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Wind in Yellowstone County, Montana
432 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.
Yellowstone County, Montana, has 432 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 53 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 126 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 285 events against 121 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 3% of the 14,438 wind events recorded in Montana; its 16.4 per 100 square miles compares with 9.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
354 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 70 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 | Yellowstone County | Montana | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 432 | 14,438 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 16.4 | 9.9 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 25.8 | 130.7 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 18 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
12Mar
11Apr
10May
24Jun
81Jul
126Aug
110Sep
19Oct
11Nov
7Dec
15
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 130 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 432. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 78 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 76 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | 2 | County |
| 6 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2019 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2019 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2018 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Oct 2017 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Aug 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | 2 | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Yellowstone County had?
432 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 Yellowstone County?
7 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 66 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Yellowstone County?
The thunderstorm wind of 11 Aug 2019, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Yellowstone County compare with Montana for wind?
16.4 events per 100 square miles against 9.9 statewide; the county holds 432 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.