Shoshone County, Idaho
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 16079 · population 13,154 · 2,637 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 609 records for Shoshone County, Idaho from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 408 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (419 records). 526 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 January 7, 2020 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains, which covers the county: 3 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1964, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “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
- 609on 408 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 825 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $70Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Shoshone County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 419 since 1996. 51% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. 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 | 419 | 275 | 1996-2026 | 3 | 2 | $24K | 26 of 44 |
| Wildfires | 56 | 37 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 17 | $63M | 21 of 44 |
| Floods | 39 | 31 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.1M | 20 of 44 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 33 | 19 | 1976-2024 | 1 | 0 | $1.5M | 40 of 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | 26 | 24 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 37 of 44 |
| Hail | 17 | 14 | 1963-2025 | 0 | 0 | $13K | 35 of 44 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 11 | 9 | 1999-2026 | 4 | 3 | $1.2M | 19 of 44 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2013-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 44 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2008-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 18 of 44 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2017-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 44 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1987-1987 | 0 | 3 | $6K | 39 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 Shoshone County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Shoshone County from 1987 to 1987, the strongest rated F0, with 0 deaths and 3 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 1 tornado whose track touched Shoshone County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Idaho.
Every tornado record filed for Shoshone County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987-06-05 | Shoshone County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 3 | $3K 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 Shoshone County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 16, 2026 wildfire ($1.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
The fire start 8 miles from east of Kellogg. It burned an estimated 213 acres of timber, litter, and 3 out buildings. Around 200 people impacted by evacuations around Elizabeth Park and Elk Creek. It was contained on June 23. Wind gusts were into the low 20 mph range. Damage is estimated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1353402)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-16 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2026-03-13 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2025-12-10 | FloodKingston, Shoshone County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2025-12-10 | High WindBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-11 | HailPinehurst, Shoshone County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-04 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-08-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2024-07-15 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2024-01-11 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2023-09-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $23M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-07 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains Broadcast media reported an Avalanche at the Silver Mountain Ski Resort. | 3 | 2 | – | |
| 2005-01-15 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains A large, and rather moist storm system moved up from the southwest from the tropics. This storm system dropped heavy snow to northern and central Idaho before raising snow levels to over 7000 feet by the evening of the 18th. Across the Northern Panhandle, 6 inches was reported by a spotter at Bonners Ferry while just ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-01-11 | AvalancheBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains Avalanche near Stevens Peak stranded 3 people, injured one and killed one. The area had received 29.7 inches of snow since January 3. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2011-02-27 | Heavy SnowBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains Numerous reports of traffic accidents were reported in the Silver Valley due to this storm, which carried over into March 1st. The Idaho State Police reported seven crashes and fourteen slide-offs. One fatality was reported near Mullan, ID, but the gender and age of the deceased person is unknown. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1989-08-12 | Thunderstorm WindShoshone County | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-09-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains The Character Complex was composed of two wildfires ignited by lightning north of Kellogg, Idaho on July 10th: Deceitful and Prichard fires. The fires burned a total of 12,367 acres before fully contained on September 30th. There were 14 firefighter injuries and 3 structures lost. The cost of the firefighting ... | 0 | 14 | $2K | |
| 2021-10-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains The Stateline Fire Complex was detected on July 16th and composed of 12 individual fires: Berge Peak, Broadax, Deception, Dolly Creek, Fly, Fly Creek, Simmons-Leg, Simmons Ridge, Simmons Ridge, Swimming Bear, Tumbledown, and Wampus Creek. Ignited by lightning, there were numerous closures of roadways and recreation ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1987-06-05 | TornadoShoshone County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 3 | $3K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-03 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $23M | |
| 2023-09-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $23M | |
| 2024-07-15 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2023-07-21 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 2022-09-03 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2018-08-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2026-06-16 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2024-08-01 | WildfireBenewah County and 3 more · forecast zone Central Panhandle Mountains | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 5, 1987 (tornado, Shoshone 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 Shoshone 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 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 121 | 221 | 48 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 2 | 5 | 24 z | 25 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 13 | 16 | 3 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Wildfires in the 2010s: 24 records against 5 in the decade before, 24 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 Shoshone 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?
51% 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 119 · Feb 103 · Mar 55 · Apr 30 · May 23 · Jun 14 · Jul 26 · Aug 27 · Sep 26 · Oct 20 · Nov 51 · Dec 115 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Shoshone County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Shoshone County: 14 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4905 | Straight-Line Winds | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2024-06-10 | DR-4789 | Flood | Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2021-03-04 | DR-4589 | Severe Storm | Straight-Line Winds |
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4534 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3467 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-05-18 | DR-4313 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2011-05-20 | DR-1987 | Flood | Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2008-07-31 | DR-1781 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3244 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 1997-06-13 | DR-1177 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Snowmelt, Land/Mud Slides, 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 |
| 1974-01-25 | DR-415 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 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 Shoshone County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 39 flood or flash flood records for Shoshone County from 1996 to 2025, on 31 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Shoshone County ranks 1272nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $926,000 on 108 claims filed in Shoshone County; the most in one year was 36 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 9 · 1982: 14 · 1990: 7 · 1995: 7 · 1996: 36 · 1997: 8 · 1999: 2 · 2002: 8 · 2008: 5 · 2009: 1 · 2011: 3 · 2012: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 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 Shoshone County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Shoshone County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Very High | $3.7M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively High | $580K | 2.3 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $15M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $84K | 36 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $149K | once in about 1,072 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $94K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $471K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $121K | once in about 843 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Shoshone 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 Shoshone CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Shoshone County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis