Montana tornadoes

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444 confirmed tornadoes since 1950. Most recent: July 12, 2024, EF0. 2026 so far: 1 preliminary reports preliminary

Counties with the most tornadoes

CountyTornadoes since 1950Per 1,000 sq mi
Valley County449
Fergus County286
Yellowstone County218
Carter County185
Judith Basin County1810
Powder River County185
Chouteau County174
Roosevelt County177
Dawson County156
Fallon County159
Phillips County153
Beaverhead County143
Cascade County135
Richland County136
Garfield County123

When tornadoes hit here

By month

1650 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 2Apr: 6May: 48Jun: 165Jul: 150Aug: 64Sep: 7Oct: 1Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

June is the peak month, with 165 of 444 tornadoes.

By time of day

820 12 AM: 4: 1: 33 AM: 1: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 19 AM: 0: 1: 412 PM: 9: 12: 213 PM: 43: 35: 826 PM: 44: 71: 619 PM: 32: 12: 712 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 5:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

300 1950: 0: 0: 2: 5: 4: 3: 0: 1: 4: 31960: 3: 2: 10: 3: 6: 9: 2: 0: 1: 21970: 1: 8: 4: 2: 0: 10: 2: 6: 13: 51980: 7: 3: 3: 4: 5: 2: 4: 1: 20: 61990: 6: 30: 9: 19: 8: 15: 8: 9: 11: 222000: 10: 9: 11: 6: 6: 10: 1: 5: 2: 42010: 10: 9: 3: 6: 8: 3: 6: 1: 10: 42020: 3: 1: 3: 6: 4: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 1 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
287
EF1
95
EF2
45
EF3
10
EF4
1
Unknown
6

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

EF3, July 26, 2010

2 deaths Longest path

55.5 miles, F3

July 19, 1952

Most recent tornadoes

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jul 12, 2024EF03 mi25 yd00
Jul 12, 2024EF02 mi25 yd00
Jul 12, 2024EF01 mi25 yd00
May 16, 2024EFU0.5 mi20 yd00
Aug 6, 2023EFU3.66 mi70 yd00
Aug 6, 2023EF01.64 mi40 yd00
Jun 10, 2023EFU2.11 mi60 yd00
Jun 9, 2023EFU0.04 mi10 yd00
Jun 1, 2023EFU1.5 mi50 yd00
May 9, 2023EF00.47 mi15 yd00
Aug 26, 2022EF03.06 mi50 yd00
Jul 18, 2022EF28 mi457 yd00
Jul 6, 2022EF01.26 mi50 yd00
Jul 6, 2021EFU4.89 mi30 yd00
Jul 7, 2020EF00.15 mi50 yd00
Jul 7, 2020EF00.14 mi20 yd00
May 20, 2020EF00.82 mi50 yd00
Jul 19, 2019EF10.5 mi100 yd00
Jun 27, 2019EF00.11 mi20 yd00
Jun 27, 2019EF00.39 mi50 yd00

Every Montana county

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched.