Lincoln County, Nevada
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 32017 · population 4,449 · 10,633 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 284 records for Lincoln County, Nevada from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 240 days; the most frequent are floods and flash floods (88 records). 145 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 most damaging was the January 11, 2005 flood ($30.2 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 2002, 6 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 27, 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
- 284on 240 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 016 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $35Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 7strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 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 Lincoln County most?
The most frequent records are floods and flash floods: 88 since 1996. 55% of its floods and flash floods since 1996 fell in July and August. The rank column places the county among Nevada'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | 88 | 68 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $33M | 8 of 17 |
| High wind and dust storms | 73 | 62 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 9 | $1.2M | 17 of 17 |
| Winter storms | 53 | 52 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 7 | $169K | 17 of 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 31 | 29 | 1964-2022 | 0 | 0 | $35K | 15 of 17 |
| Heat | 16 | 16 | 2020-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 7 of 17 |
| Hail | 13 | 13 | 1981-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 17 |
| Tornadoes | 7 | 7 | 1967-2012 | 0 | 0 | $649K | 10 of 17 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 17 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | $93K | 15 of 17 |
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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA records 7 tornadoes in Lincoln County from 1967 to 2012, 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Lincoln County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 7, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Nevada.
Every tornado record filed for Lincoln County (7)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-07-24 | Crestline, Lincoln County | EF0 0.69 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-08-31 | Hiko, Lincoln County | F1 1 mi x 0 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-09-05 | Pioche, Lincoln County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-10-06 | Lincoln County | F0 3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-08-07 | Lincoln County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-10-08 | Lincoln County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-05-22 | Lincoln County | 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 Lincoln County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 5, 2025 flash flood ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 | High WindLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-17 | High WindClark County and Lincoln County · forecast zone Sheep Range | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-05 | Flash FloodPeck, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2025-08-20 | Excessive HeatLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-02 | Flash FloodRox, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2022-08-22 | Thunderstorm WindElgin, Lincoln County | 66 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-03-20 | Dust StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range | 0 | 9 | – | |
| 2021-07-23 | Thunderstorm WindElgin, Lincoln County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-07-12 | Thunderstorm WindElgin, Lincoln County | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-07-11 | Thunderstorm WindElgin, Lincoln County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-07-28 | Thunderstorm WindAlamo, Lincoln County | 66 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-03-20 | Dust StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range Dust storm conditions led to a 12-vehicle crash on Highway 318 at Lincoln County mile marker 35. Nine people were injured (indirect). | 0 | 9 | – | |
| 2015-02-28 | Winter WeatherLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range Four inches of snow fell in Pioche, with lesser amounts in Caliente and Panaca. Three vehicle rollovers and two slide-offs were attributed to the weather. Seven people were injured (indirect). | 0 | 7 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-01-11 | FloodLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln T Sc | 0 | 0 | $30M | |
| 2010-12-21 | Flash FloodElgin, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $677K | |
| 2011-11-30 | Strong WindLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln County Except The Sheep Range | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $656K |
| 2002-04-15 | High WindLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln T Sc | 72 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $492K |
| 1996-07-15 | Flash FloodCaliente, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $470K | |
| 2025-09-05 | Flash FloodPeck, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $50K | |
| 2025-06-02 | Flash FloodRox, Lincoln County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2016-07-28 | Thunderstorm WindAlamo, Lincoln County | 66 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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: August 7, 1987 (tornado, Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 9 | 48 | 22 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 33 | 32 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 23 | 24 | 1 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 8 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
55% of its floods and flash floods since 1996 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 13 · Feb 20 · Mar 31 · Apr 15 · May 15 · Jun 14 · Jul 54 · Aug 44 · Sep 24 · Oct 16 · Nov 16 · Dec 22 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lincoln County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Lincoln County: 3 major disasters, 4 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for biological (2) and snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-27 | DR-4708 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4523 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3443 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3243 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-03-07 | DR-1583 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains and Flooding |
| 2005-02-23 | EM-3204 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-02-17 | EM-3202 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 2002-06-09 | FM-2420 | Fire | Nv Wildfire (Pioche) 06-08-2002 |
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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 88 flood or flash flood records for Lincoln County from 1996 to 2025, on 68 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lincoln County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $13,000 on 6 claims filed in Lincoln County; the most in one year was 2 in 2026. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1993: 1 · 1994: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2026: 2; 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 Lincoln County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lincoln 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $969K | once in about 258 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $944K | once in about 48 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $5K | 8.5 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $186K | 114 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $2.6M | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $15K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $761 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $55K | 4.4 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 Lincoln 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 NevadaEvery Nevada tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Floods in NevadaThe state's floods and flash floods, by county, year and month
- The Nevada recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Lincoln CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lincoln County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis