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.

Mineral County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank 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)
Every tornado recorded in Mineral County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
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)
The 12 most recent records kept for Mineral County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
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

Records with deaths or injuries in Mineral County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
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
The costliest records in Mineral County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
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).

Mineral County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
High wind and dust storms––––14614559
Winter storms––––1210914
Floods––––5138

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).

Declarations including Mineral County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2023-04-27DR-4708FloodSevere Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
2020-04-04DR-4523BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3443BiologicalCovid-19
2005-09-13EM-3243HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-02-23EM-3204SnowstormSnow
2005-02-17EM-3202SnowstormRecord and/Or Near Record Snow
1997-01-03DR-1153Severe StormSevere 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Mineral County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
EarthquakeRelatively Low$2.2Monce in about 15 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$102K144 modeled event-days a year
Heat WaveRelatively Low$186K3.7 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$21K5.5 a year (modeled)
LandslideVery Low$1K11 a year (modeled)
WildfireVery Low$38Konce in about 1,039 years (modeled)
AvalancheVery Low$304once in about 100 years (modeled)
Volcanic ActivityVery Low$6once 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

  1. Lyon County 1,322
  2. Nye County 1,073
  3. Mono County, CA 915
  4. Churchill County 292
  5. Mineral County 273
  6. Esmeralda County 214

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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