The Town Files

15 Small Towns in Nebraska With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950

Ranked by tornadoes within 10 mi since 1950 among 36 towns of 500–10,000 people in Nebraska. #1 is Chadron, NE (6 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950).

Map of the 15 towns123456789101112131415
Numbers match the ranking.

  1. 15Auburn, Nebraska

    21 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Auburn, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Auburn is a city of 3,470 people in Nemaha County, Nebraska. 21 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F3 on April 28, 1963.

    3,470 people · Nemaha County · median home $98,800 · income $57,531 · Jan low 14°F · 30 in snow

    Full Auburn, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Auburn by decade5'502'601'70'804'906'001'102'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  2. 14McCook, Nebraska

    21 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    McCook, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    McCook is a city of 7,446 people in Red Willow County, Nebraska. 21 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F4 on June 15, 1990.

    7,446 people · Red Willow County · median home $154,300 · income $56,917 · Jan low 16°F · 20 in snow

    Full McCook, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of McCook by decade1'502'605'702'805'901'004'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  3. 13West Point, Nebraska

    20 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    West Point, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    West Point is a city of 3,500 people in Cuming County, Nebraska. 20 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F4 on July 15, 1950.

    3,500 people · Cuming County · median home $202,200 · income $65,793 · Jan low 11°F · 29 in snow

    Full West Point, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of West Point by decade1'501'601'702'807'901'00'107'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  4. 12Blair, Nebraska

    20 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Blair is a city of 7,790 people in Washington County, Nebraska. 20 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024.

    7,790 people · Washington County · median home $221,500 · income $81,452 · Jan low 13°F · 31 in snow

    Full Blair, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Blair by decade3'50'603'701'801'904'004'104'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  5. 11Valley, Nebraska

    19 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Valley is a city of 3,037 people in Douglas County, Nebraska. 19 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an EF4 on April 26, 2024.

    3,037 people · Douglas County · median home $528,100 · income $110,200 · Jan low 15°F · 32 in snow

    Full Valley, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Valley by decade3'502'601'70'802'902'004'105'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  6. 10Nebraska City, Nebraska

    19 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Nebraska City is a city of 7,222 people in Otoe County, Nebraska. 19 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an EF2 on April 14, 2012.

    7,222 people · Otoe County · median home $162,000 · income $67,117 · Jan low 14°F · 24 in snow

    Full Nebraska City, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Nebraska City by decade3'501'603'702'80'904'003'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  7. 9Falls City, Nebraska

    18 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Falls City, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Falls City is a city of 4,133 people in Richardson County, Nebraska. 18 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an EF2 on May 12, 2023.

    4,133 people · Richardson County · median home $89,800 · income $51,706 · Jan low 17°F · 22 in snow

    Full Falls City, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Falls City by decade'502'60'701'806'903'00'106'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  8. 8Cozad, Nebraska

    17 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Cozad is a city of 3,988 people in Dawson County, Nebraska. 17 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F2 on October 31, 2000.

    3,988 people · Dawson County · median home $121,600 · income $54,471 · Jan low 16°F · 27 in snow

    Full Cozad, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Cozad by decade1'502'603'703'802'903'002'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  9. 7Broken Bow, Nebraska

    16 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Broken Bow is a city of 3,506 people in Custer County, Nebraska. 16 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F3 on June 1, 1990.

    3,506 people · Custer County · median home $133,200 · income $60,129 · Jan low 12°F · 30 in snow

    Full Broken Bow, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Broken Bow by decade2'50'606'702'802'902'001'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  10. 6Crete, Nebraska

    16 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Crete is a city of 7,099 people in Saline County, Nebraska. 16 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F3 on June 15, 1975.

    7,099 people · Saline County · median home $223,500 · income $77,209 · Jan low 14°F · 25 in snow

    Full Crete, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Crete by decade3'501'603'703'80'903'00'103'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  11. 5Gothenburg, Nebraska

    14 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Gothenburg, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Gothenburg is a city of 3,478 people in Dawson County, Nebraska. 14 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F3 on June 18, 1975.

    3,478 people · Dawson County · median home $191,000 · income $79,219 · Jan low 16°F · 31 in snow

    Full Gothenburg, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Gothenburg by decade1'501'604'702'80'905'001'10'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  12. 4Fairbury, Nebraska

    13 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Fairbury, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Fairbury is a city of 3,970 people in Jefferson County, Nebraska. 13 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an EF2 on May 29, 2008.

    3,970 people · Jefferson County · median home $101,700 · income $52,995 · Jan low 14°F · 21 in snow

    Full Fairbury, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Fairbury by decade1'502'602'701'802'902'002'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  13. 3Valentine, Nebraska

    12 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Valentine, Nebraska
    Photo: Ammodramus (public domain, Wikimedia Commons)

    Valentine is a city of 2,633 people in Cherry County, Nebraska. 12 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F2 on July 19, 1975.

    2,633 people · Cherry County · median home $148,600 · income $56,898 · Jan low 13°F · 29 in snow

    Full Valentine, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Valentine by decade'504'602'702'801'90'002'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  14. 2Alliance, Nebraska

    12 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Alliance is a city of 8,151 people in Box Butte County, Nebraska. 12 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an EF2 on June 12, 2017.

    8,151 people · Box Butte County · median home $161,800 · income $65,160 · Jan low 10°F · 45 in snow

    Full Alliance, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Alliance by decade'50'602'701'804'90'004'101'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

  15. 1Chadron, Nebraska

    6 tornadoes within 10 miles since 1950

    Chadron is a city of 5,206 people in Dawes County, Nebraska. 6 tornadoes since 1950 (typical Nebraska town: 23); the strongest was an F2 on June 27, 1960.

    5,206 people · Dawes County · median home $153,800 · income $54,590 · Jan low 13°F · 50 in snow

    Full Chadron, Nebraska profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

    Tornadoes within 10 miles of Chadron by decade'503'601'701'80'90'001'10'20
    Tornado tracks within 10 miles of the town center, NOAA Storm Events 1950–2026.

More Nebraska rankings

Same ranking, other places

Methodology. We ranked 36 towns of 500–10,000 people in Nebraska (2020 Census population). Only towns better than 60% of their peers on this measure qualify, so lists can be shorter than 25. Sources: