Baker County, Oregon
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 41001 · population 16,645 · 3,068 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 199 records for Baker County, Oregon from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 174 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (90 records). 106 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the February 11, 2014 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Baker, which covers the county: 2 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1964, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Fox Fire” on July 31, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 199on 174 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 316 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $328Kas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Baker County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 90 since 1997. 70% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Oregon's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 90 | 88 | 1997-2024 | 1 | 11 | – | 29 of 36 |
| Hail | 26 | 24 | 1955-2023 | 0 | 2 | – | 14 of 36 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 26 | 22 | 1958-2024 | 0 | 1 | – | 10 of 36 |
| Floods | 15 | 13 | 2002-2018 | 0 | 0 | $328K | 25 of 36 |
| Heavy rain | 15 | 5 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 36 |
| High wind and dust storms | 11 | 11 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 36 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 1975-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 36 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 4 | 2014-2025 | 2 | 2 | – | 17 of 36 |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 1998-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 36 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 1998-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 36 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Baker County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Baker County from 1975 to 2004, the strongest rated F0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 17th of 36 Oregon counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 5 tornadoes whose track touched Baker County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Oregon.
Every tornado record filed for Baker County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-06-23 | Baker County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-04-30 | Huntington, Baker County | F0 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-17 | Halfway, Baker County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-11 | Baker County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-09-16 | Baker County | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Baker County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 8, 2017 flash flood ($301,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Thunderstorms producing heavy rain over the 2016 Rail Fire burned area on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest resulted in flash flooding and debris flows. Two surges of water, mud, rock, logs and vegetation cascaded down a number of drainages, all converging into the South Fork of the Burnt River. Extensive scouring of stream channels occurred. A number of Forest Service campgrounds and picnic areas were damaged and some Forest Service roads were washed out or heavily damaged. Campers and hunters had to evacuate the area. Some recreational vehicles were damaged.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 713246)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBaker County · forecast zone Baker | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-31 | Debris FlowOxman, Baker County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-22 | Debris FlowWeatherby, Baker County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-31 | High WindBaker County · forecast zone Baker | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-09-08 | Flash FloodUnity Ellingson Airport, Baker County | 0 | 0 | $301K | |
| 2014-02-11 | AvalancheBaker County · forecast zone Baker | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2010-12-04 | Winter WeatherBaker County · forecast zone Baker | 1 | 11 | – | |
| 2006-06-04 | Thunderstorm WindSumpter, Baker County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-23 | TornadoBaker County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindBaker Municipal Airport, Baker County | 73 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-07-07 | HailSumpter, Baker County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2001-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindKeating, Baker County | 0 | 1 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-11 | AvalancheBaker County · forecast zone Baker Four people in a party of eight were caught in an avalanche about ten miles north of Halfway, Oregon or near Cornucopia around noon PST. Two are deceased, a guide and a client, and are awaiting recovery. Two were seriously injured: one female with 2 broken legs and one broken arm, one male with a broken leg. | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2010-12-04 | Winter WeatherBaker County · forecast zone Baker Oregon State Police reported a commercial truck rollover on Interstate 84 near milepost 334 at approximately 11:22 AM MST resulting in one fatality and one injury. Multiple rollover and collision accidents as well as commercial truck jack- knife incidents were reported throughout the day. | 1 | 11 | – | |
| 2002-07-07 | HailSumpter, Baker County A severe thunderstorm cell dropped 1.5 inch diameter hail that covered the highway in Sumpter and damaged vehicles in the town of Haines. The storm also produced winds that knocked a tree down onto a vehicle, injuring two people inside. | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2001-05-27 | Thunderstorm WindKeating, Baker County Isolated severe thunderstorms were triggered by the passage of a cold front through Baker County, Oregon. A spotter in Keating, OR reported wind gusts to 60 mph. A motorcyclist was blown off his vehicle when he rounded a corner and was hit by high winds about 15 miles from Baker City. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-09-08 | Flash FloodUnity Ellingson Airport, Baker County | 0 | 0 | $301K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Baker County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 15 | 39 | 26 | 10 |
| Hail | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
70% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 30 · Feb 20 · Mar 3 · Apr 8 · May 24 · Jun 27 · Jul 26 · Aug 8 · Sep 3 · Oct 1 · Nov 10 · Dec 39 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Baker County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Baker County: 4 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 5 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (5) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-31 | FM-5654 | Fire | Fox Fire |
| 2024-07-22 | FM-5516 | Fire | Durkee Fire |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4499 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3429 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-09-14 | FM-5114 | Fire | Dry Gulch Fire |
| 2015-08-13 | FM-5097 | Fire | Cornet and Windy Ridge Fire Complex |
| 2006-07-25 | FM-2657 | Fire | Foster Gulch Fire Complex |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3228 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-02-19 | DR-1510 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1997-01-23 | DR-1160 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land and Mudslides, Flooding |
| 1977-04-29 | EM-3039 | Drought | Drought |
| 1964-12-24 | DR-184 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Baker County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 15 flood or flash flood records for Baker County from 2002 to 2018, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Baker County ranks 2636th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4,733 on 4 claims filed in Baker County; the most in one year was 2 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 1 · 2010: 2 · 2017: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Baker County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Baker County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.2 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $1.5M | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $3.9M | once in about 170 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $135K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $19K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.2M | once in about 206 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.9M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $185K | 3.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $134K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Baker County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in OregonEvery Oregon tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in OregonThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Oregon recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Baker CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Baker County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis