Deer Lodge County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30023 · population 9,414 · 737 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 429 records for Deer Lodge County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 353 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (283 records). 383 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 December 23, 2025 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region, which covers the county: 3 deaths and $8,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1974, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on June 17, 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
- 429on 353 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1014 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $2.8Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 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 Deer Lodge County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 283 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Montana'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 | 283 | 224 | 1996-2026 | 8 | 3 | $291K | 3 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 53 | 51 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 3 | $1.4M | 14 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 29 | 29 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 56 |
| Hail | 21 | 18 | 1959-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 of 56 |
| Floods | 18 | 15 | 1996-2017 | 0 | 0 | $965K | 2 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 11 | 11 | 1968-2022 | 0 | 2 | $23K | 44 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 3 | 2010-2015 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 7 of 56 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 4 | 2012-2025 | 1 | 1 | $7K | 5 of 56 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1997-2009 | 0 | 3 | $1K | 1 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2002-2023 | 1 | 2 | $48K | 20 of 56 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 56 |
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 Deer Lodge County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Deer Lodge County from 1997 to 1997, the strongest rated F0, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. 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 1 tornado whose track touched Deer Lodge County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Montana.
Every tornado record filed for Deer Lodge County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-09-15 | Opportunity, Deer Lodge County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 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 Deer Lodge County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 13, 2026 strong wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 | Strong WindDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-04-22 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-07 | Strong WindDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | Winter StormDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2026-03-08 | Strong WindDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-05 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-08 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-07 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-23 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region Along Interstate 90 between Drummond and Garrison Junction, freezing rain contributed to at least 6 accidents. At 1125MST a small car lost control, slid into the eastbound lane and crashed into a tractor trailer. All three people in the car were declared dead(indirect) on the scene. The road conditions were described ... | 3 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2013-10-03 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region The ASOS weather sensor at the Bert Mooney Airport (5,545 ft.), located 6 miles south-southeast of Butte, Montana reported rain that changed to snow during the early morning hours of Oct. 3rd. It reported moderate snow from 9 am to 12 pm MDT on the 3rd with winds gusting out of the northerly direction between 17 and ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-12-22 | Freezing FogDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region Freezing fog led to ice formation on area roadways. Icy roads were considered a factor in a fatal crash that occurred on Highway 200 between Lincoln and Ovando. | 1 | 2 | $48K | |
| 2025-02-13 | Winter StormDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region The Montana Department of Transportation reported severe driving conditions on Interstate 90 west of Gold Creek towards Clinton on the night of February 14. Multiple crashes and slide-offs were reported, particularly west of Drummond, where a crash with unknown injuries occurred just before midnight on the 14th. ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2012-01-06 | AvalancheDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region A snowmobiler triggered an avalanche 6 miles southeast of Philipsburg. One fatality. | 1 | 1 | $643 | |
| 2015-11-24 | Winter StormDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region Heavy snow began falling during the late morning. Along I-90, a fatal accident occurred when a pickup truck lost control on the icy roads and went into a fence. Trained spotters reported between 5.3 to 3 inches from Anaconda to Butte. | 1 | 0 | $19K | |
| 2012-12-02 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region Slick roads were blamed for a fatal car accident that occurred on highway 12 near mile marker 14 approximately 1.5 miles ESE of Avon, MT. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-09-09 | LightningAnaconda, Deer Lodge County Three highschool golfers were struck by lightning at a golf tournament at the Anaconda Country Club. One boy was not breathing and had no pulse prior to CPR. This boy spent a few days in the hospital. The other two golfers were not seriously injured. | 0 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-11-12 | High WindDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 78 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $925K |
| 2017-07-15 | Flash FloodAnaconda, Deer Lodge County | 0 | 0 | $825K | |
| 2023-12-22 | Freezing FogDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 1 | 2 | $48K | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $35K |
| 2015-11-24 | Winter StormDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 1 | 0 | $19K | |
| 2025-12-23 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 3 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2026-03-12 | Winter WeatherDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 0 | 0 | $8K | |
| 2026-05-13 | Strong WindDeer Lodge County and 3 more · forecast zone Butte / Blackfoot Region | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 Deer Lodge 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 | – | – | – | – | 32 | 65 | 117 | 69 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 12 | 9 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 13 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
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 Deer Lodge County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 45 · Feb 68 · Mar 41 · Apr 42 · May 26 · Jun 27 · Jul 18 · Aug 11 · Sep 18 · Oct 33 · Nov 52 · Dec 48 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Deer Lodge County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Deer Lodge County: 7 major disasters, 2 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4508 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3476 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-06-17 | DR-1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3253 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-08-30 | DR-1340 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2000-08-05 | FM-2317 | Fire | Mt-Southwestern Zone Two Fire Complex |
| 1997-07-25 | DR-1183 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding |
| 1996-02-23 | DR-1105 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams |
| 1986-03-15 | DR-761 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1974-01-29 | DR-417 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & 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 Deer Lodge County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 18 flood or flash flood records for Deer Lodge County from 1996 to 2017, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Deer Lodge County ranks 2400th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $8,284 on 9 claims filed in Deer Lodge County; the most in one year was 3 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 3 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2019: 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 Deer Lodge County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Deer Lodge County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.9 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 | $2.4M | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $162K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $15K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $204K | once in about 536 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.4M | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $151K | 32 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $245K | once in about 181 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $602 | 65 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 Deer Lodge 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 MontanaEvery Montana tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in MontanaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Montana recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Deer Lodge CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Deer Lodge County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis