Wheatland County, Montana
98.5% of the county is in drought on the October 13, 2026 Drought Monitor map, down from 100% a week earlier. FEMA's flood data list 2 flood losses here since 2016.
68% of homes were built before 1980, against 50% nationally; the median home dates from 1958.
Data as of October 13, 2026 · sources
in drought, October 13, 2026
of homes built before 1980
Drought
98.5% of the county is in drought (D1 or worse) on the October 13, 2026 map. Part of the county was in drought in 38 of the last 52 weeks; the most was 100% of its area, in 27 weeks, most recently on the October 6, 2026 map.
| Category, October 13, 2026 | Share of county |
|---|---|
| D0 abnormally dry or worse | 100% |
| D1 moderate drought or worse | 98.5% |
| D2 severe or worse | 0% |
| D3 extreme or worse | 0% |
| D4 exceptional | 0% |
Flood losses since 2016
2 flood losses since 2016, $18,329 paid. The worst year was 2024, with 1.
| Year | Flood losses |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 to date | 0 |
Rain
| Average year, 1991-2020 | 16.23 in |
| 12 months to August 2026 | 13.40 in (-2.83) |
| 2025 | 17.35 in (+1.12) |
| Wettest year since 1895 | 1975: 22.25 in |
| Driest year since 1895 | 2021: 10.17 in |
| Days with 1 inch or more, normal at JUDITH GAP 13 E (20 mi away) | 1.1 |
Homes
| Housing units | 1,161 |
| Median year built | 1958 |
| Built before 1980 | 68% |
| Built 2000 or later | 18% |
| Owner-occupied | 76% |
| Median value, owner-occupied | $180,800 |
| Single-family detached | 86% |
What repairs cost
Published ranges from cost guides, not quotes. More sources, and where they disagree.
Nearby counties
| Place | Distance | Expansive clay | High water table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley County, MT | 33 mi | 26% | 2% |
| Judith Basin County, MT | 43 mi | 37% | 4% |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 48 mi | 16% | 5% |
| Meagher County, MT | 51 mi | n/a | n/a |
| Fergus County, MT | 58 mi | 51% | 3% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 62 mi | 26% | 5% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 67 mi | 24% | 1% |
| Park County, MT | 78 mi | 11% | 4% |
Sources: US Drought Monitor (October 13, 2026) · FEMA NFIP v3 (September 9, 2026) · NOAA (August 2026) · Census ACS 2020-2024. Methods · Data status