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Winter in Harney County, Oregon
39 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 39 winter events in Harney County, Oregon, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
December is the busiest month, with 19 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 29 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 2,768 winter events recorded in Oregon; its 0.4 per 100 square miles compares with 2.9 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 Oregon
| Measure | Harney County | Oregon | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 39 | 2,768 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.4 | 2.9 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 51.5 | 6.5 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 52 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | December | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
9Feb
4Mar
1Apr
1May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
5Dec
19
Recorded events
All 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Dec 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2019 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Jan 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2017 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 2016 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Dec 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2015 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Feb 2014 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Dec 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Jan 2012 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Feb 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Nov 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Dec 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Feb 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Apr 2007 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Dec 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Jan 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Mar 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Dec 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Nov 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 1999 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Harney County had?
39 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 Harney County?
26 Dec 2024 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Harney County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Harney County compare with Oregon for winter?
0.4 events per 100 square miles against 2.9 statewide; the county holds 39 of the state's 2,768 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.