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Winter in Petroleum County, Montana
66 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.
NCEI records 66 winter events in Petroleum County, Montana, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 26 years.
December is the busiest month, with 16 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 46 events against 20 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 8,475 winter events recorded in Montana; its 4.0 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 | Petroleum County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 66 | 8,475 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 5.8 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1,271.7 | 76.7 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 86 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | December | December | January |
By year
Seasonality
14Feb
11Mar
7Apr
8May
2Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
4Nov
4Dec
16
Recorded events
All 66 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 Mar 2026 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Feb 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jan 2025 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Oct 2020 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Nov 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Oct 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Feb 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Apr 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Apr 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2018 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2018 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2017 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 May 2016 | Blizzard | — | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2015 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Apr 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Nov 2012 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Apr 2012 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Nov 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Nov 2011 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Apr 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2010 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jan 2010 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jan 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2010 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Mar 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jan 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2008 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Oct 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Feb 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Oct 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2005 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Jan 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2004 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2003 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 May 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Mar 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Dec 2000 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2000 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 1998 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 1998 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 1998 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Mar 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jan 1997 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Dec 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 1996 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Petroleum County had?
66 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 Petroleum County?
13 Mar 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Petroleum County?
The blizzard of 10 May 2016, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Petroleum County compare with Montana for winter?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 5.8 statewide; the county holds 66 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.