Stillwater County, Montana
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 30095 · population 8,936 · 1,797 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 984 records for Stillwater County, Montana from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 659 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (455 records). 695 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 February 1, 2016 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Northern Stillwater, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1978, 14 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
- 984on 659 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 164 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.5Mas 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 Stillwater County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 455 since 1996. 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 | 455 | 314 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 1 | – | 8 of 56 |
| High wind and dust storms | 208 | 179 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 10 of 56 |
| Hail | 185 | 97 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 9 of 56 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 78 | 50 | 1983-2026 | 0 | 0 | $995K | 26 of 56 |
| Floods | 20 | 17 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | 21 of 56 |
| Wildfires | 16 | 15 | 2001-2015 | 1 | 0 | $894K | 2 of 56 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 10 | 10 | 2010-2022 | 10 | 3 | – | 4 of 56 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 2 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 56 |
| Drought | 3 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 56 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2011-2015 | 1 | 0 | – | 36 of 56 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 56 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 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 Stillwater County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Stillwater County from 2005 to 2005, 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 1 tornado whose track touched Stillwater 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 Montana.
Every tornado record filed for Stillwater County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-11 | Molt, Stillwater County | F0 7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Stillwater County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 31, 2022 avalanche (1 death).
Please see Episode write-up.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1062787)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-20 | Winter StormCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-13 | High WindStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindAbsarokee, Stillwater County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-13 | Thunderstorm WindFishtail, Stillwater County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-22 | Winter StormCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-15 | Winter StormCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | High WindStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-13 | Winter StormStillwater County and Sweet Grass County · forecast zone Beartooth Foothills | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-13 | Winter StormCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | Winter StormStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindStillwater County and Sweet Grass County · forecast zone Beartooth Foothills | 53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-02-01 | Winter WeatherStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater Two people died in a fiery wreck involving a pickup and a semi on February 1st. The crash occurred on Interstate 90 near mile marker 430 just east of Park City, Montana about 945 pm. The occupants of the pickup died after the vehicle was passing slower traffic in the westbound lanes and the driver lost control in ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-12-27 | AvalancheCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains Please see episode narrative. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2022-02-19 | AvalancheCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains Please see Episode Narrative. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2021-12-26 | Winter WeatherStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater A motor vehicle crash resulting in 1 fatality occurred on Interstate 90 westbound near mile marker 420. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2022-12-31 | AvalancheCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absaroka / Beartooth Mountains Please see Episode write-up. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2016-12-11 | AvalancheCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absarokee / Beartooth Mountains A skier was killed by an avalanche on Henderson Mountain outside Cooke City on December 11th. The skier was in a party of 5 and his descent was the 7th track on the slope when it avalanched. He was carried into trees and buried under 5' of snow. Another person was buried to his waist, uninjured, as he stood in the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-12-19 | AvalancheCarbon County and 3 more · forecast zone Absarokee / Beartooth Mountains A snowmobiler died in an avalanche on Saturday, December 19th outside Cooke City. The avalanche occurred on the southeast face of Sheep Mountain between Lulu Pass and Round Lake. The slide was triggered from low on the slope by the victim who was subsequently buried six fee deep. The victim had an airbag but was ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-03-28 | Dense SmokeStillwater County · forecast zone Northern Stillwater A multi-vehicle crash occurred on Interstate 90. A woman from Park City, Montana was killed after blowing smoke mixed with dirt/dust created zero visibility. The crash involved five vehicles and injured several people around 3 pm. According to the Montana Highway Patrol , speed and low visibility played a significant ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-05-20 | FloodRapelje, Stillwater County | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 1998-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindAbsarokee, Stillwater County | 0 | 0 | $950K | |
| 2019-03-23 | FloodAbsarokee, Stillwater County | 0 | 0 | $928K | |
| 2003-08-16 | WildfireStillwater County · forecast zone Stillwater | 0 | 0 | $401K | |
| 2003-09-01 | WildfireStillwater County · forecast zone Stillwater | 0 | 0 | $401K |
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 Stillwater 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 | – | – | – | – | 21 | 152 | 173 | 109 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 56 | 66 | 78 |
| Hail | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 54 | 80 | 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 30 | 16 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Stillwater County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 99 · Feb 106 · Mar 94 · Apr 72 · May 74 · Jun 117 · Jul 100 · Aug 52 · Sep 17 · Oct 74 · Nov 75 · Dec 104 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Stillwater County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Stillwater County: 10 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 4 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (5) and fire (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4902 | Straight-Line Winds | Severe Winter Storm and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2023-10-11 | DR-4745 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2022-06-16 | DR-4655 | Flood | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2020-08-02 | FM-5324 | Fire | Falling Star Fire |
| 2020-03-31 | DR-4508 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3476 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-05-24 | DR-4437 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2014-04-17 | DR-4172 | Flood | Ice Jams and Flooding |
| 2011-06-17 | DR-1996 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2009-09-04 | FM-2837 | Fire | Eagle Mount Fire |
| 2006-08-30 | FM-2671 | Fire | Derby Fire |
| 2006-07-11 | FM-2652 | Fire | Saunders Fire |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3253 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-08-30 | DR-1340 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1997-07-25 | DR-1183 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms,Ice Jams, Snow Melt, Flooding |
| 1978-05-29 | DR-558 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Stillwater County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 20 flood or flash flood records for Stillwater County from 1997 to 2023, on 17 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Stillwater County ranks 1569th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.4 million on 60 claims filed in Stillwater County; the most in one year was 33 in 2022. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 14 · 1998: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 4 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2022: 33; 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 Stillwater County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stillwater County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.2 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 Low | $1.3M | once in about 683 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $96K | 22 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.1M | 2.7 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $226K | 35 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.1M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $2K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $3K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $144K | once in about 235 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Stillwater 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 Stillwater CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Stillwater County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis