41 · Feb 26 · Mar 31 · Apr 19 · May 49 · Jun 153 · Jul 135 · Aug 85 · Sep 23 · Oct 17 · Nov 16 · Dec 31 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for McKenzie County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include McKenzie County: 18 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12-24 | DR-4852 | Fire | Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2024-10-06 | FM-5540 | Fire | Bear Den Fire |
| 2024-10-06 | FM-5541 | Fire | Elk Horn Fire |
| 2022-07-13 | DR-4660 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2021-09-01 | DR-4613 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2020-10-02 | DR-4565 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-04-01 | DR-4509 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3477 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-06-12 | DR-4444 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2013-07-12 | DR-4128 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2011-05-20 | DR-1986 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011-05-10 | DR-1981 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010-02-26 | DR-1879 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-03-24 | DR-1829 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-11-21 | DR-1616 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3247 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-04-02 | EM-3196 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2000-12-29 | DR-1353 | Tornado | Severe Winter Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1997-04-07 | DR-1174 | Flood | Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring Rains |
| 1997-01-12 | DR-1157 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard Conditions |
| 1994-07-01 | DR-1032 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding |
| 1979-04-26 | DR-581 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1976-07-21 | EM-3016 | Drought | Drought |
| 1969-04-18 | DR-256 | Flood | 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 McKenzie County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 8 flood or flash flood records for McKenzie County from 2003 to 2019, on 8 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), McKenzie County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 2 claims filed in McKenzie County; the most in one year was 1 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2011: 1 · 2019: 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 McKenzie County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates McKenzie County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $469K | 16 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.9M | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $321K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $438K | once in about 569 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $778K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $848K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $39K | 32 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with McKenzie 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 North DakotaEvery North Dakota tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in North DakotaThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The North Dakota recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in McKenzie CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download McKenzie County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis