Pierce County, Nebraska
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 31139 · population 7,312 · 573 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 486 records for Pierce County, Nebraska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 384 days; the most frequent are hail reports (140 records). The most damaging was the July 1, 1996 hail ($1.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1967, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds” on July 27, 2022.
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
- 486on 384 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $34Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 28strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 2022
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 Pierce County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 140 since 1956. 44% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in June and July. 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 | 140 | 109 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 58 of 93 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 89 | 70 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | 54 of 93 |
| Winter storms | 86 | 81 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 36 of 93 |
| Extreme cold | 56 | 56 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 93 |
| Tornadoes | 28 | 22 | 1953-2017 | 0 | 2 | $28M | 50 of 93 |
| High wind and dust storms | 25 | 25 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 60 of 93 |
| Drought | 22 | 22 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 93 |
| Floods | 20 | 17 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 36 of 93 |
| Heat | 12 | 12 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 93 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 3 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 93 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $79K | 32 of 93 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 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 Pierce County had?
NOAA records 28 tornadoes in Pierce County from 1953 to 2017, the strongest rated F4, 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 29 tornadoes whose track touched Pierce County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 28: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-05-06 13:05, as SPC files it | Pierce | F4 | 4.1 mi | 0 |
| 1975-05-06 13:15, as SPC files it | Crofton | F3 | 44.8 mi | 0 |
| 1963-05-12 15:30, as SPC files it | McLean | F3 | 12.8 mi | 0 |
| 1962-05-21 18:50, as SPC files it | Hartington | F3 | 71.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nebraska.
Every tornado record filed for Pierce County (28)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-06-16 | Foster, Pierce County | EF0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-20 | Pierce County | EF1 12.04 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-04-22 | Osmond, Pierce County | EF0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-21 | Hadar, Pierce County | F1 1.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-04-18 | Pierce County | F0 6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-04-18 | Pierce County | F0 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-06-03 | Pierce County | F0 3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-06-03 | Plainview, Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-01 | Plainview, Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | $226K |
| 1996-07-01 | Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 1994-04-25 | Plainview, Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-08-29 | Pierce County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1991-05-16 | Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-04-26 | Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-04-21 | Pierce County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1985-04-21 | Pierce County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1975-05-06 | Pierce County | F3 44.8 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-05-06 | Pierce County | F4 4.1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-04-11 | Pierce County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-06-18 | Pierce County | F2 16.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1970-09-06 | Pierce County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-05-12 | Pierce County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1962-05-21 | Pierce County | F3 28.5 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1962-05-17 | Pierce County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1960-06-14 | Pierce County | F2 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1955-06-02 | Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1953-06-07 | Pierce County | F1 8.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1953-06-07 | Pierce County | F2 12.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $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 Pierce County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 13, 2019 flash flood ($548,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A levee on the North Fork of the Elkhorn River broke due to heavy rains and snow melt. This allowed water to flood Pierce. Homes and businesses were flooded in Pierce.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 817865)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | HailHadar, Pierce County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindHadar, Pierce County | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-09 | HailHadar, Pierce County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | DroughtPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-21 | High WindPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-06-07 | TornadoPierce County | F2 12.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2011-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindPierce County Thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at over 70 mph caused significant tree and outbuilding damage from around 2 miles southwest of Willow Lake through Pierce and a little northwest of town. A house also lost part of its roof south of Willow Lake. Downed power lines also caused loss of power in the area. The damage could ... | 65 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-07-01 | HailOsmond, Pierce County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2006-12-30 | Winter StormPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 1993-08-29 | TornadoPierce County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1996-08-04 | FloodPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | $659K | |
| 2019-03-13 | Flash FloodPierce County | 0 | 0 | $548K | |
| 1996-07-01 | TornadoPlainview, Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | $226K |
| 1997-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindPierce County | 0 | 0 | $28K | |
| 1996-07-01 | TornadoPierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
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: May 21, 1962 (tornado, Pierce 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 Pierce 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 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 50 | 27 | 21 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 21 | 12 | 11 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 33 | 28 | 14 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 11 | 19 | 20 | 6 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 3 | 5 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 53 · Feb 35 · Mar 27 · Apr 52 · May 43 · Jun 81 · Jul 63 · Aug 50 · Sep 18 · Oct 8 · Nov 13 · Dec 43 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pierce County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Pierce County: 15 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-07-27 | DR-4662 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| 2018-06-29 | DR-4375 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2010-07-15 | DR-1924 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms 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 |
| 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 |
| 2004-05-25 | DR-1517 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2003-07-21 | DR-1480 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1978-03-24 | DR-552 | Flood | Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1971-07-07 | DR-308 | Flood | Floods |
| 1971-02-23 | DR-303 | Flood | Floods |
| 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 Pierce County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 20 flood or flash flood records for Pierce County from 1996 to 2021, on 17 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pierce County ranks 2291st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $197,000 on 12 claims filed in Pierce County; the most in one year was 7 in 2019. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1994: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2019: 7; 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 Pierce County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pierce County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.3M | 5.8 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $852K | 35 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $200K | once in about 965 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $104K | 16 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $136K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $473K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $187 | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pierce 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 Pierce CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pierce County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis