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Winter in Custer County, Montana
80 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Custer County, Montana, has 80 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 27 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 23 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 40 events against 40 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 8,475 winter events recorded in Montana; its 2.1 per 100 square miles compares with 5.8 statewide.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Montana
| Measure | Custer County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 80 | 8,475 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.1 | 5.8 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 67.1 | 76.7 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 86 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | March | December | January |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
9Mar
23Apr
7May
2Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
1Oct
6Nov
9Dec
15
Recorded events
All 80 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2024 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2024 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Oct 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2023 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Apr 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2022 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2022 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Oct 2021 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Oct 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2016 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Mar 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Nov 2012 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2012 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Mar 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2009 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2008 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Oct 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 May 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Mar 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Apr 2006 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Oct 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Oct 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 May 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Mar 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2003 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2003 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Apr 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Mar 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2000 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Sep 2000 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2000 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 1999 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Mar 1998 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 1998 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Apr 1997 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Custer County had?
80 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Custer County?
14 Mar 2026 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Custer County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Custer County compare with Montana for winter?
2.1 events per 100 square miles against 5.8 statewide; the county holds 80 of the state's 8,475 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.