Ward County, North Dakota tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Ward County...

55confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1954). Most recent: August 12, 2010, EF3. 2026 so far: 1 preliminary report preliminary

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path in the county

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
Use two fingers to move the map
(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings in Ward County

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total551950 to 2025
Per year0.7average since 1950
Peak monthJuly25 of 55
StrongestEF3Aug 12, 2010
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries2whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Ward County.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

250 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 1May: 3Jun: 17Jul: 25Aug: 7Sep: 2Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

July is the peak month, with 25 of 55 tornadoes.

By time of day

90 12 AM: 3: 1: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 1: 4: 43 PM: 4: 4: 56 PM: 9: 7: 59 PM: 2: 2: 412 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 6:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

50 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 1: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 21970: 1: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 2: 2: 3: 01980: 2: 0: 1: 1: 1: 1: 3: 1: 0: 11990: 5: 0: 0: 0: 3: 1: 0: 3: 3: 32000: 2: 1: 1: 0: 3: 1: 0: 1: 0: 02010: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 1 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
42
EF1
6
EF2
6
EF3
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

EF3, August 12, 2010

1 deaths, 1 injuries Strongest

EF3, August 12, 2010

5.03 mile path Longest path

13 miles, F0

August 5, 1969, whole path Widest

400 yards, EF3

August 12, 2010
Every tornado

All 55 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Aug 12, 2010EF35.03 mi400 yd11
Jun 12, 2007EF04.35 mi50 yd00
Jul 1, 2005F0n/a30 yd00
Aug 25, 2004F0n/a20 yd00
Jun 6, 2004F0n/a30 yd00
Jun 6, 2004F28 mi150 yd00
Jul 9, 2002F0n/an/a00
Jul 19, 2001F01 mi40 yd00
Jun 11, 2000F03 mi30 yd00
Jun 11, 2000F04 mi40 yd00
Jul 13, 1999F111 mi60 yd00
Jul 13, 1999F12 mi30 yd00
Jul 13, 1999F19 mi50 yd00
Jul 6, 1998F00.5 mi30 yd00
Jul 6, 1998F00.5 mi30 yd00
May 17, 1998F00.1 mi30 yd00
Jul 25, 1997F012 mi13 yd00
Jul 25, 1997F00.5 mi10 yd00
Jul 10, 1997F00.2 mi10 yd00
Jul 12, 1995F00.1 mi10 yd00
Sep 14, 1994F00.1 mi13 yd00
Sep 14, 1994F00.1 mi13 yd00
Jun 12, 1994F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 3, 1990F10.2 mi50 yd00
Jul 2, 1990F00.1 mi10 yd00
This year

2026 preliminary reports not yet confirmed

Report dateLocationRating
Jun 7, 202610 S BertholdNot yet rated

Preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center. One tornado can be reported more than once, and NOAA confirms the final record months later.

Nearby

Nearby counties

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Ward County

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 13, 2026.