Churchill County, Nevada
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 32001 · population 25,502 · 4,950 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 292 records for Churchill County, Nevada from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 231 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (154 records). 217 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 March 7, 2002 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $246,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1997, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides” on March 27, 2017.
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
- 292on 231 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 632 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 2020
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 Churchill County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 154 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Nevada'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 154 | 126 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 32 | $3.0M | 9 of 17 |
| Winter storms | 43 | 39 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 0 | $290K | 15 of 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 39 | 28 | 1985-2025 | 0 | 0 | $32K | 10 of 17 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 16 | 12 | 1997-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 17 |
| Hail | 12 | 7 | 1976-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 17 |
| Heavy rain | 8 | 6 | 2018-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 17 |
| Floods | 6 | 6 | 1996-2014 | 0 | 0 | $222K | 16 of 17 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2016-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 17 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1964-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 17 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2006-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 17 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 17 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 17 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2024-2024 | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | 7 of 17 |
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 Churchill County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Churchill County from 1964 to 1997, the strongest rated F0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 8th of 17 Nevada 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Churchill County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nevada.
Every tornado record filed for Churchill County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-06-14 | Nas Fallon, Churchill County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-05-19 | Fallon, Churchill County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-17 | Churchill County | F0 3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1964-05-26 | Churchill 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 Churchill County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 25, 2024 lightning ($2.4 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Thunderstorms moving N-NE across the Basin and Range/Fallon area initiated a cloud to ground lightning caused fire in one the distillery's Rye fields that burned away 25% of the Rye crop. The fire was quickly extinguished by the local fire department and neighboring farm/ranch workers.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1206827)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-21 | High WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Strong WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-04 | High WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-16 | Winter StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-07 | Winter WeatherChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-02 | Thunderstorm WindOcala, Churchill County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-12 | Thunderstorm WindBango, Churchill County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-30 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-30 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-17 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-03 | Thunderstorm WindDixie Vly, Churchill County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-31 | Strong WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-03-07 | Winter StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon NHP reported a multi vehicle accident resulting in two deaths. Between 4:30 and 5:00 pm, a snowstorm hit the Fernley area reducing visibility to 1/4 mile. One semi lost control and spun out on I-80 about 6 miles east of Fernley, blocking the lanes and causing other vehicles to stop. Two sedans, a pickup, and another ... | 2 | 0 | $246K | |
| 2009-11-20 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range The Nevada Highway Patrol reported that, at 1218PST, near zero visibility caused a large accident on westbound Interstate 80 about 20 miles east of Fernley. The accident involved 4 tractor trailer rigs, 3 pickups, and an SUV and caused one fatality along with 7 injuries. Elsewhere, there were numerous trees and power ... | 1 | 7 | $69K | |
| 2002-11-07 | High WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range Strong wind gusts estimated at 70 mph caused near zero visibility from blowing dust on U.S Highway 95 Alternate just south of Silver Springs in Lyon County. An 11 vehicle pile-up, including one semi-trailer rig , resulted from the reduced visibility. One person was killed in the accident and five others were injured. | 61 kt wind | 1 | 6 | $410K |
| 2018-05-12 | Strong WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range A wave of rain showers passed through Pyramid Lake and brought northerly winds sustained to around 30 mph with gusts to 34 mph. A boater drowned at approximately 1030PST on 12 May when winds were determined to have peaked based on local observations near Sutcliffe along the shore of Pyramid Lake. | 30 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2006-12-21 | Ice StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range Icy conditions along Interstate 80 in Churchill County contributed to numerous traffic accidents. A woman was killed in an accident when her automobile hit a slick section of I-80. Her car went off the road and overturned approximately 17 miles east of Fernley just inside the Churchill County line. | 1 | 0 | $7K | |
| 2000-08-03 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon Spotter report of dust storm that reduced visibility to 1/4 mile. This storm caused a 16 car pileup that injured 15 people with an estimated damage amount of $80,000. | 0 | 15 | $137K | |
| 2002-05-19 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon Winds gusting to 50 mph caused blowing dust in the Silver Springs and Stagecoach areas of Lyon County for about 4 hours Sunday afternoon and evening. Near zero visibility resulted in a 9 car pile-up on U.S. Highway 95A and a 3 vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 50. The highways were closed for 4 hours. Blowing sand also ... | 0 | 4 | $164K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-25 | LightningNas Fallon, Churchill County | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2008-12-25 | Strong WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $685K |
| 2002-01-21 | High WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $410K |
| 2002-11-07 | High WindChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 61 kt wind | 1 | 6 | $410K |
| 2002-03-07 | Winter StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon | 2 | 0 | $246K | |
| 2002-05-19 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon | 0 | 4 | $164K | |
| 2000-08-03 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Pershing/Churchill/X Se Washoe/Nc&Ne Lyon | 0 | 15 | $137K | |
| 2009-11-20 | Dust StormChurchill County and 3 more · forecast zone Western Nevada Basin And Range | 1 | 7 | $69K |
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 Churchill 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 21 | 54 | 25 | 54 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 16 | 10 | 12 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 12 | 3 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 2 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Churchill County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 43 · Feb 22 · Mar 33 · Apr 21 · May 26 · Jun 22 · Jul 43 · Aug 19 · Sep 9 · Oct 3 · Nov 17 · Dec 34 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Churchill County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Churchill County: 3 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and severe storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4523 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3443 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-03-27 | DR-4307 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3243 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-23 | EM-3204 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-02-17 | EM-3202 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 1997-01-03 | DR-1153 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
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 Churchill County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Churchill County from 1996 to 2014, on 6 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Churchill County ranks 2477th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $25,000 on 7 claims filed in Churchill County; the most in one year was 3 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1989: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2017: 3; 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 Churchill County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Churchill County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $6.7M | once in about 29 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $793K | 144 modeled event-days a year |
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively Low | $4K | once in about 769 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $121K | once in about 1,396 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $77K | 7.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.5M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $95K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $331 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Churchill 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 NevadaEvery Nevada tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- High wind and dust storms in NevadaThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Nevada recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Churchill CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Churchill County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis