Pacific Northwest Severe Flooding

Losses, 2024 dollars

$2.1 billion

Losses at the time

$1.0 billion

Deaths

9

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Flooding in Oregon, February 6 to 15, 19967 deaths · $400 million · 8 eventsRunoff from heavy rains and melting mountain snow caused major floods upon many northern Oregon rivers. The first rivers reached flood stage on the morning of February 6th while the heaviest rain was still falling.
• Flooding in Montana, February 7 to 11, 1996$733,000 · 4 eventsWarmer temperatures, after an extended cold and snowy period, caused numerous flooding problems across central Montana during the second week of February. Snowmelt over frozen ground caused streams and rivers to go out of their banks, washing out roads and bridges.
• Flood in Montana, February 7 to 8, 19961 eventFlooding on the Stillwater River in Stillwater County of South Central Montana caused 15 cabins near the Beartooth Mountains to be surrounded by water. Old Hardin Road was closed between Piccolo and Johnson Lanes.
• Flood in Washington, February 7, 19961 eventSome of the worst flooding in over 60 years took place in Washington from the 7th to the 10th. Damage statewide was estimated at 223 million. In the state the flooding destroyed 100 houses, 400 mobile homes, 7 apt buildings.
• Flooding in Montana, February 7 to 15, 19962 eventsFor Deer Lodge County, in the Anaconda area, flooding restricted to mainly personal property damage. 15 damaged homes, 4 public buildings, heavy damage to roads and culverts. One bridge destroyed and 3 damaged, with some septic systems and wells flooded.
• Flood in Wyoming, February 7, 1996$25,000 · 1 eventWarm temperatures produced flooding in Sheridan County. Some basements were flooded. Some small streams ans creeks went over their banks and flooded low lying areas and some streets.
• Flood in Idaho, February 8 to 20, 19961 injured · $44 million · 1 eventMajor flooding took place the second week of February in Northern Idaho. Conditions that developed in late January contributed significantly to the flood.
• Flood in Idaho, February 8 to 20, 19961 event
• Heavy Rain in West Virginia, February 8, 19964 deaths · $5,000 · 1 eventA tragedy unfolded on a family farm along Goose Creek, thatdevastated a close-knit rural community. A 67 year oldgrandfather crossed his concrete low water bridge just aftersunset in a pickup truck.
• Flash Flood in Puerto Rico, February 8, 19961 eventHEAVY RAINS OVER THE NORTH COAST OF PUERTO RICO. THE RAINS AFFECTED MAINLY THE MUNICIPALITIES OF DORADO AND VEGA ALTA. CIVIL DEFENSE OFFICIALS REPORTED THE EVACUATION OF 16 HOMES IN BARRIO BRENAS IN VEGA ALTA.
• Flood in Montana, February 8 to 10, 19961 eventTongue River was flooding due to ice jams near mouth of river close to Miles City, Custer County, of Southeast Montana. About 20 familes were being warned of rising water. A day later, the houses were spared from flooding, but the ice jam flooding problem was persisting.
• Flash Flood in West Virginia, February 8, 19961 event
• Flash Flood in West Virginia, February 8, 19961 event
• Flash Flood in West Virginia, February 8, 19961 eventSnowmelt combined with a final round of rain, ahead of acold front, to produce minor flooding along several smallstreams in the 4 counties. Two day rain totals were 1 to 1.5inches, with a quarter to half inch falling in about a 3 to5 hour time during the evening of the 8th.
• Flash Flood in West Virginia, February 8, 19961 event
• Flash Flood in West Virginia, February 8, 19961 eventSalt Lick Creek went out of its banks and flooded a road between Terra Alta and Rowlesburg.
• Flood in Montana, February 8 to 10, 19961 eventFlooding occurred on Little Big Horn River in Big Horn County of South Central Montana. Several homes threatened at Crow Agency and people were evacuating homes in Benteen. Water was across Interstate 90.
• Flood in Montana, February 8 to 10, 19961 eventFlooding was occurring on the Little Big Horn River in Big Horn County of South Central Montana. Several homes in Crow Agency were threatened by the waters. People were evacuating homes in Benteen. Water was across Interstate 90.
• Flash Flood in West Virginia, February 8 to 9, 19961 eventHeavy rain and snow melt resulted in water over several roads throughout Mercer County.
• Flood in Montana, February 8 to 9, 19961 eventStreets in Livingston in Park County of South Central Montana were closed Wednesday night due to flooding. U.S. 89 north of Livingston was also closed due to flooding. All roads were reopened Thursday morning.
• Flooding in Iowa, February 9 to 12, 1996$50,000 · 11 eventsThough precipitation in Iowa during the month o February was light, scattered flooding was obseved in Iowa for the first time since July of 1995. All of the flooding resulted from significant melting of the extensive snow cover in Iowa between the 7th and the 10th of the month.
• Flood in Montana, February 9 to 10, 19961 eventFloods damaged home, property, and killed livestock south of Laurel in Yellowstone County of South Central Montana. Yellowstone River flooded and caused an estimated loss of $5250 for pigs killed and $1500 for calves killed. Seventy-six feeder pigs and 10 calves were killed.
• Flash Flood in New York, February 9, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventLarge ice jams developed on the Buffalo Creek in West Seneca on the 9th. Flooding was localized, near the gage, and was confined mainly to basements and open fields.
• Flood in Montana, February 9, 19961 eventIn Powell County, ice tore down Newman Bridge, some livestock lost, fences destroyed, haystacks and dormant crops damaged on Blackfoot River.
• Flood in Montana, February 10, 19961 eventSeveral trailer parks evactuated near Lolo.
• Flood in Wisconsin, February 10 to 14, 19961 eventA combination of melting snow and light rain coupled with ice action caused minor lowland flooding along the Pecatonica River in the vicinity of Martintown. The river level at this location crested at 11.86 feet on Feb 10th at 2230CST, or .86 feet above flood stage.
• Flood in Wisconsin, February 12 to 13, 19961 eventA combination of melting snow and light rain coupled with ice action caused minor lowland flooding along the Sugar River in the vicinity of Broadhead. The river level at this location crested at 5.45 feet at 1905CST on Feb 12th, or .45 feet above flood stage.
• Flood in Montana, February 12 to 19, 1996$10,000 · 1 eventMelting snow and ice jams lead to rising waters on the Yellowstone River. Flooding along the shores of the river occurred around Sidney and Savage.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 1996Tornadoes in 1996

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.