Franklin County, Idaho
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 16041 · population 14,177 · 663 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 279 records for Franklin County, Idaho from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 218 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (185 records). 223 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 August 3, 2016 strong wind, filed for the forecast zone Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 4 declarations naming the county since 2005, 2 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms and Flooding” on April 21, 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
- 279on 218 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 53 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $3.2Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 4latest 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 Franklin County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 185 since 1998. 46% of its winter storm records since 1998 fell in January and February. 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 | 185 | 144 | 1998-2026 | 2 | 0 | $71K | 8 of 44 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 24 | 17 | 1975-2026 | 0 | 0 | $49K | 23 of 44 |
| Hail | 18 | 13 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $95K | 13 of 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | 17 | 15 | 2008-2026 | 2 | 2 | $25K | 26 of 44 |
| Wildfires | 15 | 14 | 2007-2025 | 0 | 0 | $650K | 14 of 44 |
| Floods | 7 | 7 | 2009-2023 | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | 23 of 44 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2011-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 44 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 3 | 1982-1995 | 0 | 0 | $87K | 14 of 44 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 3 | 2021-2025 | 1 | 0 | $10K | 17 of 44 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 1 | – | 14 of 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 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 Franklin County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Franklin County from 1982 to 1995, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 14th of 44 Idaho 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Franklin County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4: 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Idaho.
Every tornado record filed for Franklin County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-05-05 | Station Creek, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 1995-05-05 | Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 1986-05-21 | Franklin County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-06-30 | Franklin County | F1 1.2 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 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 Franklin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 20, 2021 avalanche (1 death).
A 48 year old male snow mobile operator was killed in an avalanche near Sherman Peak in between Grace and Montpelier after causing an avalanche.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 945462)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | HailClifton, Franklin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindMink Creek, Franklin County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindMink Creek, Franklin County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindMink Creek, Franklin County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindMink Creek, Franklin County | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindWhitney, Franklin County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindMink Creek, Franklin County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-14 | High WindBear Lake County and 2 more · forecast zone Bear River Range | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-14 | High WindFranklin County and Oneida County · forecast zone Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-04 | Heavy SnowBear Lake County and 2 more · forecast zone Bear River Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-04 | Heavy SnowFranklin County and Oneida County · forecast zone Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Winter StormBear Lake County and 2 more · forecast zone Bear River Range | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-08-03 | Strong WindBear Lake County and Franklin County · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion A 37 year old woman and her 11 year daughter died in accidents near Fish Haven on Bear Lake. Winds allegedly played a factor in causing flotation devices to drift from shore. Highest recorded wind speeds at the Bear Lake airport near the time of accident were 29 mph. | 25 kt wind | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2021-02-20 | AvalancheBear Lake County and 2 more · forecast zone Bear River Range A 48 year old male snow mobile operator was killed in an avalanche near Sherman Peak in between Grace and Montpelier after causing an avalanche. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-01-07 | Winter StormFranklin County · forecast zone Cache Valley/Idaho Portion Periods of snow and rain occurred for over 4 days with the city of Preston recording 7.4 inches. Preston schools were closed on the 11th. A fatal automobile accident occurred on US Highway 91 on the evening of the 9th in part due to icy road conditions. | 1 | 0 | $6K | |
| 2013-03-17 | Winter StormBear Lake County and Franklin County · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion A strong cold frontal brought light snow and wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. 1 to 3 inches of snow was common but blowing and drifting snow caused reduced visibilities and a three car collision claimed the life of a 12 year old girl on route 89 near Paris, Idaho. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-09-07 | High WindFranklin County and Oneida County · forecast zone Franklin-Eastern Oneida Region A SUV pulling a camper/trailer overturned on interstate 15 south of Malad Summit due to high crosswinds. The two passengers suffered minor injuries. A 52 mph wind speed was measured 4 miles east southeast of Weston at 7:49 PM MDT. A metal roof was blown off a hay barn in Clifton at around 745 pm MDT. | 45 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2003-08-22 | LightningWhitney, Franklin County Lightning struck a house in the town of Whitney. The bolt caused a man at a doorway to be thrown several feet outdoors, after which the house exploded. Damage amounts were not available. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-02-05 | FloodThatcher, Franklin County | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2012-08-28 | WildfireBear Lake County and Franklin County · forecast zone Wasatch Mountains/Iadho Portion | 0 | 0 | $643K | |
| 2017-01-07 | Winter StormFranklin County · forecast zone Cache Valley/Idaho Portion | 1 | 0 | $6K |
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: May 21, 1986 (tornado, Franklin 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 Franklin 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 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 36 | 80 | 68 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
| Hail | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 6 | 10 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its winter storm records since 1998 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 45 · Feb 50 · Mar 32 · Apr 9 · May 17 · Jun 14 · Jul 12 · Aug 23 · Sep 3 · Oct 9 · Nov 21 · Dec 44 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Franklin County
FEMA's register lists 4 declarations that include Franklin County: 2 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and flood (1).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4534 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3467 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-04-21 | DR-4310 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3244 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
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 Franklin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 7 flood or flash flood records for Franklin County from 2009 to 2023, on 7 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Franklin County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2,525 on 1 claim filed in Franklin County; the most in one year was 1 in 2006. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2006: 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 Franklin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Franklin County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $142K | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $487K | once in about 177 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 78 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $211K | 34 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $978 | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $147K | 1.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $90 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $1 | once in about 10,000 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Franklin 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 Franklin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Franklin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)4 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis