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Wind in Prairie County, Montana
160 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 160 wind events in Prairie County, Montana, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 35 years.
July is the busiest month, with 52 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 95 events against 65 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 14,438 wind events recorded in Montana; its 9.2 per 100 square miles compares with 9.9 statewide.
133 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 14 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 | Prairie County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 160 | 14,438 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 9.2 | 9.9 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1,466.5 | 130.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 18 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
7Feb
5Mar
4Apr
7May
11Jun
36Jul
52Aug
22Sep
2Oct
4Nov
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 160 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 2026 | High Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2026 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2023 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2021 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2015 | High Wind | 45 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2014 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2013 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 2012 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Feb 2011 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2010 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 May 2010 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Apr 2010 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2009 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2007 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Dec 2006 | High Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Aug 2006 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 89 mph | $120K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2005 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $145K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $132K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2005 | High Wind | 58 mph | $56K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Mar 2005 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2003 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jan 2003 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 2002 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2000 | High Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2000 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 1999 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Nov 1999 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Oct 1999 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1999 | High Wind | 52 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 1999 | High Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Prairie County had?
160 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 Prairie County?
12 Mar 2026 (High Wind, 77 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Prairie County?
The thunderstorm wind of 6 Jun 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $145K.
How does Prairie County compare with Montana for wind?
9.2 events per 100 square miles against 9.9 statewide; the county holds 160 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.