United StatesMontanaNWS, FEMA, USGSArchive to October 13, 2026
Montana: warnings and declarations in 2026
The National Weather Service issued 661 warnings for Montana in 2026 through September, 23% above the average of 539 for those months in 2008-2025. The most frequent was the severe thunderstorm warning (449). FEMA has made 5 declarations for Montana this year.
Latest notices in Montana
NWS Great FallsWarningOctober 12, 2026
Winter Storm Warning: East Glacier Park Region, Northern High Plains, Southern Rocky Mountain Front and 3 more, MT
Expired 6:00 a.m. MDT, October 12, 2026
NWS BillingsWarningOctober 11, 2026
Winter Storm Warning: Absaroka/Beartooth Mountains and Crazy Mountains, MT
Expired 12:00 p.m. MDT, October 12, 2026
Which warnings, watches and advisories does Montana get?
| Product | Yearly average 2008-2025 | 2025 | 2026 through September | Average, same months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe Thunderstorm Warning | 343 | 549 | 449 | 342 |
| Winter Weather Advisory | 166 | 181 | 87 | 106 |
| Flood Advisory | 66 | 84 | 92 | 64 |
| Lake Wind Advisory | 60 | 52 | 49 | 44 |
| High Wind Warning | 54 | 70 | 67 | 32 |
| Winter Storm Warning | 53 | 62 | 23 | 34 |
| Flood Warning | 44 | 9 | 7 | 43 |
| Winter Storm Watch | 42 | 56 | 20 | 27 |
| Red Flag Warning | 42 | 17 | 48 | 38 |
| High Wind Watch | 38 | 63 | 53 | 22 |
| Wind Advisory | 34 | 39 | 22 | 20 |
| Cold Weather Advisory | 34 | 53 | 12 | 24 |
| Dense Fog Advisory | 29 | 34 | 13 | 17 |
| Fire Weather Watch | 24 | 4 | 31 | 22 |
| Flash Flood Warning | 21 | 25 | 42 | 21 |
| Flood Watch | 20 | 14 | 29 | 20 |
| Severe Thunderstorm Watch | 19 | 18 | 21 | 19 |
| Tornado Warning | 12 | 6 | 0 | 12 |
| Snow Squall Warning (since 2018) | 12 | 16 | 8 | 6 |
| Extreme Cold Warning | 8 | 20 | 2 | 6 |
| Flash Flood Watch | 7 | 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Blizzard Warning | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Freezing Rain Advisory | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Heat Advisory | 5 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Freezing Fog Advisory | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Snow Advisory | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Snow and Blowing Advisory | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Tornado Watch | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Heavy Snow Warning | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Frost Advisory | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Freeze Warning | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Extreme Heat Warning | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Extreme Heat Watch | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| Extreme Cold Watch | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Blowing Dust Advisory | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
How many warnings does Montana get each year?
Every NWS warning (VTEC significance W) that covered part of Montana. 2026 is drawn as an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 667 |
| 2025 | 780 |
| 2024 | 535 |
| 2023 | 457 |
| 2022 | 741 |
| 2021 | 425 |
| 2020 | 451 |
| 2019 | 695 |
| 2018 | 630 |
| 2017 | 373 |
| 2016 | 511 |
| 2015 | 352 |
| 2014 | 484 |
| 2013 | 787 |
| 2012 | 540 |
| 2011 | 941 |
| 2010 | 693 |
| 2009 | 483 |
| 2008 | 800 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 13, 2026.
FEMA declarations for Montana in 2026
FEMAFire managementAugust 14, 2026
FM-5671-MT: Fire, sand creek fire
1 designated area
FEMAMajor disasterMay 29, 2026
DR-4915-MT: Straight-Line Winds, severe winter storm and straight-line winds
1 designated area
FEMAMajor disasterMay 29, 2026
DR-4914-MT: Winter Storm, severe winter storm and straight-line winds
1 designated area
FEMAMajor disasterApril 7, 2026
DR-4902-MT: Straight-Line Winds, severe winter storm and straight-line winds
32 designated areas
FEMAMajor disasterApril 7, 2026
DR-4901-MT: Flood, severe storms and flooding
1 designated area
Source: FEMA, OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries. Data as of October 11, 2026.
Recent earthquakes in Montana
USGSM3.3October 5, 2026
M3.3 earthquake, 13 km N of Ovando, Montana
At 2:34 a.m. UTC, October 5, 2026
USGSM3.1October 5, 2026
M3.1 earthquake, 5 km NW of Ovando, Montana
At 2:34 a.m. UTC, October 5, 2026
USGSM3.6September 18, 2026
M3.6 earthquake, 5 km NW of Black Eagle, Montana
At 1:40 p.m. UTC, September 18, 2026
USGSM2.7September 12, 2026
M2.7 earthquake, 10 km WNW of Wisdom, Montana
At 6:44 a.m. UTC, September 12, 2026
USGSM2.7September 8, 2026
M2.7 earthquake, 3 km ESE of Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana
At 7:21 a.m. UTC, September 8, 2026
Source: U.S. Geological Survey earthquake catalog.
Questions about Montana's warnings
How many weather warnings does Montana get a year?
An average of 593 NWS warnings a year in 2008-2025, and 780 in 2025.
What is the most common warning in Montana?
The severe thunderstorm warning: 343 a year on average in 2008-2025.
Where do the live warnings come from?
From the National Weather Service's alert feed (api.weather.gov), which AreaZine reads every few minutes. For a warning in force now, the NWS office page and NOAA Weather Radio are the first source; phones receive only the most dangerous warnings as Wireless Emergency Alerts.