138
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$6.6M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Hitchcock County, Nebraska: 138 recorded events between 1958 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 104. That places the county #1,680 nationally and #38 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Hitchcock County, Nebraska: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Hitchcock County is the 2020s, when 51 of the county's 138 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Hitchcock County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 25.0% of all recorded severe weather across 7 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #1,680 for this hazard and #38 within Nebraska, putting it in the 46.5 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jul is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Hitchcock County with 35 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 8, 2015 | STRATTON | 87 | 1 | 0 | $1.0M |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2026 | CULBERTSON HOCK ARPT | 51 | $0 |
| Sep 16, 2025 | CULBERTSON | 52 | $0 |
| Jun 20, 2025 | STRATTON | 70 | $80K |
| Jun 3, 2025 | STRATTON | 56 | $0 |
| May 19, 2025 | STRATTON | 104 | $350K |
| May 19, 2025 | PALISADE RICH ARPT | 104 | $180K |
| May 19, 2025 | PALISADE RICH ARPT | 64 | $80K |
| May 18, 2025 | STRATTON | 87 | $75K |
| May 18, 2025 | STRATTON | 104 | $40K |
| May 15, 2025 | CULBERTSON | 52 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Hitchcock County
- Hail 356
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
The high wind gust snapped the top of an 80 foot tree off, with the top of the tree flying over a nearby house. The wind also flipped a swing set. The house shook because the winds were so strong. Elsewhere around town there was widespread, major tree damage. Twelve to eighteen inch diameter trees were snapped and uprooted. Power poles were damaged which lead to power outages in town and the surrounding area. In town one garage and one unanchored mobile home were destroyed. There were many roofs damaged as well as siding on houses. A camper was overturned, damaged and resulted in one (direct) fatality.
Significant tree, utility pole and structural damage consistent with an intense downburst occurred in the eastern portions of Palisade and adjacent areas south and east of town. One large garage south of town was destroyed, several irrigation pivots were overturned, and grain bins were damaged or destroyed. An estimated 250 utility poles throughout the county were either snapped or pushed down. Power outages continue in the area.
A storm survey found estimated 120 mph straight line winds that continued along Highway 34 to the northeast. Multiple sheds and at least 15 power poles were blown down along with numerous large tree limbs. 3 center pivots along the straight lined wind path were also flipped. The damage path was roughly 1600 yards wide.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Hitchcock County, Nebraska?
138 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Hitchcock County between 1958 and 2026, causing 1 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Hitchcock County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Hitchcock County measured 104.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Hitchcock County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Hitchcock County, Nebraska.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/nebraska/hitchcock-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.