Golden Valley County, North Dakota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 38033 · population 1,732 · 1,001 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 432 records for Golden Valley County, North Dakota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 331 days; the most frequent are hail reports (118 records). The most damaging was the April 4, 1997 blizzard ($2.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1978, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Flooding” on July 5, 2023.
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
- 432on 331 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $14Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 2023
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 Golden Valley County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 118 since 1973. 71% of its hail reports since 1973 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among North Dakota'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 | 118 | 81 | 1973-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.4M | 28 of 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 86 | 62 | 1971-2026 | 0 | 3 | $1.4M | 25 of 53 |
| Winter storms | 81 | 79 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $6.4M | 33 of 53 |
| High wind and dust storms | 72 | 70 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 6 of 53 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 2021-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 53 |
| Extreme cold | 21 | 20 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 of 53 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 11 | 1952-2024 | 0 | 0 | $325K | 46 of 53 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 7 | 2001-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 53 |
| Floods | 6 | 4 | 2001-2023 | 0 | 0 | $136K | 47 of 53 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2006 | 0 | 0 | $13K | 6 of 53 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 1998-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 53 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 53 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2006-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 53 |
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 Golden Valley County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Golden Valley County from 1952 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Golden Valley County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Golden Valley County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952-07-19 18:30, as SPC files it | WibauxCrossed MT, ND | F3 | 16.4 mi | 1 |
| 1952-06-10 17:00, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 8.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in North Dakota.
Every tornado record filed for Golden Valley County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-27 | Trotters, Golden Valley County | EFU 0.57 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-06-30 | Trotters, Golden Valley County | EF1 6.24 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-06-03 | Golva, Golden Valley County | EF0 0.02 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2009-07-08 | Sentinel Butte, Golden Valley County | EF0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-07-25 | Golva, Golden Valley County | F2 5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-20 | Golva, Golden Valley County | F0 1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-06-14 | Golden Valley County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-05-03 | Golden Valley County | F0 0.3 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-07-09 | Golden Valley County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1952-07-19 | Golden Valley County | F3 7.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1952-06-10 | Golden Valley County | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Golden Valley County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 20, 2025 hail ($75,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindTrotters, Golden Valley County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindSentinel Butte, Golden Valley County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindTrotters, Golden Valley County | 68 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindSentinel Butte, Golden Valley County | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-27 | Thunderstorm WindSentinel Butte, Golden Valley County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | HailSentinel Butte, Golden Valley County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-15 | High WindGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | BlizzardGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-09 | High WindGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-20 | High WindGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-08-04 | Thunderstorm WindBeach, Golden Valley County Tree damage occurred in Beach. Three injuries occurred at the Golden Valley County Fairgrounds when part of a stage being set up was blown over. The injuries were minor. | 63 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $26K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-04-04 | BlizzardGolden Valley County · forecast zone Golden Valley | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | |
| 1993-08-22 | HailBeach, Golden Valley County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| 1999-08-15 | HailBeach, Golden Valley County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2015-09-05 | Thunderstorm WindGolva, Golden Valley County | 86 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $872K |
| 2024-05-29 | HailBeach Municipal Airport, Golden Valley County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $753K |
| 1996-08-02 | HailBeach, Golden Valley County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $493K |
| 2022-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindBeach Municipal Airport, Golden Valley County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $252K |
| 2008-08-10 | HailBeach, Golden Valley County | 2.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | $103K |
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: June 10, 1952 (tornado, Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley 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 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 11 | 49 | 18 | 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 31 | 16 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 13 | 31 | 25 | 12 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 18 | 29 | 23 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
71% of its hail reports since 1973 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 38 · Feb 25 · Mar 25 · Apr 23 · May 26 · Jun 74 · Jul 108 · Aug 39 · Sep 12 · Oct 17 · Nov 16 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Golden Valley County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Golden Valley County: 10 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (4) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-05 | DR-4717 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2022-07-13 | DR-4660 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2020-04-01 | DR-4509 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3477 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2010-02-26 | DR-1879 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-11-21 | DR-1616 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm and Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3247 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001-05-28 | DR-1376 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, & Ground Saturation |
| 2000-12-29 | DR-1353 | Tornado | Severe Winter Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1997-04-07 | DR-1174 | Flood | Severe Flooding,Severe Winter Storms, Snowmelt, Spring Rains |
| 1997-01-12 | DR-1157 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard Conditions |
| 1978-04-17 | DR-554 | Flood | Storms, Ice Jams, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 1978-02-16 | EM-3061 | Snowstorm | Blizzard & Snowstorms |
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 Golden Valley County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 6 flood or flash flood records for Golden Valley County from 2001 to 2023, on 4 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Golden Valley County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 2 claims filed in Golden Valley 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 · 1979: 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 Golden Valley County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Golden Valley County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.8 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 | $3.6M | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $64K | 16 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $227K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $35K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $172K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $39K | once in about 640 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $16K | 33 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Very Low | $95K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Golden Valley 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 North DakotaEvery North Dakota tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in North DakotaThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The North Dakota recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Golden Valley CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Golden Valley County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis