Sheridan County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30091 · population 3,537 · 1,677 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 693 records for Sheridan County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 472 days; the most frequent are hail reports (197 records). The deadliest single record is the July 26, 2010 tornado: 2 deaths, 1 injury and $406,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 6 declarations naming the county since 2000, 4 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Flooding” on August 12, 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
- 693on 472 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 34 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $16Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 6latest 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 Sheridan County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 197 since 1957. 69% 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 | 197 | 107 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $89K | 3 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 126 | 72 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 2 | $254K | 12 of 56 |
| Winter storms | 97 | 89 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 1 | $4.3M | 32 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 74 | 62 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $21K | 27 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 64 | 60 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 56 |
| Drought | 52 | 52 | 2005-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 47 | 45 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $34K | 2 of 56 |
| Floods | 16 | 15 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 23 of 56 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 8 | 1971-2018 | 2 | 1 | $408K | 13 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 5 | 2007-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 56 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2003-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 56 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 16 of 56 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 40 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 Sheridan County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Sheridan County from 1971 to 2018, the strongest rated EF3, with 2 deaths and 1 injury recorded in the county. That is 13th 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Sheridan County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-26 19:00, as SPC files it | Unnamed | EF3 | 18 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Montana.
Every tornado record filed for Sheridan County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-09 | Plentywood Shrwd Arp, Sheridan County | EF1 2.1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-07-29 | Dagmar, Sheridan County | EF0 0.13 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-09 | Homestead, Sheridan County | EF0 0.46 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-07-26 | Redstone Hill Dot, Sheridan County | EF3 18 mi x 880 yd | 2 | 1 | $406K |
| 2004-07-14 | Westby, Sheridan County | F0 100 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-07-14 | Plentywood, Sheridan County | F0 100 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-07-14 | Plentywood, Sheridan County | F0 300 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-25 | Sheridan County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-07-05 | Sheridan County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-07-02 | Sheridan County | F2 10 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 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 Sheridan County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 15, 2024 ice storm (1 injury).
Freezing rain fell across the county with an accumulation of a 0.10 to 0.34, causing a person to fall in Plentywood. Also, severe driving conditions were noted on the Montana DOT 511 website, mainly near and south of Medicine Lake, through the morning.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1220445)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | FloodWestby, Sheridan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindComertown Dot, Sheridan County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindComertown Dot, Sheridan County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindPlentywood Shrwd Arp, Sheridan County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-14 | Dust StormSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-14 | High WindSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-12 | DroughtSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindMedicine Lake, Sheridan County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindMedicine Lake, Sheridan County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindMedicine Lake Raws, Sheridan County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindComertown Dot, Sheridan County | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-07-26 | TornadoRedstone Hill Dot, Sheridan County This was the deadliest tornado in Montana since 1923, and only the fourth EF-3 on record. The supercell thunderstorm developed strong rotation, and rotating wall clouds and brief funnel clouds were reported in Daniels County. As the storm moved southeast, it intensified and a large, long-lived tornado formed. The ... | EF3 18 mi x 880 yd | 2 | 1 | $406K |
| 1998-02-25 | BlizzardSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan A powerful winter storm brought blizzard conditions to eastern Montana. Up to a foot and a half of snow in combination with sustained winds 30 to 40 miles an hour and gusts to 50 mph reduced visibility to zero. Snow drifts ranged between 5 and 12 feet. All roads leading into North Dakota were closed including U.S. ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-12-15 | Ice StormSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan Freezing rain fell across the county with an accumulation of a 0.10 to 0.34, causing a person to fall in Plentywood. Also, severe driving conditions were noted on the Montana DOT 511 website, mainly near and south of Medicine Lake, through the morning. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2005-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindReserve, Sheridan County A semi-truck hit a fallen tree on Highway 258. The driver of the truck was injured, but refused medical attention. | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 1999-06-21 | Thunderstorm WindPlentywood, Sheridan County Over almost a four hour period, numerous severe thunderstorms moved from southwest to northeast across northeast Montana. These storms produced winds to 92 miles an hour, several small tornadoes and hail to a size of 1.75 inches. The community of Opheim was hit hardest by straight line winds and a weak tornado. Most ... | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-10-31 | WildfireOutlook, Sheridan County | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2000-11-01 | Winter StormSheridan County · forecast zone Sheridan | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | |
| 2010-07-26 | TornadoRedstone Hill Dot, Sheridan County | EF3 18 mi x 880 yd | 2 | 1 | $406K |
| 2005-08-17 | HailOutlook, Sheridan County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2005-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindReserve, Sheridan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
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 $250, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 2, 1971 (tornado, Sheridan 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 Sheridan 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 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 78 | 65 | 16 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 33 | 38 | 33 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 33 | 31 | 22 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 25 | 24 | 22 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 1 | 13 | 24 | 26 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 7 | 11 | 34 z |
Drought in the 2020-26: 34 records against 11 in the decade before, 34 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 Sheridan 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?
69% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 72 · Feb 49 · Mar 50 · Apr 26 · May 31 · Jun 102 · Jul 161 · Aug 77 · Sep 20 · Oct 22 · Nov 30 · Dec 53 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sheridan County
FEMA's register lists 6 declarations that include Sheridan County: 4 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and severe storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-12 | DR-4726 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4508 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3476 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 |
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 Sheridan County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Sheridan County from 1999 to 2026, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Sheridan County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $73 on 1 claim filed in Sheridan County; the most in one year was 1 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 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 Sheridan County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sheridan County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.0 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 Moderate | $2.9M | 21 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $151K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $62K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $43K | 27 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $134K | 1 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $43K | once in about 1,241 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $67K | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $72 | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Sheridan 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 Sheridan CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sheridan County's FEMA declarations (CSV)6 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis