Natural Disaster Risk in Medicine Lake
Montana
Risk Summary for Medicine Lake
Medicine Lake scores 4.3/10 (Moderate risk), near the U.S. average of 4.5. The leading hazard is Cold Wave.
Top Hazards
All 18 Hazard Scores
How it compares
Live Conditions
🏠 What this means for insurance
Average risk — standard coverage usually sufficient
This area carries average natural disaster risk. A standard homeowners or renters policy should cover common events, but review the exclusions for floods and earthquakes, which are almost never included by default.
This is general information only. Consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your property.
Natural Hazard Profile: Medicine Lake, Montana
Medicine Lake, in Sheridan County, is a small unincorporated community situated in the northern tier of the continental United States. Its semi-arid climate brings cold winters, dry summers, and extreme temperature swings, and in particular rapid chinook wind events and spring flooding. These conditions collectively define the natural hazard environment that Medicine Lake residents and property owners must navigate.
Medicine Lake's overall natural disaster risk is rated 4.3/10 (Moderate) by FEMA's National Risk Index. Cold wave events are the primary hazard risk, driven by periodic invasions of Arctic air that drive wind chills to life-threatening levels and stress heating systems. Secondary hazards include winter and wildfire.
Within Montana, Medicine Lake's risk is, slightly below the 4.9/10 state average. Nationally, it ranks near the U.S. national average of 4.5/10. FEMA's analysis of Sheridan County identifies cold wave as the foremost hazard, followed by winter and wildfire. These rankings reflect the relative frequency and severity of each hazard type in the local environment.
With a moderate risk rating, Medicine Lake residents are well-served by maintaining standard preparedness practices — an emergency supply kit, awareness of local hazard seasonality, and insurance that covers the top local risks. Periodic review of coverage for cold wave is recommended.
What this means for Medicine Lake: Cold Wave preparedness
- Dress in layers and limit exposure during extreme cold to prevent frostbite and hypothermia.
- Protect pipes, pets, and plants, and ensure heating systems are serviced before winter.
- Keep emergency heat and supplies ready in case of cold-related power outages.
Local Factors for Medicine Lake
These city-level factors differentiate Medicine Lake from other communities in Sheridan County and provide geographic context for its hazard exposure.
Population
310
RuralGeographic Zone
Inland
Reduced coastal hazard exposure
Climate Band
Northern Continental
Latitude 48.5°
Flood Terrain
Minimal — county topography limits flood risk
Flood score: 1.0/10
Wildfire Exposure
Moderate — summer fire risk
Fire score: 5.7/10
Coordinates
48.5185° N, 104.5221° W
Sheridan County
Population and coordinates from SimpleMaps US Cities data. Hazard scores from FEMA National Risk Index. Geographic classification derived from coordinates.
Recent Climate Data for Medicine Lake
Last 12 months · Source: Open-Meteo archive
Notable Weather Days (last 12 months)
ZIP Codes in Medicine Lake
Other cities in Montana
Data source: FEMA National Risk Index (NRI). Scores normalized to 1–10 across all US counties. City scores inherit county-level FEMA data. For informational purposes only.