Sheridan storm history
Storm events recorded in Sheridan, Montana between 1950 and 2025.
670
Total events
10
Tornadoes
197
Hail
15
Floods
3
Deaths
$9.1M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
This was the deadliest tornado in Montana since 1923, and only the fourth EF-3 on record. The supercell thunderstorm developed strong rotation, and rotating wall clouds and brief funnel clouds were reported in Daniels County. As the storm moved southeast, it intensified and a lar…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The NDAWN mesonet site at 3S Dooley measured wind chills near or below -40 for about 7 hours during the early morning, with a maximum cold with chill of -43.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
The Sher-Wood airport AWOS site (KPWD) recorded dense fog with visibility at or below 1/4 mile for about 4 hours.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Dense fog moved in from Saskatchewan and North Dakota overnight into the morning of the 15th. Times are estimated.
Hail Hail
Public reported ping pong ball size hail, estimated from photo via Facebook.
Hail Hail
Public reported quarter size hail, estimated from photo via Facebook.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A public reported estimated winds gusts of 50 to 60 mph.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
AWOS and mesonet observations reported wind chills as cold as -46F (3S Dooley and Plentywood Airport).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Observations reported wind chills as cold as -54F (4ENE Raymond and 2SE Homestead).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
AWOS and mesonet observations reported wind chills as cold as -56F (Plentywood Airport and 6ESE Reserve).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
AWOS and mesonet observations reported wind chills as cold as -46F (Plentywood Airport and 2NW Archer).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Mesonet observations and DOT sensors reported wind chills as cold as -50F (6ESE Reserve, 2SW Coalridge and 6S Comertown).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills ranged from -40F (2E Homestead) to -43F (6ESE Reserve).
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -43 were observed at various stations across Sheridan county.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Snow fell across Sheridan County with totals from 5 to 8 inches. The most fell in Plentywood with lesser amounts elsewhere.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Various stations across the county reported wind chills at or below -40F. The coldest was at 6S Comertown (MTCOM) with -43F.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
County Dispatcher reported blowing snow started about 6 pm. At 6S Comertown, the public reported near whiteout conditions with a pickup stranded. Visibility at the Sher-Wood Airport was 1 mile or less for 40 minutes ending at 1015 pm.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Wind chills as low as -55 occurred (at Comertown DOT station).
Drought Drought
D2 drought conditions continued in the extreme southeastern corner of the county to begin the month, before improving to D1 by the end of the month.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Visibility at the Sher-wood Airport (KPWD) ASOS in Plentywood, MT, reported reduced visibility due to occasional dense fog for a period of more than 12 hours during the morning hours.
Freezing rain fell across the county with an accumulation of a 0.10 to 0.34, causing a person to fall in Plentywood. Also, severe driving conditions were noted on the Montana DOT 511 website, mainly near and south of Medicine Lake, through the morning.
Blizzard Blizzard
KPWD Plentywood ASOS, showed an extended period of 1/4 mile visibility Sunday evening with winds gusting to near 40 mph.
Drought Drought
D2 drought conditions continued in the southeastern corner of the county.
Blizzard Blizzard
Blizzard conditions occurred across most of Sheridan County, with wind gusts at or above 35 mph generating blowing snow which reduced visibilities to 1/4 SM or less at times from around 10am through 8pm on the 19th. Slight improvements in visibility were noted during the early mo…
Blizzard Blizzard
Blizzard conditions occurred across most of Sheridan County with the Montana 511 website showing severe driving conditions on Highway 5 from Plentywood eastward to the North Dakota state line. These conditions were noted at times from the afternoon of the 19th into the morning ho…
Drought Drought
D3 drought over the eastern two thirds of the county to begin the month, improved to D2 drought. The remainder of the county improved from D2 drought to D1.
High Wind High Wind
For multiple sites across Sheridan County, sustained winds of 40 mph were common from mid morning through the evening. The peak wind gust of 75 mph was recorded at 1:30 PM at the Comertown Turn Off MT-5 DOT site (MTCOM). Other notable wind gusts were 74 mph at the Plentywood Airp…
High Wind High Wind
The public reported, via Facebook, damage to house siding. Picture is in the social media post. Time is estimated.
Drought Drought
To start October, the middle quarter remained in D-2 Severe drought, but the eastern half worsened to D-3 Extreme drought. On the third week of October, the western quarter of Sheridan County worsened to D-2 Severe drought, while the east three quarters of the county worsened to …
Drought Drought
To start September, the middle third of Sheridan County was in D-3 Extreme Drought, with a majority of the remainder of the county remaining in D-2 Severe drought. On the last week of September the western border of Sheridan County improved to D-1 Moderate drought.
Hail Hail
Public reported, via Facebook, hail up to the size of hen eggs.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Plentywood Airport AWOS (KPWD) measured a 78 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported, via Facebook, a 79 mph thunderstorm wind gust measured on a Davis weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported, via Facebook, pictures of two power poles that were snapped at the base. There were 8 more power poles knocked down. Times are estimated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Comertown Turn-Off MT-5 DOT site (MTCOM) measured a 59 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Hail Hail
Public reported hail up to the size of golf balls.
Drought Drought
During the second week of August, all of Sheridan County was in D2-Severe Drought conditions. On the last week of August, the middle third of Sheridan County worsened to D3-Extreme Drought.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public reported, via Facebook, a 60 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Medicine Lake RAWS site (MLKM8) measured a 63 mph thunderstorm wind gust.
High Wind High Wind
Multiple reports from social media and the public of downed power lines, as well as downed poplar or cottonwood trees. Photos of the damage were submitted on social media. Wind speeds of 60 mph were estimated.
High Wind High Wind
Across Sheridan County, intermittent wind speeds of at least 40 mph began mid morning and lasted into the mid afternoon hours on the 5th. The peak wind gust of 60 mph was recorded at 11:30 AM at the Comertown Turn-Off MT-5 DPT site (MTCOM).
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Across Sheridan County, measured snowfall amounts ranged from 5.0 to 8.0 inches. The greatest amount of 8.0 inches was reported by a trained spotter in Plentywood.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
At the Sher-Wood airport AWOS site (KPWD), visibility of one quarter mile or less was recorded for about 4 3/4 hours, from the night of the 3rd into the early morning hours on the 4th.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
At the Sher-Wood airport AWOS site (KPWD), visibility of a quarter mile or less was recorded for about 5 1/4 hours from early to mid morning on the 25th.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
For multiple sites across Sheridan County, temperatures in the teens to 30s below zero and breezy winds created intermittent periods of wind chills of 40 degrees below zero or colder beginning on the morning of the 11th and lasting as long as the morning of the 16th. The peak win…
Dense Fog Dense Fog
At the Sher-Wood airport AWOS site (KPWD), visibility of a quarter mile or less was recorded for about 2 1/4 hours during the early morning hours on the 5th, and then again for 3 hours during the mid morning of the 5th.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
At the Sher-Wood airport AWOS site (KPWD), visibility of a quarter mile or less was recorded for about 5 1/4 hours on the morning of the 31st.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | 0 |
| 2024 | 27 | 0 |
| 2023 | 22 | 0 |
| 2022 | 38 | 0 |
| 2021 | 34 | 0 |
| 2020 | 26 | 0 |
| 2019 | 25 | 0 |
| 2018 | 24 | 1 |
| 2017 | 27 | 1 |
| 2016 | 16 | 1 |
| 2015 | 12 | 0 |
| 2014 | 23 | 0 |
| 2013 | 20 | 0 |
| 2012 | 16 | 0 |
| 2011 | 36 | 0 |
| 2010 | 23 | 1 |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 |
| 2008 | 31 | 0 |
| 2007 | 46 | 0 |
| 2006 | 14 | 0 |
| 2005 | 34 | 0 |
| 2004 | 19 | 3 |
| 2003 | 9 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 | 13 | 0 |
| 2000 | 18 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 0 |
| 1998 | 13 | 0 |
| 1997 | 13 | 0 |
| 1996 | 10 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1959 | 4 | 0 |
| 1957 | 3 | 0 |