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Wind in Garfield County, Montana
366 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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 366 wind events in Garfield County, Montana, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 39 years.
July is the busiest month, with 130 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 227 events against 136 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.5% of the 14,438 wind events recorded in Montana; its 7.8 per 100 square miles compares with 9.9 statewide.
315 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 30 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
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 | Garfield County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 366 | 14,438 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.8 | 9.9 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3,027.3 | 130.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 18 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
15Feb
9Mar
12Apr
17May
33Jun
59Jul
130Aug
48Sep
5Oct
9Nov
10Dec
19
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
The 200 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 366. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 83 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2025 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2024 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2023 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2022 | High Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2021 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 87 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Sep 2020 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2020 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2020 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2020 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2020 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2020 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2019 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 2018 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 94 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Dec 2016 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2010 | Strong Wind | 41 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | $4.2M | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $499K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 2001 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2001 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 May 2001 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2001 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 1999 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 1999 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Feb 1999 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Garfield County had?
366 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Garfield County?
13 May 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 79 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Garfield County?
The thunderstorm wind of 14 Aug 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $150K and crop damage at $4.2M.
How does Garfield County compare with Montana for wind?
7.8 events per 100 square miles against 9.9 statewide; the county holds 366 of the state's 14,438 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 Wind hub and the county page.