Storm Records: Arizona
Every storm the National Weather Service has filed in Arizona: its floods, heat, cold, winter storms, hail, wind, lightning and tornadoes, year by year and county by county, each episode with its narrative.
The worst in Arizona on the map
The deadliest and costliest episodes on record here, colored by kind of event.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 17,893
- Deaths
- 3,147
- Injuries
- 1,551
- Damage
- $4.5 billion
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Tap a year for every episode in it.
Deaths each year
By kind of event
| Kind of event | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 4,106 | 14 | 231 | $574 million |
| Flash Flood | 3,491 | 115 | 178 | $256 million |
| Excessive Heat | 1,871 | 1,512 | 140 | $25,000 |
| Hail | 1,321 | 3 | 23 | $2.8 billion |
| High Wind | 975 | 5 | 22 | $4.6 million |
| Heavy Snow | 920 | 7 | 128 | $655,000 |
| Heat | 805 | 1,326 | 39 | |
| Dust Storm | 764 | 22 | 265 | $4.3 million |
| Heavy Rain | 702 | 7 | 36 | $4.0 million |
| Drought | 633 | 0 | 0 | |
| Flood | 405 | 12 | 2 | $42 million |
| Winter Storm | 332 | 22 | 22 | $1.3 million |
| Wildfire | 315 | 20 | 58 | $337 million |
| Tornado | 306 | 3 | 152 | $50 million |
| Lightning | 255 | 24 | 114 | $8.3 million |
| Funnel Cloud | 219 | 0 | 0 | |
| Strong Wind | 110 | 9 | 5 | $12 million |
| Dense Fog | 109 | 2 | 10 | $50,000 |
| Winter Weather | 50 | 10 | 99 | $740,000 |
| Frost/Freeze | 46 | 0 | 4 | $173 million |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 46 | 27 | 1 | $225,000 |
| Dust Devil | 33 | 0 | 9 | $297,000 |
| Debris Flow | 32 | 0 | 0 | $175,000 |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 18 | 2 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| Avalanche | 9 | 0 | 0 | |
| Blizzard | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ice Storm | 7 | 5 | 13 | $110,000 |
| Waterspout | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tropical Storm | 1 | 0 | 0 | $200 million |
| Sleet | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dense Smoke | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Freezing Fog | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The deadliest
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, July 11 to 22, 2023A very strong ridge of high pressure strengthened over the Desert Southwest during the middle part of the month, resulting in well above normal temperatures and excessive heat conditions.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 23 to 29, 2023A persistent strong ridge of high pressure over the region led to well above normal temperatures for the end of July. Afternoon highs during this time exceeded 110 degrees each day in Phoenix with the 25th recording a high of 119 degrees.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 19 to 23, 2022An anomalously strong ridge of high pressure over the Desert Southwest persisted into the latter part of July, leading to temperatures in excess of 110 degrees in Phoenix most days during this time.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 14 to 30, 2023Persistent strong high pressure aloft created an extended period of very hot temperatures July 14-30 across southeast Arizona. High temperatures were 5 to 14 degrees above normal causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached and numerous high temperatures to be established.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 14 to 18, 2022A strong upper level ridge situated over the Desert Southwest led to well above normal temperatures along with excessive heat conditions at times. Temperatures during this time at Phoenix Sky Harbor peaked on the 16th at 114 degrees.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, June 12 to 20, 2021A strong upper level ridge strengthened over the Desert Southwest during the middle part of June with the center of high pressure becoming focused over the Four Corners region. As a result, temperatures warmed up well above normal reaching excessive heat conditions.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 7, 2023A strong ridge of high pressure over the Southern Plains expanded westward into the Desert Southwest, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 8 to 13, 2022A strong ridge of high pressure became situated over the Four Corners region, leading to dangerous temperatures as well as excessive heat conditions at times across the Phoenix area.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 6 to 11, 2021Strong high pressure encompassing the Desert Southwest led to above normal temperatures, with excessive heat conditions occurring across the Phoenix area between the 9th and 11th.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 9 to 14, 2020A very strong area of high pressure strengthened over the southwest United States, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region. Temperatures in Phoenix exceeded 110 degrees each day with afternoon highs reaching or exceeding 115 degrees on the 11th and the 12th.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, June 26 to 30, 2024The Desert Southwest was under the influence of a strong ridge of high pressure, leading to afternoon temperatures topping out each day at or above 110 degrees in Phoenix.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, August 12 to 20, 2020A very strong and expansive area of high pressure remained situated over the Desert Southwest for multiple days, allowing for temperatures to reach or exceed 115 degrees most days during this time.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, July 22 to 31, 2018Strong high pressure over the Desert Southwest allowed for temperatures to climb into record territory across the Phoenix area, resulting in deadly excessive heat conditions. Phoenix Sky Harbor airport recorded temperatures getting as high as 116 degrees during this period.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 1 to 6, 2020A very strong area of high pressure parked over the Southwest United States led to continued excessive heat conditions across the region from the end of July into the beginning of August.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, June 6 to 12, 2022A strong ridge of high pressure built in across the Southwest heading into the middle part of June, bringing excessive heat conditions to the region.
