Washington County, Idaho
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 16087 · population 10,478 · 1,453 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 339 records for Washington County, Idaho from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 263 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (233 records). 285 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 October 29, 2009 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone West Central Mountains, which covers the county: 1 death and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1964, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Tartar Fire” on August 2, 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
- 339on 263 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 48 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $123Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest F1
- 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 Washington County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 233 since 1996. 61% 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 | 233 | 176 | 1996-2025 | 2 | 5 | $120M | 22 of 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | 32 | 26 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 29 of 44 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 22 | 21 | 1956-2023 | 0 | 3 | $49K | 33 of 44 |
| Floods | 21 | 17 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 22 of 44 |
| Hail | 10 | 9 | 1966-2012 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 33 of 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 5 | 1997-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 44 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 3 | 2002-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 44 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 3 | 2023-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 44 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1990-2001 | 0 | 0 | $151K | 29 of 44 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 1997-2009 | 1 | 0 | – | 24 of 44 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 1 | 0 | – | 28 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 Washington County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Washington County from 1990 to 2001, the strongest rated F1, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Washington County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Idaho.
Every tornado record filed for Washington County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-09-13 | Weiser, Washington County | F0 1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-17 | Weiser, Washington County | F1 5.5 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 1990-07-09 | Washington County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Washington County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 6, 2022 excessive heat (1 death).
Multiple newspapers reported on an infant that died after being left in a hot car in New Plymouth, Idaho on September 6th.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1047828)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-13 | Winter WeatherCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-06 | Winter WeatherAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-06 | Winter WeatherCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-02 | Winter StormAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-09-06 | Excessive HeatCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-02-10 | FloodWeiser, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2017-01-18 | Heavy SnowCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 0 | 0 | $120M | |
| 2013-12-07 | Heavy SnowCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-06-04 | FloodCambridge, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2009-12-17 | AvalancheAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-10-29 | Winter WeatherAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2001-11-28 | Heavy SnowCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 0 | 4 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-10-29 | Winter WeatherAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains KTVB in Boise, Idaho reported a fatality on U.S. Highway 95 , north of New Meadows. According to Idaho State Police, the automobile accident was caused by freezing rain and ice on the roadway. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2022-09-06 | Excessive HeatCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley Multiple newspapers reported on an infant that died after being left in a hot car in New Plymouth, Idaho on September 6th. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2013-12-07 | Heavy SnowCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley Reports of 5 to 6 inches were received via social media. A traffic accident attributed to slick roads resulted in one fatality on Interstate 84, 2 miles east of Caldwell. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-12-17 | AvalancheAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone West Central Mountains Idaho Mountain Express reported that a young man died in an avalanche while snowmobiling at Rock Lake in the French Creek drainage outside of Cascade, Idaho. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-11-28 | Heavy SnowCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley A very moist Pacific storm brought the first major snowfall to the Treasure and Magic Valleys. Snow began falling around noon and continued until the next morning. Over one hundred slide-offs and motor vehicle collisions occurred along Interstate 84 from Oregon-Idaho state line east to Twin Falls. Traffic was brought ... | 0 | 4 | – | |
| 1999-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindWeiser, Washington County Thunderstorm downburst winds of up to 80 mph damaged several homes and businesses in downtown Weiser. Numerous trees were downed on homes, with 2 people sustaining broken bones and a third sustaining a minor shoulder injury. The roofs of several businesses were damaged or blown off. The damaged area was two miles wide ... | 0 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01-18 | Heavy SnowCanyon County and 4 more · forecast zone Lower Treasure Valley | 0 | 0 | $120M | |
| 2010-06-04 | FloodCambridge, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2017-02-10 | FloodWeiser, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 1996-05-17 | TornadoWeiser, Washington County | F1 5.5 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 9, 1990 (tornado, Washington 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 Washington 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 | – | – | – | – | 46 | 79 | 44 | 64 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 3 | 11 | 0 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
61% 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 62 · Feb 41 · Mar 32 · Apr 18 · May 13 · Jun 17 · Jul 16 · Aug 8 · Sep 3 · Oct 6 · Nov 29 · Dec 94 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Washington County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Washington County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for flood (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-02 | FM-5660 | Fire | Tartar Fire |
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4534 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3467 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-04-21 | DR-4310 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-07-27 | DR-1927 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-13 | EM-3244 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 1997-01-04 | DR-1154 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Mud and Landslides |
| 1977-05-05 | EM-3040 | Drought | Drought |
| 1974-01-25 | DR-415 | Flood | Severe Storms, Snowmelt & Flooding |
| 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 Washington County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 21 flood or flash flood records for Washington County from 1996 to 2019, on 17 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Washington County ranks 2046th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $991,000 on 23 claims filed in Washington County; the most in one year was 9 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 2 · 1982: 2 · 1997: 9 · 1998: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2017: 7 · 2019: 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 Washington County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.5 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 | $3.2M | once in about 83 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $8K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $6K | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $51K | 15 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.4M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $151K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $253K | once in about 238 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $5 | once in about 5,000 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Washington 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 Washington CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Washington County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis