Nevada experiences relatively infrequent severe weather compared to the central United States, with 97 confirmed tornadoes, 318 hailstorm events and 991 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, and averages 1.3 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Most of Nevada’s severe weather comes from short-lived high-elevation thunderstorms producing hail and damaging wind rather than long-track tornadoes. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Nevada from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Nevada Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 97 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 318 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 991 damaging-wind events on record
- 1.3 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- June is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 22.7% of Nevada tornadoes
- 565 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Nevada Severe Weather Happens
Nevada tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 52% of all Nevada tornadoes, with June alone responsible for roughly 22.7%.
- June: 22 tornadoes (22.7%) — peak month
- May: 21 tornadoes (21.6%)
- August: 19 tornadoes (19.6%)
- July: 11 tornadoes (11.3%)
- September: 8 tornadoes (8.2%)
- April: 5 tornadoes (5.2%)
Top 10 Nevada Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Nevada is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Elko | 23 |
| Washoe | 13 |
| Clark | 12 |
| White Pine | 10 |
| Humboldt | 8 |
| Lincoln | 7 |
| Nye | 5 |
| Churchill | 4 |
| Lyon | 4 |
| Eureka | 3 |
Nevada Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Nevada tornadoes are weak: roughly 100% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 0% of rated tornadoes in the state.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 73 tornadoes — 85.9% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 12 tornadoes — 14.1% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Nevada
Largest hailstone: 3.00 inches in diameter, observed in Lander County near Lander County on May 5, 1994. The three largest hailstones on record in Nevada measured 3.00″, 2.75″, 2.00″.
Highest measured wind gust: 87 knots (100 mph) recorded in Clark County near Laughlin on July 1, 2015. Most damaging-wind events in Nevada are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Nevada Compares Nationally
Nevada ranks among the lowest in the country for tornado frequency, with severe-weather activity well below the central-US average.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Nevada tornado total: 97 — ranked 45th nationally.
- Nevada hail total: 318 hail events on record since 1950.
- Nevada wind total: 991 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Nevada have on average per year?
Nevada averages 1.3 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
Where in Nevada are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Elko County with 23 events. The three most active counties overall are Elko, Washoe, Clark.
How does Nevada compare to its neighbors?
Nevada shares a severe-weather climate with Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, California. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Nevada’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Nevada to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Nevada tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Nevada’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Oregon severe storm history — ranked 42nd nationally, Pacific-coast climate, infrequent tornadoes
- Idaho severe storm history — ranked 35th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- Utah severe storm history — ranked 39th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- Arizona severe storm history — ranked 34th nationally, mountain-west severe weather, mostly hail and high wind
- California severe storm history — ranked 31st nationally, Pacific-coast climate, infrequent tornadoes
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
