Sherman County, Nebraska
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 31163 · population 2,959 · 566 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 539 records for Sherman County, Nebraska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 411 days; the most frequent are hail reports (190 records). The deadliest single record is the July 8, 1955 tornado: 1 death and 13 injuries. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1966, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes” on May 3, 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
- 539on 411 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 114 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $197Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 29strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Sherman County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 190 since 1956. 52% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. 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 | 190 | 129 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $85M | 30 of 93 |
| Winter storms | 111 | 111 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 22 of 93 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 86 | 70 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $28M | 52 of 93 |
| Drought | 54 | 54 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | $56M | 13 of 93 |
| High wind and dust storms | 30 | 30 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 47 of 93 |
| Tornadoes | 29 | 24 | 1953-2024 | 1 | 14 | $11M | 37 of 93 |
| Floods | 14 | 11 | 2007-2024 | 0 | 0 | $13M | 55 of 93 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $36K | 56 of 93 |
| Heavy rain | 9 | 7 | 2011-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 22 of 93 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2011-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 93 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 of 93 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2016-2016 | 0 | 0 | $6K | 22 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 Sherman County had?
NOAA records 29 tornadoes in Sherman County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 14 injuries recorded in the county. That is 37th of 93 Nebraska counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 35 tornadoes whose track touched Sherman County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 29: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 12 people, 1 of them in Sherman County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-06-07 15:15, as SPC files it | Arcadia | F4 | 15 mi | 11 |
| 1955-07-08 02:00, as SPC files it | Loup to Elba | F2 | 31.2 mi | 1 |
| 1993-06-06 19:25, as SPC files it | Bertrand to Howard City (Boelus) | F3 | 60 mi | 0 |
| 1974-04-20 14:10, as SPC files it | Arcadia | F3 | 63.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nebraska.
Every tornado record filed for Sherman County (29)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-26 | Rockville, Sherman County | EF1 5.68 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 2024-04-26 | Rockville, Sherman County | EF1 2.35 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2023-10-03 | Rockville, Sherman County | EF0 0.01 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $969 |
| 2023-10-03 | Hazard, Sherman County | EF0 0.59 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2016-08-11 | Rockville, Sherman County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-04-15 | Litchfield, Sherman County | EF0 0.49 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $77K |
| 2011-06-20 | Rockville, Sherman County | EF2 2.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $131K |
| 2004-05-16 | Rockville, Sherman County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-18 | Loup City, Sherman County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-18 | Loup City, Sherman County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-06-11 | Rockville, Sherman County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 1996-09-19 | Hazard, Sherman County | F0 0.4 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| 1993-08-29 | Loup City, Sherman County | F1 6 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1992-01-07 | Sherman County | F2 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1992-01-07 | Sherman County | F1 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-28 | Sherman County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-06-16 | Sherman County | F1 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1990-06-15 | Sherman County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-07-14 | Sherman County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1985-05-10 | Sherman County | F1 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-10-08 | Sherman County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1975-06-02 | Sherman County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1975-05-22 | Sherman County | F0 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-04-20 | Sherman County | F2 22.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1955-09-17 | Sherman County | F1 2 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-07-08 | Sherman County | F2 24 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 13 | $250K step |
| 1954-07-27 | Sherman County | F1 6.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K step |
| 1953-06-07 | Sherman County | F4 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1953-06-07 | Sherman County | F2 6.6 mi x 100 yd | 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 Sherman County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 21, 2024 flash flood ($3.1 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Based on radar estimation and various measured totals from NWS/NeRAIN/CoCoRaHS observers, widespread rainfall of 3-6 inches fell within primarily the southern two-thirds of the county mainly between 6 p.m. CDT on the 21st and 12 a.m. CDT on the 22nd.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1182827)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | High WindSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Winter WeatherSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-03 | DroughtSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-29 | Thunderstorm WindLoup City, Sherman County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-16 | High WindSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-01 | DroughtSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-01 | HailHazard, Sherman County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-01 | HailRockville, Sherman County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-01 | DroughtSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-19 | BlizzardSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-18 | High WindSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-07 | Winter WeatherSherman County · forecast zone Sherman | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1955-07-08 | TornadoSherman County | F2 24 mi x 33 yd | 1 | 13 | $250K step |
| 1954-07-27 | TornadoSherman County | F1 6.2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindLitchfield, Sherman County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 2022-06-07 | HailLitchfield, Sherman County | 3.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 1995-08-05 | Thunderstorm WindRavenna, Sherman County | 0 | 0 | $6.8M | |
| 2013-07-24 | HailAshton, Sherman County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $6.5M |
| 2014-06-20 | HailRockville, Sherman County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $6.4M |
| 2022-06-07 | HailHazard, Sherman County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $6.1M |
| 2014-06-14 | HailRockville, Sherman County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.8M |
| 1998-06-17 | HailAshton, Sherman County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.6M |
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 8, 1955 (tornado, Sherman County, 1 killed); June 7, 1953 (tornado, Sherman County); June 7, 1953 (tornado, Sherman 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 Sherman 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 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 25 | 47 | 66 | 20 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 32 | 36 | 28 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 21 | 14 | 15 | 20 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 19 | 33 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 7 | 7 | 13 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 33 · Feb 37 · Mar 35 · Apr 43 · May 71 · Jun 91 · Jul 73 · Aug 62 · Sep 22 · Oct 19 · Nov 16 · Dec 37 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sherman County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Sherman County: 17 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and flood (6).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-03 | DR-4778 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2013-11-26 | DR-4156 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Winter Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2010-07-15 | DR-1924 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-04-21 | DR-1902 | Flood | Severe Storms, Ice Jams, and Flooding |
| 2008-06-20 | DR-1770 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-01-07 | DR-1674 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3245 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuees |
| 2004-05-25 | DR-1517 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1994-05-09 | DR-1027 | Snowstorm | Severe Snow and Ice Storm |
| 1993-07-19 | DR-998 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1990-07-04 | DR-873 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1978-03-24 | DR-552 | Flood | Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1967-07-18 | DR-228 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1966-08-31 | DR-221 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Sherman County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sherman County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.2 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 High | $3.5M | 6.8 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 34 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $878K | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $149K | once in about 881 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $87K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $60K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $379K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $134 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Sherman 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 Sherman CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sherman County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis