Grand Island, NE Tornado History — 227 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Grand Island, NE had?
Grand Island has had 227 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 20 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Grand Island?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Grand Island was an Unrated on June 24, 2025.
When is tornado season in Grand Island?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Grand Island, with 82 on record. April through June account for 169 of the 227 tornadoes on record near Grand Island.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Grand Island
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 42 total, averaging 2.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Grand Island 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Brief EF-0 tornado near the intersection of Hwy 92 and 7th Road NW of Archer per official damage survey... RaXPol radar analysis... and chaser video. (GID)
(GID)
Within 25 miles of Grand Island. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Grand Island
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Grand Island and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 18, 2025 and the most recent on May 18, 2025. It is already counted in the Grand Island totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
From early Monday morning. A brief tornado was reported west of St. Paul. The location is approximate. The tornado was rated EFU with no specific maximum windspeed give (GID)
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 Grand Island
13 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Grand Island since 1950, across 5 events. 338 injuries have been reported across all events. 1980 was the deadliest year on record near Grand Island.
The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 5, 1964, which caused 4 fatalities along a 79.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Grand Island
What the record shows near Grand Island
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Grand Island, with 50 of the 227 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 19 so far. The Grand Island record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Grand Island, 169 reached EF0 or EF1 and 51 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Grand Island is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 7 near Grand Island are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Grand Island has averaged 2.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 42 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 6, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.