Benewah County, Idaho
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 16009 · population 9,494 · 777 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 777 records for Benewah County, Idaho from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 460 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (577 records). 727 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 January 7, 2020 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains, which covers the county: 3 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1964, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on June 30, 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
- 777on 460 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1029 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $72Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Benewah County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 577 since 1996. 52% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Idaho'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 | 577 | 319 | 1996-2026 | 6 | 8 | $26K | 3 of 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | 56 | 41 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $4.1M | 9 of 44 |
| Wildfires | 56 | 37 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 17 | $63M | 4 of 44 |
| Floods | 38 | 29 | 1996-2018 | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | 3 of 44 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 14 | 14 | 1964-2024 | 0 | 0 | $142K | 29 of 44 |
| Hail | 13 | 11 | 1998-2019 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 23 of 44 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 12 | 10 | 1999-2026 | 4 | 3 | $1.2M | 5 of 44 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2009-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 3 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 44 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 44 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2009-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 44 |
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.
When was the last damaging storm in Benewah County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 16, 2026 wildfire ($1.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
The fire start 8 miles from east of Kellogg. It burned an estimated 213 acres of timber, litter, and 3 out buildings. Around 200 people impacted by evacuations around Elizabeth Park and Elk Creek. It was contained on June 23. Wind gusts were into the low 20 mph range. Damage is estimated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1353402)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-16 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2026-03-13 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-07 | Winter WeatherBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-12-10 | High WindBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-02-04 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-04 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-08-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2024-07-15 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-07 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains Broadcast media reported an Avalanche at the Silver Mountain Ski Resort. | 3 | 2 | – | |
| 2014-02-02 | Winter WeatherBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse Snowfall amounts ranged from two to four inches leading to delays and disruptions during the Monday morning commute. Two children died Sunday, February 2nd after falling through ice covering a pond near Plummer. The children were looking for their dog and it is unknown if the children were unaware of the pond which ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-01-15 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains A large, and rather moist storm system moved up from the southwest from the tropics. This storm system dropped heavy snow to northern and central Idaho before raising snow levels to over 7000 feet by the evening of the 18th. Across the Northern Panhandle, 6 inches was reported by a spotter at Bonners Ferry while just ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-01-11 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains Avalanche near Stevens Peak stranded 3 people, injured one and killed one. The area had received 29.7 inches of snow since January 3. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2011-02-27 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains Numerous reports of traffic accidents were reported in the Silver Valley due to this storm, which carried over into March 1st. The Idaho State Police reported seven crashes and fourteen slide-offs. One fatality was reported near Mullan, ID, but the gender and age of the deceased person is unknown. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-12-20 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Benewah/Latah/Nez Perce/Lewis During the night of December 20-21, one to 4 inches of snow fell across northern Idaho. One man died when his car slid off the road between St. Maries and Plummer. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-09-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains The Character Complex was composed of two wildfires ignited by lightning north of Kellogg, Idaho on July 10th: Deceitful and Prichard fires. The fires burned a total of 12,367 acres before fully contained on September 30th. There were 14 firefighter injuries and 3 structures lost. The cost of the firefighting ... | 0 | 14 | $2K | |
| 2007-02-22 | Winter WeatherBenewah County and Latah County · forecast zone Idaho Palouse A steady light to moderate snow over the Idaho Palouse contribued to several traffic accidents, three of which resulted in indirect injuries. | 0 | 4 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-03 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $23M | |
| 2023-09-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $23M | |
| 2024-07-15 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2023-07-21 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 2022-09-03 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2018-08-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2026-06-16 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2024-08-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
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 Benewah 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 | – | – | – | – | 46 | 170 | 286 | 75 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 16 | 18 | 16 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 2 | 5 | 24 z | 25 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 12 | 16 | 0 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
Wildfires in the 2010s: 24 records against 5 in the decade before, 24 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Benewah County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 167 · Feb 141 · Mar 75 · Apr 38 · May 17 · Jun 15 · Jul 19 · Aug 23 · Sep 28 · Oct 26 · Nov 67 · Dec 161 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Benewah County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Benewah County: 14 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | DR-4917 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4905 | Straight-Line Winds | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2021-03-04 | DR-4589 | Severe Storm | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4534 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3467 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-05-18 | DR-4313 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2016-02-01 | DR-4252 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2015-12-23 | DR-4246 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm and Straight-Line Wind |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3244 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 1997-06-13 | DR-1177 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Snowmelt, Land/Mud Slides, Flooding |
| 1997-01-04 | DR-1154 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
| 1996-02-11 | DR-1102 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1980-05-22 | DR-624 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
| 1974-01-25 | DR-415 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1967-08-30 | DR-231 | Fire | Forest Fires |
| 1964-12-31 | DR-186 | 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 Benewah County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 38 flood or flash flood records for Benewah County from 1996 to 2018, on 29 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Benewah County ranks 1851st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $618,000 on 34 claims filed in Benewah County; the most in one year was 17 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 17 · 1997: 6 · 2002: 1 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 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 Benewah County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Benewah County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $91K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $230K | once in about 522 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.4M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $48K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $36K | 30 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $410K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $418 | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $100K | 3.2 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Benewah County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in IdahoThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Idaho recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Benewah CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Benewah County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis