Sherman County, Oregon
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 41055 · population 1,868 · 824 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 280 records for Sherman County, Oregon from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 206 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (100 records). 261 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 July 17, 2018 wildfire, filed for the forecast zone North Central Oregon, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1964, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 13, 2024.
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
- 280on 206 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 28 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $1.1Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 2024
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 Sherman County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 100 since 2000. 63% of its winter storm records since 2000 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Oregon'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 | 100 | 70 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 5 | $291K | 12 of 36 |
| High wind and dust storms | 77 | 64 | 2000-2026 | 1 | 0 | $553K | 14 of 36 |
| Wildfires | 36 | 32 | 2004-2025 | 1 | 0 | $2K | 3 of 36 |
| Extreme cold | 21 | 14 | 2002-2025 | 0 | 0 | $98K | 9 of 36 |
| Heat | 21 | 13 | 2002-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 36 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 9 | 5 | 2006-2024 | 0 | 0 | $73K | 13 of 36 |
| Hail | 8 | 6 | 1963-2024 | 0 | 1 | – | 15 of 36 |
| Floods | 4 | 3 | 2003-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 36 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2005-2009 | 0 | 0 | $53K | 14 of 36 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1999-2009 | 0 | 2 | $35K | 15 of 36 |
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 Sherman County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 17, 2018 wildfire (1 death).
Inciweb.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 764060)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-11 | High WindSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-18 | Frost/FreezeGilliam County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern Columbia River Gorge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-18 | Frost/FreezeSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-11 | WildfireGilliam County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern Columbia River Gorge | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-24 | High WindSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-08-17 | Thunderstorm WindRufus, Sherman County | 79 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-07-17 | WildfireSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-05-19 | HailGrass Vly, Sherman County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2006-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindGrass Vly, Sherman County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $73K |
| 2000-12-21 | Winter StormJefferson County and 2 more · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 0 | 5 | $291K | |
| 2000-12-15 | High WindSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone Eastern Columbia River Gorge | 1 | 0 | $171K | |
| 1999-12-25 | Dense FogJefferson County and 2 more · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 0 | 2 | $35K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-07-17 | WildfireSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone North Central Oregon Inciweb. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-12-15 | High WindSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone Eastern Columbia River Gorge Strong crosswinds gusting as high as 60 mph blew a semi-truck off the Highway 97 bridge that crosses the Columbia River Gorge. The vehicle fell into the river, killing the driver. | 1 | 0 | $171K | |
| 2000-12-21 | Winter StormJefferson County and 2 more · forecast zone North Central Oregon Light freezing rain that fell early in the morning left roads slick. This lead to at least 7 accidents over a period of 5 hours near the town of Madras. The most serious accident was a rollover on Highway 97 near High Bridge that injured several people. | 0 | 5 | $291K | |
| 1999-12-25 | Dense FogJefferson County and 2 more · forecast zone North Central Oregon Freezing fog in north central Oregon and elsewhere in the Columbia Basin led to several accidents in Jefferson Co, Oregon. Poor visibilities and slick roads contributed to a dozen or more accidents on Highway-97 south of Madras. Another accident just west of Sisters, Or. caused two injuries. | 0 | 2 | $35K | |
| 2006-05-19 | HailGrass Vly, Sherman County A motorcycle rider was bruised by the wind blown hail. | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-12-21 | Winter StormJefferson County and 2 more · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 0 | 5 | $291K | |
| 2000-12-15 | High WindSherman County and Wasco County · forecast zone Eastern Columbia River Gorge | 1 | 0 | $171K | |
| 2006-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindGrass Vly, Sherman County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $73K |
| 1999-12-25 | Dense FogJefferson County and 2 more · forecast zone North Central Oregon | 0 | 2 | $35K |
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 Sherman 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 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 45 | 41 | 14 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 33 | 23 | 21 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 20 | 14 | 2 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 4 | 11 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
63% of its winter storm records since 2000 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 28 · Mar 18 · Apr 7 · May 11 · Jun 11 · Jul 29 · Aug 26 · Sep 5 · Oct 12 · Nov 34 · Dec 55 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Sherman County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Sherman County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-13 | DR-4768 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4499 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3429 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-07-18 | FM-5255 | Fire | Substation Fire |
| 2006-03-20 | DR-1632 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3228 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-02-19 | DR-1510 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 1996-02-09 | DR-1099 | Flood | High Winds, Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1977-04-29 | EM-3039 | Drought | Drought |
| 1964-12-24 | DR-184 | 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 Sherman County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 4 flood or flash flood records for Sherman County from 2003 to 2005, on 3 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Sherman County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $41,000 on 1 claim filed in Sherman County; the most in one year was 1 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1996: 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 Sherman County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Sherman County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.6 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 | $1.5M | once in about 67 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $102K | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $149 | once in about 80 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $2K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $766 | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $105K | once in about 369 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $1K | 52 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Very Low | $54K | 7.3 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 Sherman 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 OregonThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Oregon recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Sherman CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Sherman County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis