Lincoln, NE Tornado History — 143 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lincoln, NE had?
Lincoln has had 143 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 14 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lincoln?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lincoln was an EF0 on April 17, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lincoln?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lincoln, with 43 on record. April through June account for 108 of the 143 tornadoes on record near Lincoln.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lincoln
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 48 total, averaging 2.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lincoln 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Corrects time and location from previous LSR. Tight circulation and TDS evident. (OAX)
Tight circulation and TDS evident. (OAX)
Within 25 miles of Lincoln. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lincoln
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Lincoln 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 Lincoln totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Report relayed via social media. (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 Lincoln
12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lincoln since 1950, across 5 events. 217 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record near Lincoln.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on May 9, 1953, which caused 5 fatalities along a 46.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lincoln
What the record shows near Lincoln
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Lincoln, with 27 of the 143 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 16 so far. The Lincoln record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lincoln, 102 reached EF0 or EF1 and 39 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lincoln is rated EF4, of which 4 are logged. A further 2 near Lincoln are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Lincoln has averaged 2.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 48 in total. 2014 was the busiest of them with 7, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.