McCone County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30055 · population 1,721 · 2,642 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 748 records for McCone County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 468 days; the most frequent are hail reports (241 records). The deadliest single record is the July 9, 1983 tornado: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1986, 7 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds” on April 7, 2026.
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
- 748on 468 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 17 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $18Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 2026
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 McCone County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 241 since 1957. 73% of its hail reports since 1957 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 | 241 | 127 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 3 | $8.6M | 17 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 199 | 116 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 0 | $6.9M | 10 of 56 |
| Winter storms | 85 | 83 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $3K | 44 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 83 | 77 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $227K | 36 of 56 |
| Drought | 51 | 51 | 2005-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 33 | 29 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 56 |
| Floods | 25 | 22 | 1999-2019 | 0 | 0 | $387K | 26 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 11 | 11 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3K | 11 of 56 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 9 | 1954-2010 | 1 | 1 | $1.5M | 17 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 6 | 2008-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 56 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2002-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 56 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 2 | $137K | 45 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 McCone County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in McCone County from 1954 to 2010, the strongest rated F2, with 1 death and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 17th 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched McCone County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-07-09 19:37, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F1 | 1 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Montana.
Every tornado record filed for McCone County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-06-16 | Ft Peck Lake Handar, McCone County | EF1 2.61 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 2010-05-27 | Brockway, McCone County | EF0 0.1 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-07-20 | Vida, McCone County | F0 23 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-07-11 | McCone County | 0 | 0 | $484K | |
| 1995-06-21 | Vida, McCone County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-08-13 | Circle, McCone County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-10 | McCone County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1983-07-09 | McCone County | F1 1 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1954-08-26 | McCone County | F2 20.9 mi x 880 yd | 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 McCone County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 10, 2021 thunderstorm wind ($1.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Several power line poles (both from the local electric cooperative and the Department of Energy, which were replaced in recent years) were snapped at their bases in this area. A nearby home weather station recorded a 79 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 969365)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-27 | HailCircle, McCone County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | HailCircle, McCone County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | HailCircle, McCone County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | HailBrockway, McCone County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMcCone County · forecast zone McCone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-14 | High WindMcCone County · forecast zone McCone | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | High WindMcCone County · forecast zone McCone | 41 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | High WindMcCone County · forecast zone McCone | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | BlizzardMcCone County · forecast zone McCone | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindFt Peck Lake Handar, McCone County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindWeldon, McCone County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindVida, McCone County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-07-09 | TornadoMcCone County | F1 1 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 1 | $250K step |
| 2008-03-24 | WildfireMcCone County · forecast zone McCone A wildfire started 14 miles north-northwest of Vida and grew to 3500 acres before being extinguished approximately 15 miles northeast of Vida. Two separate property owners suffered minor burns while attempting to control the fire and a total of ten outbuildings were lost. Fencing and power poles were also damaged. | 0 | 2 | $137K | |
| 1996-07-19 | HailCircle, McCone County STRONG THUNDERSTORM WINDS AND ONE INCH HAIL BATTERED A FARM SOUTHEAST OF CIRCLE. A LARGE PICTURE WINDOW WAS SHATTERED AND WHEAT WAS FLATTENED, 100% WHEAT LOSS WAS REPORTED IN SOME AREAS AROUND BROCKWAY AND CIRCLE. | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 2 | $245K |
| 2008-03-28 | Heavy SnowMcCone County · forecast zone McCone Eight to ten inches of snow was reported at the Flowing Wells Rest Stop. Poor road conditions resulted in a nearby vehicle rollover injuring the driver. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1995-08-26 | HailVida, McCone County Three-inch hail damaged car windshields and tore gutters off of homes. Several wheat fields sustained damage. The hail tore the roof off a John Deere combine. One woman was injured when hail struck her in the forehead. | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 1 | $126K |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-06-16 | HailVida, McCone County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $7.3M |
| 2001-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindCircle, McCone County | 98 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.5M |
| 2021-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindCow Creek Dot, McCone County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2000-07-04 | HailCircle, McCone County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $600K |
| 2020-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindBrockway, McCone County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $399K |
| 2016-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindCow Creek Dot, McCone County | 109 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $349K |
| 2016-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindBrockway, McCone County | 104 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $344K |
| 2005-06-06 | Flash FloodSouth Portion, McCone County | 0 | 0 | $260K |
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 9, 1983 (tornado, McCone County, 1 killed).
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 McCone 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 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 34 | 78 | 91 | 24 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 62 | 51 | 66 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 36 | 26 | 13 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 30 | 18 | 29 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 9 | 36 z |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 8 | 13 | 11 |
Drought in the 2020-26: 36 records against 9 in the decade before, 36 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the McCone County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
73% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 50 · Feb 36 · Mar 32 · Apr 27 · May 73 · Jun 120 · Jul 225 · Aug 95 · Sep 10 · Oct 16 · Nov 21 · Dec 43 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for McCone County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include McCone County: 8 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4902 | Straight-Line Winds | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2021-08-13 | DR-4608 | Other | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4508 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3476 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-05-24 | DR-4437 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2013-07-10 | DR-4127 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011-06-17 | DR-1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3253 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-12-06 | DR-1350 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1986-10-14 | DR-777 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for McCone County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates McCone County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.5 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 Low | $1.7M | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $379K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $27K | 19 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $229K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $48K | once in about 838 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $22K | 40 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Very Low | $149 | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $56K | 2.7 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 McCone 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 McCone CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download McCone County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis