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Wind in Sanders County, Montana
27 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 27 wind events in Sanders County, Montana, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
July is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 18 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.2% of the 14,438 wind events recorded in Montana; its 1.0 per 100 square miles compares with 9.9 statewide.
18 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 2 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with Montana
| Measure | Sanders County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 27 | 14,438 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 1.0 | 9.9 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 20.8 | 130.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 18 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
1May
7Jun
3Jul
8Aug
6Sep
1Oct
0Nov
0Dec
0
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May 2026 | Strong Wind | 55 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $5K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 13 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Sanders County had?
27 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 Sanders County?
20 May 2026 (Strong Wind, 55 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Sanders County?
The thunderstorm wind of 15 May 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Sanders County compare with Montana for wind?
1.0 events per 100 square miles against 9.9 statewide; the county holds 27 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.