Nez Perce County, Idaho
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 16069 · population 42,062 · 848 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 310 records for Nez Perce County, Idaho from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 216 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (108 records). 184 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 July 24, 2024 wildfire ($11.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1964, 13 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on June 30, 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
- 310on 216 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 011 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $44Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Nez Perce County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 108 since 1998. 48% of its winter storm records since 1998 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among Idaho'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 | 108 | 88 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 4 | – | 27 of 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | 50 | 34 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 3 | $1.0M | 15 of 44 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 49 | 39 | 1956-2023 | 0 | 1 | $287K | 10 of 44 |
| Hail | 31 | 20 | 1958-2012 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 7 of 44 |
| Floods | 28 | 15 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 9 of 44 |
| Wildfires | 14 | 10 | 2007-2024 | 0 | 3 | $31M | 23 of 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 11 | 10 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 4 of 44 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 9 | 7 | 2011-2022 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 9 of 44 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 1996-2015 | 0 | 0 | $125 | 10 of 44 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1962-1997 | 0 | 0 | $244K | 18 of 44 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1997-2014 | 0 | 0 | $623 | 9 of 44 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 44 |
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 Nez Perce County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Nez Perce County from 1962 to 1997, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 18th of 44 Idaho 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Nez Perce County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Idaho.
Every tornado record filed for Nez Perce County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-05-31 | Lewiston, Nez Perce County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-06-20 | Nez Perce County | F1 1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1962-05-08 | Nez Perce County | F2 9.1 mi x 33 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 Nez Perce County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 17, 2025 high wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-17 | High WindNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 73 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-12-09 | High WindNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-07 | Strong WindNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 46 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-02-04 | Heavy SnowLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-10-04 | Dust StormNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 0 | 3 | $56K | |
| 2024-08-01 | WildfireNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | |
| 2024-07-24 | WildfireNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2024-07-03 | WildfireLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | |
| 2023-06-09 | Flash FloodEast Lewiston, Nez Perce County | 0 | 0 | $969K | |
| 2022-06-12 | FloodBundy, Nez Perce County | 0 | 0 | $756K | |
| 2022-06-12 | FloodBundy, Nez Perce County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-04 | Dust StormNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area Blowing dust reduced visibility to between 0 and 1 mile along US-95 near mileposts 321 and 322. Road closed between MP 321 and 325. 60 vehicles involved in pile up. State police report three non severe injuries. Lewiston Airport ASOS reported max gust of 51 at the time. | 0 | 3 | $56K | |
| 2014-08-02 | WildfireLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce Three firefighters were injured fighting the blaze. One firefighter received a three inch gash on his right leg from a chain saw and required stitches. Another firefighter suffered heat related problems and a third sustained a scratched cornea. Two hundred homes were threatened from the fire with only nine structures ... | 0 | 3 | $2.8M | |
| 2009-12-30 | Winter WeatherNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area A low pressure system moving into Oregon sent a band of snow northward into the Lewiston area. Slick roadways from snow led to several motor vehicle accidents in the Lewiston area, which contributed to two indirect injuries. Lewiston recorded 2.3 inches of snow. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2007-12-09 | Winter WeatherNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area A weather system dropping down from Canada moved through North Idaho resulting in heavy snow accumulations on the palouse and Camas Prairie. The Moscow and Winchester areas received four to five inches of snow. A pair of accidents on the Idaho Palouse were partially contributed from snow and ice on roadways, which ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1998-07-09 | Thunderstorm WindLapwai, Nez Perce County power lines down and trees blown down. one tree blown down onto trailer house. 1 male injured. | 0 | 1 | $45K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-24 | WildfireNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2024-07-03 | WildfireLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | |
| 2005-05-08 | Flash FloodLapwai, Nez Perce County | 0 | 0 | $6.0M | |
| 2024-08-01 | WildfireNez Perce County · forecast zone Lewiston Area | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | |
| 2011-09-02 | WildfireLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce | 0 | 0 | $4.6M | |
| 2014-08-02 | WildfireLewis County and Nez Perce County · forecast zone Lewis And Southern Nez Perce | 0 | 3 | $2.8M | |
| 2022-06-12 | FloodBundy, Nez Perce County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2023-06-09 | Flash FloodEast Lewiston, Nez Perce County | 0 | 0 | $969K |
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: May 8, 1962 (tornado, Nez Perce 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 Nez Perce 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 | – | – | – | – | 4 | 48 | 44 | 12 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 14 | 18 | 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 7 | 23 | 2 |
| Hail | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 11 | 0 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 11 | 11 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
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 1998 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 27 · Feb 36 · Mar 20 · Apr 24 · May 27 · Jun 47 · Jul 31 · Aug 25 · Sep 11 · Oct 6 · Nov 22 · Dec 34 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Nez Perce County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Nez Perce County: 10 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | DR-4917 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4905 | Straight-Line Winds | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2024-07-26 | FM-5520 | Fire | Gwen Fire |
| 2024-07-16 | FM-5510 | Fire | Texas Fire |
| 2021-08-13 | FM-5407 | Fire | Bedrock Fire |
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4534 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3467 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-05-20 | DR-1987 | Flood | Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3244 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 2005-07-06 | DR-1592 | Flood | Heavy Rains and Flooding |
| 1997-01-04 | DR-1154 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
| 1996-02-11 | DR-1102 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1980-05-22 | DR-624 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
| 1967-08-30 | DR-231 | Fire | Forest Fires |
| 1964-12-31 | DR-186 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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.
How many floods has Nez Perce County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 28 flood or flash flood records for Nez Perce County from 1998 to 2023, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Nez Perce County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $31,000 on 6 claims filed in Nez Perce County; the most in one year was 2 in 1984. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1984: 2 · 1996: 1 · 2009: 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 Nez Perce County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Nez Perce County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.1 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 | $1.7M | once in about 236 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $12M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $697K | 4.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $4K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $1K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $196K | once in about 803 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $299K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $1K | 18 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 Nez Perce 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 IdahoEvery Idaho tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in IdahoThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Idaho recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Nez Perce CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Nez Perce County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis