McCook County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within McCook County: 6.
2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Smoke overhead

1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Claims by ZIP code

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges

1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. May 30, 1998Tornado$17.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The tornado from Hanson County destroyed most of Spencer as it strengthened and continued to grow. Most homes, other buildings, and other structures in Spencer were completely levelled. Debris and belongings were scattered over a large area, and one receipt blown from Spencer was found just west of Chandler, MN about 80 miles east of Spencer. The tornado killed 6 and injured 150 in Spencer. The tornado continued southeast from Spencer, widened, then weakened, and dissipated 4 miles southwest of Salem with another tornado then forming from the same storm. The tornado caused additional damage to trees, power lines, crops, and buildings on farms after moving southeast of Spencer.

2. Apr 9, 2013Winter Storm, Mccook$10.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   An extended period of precipitation began with freezing rain quickly producing moderate to heavy ice accumulations, ranging up to more than a quarter of an inch. The precipitation then changed to sleet and then snow, with sleet and snow accumulations reaching the 5 to 8 inch range. Numerous branches and power lines were downed by the weight of ice and accompanying wind, with much of the power line damage affecting rural electric cooperatives. Trees and tree debris blocked roads, and damaged some vehicles and homes. Several power outages were reported. The winter precipitation made travel impossible in many areas, resulting in schools and businesses being forced to close.

3. Jun 20, 2024Flood$1.7 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Rainfall amounts across McCook County from June 20-22 ranged from 5 to 8 inches. Widespread overland flooding ensued with additional flooding along the East Fork Vermillion River, West Fork Vermillion River, and Wolf Creek. ||Flood waters damaged 10 to 15 homes in Montrose, 8 to 10 homes in Salem, and 3 to 4 homes in Spencer. Numerous others reported water in their basements. Sewage backup also occurred in Montrose, Salem, and Spencer. Residential flood damages are estimated to be nearly 547 thousand dollars.||At the peak of flooding, U.S. Highway 81 was closed in more than four locations and South Dakota Highway 38 was closed at Montrose. Many other roads and culverts across the…

4. May 30, 1998Tornado$900,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A tornado spawned by the same storm which produced the Spencer tornado damaged farms, crops, trees, and power lines in southern McCook County.

5. Mar 14, 2019Flood$660,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Interstate 90 was closed due to water flowing over the road between exits 364 and 368 southeast of Salem. Other flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.

6. Sep 11, 2019Flood$540,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Excessive rainfall from September 10-12 (8.27 inches in Bridgewater, 7.14 inches 6 miles northwest of Montrose, 6.08 inches in Montrose) caused extensive areal flooding. Hardest hit were areas near Montrose, where rising waters in the East Fork of the Vermillion River encroached on eastern portions of the city and prompted a mandatory evacuation of areas along First Avenue from Highway 38 to Main Street on September 12. Numerous county and township roads were washed out. Interstate 90 was closed from Humboldt to Bridgewater on September 12 and portions remained closed through September 16. State Highway 38 was closed from Montrose to Salem. Significant ponding of water also…

7. Aug 3, 2004Thunderstorm Wind$300,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorm winds blew the press box off the grandstand at an athletic complex, damaged a crow's nest at the complex, and tore the roof off a mobile home. The winds also caused extensive tree damage with several trees blown down. The winds caused power line damage, resulting in a power outage. Crops in the area were damaged, especially corn, but the amount of damage was not known. Several vehicles were damaged by flying debris and windows on some buildings were broken.

8. Apr 11, 2019Blizzard, Mccook$296,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Blizzard conditions led to a shutdown of government offices and schools, and travel was not recommended due to the widespread whiteout conditions. Interstate 90 was closed from late on April 10 through noon on April 12. Storm-total snowfall from 7 to 14 inches occurred, with 14.0 inches at Bridgewater, the highest 3-day April snowfall on record. Winds gusted at times from 50 to 60 mph, and many areas had snow drifts of several feet, making roads impassable. Ice accumulation of one-quarter to one-half inch occurred prior to snowfall, and numerous power outages occurred as wind increased. Power was lost for the communities of Bridgewater, Canistota, Montrose and Salem, as well as…

9. Apr 10, 2005Thunderstorm Wind$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Thunderstorm winds damaged numerous homes and other structures, as well as trees and power lines. Roofs were blown off a seed company building, a lumber yard building, and a large machine shed. Additional damage was done to these buildings and others. Shingles were blown off several roofs. The grandstand and one dugout at a ball park was destroyed, and the other dugout, the lights, and the outfield fence were damaged. Debris from the ball park was blown into a yard a block and a half away. Several vehicles were damaged, including windows blown out or knocked out by debris.

10. Nov 14, 1996Ice Storm, Mccook$150,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    An ice storm consisting of several periods of freezing rain caused widespread damage and paralyzed travel. Widespread damage occurred to electrical poles and lines, leaving thousands without power for up to four days. Numerous accidents occurred, including many vehicles which slid off the road. One fatality occurred in a semi accident on Interstate 90 near Plankinton on November 14th. Two fatalities occurred 9 miles south of Coleman when a car slid off a gravel road and into a stream, drowning the occupants, also on November 14th. A school bus slid into a ditch near Lennox on November 18th, causing four minor injuries. Several injuries due to falls were reported in the Sioux Falls…

1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

All-time high

107°FAug 3, 2022

All-time low

−35°FJan 19, 1970

Warmest night

82°FAug 2, 1964

Coldest day

−13°F4 times, most recently Jan 11, 1997

Wettest day

5.85 inSep 4, 1999

Snowiest day

16.3 inJan 3, 2023

Hottest year

1987mean 51.5°F

Coldest year

1996mean 42.0°F

Wettest year

201943.55 in

Driest year

197413.47 in

Snowiest season

95.7 in1968-69

Station Bridgewater (USC00391032), 1,417 ft elevation, 10.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 22, 2026; 91.1% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Neighbouring counties

• Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
• Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
• Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
• Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
• Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
• Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00391032.
• River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
• Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.