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

Significant events

Deadliest lightning events in Nebraska

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

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