Severe Weather History


Montana Tornado History: 432 Recorded Events

432

Recorded events

51

Counties affected

4

Direct deaths

$56.2M

Property damage

Montana tornado history: 432 recorded events across 51 counties between 1952 and 2024.

Decade by decade

Montana tornado history by decade

Montana tornado history: recorded events per decade
Montana tornado history: recorded events per decade

The 1990s are the busiest decade on record with 120 reported tornado 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 tornado events in Montana

RankCountyEventsDeathsDamageSpan
#1Valley County440$651K1954–2024
#2Fergus County270$4.2M1964–2005
#3Yellowstone County210$32.6M1955–2016
#4Powder River County180$815K1954–2014
#5Carter County180$253K1954–2019
#6Roosevelt County160$910K1953–2013
#7Judith Basin County160$850K1957–2022
#8Dawson County150$2.6M1953–2018
#9Chouteau County150$2.9M1960–2018
#10Phillips County140$900K1971–2024
#11Fallon County140$2.0M1952–2016
#12Beaverhead County130$2.6M1959–2023
#13Richland County130$105K1962–2015
#14Cascade County120$1.1M1958–2000
#15Garfield County120$3K1975–2014
#16Big Horn County100$525K1965–2018
#17Daniels County100$5K1959–2023
#18Sheridan County102$300K1971–2018
#19Rosebud County90$01980–2014
#20McCone County91$558K1954–2010
#21Petroleum County80$3K1962–2020
#22Wibaux County81$278K1952–2014
#23Custer County80$278K1965–2014
#24Hill County70$253K1962–2023
#25Wheatland County70$01978–2019
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · ranked by recorded event count

Significant events

Deadliest tornado events in Montana

DateCountyScaleDeathsInjuries
Jul 27, 2010Sheridan CountyEF321
Jul 10, 1983McCone CountyF111
Jul 20, 1952Wibaux CountyF312
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events · dates UTC

All hazards in Montana · Tornado across the U.S.