Mineral County, Nevada
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 32021 · population 4,516 · 3,751 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 273 records for Mineral County, Nevada from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 228 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (179 records). 233 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the September 16, 2019 strong wind, filed for the forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon, which covers the county: 1 death and $173,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1997, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 27, 2023.
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
- 273on 228 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 157 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.2Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 2023
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 Mineral County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 179 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Nevada'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 179 | 149 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 7 | $6.9M | 7 of 17 |
| Winter storms | 45 | 42 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | 11 of 17 |
| Floods | 17 | 17 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 50 | $1.2B | 10 of 17 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 7 | 6 | 2009-2024 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 6 of 17 |
| Hail | 6 | 4 | 1992-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 17 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 6 | 1997-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 6 | 6 | 2003-2021 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 16 of 17 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2004-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 17 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $92K | 10 of 17 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 17 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 17 |
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 Mineral County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Mineral County from 2015 to 2015, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 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 1 tornado whose track touched Mineral County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nevada.
Every tornado record filed for Mineral County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-05 | Hawthorne, Mineral County | EF1 1.54 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Mineral County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 30, 2022 high wind ($5.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT) reported multiple overturned semi-trailer trucks with multiple injuries due to high winds along US-95 near mile marker 55. Mesonet station located at US-95 Walker Lake (WLKNV) reported a max wind gust of 94 mph at 16:01 PST, 12/30/2022.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1135994)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-17 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-21 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-11 | Strong WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-04 | Strong WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 47 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-16 | Winter WeatherLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Winter WeatherLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-25 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-21 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 68 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-19 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-05 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-26 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-09-16 | Strong WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon Nevada DOT reported a fatality from a single-vehicle accident on US Highway 95 at mile marker 76 near Schurz on the afternoon of the 6th at approximately 1530 to 1630PST. Nevada DOT called NWS Reno around 1545PST, indicating that an overturned semi-truck had closed the highway. The Nevada DOT mesonet at Schurz ... | 42 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $173K |
| 1997-01-01 | FloodLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon The floods of January l997 were caused by several factors. First, the Sierra and western Nevada had experienced two above normal precipitation years (1995, 1996). Second, a major winter storm December 21st and 22nd 1996 deposited heavy snow in the Sierra and western Nevada. Four to six feet of snow was common below ... | 0 | 50 | $1.2B | |
| 2010-12-14 | Strong WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon Most wind gusts were in the 35 to 50 mph range on the 14th. However, wind prone areas had occasional gusts over 70 mph, including 72 mph at the Sweetwater NDOT at 1000PST and 79 mph at the Walker NDOT at 1844PST. The localized strong winds were sufficient to blow over an empty tractor trailer truck (cross wind) on ... | 39 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $14K |
| 2006-12-26 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon Wind gusts estimated at 61 knots (70 mph) knocked over two semitrailers on U.S. Highway 95 four miles north of Hawthorne. One of the tractor-trailers was partially loaded and the other was pulling two empty trailers, according to the Reno Gazette-Journal. | 61 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $44K |
| 1996-12-10 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon Gusty winds were reported in the Mineral County area during the morning hours. Two men received head injuries after their semi truck and trailer overturned during the high winds. The accident occurred about 6 miles north of Hawthorne on U.S. Highway 95. The highway was closed for a short period of time when winds blew ... | 0 | 2 | $19K | |
| 1999-02-18 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon High winds at Walker Lake blew over a pickup truck pulling a 30 foot travel trailer on Highway 95. | 0 | 1 | $53K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-01-01 | FloodLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 0 | 50 | $1.2B | |
| 2022-12-30 | Winter StormLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2022-12-30 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 82 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.0M |
| 2019-09-16 | Strong WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 42 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $173K |
| 1999-02-18 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 0 | 1 | $53K | |
| 2006-12-26 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 61 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $44K |
| 1996-12-10 | High WindLyon County and Mineral County · forecast zone Mineral/Southern Lyon | 0 | 2 | $19K | |
| 2003-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindHawthorne, Mineral County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $16K |
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 Mineral 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 61 | 45 | 59 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 10 | 9 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 1 | 3 | 8 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Mineral County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 36 · Feb 37 · Mar 39 · Apr 24 · May 11 · Jun 13 · Jul 22 · Aug 5 · Sep 9 · Oct 8 · Nov 26 · Dec 43 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mineral County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Mineral County: 3 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-27 | DR-4708 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4523 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3443 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3243 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-23 | EM-3204 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-02-17 | EM-3202 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 1997-01-03 | DR-1153 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
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 Mineral County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 17 flood or flash flood records for Mineral County from 1997 to 2025, on 17 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mineral County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2,663 on 1 claim filed in Mineral County; the most in one year was 1 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2008: 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 Mineral County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mineral County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.2M | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $102K | 144 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $186K | 3.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $21K | 5.5 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $1K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $38K | once in about 1,039 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $304 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $6 | once in about 1,429 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Mineral 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 NevadaEvery Nevada tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- High wind and dust storms in NevadaThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Nevada recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Mineral CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mineral County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis