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Wind in Petroleum County, Montana
121 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.
Petroleum County, Montana, has 121 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 27 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 37 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 73 events against 47 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 14,438 wind events recorded in Montana; its 7.3 per 100 square miles compares with 9.9 statewide.
101 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 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 | Petroleum County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 121 | 14,438 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.3 | 9.9 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2,331.4 | 130.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 18 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
7Mar
4Apr
8May
16Jun
15Jul
37Aug
15Sep
1Oct
5Nov
3Dec
7
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
All 121 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Apr 2025 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2022 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2016 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 2012 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2012 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2011 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2010 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 May 2010 | High Wind | 72 mph | $35K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $200 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2006 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 89 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2003 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Oct 2003 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2002 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 46 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 1999 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Feb 1999 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Petroleum County had?
121 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 Petroleum County?
13 May 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 72 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Petroleum County?
The high wind of 4 May 2010, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $35K.
How does Petroleum County compare with Montana for wind?
7.3 events per 100 square miles against 9.9 statewide; the county holds 121 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.