How Likely Is a Tornado in Niobrara County, WY?
How likely is a tornado in Niobrara County, WY?
Niobrara County has recorded 36 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 2.1 years - our Elevated band. Put another way: Niobrara County sees more tornado activity than 76% of US counties. Wyoming has 23 counties in this dataset; Niobrara County ranks 8 of them by frequency.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
29 weak and 3 significant tornadoes make up Niobrara County's 36-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Niobrara County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Wyoming has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Wyoming this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Tornado outbreaks routinely knock out power across Wyoming for days, separately from any single house getting hit. A portable battery bank keeps a fridge, phone chargers and a radio running through that gap - cheaper and faster to set up than a generator.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Niobrara County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 2,626 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Niobrara County has about 2,301 residents.