6,498
Recorded events
56
Counties affected
10
Direct deaths
$53.7M
Property damage
Montana thunderstorm wind history: 6,498 recorded events across 56 counties between 1955 and 2026.
Decade by decade
Montana thunderstorm wind history by decade
The 2000s are the busiest decade on record with 1,845 reported thunderstorm wind events across Montana. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.
County ranking
Counties with the most thunderstorm wind events in Montana
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Valley County | 575 | 0 | $1.4M | 1956–2026 |
| #2 | Yellowstone County | 355 | 2 | $3.2M | 1958–2025 |
| #3 | Roosevelt County | 284 | 1 | $6.4M | 1957–2026 |
| #4 | Cascade County | 274 | 0 | $600K | 1955–2025 |
| #5 | Garfield County | 264 | 0 | $316K | 1971–2026 |
| #6 | Custer County | 254 | 1 | $386K | 1957–2025 |
| #7 | Phillips County | 247 | 0 | $434K | 1957–2026 |
| #8 | Dawson County | 239 | 0 | $5.6M | 1959–2025 |
| #9 | Rosebud County | 218 | 0 | $36K | 1960–2025 |
| #10 | Richland County | 215 | 0 | $1.3M | 1959–2026 |
| #11 | Hill County | 200 | 0 | $316K | 1957–2025 |
| #12 | McCone County | 199 | 0 | $4.4M | 1959–2026 |
| #13 | Fergus County | 193 | 0 | $231K | 1957–2025 |
| #14 | Park County | 169 | 0 | $5K | 1956–2025 |
| #15 | Big Horn County | 148 | 4 | $22K | 1970–2025 |
| #16 | Chouteau County | 142 | 0 | $67K | 1957–2025 |
| #17 | Powder River County | 139 | 0 | $1.1M | 1975–2025 |
| #18 | Sheridan County | 123 | 0 | $165K | 1957–2026 |
| #19 | Carter County | 121 | 0 | $3K | 1975–2025 |
| #20 | Prairie County | 118 | 0 | $478K | 1990–2025 |
| #21 | Fallon County | 117 | 0 | $8K | 1973–2025 |
| #22 | Gallatin County | 115 | 0 | $78K | 1959–2025 |
| #23 | Lewis and Clark County | 114 | 0 | $21K | 1974–2025 |
| #24 | Missoula County | 108 | 1 | $7.5M | 1957–2025 |
| #25 | Blaine County | 107 | 0 | $301K | 1957–2025 |
Significant events
Deadliest thunderstorm wind events in Montana
| Date | County | Scale | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 26, 1985 | Yellowstone County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 17, 2008 | Big Horn County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Aug 17, 2021 | Big Horn County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 2022 | Big Horn County | — | 1 | 6 |
| Jul 6, 2016 | Custer County | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 23, 2000 | Flathead County | — | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 10, 1998 | Missoula County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 17, 2010 | Roosevelt County | — | 1 | 1 |