Storey County, Nevada
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 32029 · population 4,104 · 264 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,118 records for Storey County, Nevada from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 542 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (805 records). 1,090 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 1, 1997 flood, filed for the forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1965, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on April 27, 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
- 1,118on 542 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1056 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $75Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Storey County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 805 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Nevada'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 805 | 364 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 11 | $11M | 2 of 17 |
| Winter storms | 258 | 170 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 25 | $8.9M | 2 of 17 |
| Floods | 18 | 16 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 0 | $2.0M | 1 of 17 |
| Wildfires | 16 | 16 | 2009-2025 | 2 | 20 | $53M | 2 of 17 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 4 | 2005-2022 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 2 of 17 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 2018-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 17 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 4 | 3 | 2023-2025 | 0 | 0 | $25K | 3 of 17 |
| Hail | 3 | 3 | 1993-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 17 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2006-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 17 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 17 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 17 |
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 Storey County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 24, 2026 high wind (1 injury).
The Nevada Highway Patrol reported at least 4 separate vehicle accidents on I-580 in Washoe Valley near Washoe Lake. This included one overturned semi-trailer. At approximately the time of the accidents, mesonet station BCBNV 1.5 N Washoe City recorded a wind gust of 89 mph.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1310830)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-01 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 68 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-24 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 81 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2026-02-24 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 79 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter WeatherDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | Heavy SnowDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-07 | Winter WeatherDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-25 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-25 | Winter WeatherDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-21 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-19 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 64 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 82 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-20 | Winter WeatherDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-01-01 | FloodDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area The floods of January l997 were caused by several factors. First, the Sierra and western Nevada had experienced two above normal precipitation years (1995, 1996). Second, a major winter storm December 21st and 22nd 1996 deposited heavy snow in the Sierra and western Nevada. Four to six feet of snow was common below ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-11-18 | WildfireDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area High winds caused a tree to fall on a power line sparking a rapidly spreading wildfire in southwest Reno around 0030PST. The 2,000 acre Caughlin Fire fire spread, sometimes up to 30 mph, and caused the destruction of around 30 homes during the early morning of the 18th. Over 9,000 people were evacuated from the fire ... | 1 | 17 | $10M | |
| 1998-12-19 | Winter StormDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area Snowfall combined with bitterly cold temperatures in Western Nevada, caused icy roadways that produced numerous automobile accidents. As many as 80-90 accidents were reported just in the Reno-Sparks urban area. A multiple car accident on Interstate 80, approximately 10 miles east of Reno resulted in one fatality and ... | 1 | 10 | $272K | |
| 2019-07-14 | Strong WindDouglas County and 3 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area A 9-year-old Reno girl died on 19 July from injuries she suffered when strong winds blew an inflatable bounce house with three children inside into power lines. The Washoe County Sheriff's Office says the bounce house was uplifted about 10 feet and got caught on the lines in a south Reno neighborhood. Deputies and ... | 23 kt wind | 1 | 2 | – |
| 2007-01-04 | Ice StormDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that in a 24-hour period from about 5 p.m. Thursday [Jan. 4th], when heavy snow began falling, until Friday, Reno police said 95 accidents were reported. In a rollover automobile accident a University of Nevada-Reno journalism professor was killed. Also, a five-car crash on U.S. ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2005-09-23 | High WindDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area On Highway 88, just west of Gardnerville, sustained winds estimated at 70 mph (61 kt) knocked over a 20-ft trailer being pulled by a pickup truck. As it fell, the trailer struck a motorcycle traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the motorcycle was injured. His passenger was thrown from the motorcycle, and ... | 61 kt wind | 1 | 1 | $8K |
| 2015-11-02 | Winter WeatherDouglas County and 3 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area One to 4 inches of snow was reported between the 2nd and 3rd above the lower valley floors. A medical condition (primary cause per investigators) combined with the snow and cold to cause severe hypothermia in an elderly man. He went out for a walk the afternoon of the 2nd and was not found until late morning on the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2012-01-19 | WildfireDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area Strong winds (up to 84 mph) and the improper disposal of fireplace ashes caused the rapid spread of a fire originating at the north end of Washoe Valley early in the afternoon on the 19th. Thousands of people were forced to evacuate from the swift-moving fire. Around 3100 acres were burned with 28 homes destroyed (7 ... | 1 | 0 | $5.8M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-10-14 | WildfireDouglas County and 3 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | $37M | |
| 2011-11-18 | WildfireDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 1 | 17 | $10M | |
| 2012-01-19 | WildfireDouglas County and 4 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 1 | 0 | $5.8M | |
| 2022-12-10 | Winter StormDouglas County and 3 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2022-12-10 | Winter StormDouglas County and 3 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | |
| 2005-12-31 | FloodCountywide, Storey County | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | |
| 2017-01-08 | FloodVirginia City, Storey County | 0 | 0 | $421K | |
| 2014-12-11 | High WindDouglas County and 3 more · forecast zone Greater Reno/Carson City/Minden Area | 81 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $374K |
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 Storey 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 154 | 389 | 124 | 138 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 41 | 71 | 81 | 65 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 10 | 5 |
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 Storey County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 191 · Feb 157 · Mar 142 · Apr 118 · May 20 · Jun 22 · Jul 17 · Aug 15 · Sep 11 · Oct 38 · Nov 163 · Dec 224 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Storey County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Storey County: 8 major disasters, 4 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (4) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-04-27 | DR-4708 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4523 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3443 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-03-27 | DR-4307 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2017-02-17 | DR-4303 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides |
| 2006-06-27 | FM-2650 | Fire | Linehan Fire Complex |
| 2006-02-03 | DR-1629 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3243 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-02-23 | EM-3204 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-02-17 | EM-3202 | Snowstorm | Record and/Or Near Record Snow |
| 1997-01-03 | DR-1153 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
| 1986-02-28 | DR-759 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1965-01-18 | DR-187 | Flood | Severe Storms, 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 Storey County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 18 flood or flash flood records for Storey County from 1996 to 2025, on 16 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Storey County ranks 2358th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $36,000 on 10 claims filed in Storey County; the most in one year was 5 in 1995. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1995: 5 · 1997: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 2; 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 Storey County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Storey County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.3 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 | $7.1M | once in about 58 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.4M | once in about 43 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $52K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $4K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $1 | once in about 10,000 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Very Low | $648 | 78 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $19 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $1.7M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Storey County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- High wind and dust storms in NevadaThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Nevada recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Storey CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Storey County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis