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Wind in Chelan County, Washington
14 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 14 wind events in Chelan County, Washington, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 12 years.
August is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.5% of the 2,732 wind events recorded in Washington; its 0.5 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
7 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 2 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with Washington
| Measure | Chelan County | Washington | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 14 | 2,732 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.5 | 4.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.8 | 3.5 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 91 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | August | November | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
2Jun
3Jul
2Aug
6Sep
0Oct
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 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Aug 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 40 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 40 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2020 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 44 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $20K | $50K | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Chelan County had?
14 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 Chelan County?
17 Aug 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind, 40 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Chelan County?
The thunderstorm wind of 26 Aug 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $20K and crop damage at $50K.
How does Chelan County compare with Washington for wind?
0.5 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 14 of the state's 2,732 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.