How Likely Is a Tornado in Big Horn County, WY?
How likely is a tornado in Big Horn County, WY?
Big Horn County has recorded 32 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 2.4 years - our Elevated band. Put another way: Big Horn County sees more tornado activity than 71% of US counties. Among 23 Wyoming counties in this dataset, Big Horn County ranks 10 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
25 weak and 7 significant tornadoes make up Big Horn County's 32-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Big Horn County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Wyoming has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Wyoming this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
Tornado outbreaks routinely knock out power across Wyoming for days, separately from any single house getting hit. A portable battery bank keeps a fridge, phone chargers and a radio running through that gap - cheaper and faster to set up than a generator.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Big Horn County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 3,137 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Big Horn County has about 12,084 residents.