Many viewers of the award-winning TV show, Yellowstone, fantasize having a ranch like the Duttons. StatisNostics asks if they can stand the heat.

Yellowstone, the Western drama that’s taken the nation by storm, takes place in Darby, Montana and follows the lives of the Dutton family. Headed by patriarch John Dutton, the family navigates the drama in their personal lives while defending their ranch— the Yellowstone. The show attracted an estimated 2.1 million tourists and a staggering $730 million in spending to Montana in 2021. 

While viewers wonder whether or not they can live the Dutton lifestyle, StatisNostics warns of Montana’s extreme weather conditions. According to StatisNostics, a database that utilizes U.S. government census data, Darby, MT has a wildfire FEMA risk index score of 99.89 out of 100. The town loses an expected $3.5 million to wildfire damages every year. On the opposite extreme, Darby also has a cold wave FEMA risk index score of 98.04. So if the fiery blaze of the summer wasn’t enough, be prepared for a harsh chill during the wintertime. On top of that, the landslide risk index score for Darby is 87.58 and the riverine flooding score is 69.75. 

Now, this isn’t to dissuade you from booking that trip to Montana. However, if you’re thinking of purchasing a property there, specifically in the Dutton town of Darby, be ready for some pretty adverse weather.

If you want to know the weather risks for your area, visit www.statisnostics.com. By entering your address in the search bar, you can find information on your town’s climate data, public safety, health, economics, real estate, schools, demographics, and government. And if you are planning a trip elsewhere, StatisNostics will provide you with data for any city/town in the country.

1. Rosenberg, Josh. Where Is “Yellowstone” Filmed? Where Is the Real-Life Dutton ... - Esquire, 16 Nov. 2022, www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a41967495/where-is-yellowstone-filmed/. 

2. "Yellowstone (TV Series).” Variety, Paramount Network, variety.com/t/yellowstone/. Accessed 15 Jan. 2024. 

3. University of Montana. “UM Study: ‘Yellowstone’ Series Generates 2.1m Visitors, $750m in Spending for Montana.” University of Montana, 2023, www.umt.edu/news/2023/01/011923yell.php. 

Cover Photo Credit: https://wallpapers.com/yellowstone-tv-show