Avalanche Risk in Montana
All Montana counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index avalanche score
Avalanche risk — fast-moving snow and debris sliding down steep mountain slopes — is rated for 42 of 56 Montana counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Park County carries the state's highest avalanche score at 99.6, with $12M in expected annual avalanche losses.
11 Montana counties are rated High or Very High for avalanche, and expected annual losses from avalanche total roughly $50M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Avalanche
| # | County | Avalanche Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Park County | Very High | 0.67 / yr | $12M | |
| 2 | Flathead County | Very High | 0.50 / yr | $9M | |
| 3 | Madison County | Very High | 0.40 / yr | $6M | |
| 4 | Gallatin County | Very High | 0.67 / yr | $7M | |
| 5 | Lincoln County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Deer Lodge County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Beaverhead County | High | 0.13 / yr | $2M | |
| 8 | Missoula County | High | 0.20 / yr | $3M | |
| 9 | Lake County | High | 0.23 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Ravalli County | High | 0.17 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Granite County | High | 0.20 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Broadwater County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $913K | |
| 13 | Glacier County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 14 | Chouteau County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 15 | Mineral County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 16 | Teton County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $502K | |
| 17 | Cascade County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 18 | Lewis and Clark County | Medium | 0.03 / yr | $457K | |
| 19 | Carbon County | Low | 0.13 / yr | $3K | |
| 20 | Sanders County | Low | 0.03 / yr | $2K | |
| 21 | Powell County | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $2K | |
| 22 | Stillwater County | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $2K | |
| 23 | Sweet Grass County | Very Low | 0.13 / yr | $2K | |
| 24 | Silver Bow County | Very Low | 0.07 / yr | $379 | |
| 25 | Big Horn County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $101 | |
| 26 | Pondera County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $55 | |
| 27 | Fergus County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $61 | |
| 28 | Judith Basin County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $67 | |
| 29 | Meagher County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $48 | |
| 30 | Jefferson County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $23 | |
| 31 | Wheatland County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $16 | |
| 32 | Golden Valley County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $13 | |
| 33 | Blaine County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $5 | |
| 34 | Toole County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $3 | |
| 35 | Liberty County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2 | |
| 36 | Hill County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $2 | |
| 37 | Phillips County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $1 | |
| 38 | Rosebud County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 | |
| 39 | Yellowstone County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 | |
| 40 | Garfield County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 | |
| 41 | Powder River County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 | |
| 42 | Carter County | Very Low | 0.01 / yr | $0 |
42 Montana counties with measurable avalanche risk. See the national avalanche ranking or all Montana counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Montana county has the highest avalanche risk?
Park County has the highest FEMA avalanche risk score in Montana at 99.6 (Very High), with $12M in expected annual losses and about 0.67 events per year.
How many Montana counties face significant avalanche risk?
42 Montana counties record measurable avalanche risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 11 of them are rated High or Very High.