Elmore County, Idaho
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 16039 · population 28,530 · 3,075 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 427 records for Elmore County, Idaho from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 305 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (237 records). 296 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 May 1, 2021 thunderstorm wind: 3 deaths and 5 injuries. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1964, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on August 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
- 427on 305 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 816 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $9.3Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Elmore County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 237 since 1996. 59% 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 | 237 | 162 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 7 | – | 36 of 44 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 57 | 49 | 1964-2026 | 3 | 6 | $1.1M | 30 of 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | 44 | 31 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $154K | 36 of 44 |
| Heavy rain | 27 | 15 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 8 of 44 |
| Floods | 20 | 20 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | $293K | 32 of 44 |
| Hail | 18 | 16 | 1976-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 of 44 |
| Wildfires | 8 | 8 | 1996-2015 | 1 | 0 | $7.7M | 31 of 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 6 | 1998-2013 | 0 | 1 | – | 31 of 44 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 1961-2024 | 0 | 0 | $67K | 33 of 44 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 3 | 2004-2014 | 4 | 2 | – | 25 of 44 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2002-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 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.
How many tornadoes has Elmore County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Elmore County from 1961 to 2024, the strongest rated F1, 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Elmore 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 Idaho.
Every tornado record filed for Elmore County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-25 | Glenns Ferry, Elmore County | EF0 0.55 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-27 | Hammett, Elmore County | EF0 0.52 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-26 | Mountain Home, Elmore County | EF0 3.92 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-08-10 | Elmore County | F1 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-06-02 | Elmore County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Elmore County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 18, 2023 heavy snow (7 injuries).
The Ada County Sheriff attributed 48 total traffic accidents to the snowfall and resulting slippery road conditions.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1075967)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-28 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Home A, Elmore County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | High WindAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | High WindAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBoise County and 2 more · forecast zone Boise Mountains | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindCamas County and Elmore County · forecast zone Camas Prairie | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBoise County and 2 more · forecast zone Boise Mountains | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Home A, Elmore County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-31 | Thunderstorm WindKing Hill, Elmore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindCleft, Elmore County | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Home A, Elmore County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-13 | Strong WindBoise County and 2 more · forecast zone Boise Mountains | 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-01 | Thunderstorm WindMountain Home A, Elmore County The AWOS at Mountain Home AFB measured a 58 MPH wind gust with several reports of damage received by the public. A dust storm from the gust front of a nearby thunderstorm reduced visibility to near zero, resulting in a 7 car accident with 3 fatalities. Idaho State Police officials reported the accident was on Highway ... | 50 kt wind | 3 | 5 | – |
| 2004-01-02 | AvalancheCamas County and Elmore County · forecast zone Camas Prairie The Avalanche was located about 10 miles north of Fairfield and 1 mile south of the Soldier Mountain Ski Resort. The snow slide was 500 to 700 feet long. Snow from the Avalanche destroyed a two story cabin, filling the first floor with snow, and killing two occupants who were asleep. Five other occupants on the second ... | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2010-03-30 | AvalancheBoise County and 2 more · forecast zone Boise Mountains Two Washington state men died in an avalanche while snowmobiling about 17 miles north of McCall, Idaho. The size of the avalanche was estimated to be between 5 and 6 acres. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-08-25 | WildfireAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley A wildfire in Southeast Boise caused by an electrical component near an Idaho Power sub station quickly burned out of control destroying 10 homes and damaging many more including 1 fatality. Another wildfire near Mountain Home burned around 500 acres. | 1 | 0 | $6.9M | |
| 2023-01-18 | Heavy SnowAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley The Ada County Sheriff attributed 48 total traffic accidents to the snowfall and resulting slippery road conditions. | 0 | 7 | – | |
| 2013-02-05 | Dense FogAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley Numerous reports of slide offs, roll overs and crashes due to dense fog and freezing rain in the area. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1995-03-18 | Thunderstorm WindElmore County A severe thunderstorm damaged mobile homes and sheds. A tractor semitrailer overturned injuring the driver. | 0 | 1 | $968K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-08-25 | WildfireAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley | 1 | 0 | $6.9M | |
| 1995-03-18 | Thunderstorm WindElmore County | 0 | 1 | $968K | |
| 2010-07-28 | WildfireAda County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Treasure Valley | 0 | 0 | $677K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: August 10, 1986 (tornado, Elmore 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 Elmore 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 | – | – | – | – | 44 | 90 | 47 | 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 21 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 12 | 10 | 20 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 3 | 0 | 1 | 23 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 7 | 8 | 2 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
59% 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 70 · Feb 53 · Mar 30 · Apr 16 · May 22 · Jun 36 · Jul 24 · Aug 42 · Sep 4 · Oct 10 · Nov 32 · Dec 88 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Elmore County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Elmore County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (3) and fire (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4534 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3467 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-08-27 | DR-4333 | Flood | Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2017-04-21 | DR-4310 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-08-13 | FM-5043 | Fire | Elk Fire |
| 2012-08-15 | FM-5006 | Fire | Trinity Ridge Fire |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3244 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2000-09-01 | DR-1341 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1997-01-04 | DR-1154 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
| 1977-05-05 | EM-3040 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Elmore County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 20 flood or flash flood records for Elmore County from 1997 to 2023, on 20 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Elmore County ranks 2321st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $108,000 on 11 claims filed in Elmore County; the most in one year was 7 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2009: 2 · 2011: 2 · 2017: 7; 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 Elmore County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Elmore County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively High | $13M | once in about 35 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $2.3M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $163K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $20K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $704K | 2.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $688K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $42K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $218K | once in about 159 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Elmore 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 IdahoEvery Idaho tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- 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 Elmore CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Elmore County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis