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Flood in Dawson County, Montana
32 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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.
NCEI records 32 flood events in Dawson County, Montana, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 11 years.
March is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 22 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.7% of the 1,175 flood events recorded in Montana; its 1.3 per 100 square miles compares with 0.8 statewide.
Compared with Montana
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 32 | 1,175 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.3 | 0.8 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 35.9 | 10.6 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 9 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | March | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
10Apr
0May
9Jun
6Jul
4Aug
0Sep
1Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
Recorded events
All 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jul 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Feb 2025 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2019 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2018 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Mar 2018 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2014 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2014 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2011 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $112K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2003 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jul 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1997 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Mar 1997 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 1997 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Dawson County had?
32 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Dawson County?
31 Jul 2025 (Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Dawson County?
The flash flood of 28 Jun 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $112K.
How does Dawson County compare with Montana for flood?
1.3 events per 100 square miles against 0.8 statewide; the county holds 32 of the state's 1,175 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 Flood hub and the county page.