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Wind in Butte County, South Dakota
443 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 443 wind events in Butte County, South Dakota, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 43 years.
July is the busiest month, with 116 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 336 events against 94 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.5% of the 18,009 wind events recorded in South Dakota; its 19.7 per 100 square miles compares with 23.8 statewide.
379 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 49 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 South Dakota
| Measure | Butte County | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 443 | 18,009 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 19.7 | 23.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 423.7 | 201.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 16 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | July | June |
By year
Seasonality
23Feb
11Mar
19Apr
12May
18Jun
112Jul
116Aug
67Sep
15Oct
15Nov
16Dec
19
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 148 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 443. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2026 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 96 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 82 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Dec 2025 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 85 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 44 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2025 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Dec 2024 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Nov 2024 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Oct 2024 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 108 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 102 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 2024 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 2023 | High Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Oct 2023 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Nov 2022 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Oct 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2022 | High Wind | 40 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2022 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2022 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 14 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 41 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2022 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Nov 2021 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Sep 2021 | High Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 84 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Mar 2021 | High Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2021 | High Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2021 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Jan 2021 | High Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 43 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Dec 2020 | High Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Aug 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 91 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2011 | High Wind | 76 mph | $4K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | $100K | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Dec 2003 | High Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $213K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 27 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1996 | High Wind | 92 mph | $90K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $100K | $300K | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Butte County had?
443 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 Butte County?
18 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 61 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Butte County?
The thunderstorm wind of 16 Aug 1994, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $100K and crop damage at $300K.
How does Butte County compare with South Dakota for wind?
19.7 events per 100 square miles against 23.8 statewide; the county holds 443 of the state's 18,009 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.