Missoula County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30063 · population 117,719 · 2,593 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,530 records for Missoula County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 833 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (994 records). 1,256 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 day on its record was February 7, 2025: winter weather records filed for Missoula County that day count 4 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1974, 19 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
- 1,530on 833 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 42105 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $21Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Missoula County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 994 since 1996. 44% 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 | 994 | 536 | 1996-2026 | 31 | 74 | $1.9M | 6 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 142 | 88 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 14 | $3.6M | 31 of 56 |
| Hail | 118 | 72 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 33 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 109 | 76 | 1957-2025 | 1 | 1 | $8.5M | 23 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 82 | 46 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 6 | $72K | 9 of 56 |
| Floods | 36 | 31 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $5.8M | 12 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 9 | 2004-2025 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 10 of 56 |
| Heat | 11 | 7 | 2018-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 56 |
| Wildfires | 10 | 6 | 2003-2023 | 0 | 0 | $704K | 20 of 56 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 7 | 6 | 2010-2022 | 5 | 3 | $398K | 14 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2003-2023 | 2 | 5 | $116K | 30 of 56 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1998-2003 | 1 | 2 | – | 8 of 56 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1983-1995 | 0 | 0 | $89 | 46 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 Missoula County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Missoula County from 1983 to 1995, the strongest rated F0, 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 2 tornadoes whose track touched Missoula County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Montana.
Every tornado record filed for Missoula County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-08-07 | Holland Lake, Missoula County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-07-20 | Missoula County | F0 2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Missoula County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 18, 2026 frost/freeze (6 injuries and $10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
The Ravalli County Airport recorded a low of 21 degrees, while a National Weather Service employees observation in the Ranch Club area recorded 22 degrees. On May 19, lows ranged from 30 to 33 degrees. Orchards in the Bitterroot Valley reported that approximately one-third of their apple crops did not fruit due to the combination of an early warm winter, early budding, and these May freezes.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1329748)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Strong WindMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 42 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-08 | Frost/FreezeMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-08 | Frost/FreezeMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-07 | Frost/FreezeGranite County and 3 more · forecast zone Potomac / Seeley Lake Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-28 | HailClinton Eliott Airport, Missoula County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | Frost/FreezeMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 6 | $10K | |
| 2026-05-16 | Winter WeatherMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-15 | Winter WeatherGranite County and 2 more · forecast zone Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-25 | Frost/FreezeGranite County and 2 more · forecast zone Bitterroot / Sapphire Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-25 | Frost/FreezeMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-24 | Winter WeatherMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-23 | Winter WeatherGranite County and 3 more · forecast zone Potomac / Seeley Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-14 | Winter WeatherGranite County and 3 more · forecast zone Potomac / Seeley Lake Region On the morning of February 15, 2026, a head-on collision involving two SUVs occurred on Highway 200 just west of Bear Creek. The accident resulted in three injuries requiring hospitalization and a two-hour closure of the highway. Precipitation totals in the vicinity of the accident ranged from 0.10 to 0.22 inches. | 3 | 3 | – | |
| 2014-02-22 | Winter WeatherMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys A period of light snow fell on Feb. 22 causing US-93 to become slick. Three persons died, while two were injured in an automobile accident around 5:30 pm MST near Trader Brothers on US-93 south. According to the Montana Highway Patrol both speed and the road conditions were a factor in the crash. | 3 | 2 | – | |
| 2025-02-16 | Winter StormMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys Severe driving conditions were reported by Montana Department of Transportation due to slick roads on the morning of February 16. Very slick conditions were reported again during the next two nights with fresh snow falling. An accident during the early morning hours of February 18 occurred near Frenchtown on the ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 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 WeatherGranite County and 3 more · forecast zone Potomac / Seeley Lake Region At least two crashes involving injuries were reported by the Montana Department of Justice crash webpage: one near Clinton and another near Seeley Lake. Snowfall was light, with only 1 to 2 inches reported by observers, but breezy north to east winds between 10 and 20 mph caused blowing snow and reduced visibility, ... | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 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 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-24 | Thunderstorm WindLolo Hot Spgs, Missoula County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.8M |
| 1996-03-11 | FloodMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2012-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindMissoula International A, Missoula County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 1997-05-01 | FloodMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula/Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 1996-02-07 | FloodMineral County and 2 more · forecast zone Lower Clark Fork Region | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2001-06-04 | Heavy SnowMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2015-08-10 | Thunderstorm WindMissoula International A, Missoula County | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2021-12-23 | Strong WindMissoula County and Ravalli County · forecast zone Missoula / Bitterroot Valleys | 47 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.1M |
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 $30, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 20, 1983 (tornado, Missoula 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 Missoula 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 | – | – | – | – | 122 | 339 | 337 | 196 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 26 | 54 | 53 |
| Hail | 1 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 19 | 37 | 28 | 18 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 23 | 40 | 24 | 11 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 5 | 18 | 29 | 30 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 12 | 3 | 14 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
44% 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 242 · Feb 221 · Mar 121 · Apr 63 · May 78 · Jun 100 · Jul 84 · Aug 93 · Sep 43 · Oct 56 · Nov 169 · Dec 260 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Missoula County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Missoula County: 11 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 7 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (8) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4902 | Straight-Line Winds | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2024-08-23 | DR-4813 | Straight-Line Winds | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4508 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3476 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-31 | DR-4405 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2017-09-09 | FM-5207 | Fire | Rice Ridge Fire |
| 2017-08-17 | FM-5197 | Fire | Lolo Peak Fire |
| 2013-08-19 | FM-5047 | Fire | Lolo Creek Fire Complex |
| 2011-06-17 | DR-1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-08-16 | FM-2721 | Fire | Black Cat Fire |
| 2007-08-04 | FM-2718 | Fire | Jocko Lakes Fire |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3253 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-08-12 | FM-2490 | Fire | Mt-Missoula/Mineral Fire Zone-08/08/03 |
| 2001-07-07 | DR-1385 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2000-08-30 | DR-1340 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2000-08-05 | FM-2317 | Fire | Mt-Southwestern Zone Two Fire Complex |
| 1997-07-25 | DR-1183 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding |
| 1996-02-23 | DR-1105 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams |
| 1981-05-27 | DR-640 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-08-22 | EM-3050 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Missoula County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 36 flood or flash flood records for Missoula County from 1996 to 2023, on 31 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Missoula County ranks 1031st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $973,000 on 172 claims filed in Missoula County; the most in one year was 70 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 7 · 1986: 2 · 1996: 9 · 1997: 70 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2006: 3 · 2007: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 26 · 2014: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 32 · 2019: 2 · 2022: 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 Missoula County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Missoula County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $56.7 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 High | $14M | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $2.9M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.4M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate | $6.8M | once in about 151 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $202K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $10M | once in about 76 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $331K | 51 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $605K | 22 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Missoula 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
- 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 Missoula CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Missoula County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis