Columbus, NE Tornado History — 123 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Columbus, NE had?
Columbus has had 123 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Columbus?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Columbus was an Unrated on August 14, 2024.
When is tornado season in Columbus?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Columbus, with 40 on record. April through June account for 88 of the 123 tornadoes on record near Columbus.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Columbus
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 29 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Columbus since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated wind speeds of 95 mph. The short-track tornado touched down on the west side of the Club 91 Golf Cours (OAX)
NWS storm survey confirmed an EF-1 tornado with maximum estimated wind speeds of 104 mph. The tornado developed in an open field between 400 Ave and 385 Ave southwest o (OAX)
Within 25 miles of Columbus. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Columbus
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Columbus and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 17, 2025 and the most recent on April 17, 2025. It is already counted in the Columbus totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Brief tornado may have occurred. Lots of dust with a weak circulation. (OAX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Columbus
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Columbus since 1950, across 1 event. 88 injuries have been reported across all events. 1964 was the deadliest year on record near Columbus.
The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which caused 4 fatalities along a 79.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Columbus
What the record shows near Columbus
The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Columbus, with 22 of the 123 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Columbus record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Columbus, 97 reached EF0 or EF1 and 23 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Columbus is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 3 near Columbus are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Columbus has averaged 1.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 29 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 14, and 9 of those years passed with none at all.