Bismarck, ND Tornado History — 59 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bismarck, ND had?
Bismarck has had 59 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bismarck?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bismarck was an Unrated on September 14, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bismarck?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bismarck, with 27 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Bismarck
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 22 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
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 Bismarck
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bismarck since 1950, across 2 events. 49 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F5 on May 29, 1953, which caused 2 fatalities along a 14.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bismarck
About Tornadoes in Bismarck
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Bismarck sits on the Missouri River in central North Dakota, where the rolling prairie of the northern Great Plains stretches in every direction. This open country lies within the tornado-prone interior of the continent, and severe thunderstorms are a regular feature of its summer, even if the season is shorter than farther south.
The area's tornadoes are born of clashing air masses on the northern plains. Warm, humid air moving up from the south meets cooler, drier air from Canada, and when a strong jet stream supplies wind shear, thunderstorms can organize into rotating supercells. Activity concentrates in the warm months of late spring and summer, when daytime heating and available moisture make the atmosphere most unstable.
Tornado strength is rated on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale, which runs from EF0 to EF5 based on a survey of the damage rather than a measured wind speed. Most tornadoes are relatively weak, but the northern plains can produce strong and occasionally violent ones. For the specific history near Bismarck — the number on file, the breakdown by decade and rating, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — see the figures compiled from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center elsewhere on this page.