Crook County, Wyoming
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 56011 · population 7,143 · 2,854 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,309 records for Crook County, Wyoming from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 606 days; the most frequent are hail reports (504 records). The most damaging was the October 3, 2013 blizzard ($1.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1978, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides” on July 22, 2011.
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
- 1,309on 606 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 010 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 38strongest F3
- 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 Crook County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 504 since 1956. 68% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Wyoming'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 504 | 242 | 1956-2024 | 0 | 4 | $4.6M | 4 of 23 |
| Winter storms | 359 | 201 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.2M | 7 of 23 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 267 | 161 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 1 | $691K | 2 of 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | 80 | 52 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $57K | 14 of 23 |
| Tornadoes | 38 | 31 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 3 | $3.9M | 6 of 23 |
| Extreme cold | 27 | 10 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 23 |
| Floods | 21 | 19 | 2001-2019 | 0 | 0 | $347K | 8 of 23 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1998-2001 | 0 | 2 | $417K | 2 of 23 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2016-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 23 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 23 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2011-2018 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 5 of 23 |
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 Crook County had?
NOAA records 38 tornadoes in Crook County from 1958 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 6th of 23 Wyoming 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 41 tornadoes whose track touched Crook County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 38: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-06-29 10:50, as SPC files it | UnnamedCrossed SD, WY | F3 | 3 mi | 0 |
| 1975-06-25 18:15, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 11.5 mi | 0 |
| 1965-07-12 18:40, as SPC files it | UnnamedCrossed SD, WY | F3 | 20.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Wyoming.
Every tornado record filed for Crook County (38)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-19 | Moorcroft, Crook County | EF1 0.01 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-08-19 | Alva, Crook County | EF1 2.51 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-07-06 | New Haven, Crook County | EFU 3.66 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-07-06 | Sundance, Crook County | EF2 2.06 mi x 770 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-25 | New Haven, Crook County | EF1 5.37 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-25 | New Haven, Crook County | EF1 5.28 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-06-29 | Sundance, Crook County | EF1 11.65 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-25 | Devils Tower, Crook County | EF1 5.92 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2014-06-13 | Hulett, Crook County | EF2 16.51 mi x 530 yd | 0 | 1 | $125K |
| 2009-07-13 | Alva, Crook County | EF2 9.4 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 2 | $413K |
| 1999-06-05 | Aladdin, Crook County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-13 | Sundance, Crook County | F1 1.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 1997-06-11 | Sundance, Crook County | F0 0.1 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-07 | Hulett, Crook County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1993-08-13 | Hulett, Crook County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-08-13 | Sundance, Crook County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-08-13 | Hulett, Crook County | F0 0.5 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-06-19 | Crook County | F0 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-19 | Crook County | F0 0.2 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-07-04 | Crook County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1985-05-10 | Crook County | F2 1 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1984-05-31 | Crook County | F2 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-07-24 | Crook County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1980-06-14 | Crook County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1979-07-28 | Crook County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-07-12 | Crook County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-06-05 | Crook County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1976-06-05 | Crook County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1975-06-25 | Crook County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1975-06-25 | Crook County | F3 11.5 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-06-15 | Crook County | F1 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-06-18 | Crook County | F1 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-07-12 | Crook County | F3 9.4 mi x 1,400 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1961-07-17 | Crook County | F1 1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1961-05-18 | Crook County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-06-25 | Crook County | F2 1 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1958-07-10 | Crook County | 0 | 0 | $30 step | |
| 1958-07-10 | Crook County | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
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 Crook County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 19, 2024 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