- Excessive Heat in Arizona, August 25 to 30, 2023A strong upper level ridge of high pressure over the Great Plains retrograded westward to the western United States, leading to excessive heat conditions across the region.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, August 2 to 7, 2018Strong high pressure over the Desert Southwest led to excessive heat warning conditions near the beginning of the month. The deadly heatwave resulted in 31 fatalities (27 direct and 4 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 18 to 22, 2020Strong high pressure led to temperatures climbing near to slightly above 110 degrees during a several day period for the latter part of July. According to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 31 heat-associated fatalities occurred during this time.
- Heat in Arizona, July 12 to 21, 2005This was the third warmest July on record in Phoenix. The average monthly temperature was 97.3 degrees, just 4 tenths of a degree shy of the record warmest July which was set in 2003. The average maximum temperature for the month was 109.5 compared to a normal of 106.6 degrees.
- Heat in Arizona, July 18 to 23, 2021The strong monsoon high centered over the Four Corners led to temperatures approaching 110 degrees at times in Phoenix. Temperatures most nights were 3-4 degrees above normal as lows remained in the upper 80s.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, June 9 to 16, 2024A ridge of high pressure over the Desert Southwest resulted in excessive heat conditions during the middle part of June.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 26 to 31, 2020Anomalously strong high pressure over the Southwest led to temperatures climbing at or above 115 degrees. Temperatures peaked in Phoenix on the 30th at 118 degrees, which ended up being the hottest day of the year.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 6 to 10, 2023The Desert Southwest continued to remain under the influence of an upper level ridge of high pressure during the July 6-10th time period. As a result, high temperatures in Phoenix continued to reach or exceed 110 degrees each day with the 6th reaching a high of 115 degrees.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 8 to 12, 2024Hot temperatures typically 7 to 11 degrees above normal were experienced across southeast Arizona July 8-12.
- Excessive Heat and Heat in Arizona, July 22 to 27, 2018Strong high pressure building into the region resulted in excessive heat warning conditions across much of south-central and southwest Arizona. The deadly heatwave resulted in 25 fatalities (23 direct and 2 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
The costliest
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 5, 2010
- Tropical Storm in Arizona, September 25, 1997
- Frost and Freeze in Arizona, January 12 to 16, 2013
- Damaging Wind in Arizona, July 25, 2006
- Damaging Wind in Arizona, August 14, 1996
- Dust Storm and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 14, 2002
- Wildfire in Arizona, June 17 to 30, 2003
- Wildfire in Arizona, July 1 to 15, 2003
- Wildfire in Arizona, June 1 to 30, 2011
- Wildfire in Arizona, April 28 to 30, 2018
- Flash Flooding in Arizona, July 29, 2021
- Flooding and Hail in Arizona, September 1 to 20, 1999
- Tornadoes and Hail in Arizona, June 21, 1972
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Arizona, September 25 to 27, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 28, 2008
- Flash Flooding and Dust Storm in Arizona, August 13 to 14, 2021
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, July 14 to 15, 2024
- Wildfire in Arizona, April 17 to 30, 2022
- Tornado and Hail in Arizona, September 15, 1999
- Wildfire in Arizona, July 1 to 8, 2011
- Strong Wind in Arizona, May 9, 2011
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 26, 2010
- Flash Flooding in Arizona, October 21 to 23, 2000
- Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Arizona, July 31, 2012
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, August 24, 2007
Counties
Every storm event filed in each county, including the zone-filed ones that covered it.
Counties and zones as filed
The places filed most often, as the offices named them.
| County or zone | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa | 2,751 | 26 | 194 | $3.4 billion |
| Pima | 1,724 | 28 | 138 | $235 million |
| Mohave | 1,138 | 11 | 157 | $35 million |
| Yavapai | 938 | 10 | 7 | $35 million |
| Coconino | 786 | 31 | 86 | $35 million |
| Pinal | 740 | 9 | 71 | $37 million |
| Cochise | 616 | 19 | 33 | $13 million |
| Gila | 536 | 28 | 20 | $79 million |
| Navajo | 340 | 3 | 4 | $157,000 |
| Yuma | 339 | 0 | 14 | $22 million |
| Central Phoenix zone | 315 | 1,313 | 0 | $52,000 |
| Western Mogollon Rim zone | 304 | 22 | 233 | $35 million |
| Tucson Metro Area zone | 283 | 383 | 85 | $2.0 million |
| La Paz | 252 | 2 | 5 | $16 million |
| Apache | 236 | 4 | 2 | $273,000 |
| Santa Cruz | 219 | 6 | 13 | $13 million |
| East Valley zone | 203 | 324 | 1 | $17,000 |
| Eastern Mogollon Rim zone | 186 | 2 | 0 | $50 million |
| Graham | 180 | 1 | 1 | $8.3 million |
| White Mountains zone | 171 | 2 | 0 | $58 million |
| Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet zone | 170 | 38 | 5 | $1.8 million |
| Northwest Deserts zone | 160 | 1 | 23 | $1.5 million |
| Northwest Pinal County zone | 160 | 0 | 1 | $12,000 |
| Upper Gila River and Aravaipa Valleys zone | 158 | 13 | 2 | $391,000 |
| Little Colorado River Valley in Navajo County zone | 157 | 7 | 0 | $290,000 |
| Southeast Pinal County zone | 157 | 7 | 7 | $5.7 million |
| Tohono O Odham Nation zone | 153 | 138 | 12 | $13,000 |
| Little Colorado River Valley in Apache County zone | 150 | 0 | 0 | $44,000 |
| Upper San Pedro River Valley zone | 142 | 29 | 1 | $14 million |
| Upper Santa Cruz River and Altar Valleys zone | 129 | 51 | 2 | $575,000 |
| North Phoenix/Glendale zone | 129 | 150 | 0 | $33,000 |
| Little Colorado River Valley in Coconino County zone | 125 | 0 | 5 | $72,000 |
| Buckeye/Avondale zone | 118 | 107 | 1 | $6,000 |
| Greater Phoenix Area zone | 116 | 45 | 24 | $110 million |
| Yavapai County Mountains zone | 106 | 22 | 9 | $504,000 |
| South Central Pinal County zone | 106 | 5 | 79 | $1.4 million |
| Lake Mead National Recreation Area zone | 100 | 6 | 46 | $417,000 |
| Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau zone | 98 | 1 | 2 | $52,000 |
| White Mountains of Graham and Greenlee Counties zone | 97 | 0 | 0 | $50,000 |
| Central Deserts zone | 90 | 8 | 26 | $36 million |
| Southeast Valley/Queen Creek zone | 90 | 6 | 2 | $1,000 |
| Scottsdale/Paradise Valley zone | 89 | 73 | 0 | $1,000 |
| Kaibab Plateau zone | 88 | 0 | 0 | |
| Western Pima County zone | 88 | 37 | 12 | |
| Galiuro and Pinaleno Mountains zone | 88 | 1 | 0 | $50,000 |
| Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca and Santa Rita Mountains zone | 87 | 6 | 1 | $15 million |
| Northern Gila County zone | 85 | 2 | 5 | $4.3 million |
| Chiricahua Mountains zone | 85 | 1 | 14 | $1.0 million |
| Grand Canyon Country zone | 80 | 1 | 2 | |
| Northwest Valley zone | 79 | 47 | 0 | |
| Yavapai County Valleys and Basins zone | 67 | 3 | 3 | $182,000 |
| South Mountain/Ahwatukee zone | 67 | 1 | 0 | $750 |
| Cave Creek/New River zone | 65 | 7 | 0 | $54,000 |
| Cochise County zone | 62 | 6 | 36 | $1.8 million |
| Lake Havasu and Fort Mohave zone | 62 | 3 | 1 | $532,000 |
| Yuma zone | 62 | 0 | 0 | $65,000 |
| Santa Catalina and Rincon Mountains zone | 61 | 1 | 9 | $120,000 |
| Deer Valley zone | 60 | 2 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Central la Paz zone | 59 | 27 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Chinle Valley zone | 56 | 1 | 0 | |
| Greenlee | 55 | 0 | 0 | $731,000 |
| Gila River Valley zone | 55 | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| Tonopah Desert zone | 53 | 17 | 8 | $300,000 |
| Northern Greenlee zone | 50 | 0 | 28 | $10,000 |
| Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Highway 264 zone | 50 | 0 | 17 | $2,000 |
| Fountain Hills/East Mesa zone | 50 | 0 | 0 | |
| Aguila Valley zone | 49 | 2 | 0 | $5.0 million |
| Northwest Plateau zone | 47 | 1 | 0 | $48,000 |
| Gila Bend zone | 47 | 2 | 0 | |
| Baboquivari Mountains zone | 46 | 1 | 0 | $500,000 |
| Apache Junction/Gold Canyon zone | 44 | 1 | 4 | $4,000 |
| Oak Creek and Sycamore Canyons zone | 43 | 0 | 1 | $7.0 million |
| Parker Valley zone | 43 | 0 | 0 | $4,000 |
| Tucson Metro/Marana/Green Valley zone | 42 | 1 | 2 | $419,000 |
| Black Mesa Area zone | 42 | 0 | 0 | $9.0 million |
| Sonoran Desert Natl Monument zone | 39 | 0 | 0 | |
| Marble Canyon and Glen Canyon zone | 36 | 0 | 0 | |
| West Pinal County zone | 36 | 0 | 0 | |
| Coconino Plateau zone | 35 | 0 | 0 | $67,000 |
| Northeast Plateaus and Mesas From Highway 264 North zone | 35 | 2 | 0 | |
| Upper Gila River Valley zone | 34 | 0 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| Kofa zone | 34 | 0 | 0 | |
| Tonto Basin zone | 33 | 0 | 0 | |
| New River Mesa zone | 31 | 2 | 0 | |
| Southeast Yuma County zone | 29 | 0 | 0 | |
| E Pima zone | 28 | 3 | 19 | $175,000 |
| San Carlos zone | 28 | 2 | 0 | $5.0 million |
| Santa Cruz County zone | 27 | 2 | 14 | $665,000 |
| Yuma/Martinez Lake and Vicinity zone | 26 | 1 | 1 | $1.8 million |
| Globe/Miami zone | 26 | 1 | 0 | $8,000 |
| Rio Verde/Salt River zone | 25 | 0 | 0 | $1.0 million |
| Southern Gila/Tonto Nf Foothills zone | 24 | 2 | 9 | $44,000 |
| 23 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Superior zone | 22 | 0 | 0 | |
| Dripping Springs zone | 20 | 0 | 0 | |
| Southwest Deserts zone | 19 | 0 | 0 | $2.4 million |
| Southwest Maricopa County zone | 15 | 4 | 0 | $2.1 million |
| Nw Pinal zone | 15 | 2 | 13 | |
| C Maricopa zone | 15 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Tohono Oodham Nation zone | 13 | 16 | 0 | $90,000 |
| West Central Deserts zone | 12 | 1 | 2 | $5.3 million |
| S Mohave T X Sw and X Wc zone | 11 | 0 | 0 | $160,000 |
| Graham/S Greenlee zone | 11 | 0 | 0 | $25,000 |
| C Pima zone | 10 | 0 | 0 | $80,000 |
| X Wc Mohave zone | 9 | 6 | 0 | $40,000 |
| Northwest Maricopa County zone | 8 | 0 | 0 | $10 million |
| S Gila/Ne Maricopa/X N Pinal zone | 8 | 1 | 14 | $15,000 |
| Pinal/Superstition Mountains zone | 8 | 0 | 0 | $8.0 million |
| Western Mogollon Rim / Sc Coconino zone | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Eastern Mogollon Rim / Se Coconino, X S Navajo T X Se zone | 7 | 0 | 0 | |
| Sw Yuma zone | 7 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| White Mountains / X Se Navajo, X S Apache zone | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Yavapai zone | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Southeast Gila County zone | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lower Colorado River Valley zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | $202 million |
| Mazatzal Mountains zone | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| Kaibab Plateau / X Nw Coconino zone | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Southeast Pinal zone | 2 | 0 | 25 | $200,000 |
| Cochise zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | $40,000 |
| Grand Canyon Country / Wc Coconino zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Coconino Plateau / Sw Coconino zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| N Mohave zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| C&e Yuma zone | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Chuska Mountains and Defiance Plateau / Ne Apache zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Northeast Plateaus and Mesas / Ne Coconino / N & C Navajo, C Apache zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| W la Paz / Sw Yuma zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Northern Gila zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| C & E la Paz / Nw Maricopa zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| C & E la Paz zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| W la Paz zone | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Lake Mead - Az Side | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Northwest Deserts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Every year
More
Every tornado in ArizonaEvery warning in Arizona since 1986River gauges in ArizonaEvery state
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.