Severe Weather History


Nebraska Lightning History: 204 Recorded Events

204

Recorded events

71

Counties affected

5

Direct deaths

$30.3M

Property damage

Nebraska lightning history: 204 recorded events across 71 counties between 1996 and 2024.

Decade by decade

Nebraska lightning history by decade

Nebraska lightning history: recorded events per decade
Nebraska lightning history: recorded events per decade

The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 88 reported lightning events across Nebraska. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.

County ranking

Counties with the most lightning events in Nebraska

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Douglas County301$3.4M1996–2010
#2Lancaster County110$936K1996–2011
#3Lincoln County100$66K2001–2019
#4Keith County60$10K2001–2012
#5Sarpy County60$139K1996–2006
#6Madison County50$105K1996–2007
#7Gage County51$43K1996–2006
#8Clay County40$405K2000–2007
#9Rock County40$47K2004–2011
#10Cuming County40$13K1996–1997
#11Red Willow County40$7K2003–2011
#12Buffalo County40$220K2001–2024
#13Otoe County40$168K2000–2009
#14Platte County30$33K1997–1998
#15Dodge County30$200K1999–2011
#16Burt County30$50K1997–2000
#17Garfield County30$115K2001–2010
#18Seward County30$257K1996–1996
#19Hamilton County30$36K1996–1997
#20Saline County30$77K1997–2006
#21Furnas County30$218K1996–2014
#22Cherry County30$1K1996–2010
#23Howard County30$173K1999–2019
#24Nuckolls County30$215K1996–1997
#25Hitchcock County30$7K2007–2009
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest lightning events in Nebraska

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Jul 17, 2001Douglas County—10
Apr 11, 2006Gage County—13
Jun 21, 2023Garden County—10
Aug 13, 1997Holt County—10
Jul 22, 1998Webster County—10
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Nebraska · Lightning across the U.S.