Numerous reports of broken windows, building damage, extensive camper and vehicle damage, and extensive tree damage throughout the Devils Tower area. There was one injury when a person suffered an elbow contusion from flying debris at a campground and had to receive medical attention.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1204398)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindLightning Flat, Crook County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindLightning Flat, Crook County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindColony, Crook County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindKeyhole Reservoir, Crook County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | Thunderstorm WindColony, Crook County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | High WindCrook County · forecast zone Northeastern Crook | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | High WindCrook County · forecast zone Northeastern Crook | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindBeulah, Crook County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindNew Haven, Crook County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindSundance, Crook County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindSundance, Crook County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindPine Haven, Crook County | 61 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-07-08 | HailDevils Tower, Crook County A thunderstorm moved across Crook County producing very large hail. Hail ranging in size from pennies to tennis balls pelted Devil's Tower for 40 minutes. Four injuries (direct) were climbers on Devil's Tower who where hit by hail. Two injuries (direct) were the result of a lightning strike. The injuries were not life ... | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 4 | $17K |
| 2009-07-13 | TornadoAlva, Crook County A large tornado touched down west of Cook Lake and tracked east-southeastward across the Bear Lodge Mountains, dissipating west of Wyoming Highway 111. The tornado downed about 4000 acres of Ponderosa pine trees, destroyed two metal shop buildings and a large barn at a ranch, and severely damaged a house and mobile ... | EF2 9.4 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 2 | $413K |
| 2001-07-08 | LightningDevils Tower, Crook County A thunderstorm moved across Crook County producing very large hail. Hail ranging in size from pennies to tennis balls pelted Devil's Tower for 40 minutes. Four injuries (direct) were climbers on Devil's Tower who where hit by hail. Two injuries (direct) were the result of a lightning strike. The injuries were not life ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2024-08-19 | Thunderstorm WindDevils Tower, Crook County Numerous reports of broken windows, building damage, extensive camper and vehicle damage, and extensive tree damage throughout the Devils Tower area. There was one injury when a person suffered an elbow contusion from flying debris at a campground and had to receive medical attention. | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2014-06-13 | TornadoHulett, Crook County A tornado tracked across the Bear Lodge Mountains of northeastern Wyoming. It snapped and uprooted large Ponderosa Pine and cottonwood trees along its path. It destroyed a mobile home northeast of Alva; one person inside it was slightly injured. Several sheds had sheet metal torn off walls and doors blown in; one shed ... | EF2 16.51 mi x 530 yd | 0 | 1 | $125K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-10-03 | BlizzardCrook County and Weston County · forecast zone Wyoming Black Hills | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2010-07-19 | HailMoorcroft, Crook County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
| 2000-11-01 | BlizzardCrook County and Weston County · forecast zone Wyoming Black Hills | 0 | 0 | $991K | |
| 2012-06-22 | HailMoorcroft, Crook County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $771K |
| 2009-07-13 | HailHulett, Crook County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $550K |
| 2001-07-09 | LightningMoorcroft, Crook County | 0 | 0 | $417K | |
| 2009-07-13 | TornadoAlva, Crook County | EF2 9.4 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 2 | $413K |
| 2014-05-22 | HailHulett, Crook County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $374K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 12, 1965 (tornado, Crook County).
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 Crook 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 2 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 31 | 164 | 192 | 96 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 38 | 105 | 127 | 89 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 67 | 123 | 57 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 15 | 30 | 27 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 6 | 0 | 9 | 12 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
68% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 64 · Feb 58 · Mar 67 · Apr 75 · May 94 · Jun 264 · Jul 317 · Aug 168 · Sep 17 · Oct 50 · Nov 45 · Dec 90 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Crook County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Crook County: 4 major disasters, one emergency and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and severe storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-11 | DR-4535 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3479 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-07-22 | DR-4007 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2006-07-14 | FM-2654 | Fire | Thorn Divide Fire Complex |
| 2001-09-06 | FM-2382 | Fire | Wy - McFarland Divide Fire - 09/06/01 |
| 2000-12-13 | DR-1351 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1978-05-29 | DR-557 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & Mudslides |
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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Crook County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Crook County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $1.0M | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $122K | 20 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $701K | once in about 348 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $115K | 40 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $159K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $1K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $68K | once in about 1,142 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Crook 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 WyomingEvery Wyoming tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in WyomingThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Wyoming recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Crook CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Crook County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis