Mineral County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30061 · population 4,516 · 1,220 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 434 records for Mineral County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 407 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (337 records). 393 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 December 16, 2023 freezing fog, filed for the forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 5 injuries and $68,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1974, 8 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
- 434on 407 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1324 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.8Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- 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 Mineral County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 337 since 1996. 48% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 337 | 323 | 1996-2026 | 9 | 14 | $138K | 4 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 25 | 25 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $575K | 46 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 19 | 18 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | – | 13 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 17 | 14 | 1987-2024 | 1 | 4 | $621K | 47 of 56 |
| Hail | 14 | 11 | 1970-2019 | 0 | 0 | $26K | 52 of 56 |
| Floods | 7 | 7 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $5.3M | 37 of 56 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2018-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 2 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2004-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 56 |
| Wildfires | 4 | 4 | 2003-2015 | 0 | 0 | $12K | 13 of 56 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2019-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2023-2023 | 2 | 5 | $68K | 42 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.
When was the last damaging storm in Mineral County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 17, 2025 high wind ($120,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-08 | Frost/FreezeMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-16 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | Winter StormMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | Winter StormMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-21 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2025-12-11 | FloodLookout, Mineral County | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 2025-12-05 | Heavy SnowMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-16 | Freezing FogMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Freezing fog led to ice formation on area roadways. Icy roads were likely a contributing factor to a three vehicle collision on Highway 93 near Evaro. The crash resulted in five injuries and two fatalities. | 2 | 5 | $68K | |
| 2018-12-19 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region A little bit before 4 am MDT, five semi-tractor trailers and one SUV crashed into each other at the bridge near the Quartz Flat Campground on Interstate 90 due to icy road conditions. As a result, two men in their 30s passed away while three other men were injured. The road conditions were labeled as very icy. The ... | 2 | 3 | $1K | |
| 2025-02-07 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Several crashes and slide-offs were reported along Interstate 90. Two of the crashes had unknown injuries. The COOP observer in Alberton measured 1.3 inches of snow. | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2025-01-03 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Snow intensity became heavy at Lookout Pass by the afternoon but decreased by late evening. The combination of wet roads re-freezing at sunset, falling snow, and rain likely contributed to very slick conditions and a double fatality(indirect) on Evaro Hill. A semi-truck jackknifed, rotated into the oncoming lane, and ... | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2015-08-11 | Thunderstorm WindBorax, Mineral County A strong thunderstorm unleashed a small microburst that caused hundreds of trees to either snap in half or blow over at the Denna Mora Rest Area on Interstate 90 east of Lookout Pass. Two large fir and spruce trees with diameters up to 3 feet wide fell onto the eastbound lanes just to the northwest of the rest area ... | 50 kt wind | 1 | 3 | $2K |
| 2017-09-13 | Heavy SnowMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Lookout Pass received 15 inches of snow within 12 hours and this created hazardous conditions. Montana Department of Transportation closed I-90 for 6 hours from 1 am to 5 am MST. | 1 | 2 | $1K | |
| 1996-11-18 | Winter StormMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Record heavy snow event with wind, that followed with areas of freezing rain throughout western Montana. By the afternoon of 11/18/96 Libby received 10 inches of new snow. 24 hour snowfall totals by the morning of 11/19/96 were: 35 inches at Essex; 20.1 inches at Kalispell and Lookout Pass; 18 inches at Conner and 30 ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2022-11-04 | Heavy SnowMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region Very heavy snow caused difficult travel along Interstate 90 and Thompson Pass. Multiple semitrucks became stuck near Lookout Pass because of the deep snow. The Lookout Pass SNOTEL recorded 16 inches of snow depth increase with 2.70 inches of snow water equivalent during this event. The Haugan COOP reported 5 inches of ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-11 | FloodLookout, Mineral County | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 1996-02-07 | FloodMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2002-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindSt Regis, Mineral County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $591K |
| 2012-02-22 | High WindMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $275K |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2023-12-16 | Freezing FogMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 2 | 5 | $68K | |
| 2022-04-04 | High WindMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $5K |
| 2015-08-11 | Thunderstorm WindBorax, Mineral County | 50 kt wind | 1 | 3 | $2K |
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 Mineral 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 | – | – | – | – | 59 | 117 | 104 | 57 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 2 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 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?
48% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 79 · Feb 66 · Mar 46 · Apr 14 · May 13 · Jun 16 · Jul 9 · Aug 17 · Sep 8 · Oct 7 · Nov 62 · Dec 97 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mineral County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Mineral County: 5 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4902 | Straight-Line Winds | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4508 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3476 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-07-18 | FM-5035 | Fire | West Mullan Fire |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3253 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-08-12 | FM-2490 | Fire | Mt-Missoula/Mineral Fire Zone-08/08/03 |
| 2000-08-30 | DR-1340 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2000-08-05 | FM-2317 | Fire | Mt-Southwestern Zone Two Fire Complex |
| 1996-02-23 | DR-1105 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams |
| 1974-01-29 | DR-417 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding & Landslides |
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 Mineral County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 7 flood or flash flood records for Mineral County from 1996 to 2025, on 7 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mineral County ranks 2590th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $11,000 on 5 claims filed in Mineral County; the most in one year was 5 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1997: 5; 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 Mineral County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mineral County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $55K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $457K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $603K | once in about 272 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $60K | 57 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $41K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $299K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $56K | once in about 488 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $1.6M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Mineral County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Winter storms in MontanaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Mineral CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mineral County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis