Fallon County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30025 · population 3,048 · 1,621 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 501 records for Fallon County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 292 days; the most frequent are hail reports (187 records). The most damaging was the June 11, 2016 tornado ($1.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 2000, 6 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tornado” on August 3, 2016.
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
- 501on 292 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 07 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $7.7Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 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 Fallon County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 187 since 1962. 80% of its hail reports since 1962 fell in June and July. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 187 | 93 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | 5 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 120 | 78 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 7 of 56 |
| Winter storms | 71 | 67 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 67 | 64 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 56 |
| Floods | 16 | 12 | 1998-2022 | 0 | 0 | $492K | 29 of 56 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 13 | 1952-2016 | 0 | 7 | $5.8M | 2 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 13 | 8 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 5 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 4 | 2005-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 56 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 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 Fallon County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Fallon County from 1952 to 2016, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries recorded in the county. That is 2nd of 56 Montana 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Fallon County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-11 18:54, as SPC files it | Baker | EF3 | 3 mi | 0 |
| 1952-07-19 17:30, as SPC files it | Baker | F3 | 55.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Montana.
Every tornado record filed for Fallon County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-07-10 | Baker Airport, Fallon County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-07-06 | Webster, Fallon County | EF0 0.25 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-11 | Baker Airport, Fallon County | EF3 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 7 | $1.8M |
| 2015-06-21 | Willard, Fallon County | EF0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-06-03 | Ollie, Fallon County | EF0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-06 | Ollie, Fallon County | F0 1 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-07-25 | Baker, Fallon County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-07-25 | Baker, Fallon County | F2 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-20 | Baker, Fallon County | F2 5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-06-07 | Knobs, Fallon County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-07-22 | Fallon County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1978-07-04 | Fallon County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1977-06-14 | Fallon County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1952-07-19 | Fallon County | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Fallon County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 10, 2016 hail ($1.2 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Hail up to 2 inches in diameter along with 50 to 60 mph winds occurred at the Baker Airport. The hail was still two to three inches deep on the ground after the storm. Multiple hangers were damaged by the hail and wind. Several hangers received broken window damage. In addition, several vehicles at the airport were severely damaged with some windows of vehicles completely broken. A few of the vehicles were considered total losses.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 646778)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindBaker Airport, Fallon County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindWillard, Fallon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | HailOllie, Fallon County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | HailWebster, Fallon County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindBaker Airport, Fallon County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-02 | HailWebster, Fallon County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-08 | High WindFallon County · forecast zone Fallon | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindFallon County · forecast zone Fallon | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindFallon County · forecast zone Fallon | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-07 | Thunderstorm WindBaker Airport, Fallon County | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-29 | Thunderstorm WindWillard, Fallon County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-26 | Thunderstorm WindBaker Airport, Fallon County | 56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-11 | TornadoBaker Airport, Fallon County The pre-storm environment for eastern Montana was such that severe weather was likely. Surface dew point values in the Baker area were in the lower 60s with strong southeasterly flow converging in the vicinity of a stationary surface trough. This area of strong surface convergence, which also separated moist rich air ... | EF3 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 7 | $1.8M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-11 | TornadoBaker Airport, Fallon County | EF3 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 7 | $1.8M |
| 2016-07-10 | HailBaker Airport, Fallon County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2011-05-20 | FloodWebster, Fallon County | 0 | 0 | $492K | |
| 1993-08-21 | HailBaker, Fallon County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $204K |
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 19, 1952 (tornado, Fallon County); July 22, 1979 (tornado, Fallon 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 Fallon 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 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 80 | 56 | 26 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 22 | 56 | 35 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 30 | 22 | 12 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 19 | 21 | 24 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
80% of its hail reports since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 17 · Feb 15 · Mar 21 · Apr 26 · May 27 · Jun 125 · Jul 157 · Aug 43 · Sep 16 · Oct 13 · Nov 17 · Dec 24 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Fallon County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Fallon County: 6 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. 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 |
| 2016-08-03 | DR-4275 | Tornado | Tornado |
| 2011-06-17 | DR-1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2008-06-13 | DR-1767 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3253 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-12-06 | DR-1350 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2000-08-30 | DR-1340 | Fire | Wildfires |
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 Fallon County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Fallon County from 1998 to 2022, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Fallon County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Fallon County; the most in one year was 1 in 1978. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 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 Fallon County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Fallon County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.6M | 8.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $116K | 16 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $93K | once in about 467 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $126K | 2.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $6K | 55 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $19K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $80 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $39K | 1.9 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 Fallon 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
- Hail in MontanaThe state's hail reports, 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 Fallon CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Fallon County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis