Pierce County, North Dakota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 38069 · population 3,976 · 1,018 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 382 records for Pierce County, North Dakota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 310 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (106 records). 196 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 most damaging was the June 19, 2005 thunderstorm wind ($2.6 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1969, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Flooding” on July 12, 2017.
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
- 382on 310 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 00 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $15Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 2020
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 winter storm records: 106 since 1996. 46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 106 | 104 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.2M | 23 of 53 |
| Hail | 93 | 67 | 1973-2025 | 0 | 0 | $902K | 40 of 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 66 | 48 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.7M | 36 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 40 | 39 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 39 | 39 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $130K | 24 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 15 | 1973-2011 | 0 | 0 | $4.4M | 38 of 53 |
| Drought | 9 | 9 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 6 | 2001-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 53 |
| Floods | 5 | 5 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | $440K | 44 of 53 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 53 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 29 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 Pierce County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Pierce County from 1973 to 2011, the strongest rated F2, 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Pierce County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Dakota.
Every tornado record filed for Pierce County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-07-20 | Rugby, Pierce County | EF1 1.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $623K |
| 2005-07-10 | Selz, Pierce County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-19 | Silva, Pierce County | F1 3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $378K |
| 2004-05-19 | Barton, Pierce County | F1 1 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-20 | Orrin, Pierce County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-07-04 | Rugby, Pierce County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-17 | Rugby, Pierce County | F0 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-24 | Barton, Pierce County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-06 | Pierce County | F1 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1978-07-04 | Pierce County | F1 5.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1978-05-25 | Pierce County | F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1977-06-25 | Pierce County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1976-06-11 | Pierce County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1973-08-21 | Pierce County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-07-01 | Pierce County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 June 20, 2023 thunderstorm wind ($15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Multiple large tree branches were broken off, with a few broken trees.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1104628)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindRugby, Pierce County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | High WindPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | Heavy SnowPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | BlizzardPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-11 | HailWolford, Pierce County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindRugby, Pierce County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-06 | BlizzardPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-18 | Cold/Wind ChillPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindRugby, Pierce County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2023-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindOrrin, Pierce County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2023-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindBalta, Pierce County | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $339K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindSilva, Pierce County | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 1997-04-04 | BlizzardPierce County · forecast zone Pierce | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2007-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindBalta, Pierce County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $776K |
| 2016-08-03 | HailRugby, Pierce County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $769K |
| 2011-07-20 | TornadoRugby, Pierce County | EF1 1.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $623K |
| 2005-06-19 | TornadoSilva, Pierce County | F1 3 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $378K |
| 2009-04-01 | FloodBarton, Pierce County | 0 | 0 | $373K | |
| 2023-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindBalta, Pierce County | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $339K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 1, 1973 (tornado, Pierce County); August 21, 1973 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 33 | 39 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 18 | 26 | 28 | 12 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 16 | 11 | 20 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 10 | 23 | 4 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 14 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 35 · Mar 19 · Apr 14 · May 26 · Jun 58 · Jul 79 · Aug 32 · Sep 8 · Oct 13 · Nov 18 · Dec 36 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pierce County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Pierce County: 21 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (10) and severe storm (9).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-01 | DR-4509 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3477 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-07-12 | DR-4323 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2014-08-19 | DR-4190 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-07-12 | DR-4128 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2011-05-10 | DR-1981 | Flood | Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2005-07-22 | DR-1597 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation |
| 2004-05-05 | DR-1515 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation |
| 2001-05-28 | DR-1376 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground Saturation |
| 2000-06-27 | DR-1334 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Ground Saturation |
| 1999-06-08 | DR-1279 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Snow, Ice, Ground Saturation, Lanslides, Mudslides, and Tor |
| 1998-06-15 | DR-1220 | Flood | Flooding, Ground Saturation,Severe Storms |
| 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 |
| 1996-06-05 | DR-1118 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Flooding, & Ice Jams |
| 1995-05-16 | DR-1050 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation |
| 1994-07-01 | DR-1032 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding |
| 1979-04-26 | DR-581 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1974-05-14 | DR-434 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 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 Pierce County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 5 flood or flash flood records for Pierce County from 1999 to 2024, on 5 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pierce County ranks 2358th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $56,000 on 10 claims filed in Pierce County; the most in one year was 6 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1996: 1 · 1997: 3 · 1999: 6; 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 $3.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $184K | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.9M | 22 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $125K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $92K | once in about 843 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $127K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $13K | 14 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Very Low | $172 | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | $197K | 1.1 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 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 North DakotaEvery North Dakota tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in North DakotaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Pierce CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pierce County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis