Union County, Oregon
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 41061 · population 26,166 · 2,037 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 548 records for Union County, Oregon from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 377 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (234 records). 401 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 November 3, 2011 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Southern Blue Mountains, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1964, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hagen Fire” on August 9, 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
- 548on 377 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 47 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $5.7Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F0
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 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 Union County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 234 since 1999. 53% of its winter storm records since 1999 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 | 234 | 158 | 1999-2026 | 3 | 4 | $227K | 14 of 36 |
| High wind and dust storms | 96 | 86 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | $625K | 20 of 36 |
| Hail | 90 | 48 | 1958-2024 | 0 | 1 | $70K | 2 of 36 |
| Wildfires | 26 | 21 | 2005-2016 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 36 |
| Heat | 25 | 15 | 2002-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 36 |
| Extreme cold | 20 | 12 | 2002-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 21 of 36 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 20 | 17 | 1988-2021 | 0 | 2 | $667K | 7 of 36 |
| Floods | 11 | 10 | 1998-2020 | 0 | 0 | $3.9M | 24 of 36 |
| Lightning | 11 | 11 | 1997-2006 | 0 | 0 | $137K | 4 of 36 |
| Heavy rain | 9 | 8 | 1998-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 36 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 5 | 2004-2023 | 0 | 0 | $64K | 14 of 36 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1983-1983 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 27 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.
How many tornadoes has Union County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Union County from 1983 to 1983, 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 Union 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 Oregon.
Every tornado record filed for Union County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-06-21 | Union County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Union County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 6, 2020 flood ($855,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
There was moderate flooding along the Grande Ronde River from near Hilgard Junction through La Grande and Island City and Imbler to Elgin. In addition, the rapid snowmelt and heavy rain cause widespread flooding along a number of small streams and creeks with water over roads and filling fields. Highways 237 and 244 were closed due to flooding and plugged culverts due to rock slides. Damage was estimated at 750,777 dollars. Grande Ronde near Perry - Flood stage is 6.6 feet. The river rose above flood stage on February 6th at 245 pm, crested at 8.54 feet on Feb 7th at 1 am, then fell below flood stage on February 8 at 1245 am. There was moderate flooding along the Grande Ronde River from near Hilgard Junction through La Grande and Island City and Imbler to Elgin.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 871972)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 | Heavy SnowUnion County and Wallowa County · forecast zone Wallowa County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Heavy SnowUmatilla County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | Heavy SnowUmatilla County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-15 | Heavy SnowUmatilla County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-17 | Heavy SnowUmatilla County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-15 | Heavy SnowUmatilla County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-12 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillGilliam County and 5 more · forecast zone Southern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-12 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillUmatilla County and 2 more · forecast zone Northern Blue Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-12 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillUnion County · forecast zone Grand Ronde Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-12 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillUnion County and Wallowa County · forecast zone Wallowa County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-03 | Heavy SnowUnion County and Wallowa County · forecast zone Wallowa County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-02-06 | FloodPerry, Union County | 0 | 0 | $855K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-11-03 | Winter WeatherMorrow County and 2 more · forecast zone Southern Blue Mountains Low pressure moving along a stalled cold front brought heavy snowfall to higher elevations of Grant County. Snowfall amounts in inches included 7 miles east southeast of John Day (6) and Blue Mountain Spring SnoTel (5). A car accident on slushy Highway 395 between Mount Vernon and Fox claimed two lives. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-02-12 | Heavy SnowUnion County · forecast zone Grand Ronde Valley Brief heavy snow led to an accident on westbound Interstate 84 near North Powder that claimed one life and injured 4 others. The driver of a sports utility vehicle lost control on the slick surface and overturned several times, ejecting the passengers. | 1 | 4 | $34K | |
| 2004-01-05 | Cold/Wind ChillUnion County · forecast zone Grand Ronde Valley A three year old toddler was found dead outside his home at approximately 3:30 am on January 6th. The boy had left his house without winter clothing during the middle of the night. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-07-19 | HailPerry, Union County Campers at Morgan Lake reported quarter sized hail that destroyed tents and then afterward, winds gusting to 70 mph blew them over. Hail completely covered the ground. One of the campers received minor injuries from the hail. | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 1 | $262 |
| 2011-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindLa Grande, Union County A thunderstorm moved northeast through LaGrande toppling trees, snapping limbs, and downing power lines. Hail and heavy rainfall with the storm dropped visibility to near zero, causing minor street flooding and a bicycle-vehicle accident which injured bicycle rider. A baseball game in the Babe Ruth State Tournament ... | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3K |
| 2004-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindLa Grande, Union County A severe thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 80 MPH...which led to several damage reports and one injury. A modular building was flipped and rolled over four times at a distance of 120 feet, before coming to a stop when hitting a cessna aircraft at the La Grande Airport. One person was inside the building at ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $469K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-05-15 | FloodPerry, Union County | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2020-02-06 | FloodPerry, Union County | 0 | 0 | $855K | |
| 2004-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindLa Grande, Union County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $469K |
| 2019-04-08 | FloodUnion County | 0 | 0 | $346K | |
| 2000-12-15 | High WindUnion County · forecast zone Grand Ronde Valley | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $257K |
| 2000-02-12 | Heavy SnowUnion County · forecast zone Grand Ronde Valley | 1 | 4 | $34K | |
| 2011-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindLa Grande, Union County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3K |
| 2011-07-19 | HailPerry, Union County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 1 | $262 |
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 21, 1983 (tornado, Union 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 Union 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 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 60 | 108 | 65 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 57 | 29 | 8 |
| Hail | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 27 | 46 | 7 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 20 z | 0 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 7 | 9 |
Wildfires in the 2010s: 20 records against 6 in the decade before, 20 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 Union 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?
53% of its winter storm records since 1999 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 76 · Feb 69 · Mar 26 · Apr 15 · May 36 · Jun 33 · Jul 71 · Aug 47 · Sep 16 · Oct 10 · Nov 44 · Dec 105 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Union County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Union County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for flood (3) and severe storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-09 | FM-5664 | Fire | Hagen Fire |
| 2026-04-07 | DR-4907 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-04-03 | DR-4519 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4499 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3429 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 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 Union County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Union County from 1998 to 2020, on 10 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Union County ranks 2075th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $165,000 on 21 claims filed in Union County; the most in one year was 3 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1991: 2 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 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 Union County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Union County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.4 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 | $1.7M | once in about 197 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.1M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $656K | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $192K | 19 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.1M | once in about 251 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $4K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $76K | once in about 26 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $276K | 2.5 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Union 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 OregonEvery Oregon tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- 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 Union CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Union County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis