Adams County, Washington
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 53001 · population 20,588 · 1,925 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 367 records for Adams County, Washington from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 224 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (150 records). 329 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the December 20, 2013 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin, which covers the county: 1 death, 4 injuries and $253,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 10 declarations naming the county since 1977, 8 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Lind Fire” on August 4, 2022.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 367on 224 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 8102 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $52Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 10latest 2022
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Adams County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 150 since 1996. 61% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The rank column places the county among Washington's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 150 | 79 | 1996-2023 | 4 | 53 | $14M | 34 of 39 |
| High wind and dust storms | 112 | 62 | 1997-2026 | 1 | 42 | $14M | 26 of 39 |
| Wildfires | 48 | 45 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 1 | $11M | 6 of 39 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 16 | 11 | 1975-2024 | 1 | 0 | $288K | 16 of 39 |
| Hail | 10 | 8 | 1982-2022 | 0 | 0 | $9.3M | 16 of 39 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 10 | 10 | 1998-2023 | 1 | 5 | $3.0M | 7 of 39 |
| Floods | 7 | 6 | 1997-2017 | 0 | 0 | $253K | 38 of 39 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 4 | 1998-2010 | 0 | 0 | $32K | 21 of 39 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1978-1983 | 0 | 0 | $89 | 20 of 39 |
| Heat | 2 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 39 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 1997-2011 | 1 | 1 | $16K | 30 of 39 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | $943K | 14 of 39 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2001-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 39 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Adams County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Adams County from 1978 to 1983, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 20th of 39 Washington counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 3 tornadoes whose track touched Adams County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Washington.
Every tornado record filed for Adams County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-04-23 | Adams County | F0 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-05-12 | Adams County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-07-01 | Adams County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Adams County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 21, 2026 wildfire ($4.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
The fire started on the June 21 by an unknown human cause. It burned 3366 acres of shrub and grass including wheat fields. Evacuations impacted around 200 families. An unknown number of outbuildings were destroyed. It was contained on June 26. Damage is estimated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1353426)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-21 | WildfireAdams County and 4 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | |
| 2026-03-08 | Dust StormAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2025-04-16 | Dust StormAdams County and 4 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2023-12-04 | Winter WeatherAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 1 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2023-11-25 | Freezing FogAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 0 | 5 | $5K | |
| 2023-07-10 | WildfireAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 0 | 0 | $688K | |
| 2022-08-04 | WildfireAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | $943K | |
| 2022-08-04 | Astronomical Low TideAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | $943K | |
| 2022-04-04 | High WindAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 47 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.3M |
| 2021-03-28 | Strong WindAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 46 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $87K |
| 2021-03-28 | Dust StormAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 0 | 8 | $87K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-12-20 | Winter WeatherAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin Moderate snow, slick conditions, and excessive speed was responsible for a ten car pile up along Interstate 90 seven miles east of Ritzville at 1246 PST. Eleven people were involved in the crash, four which were injured and one which died on the scene. Eight of the ten cars were totaled. Snowfall totals at the time of ... | 1 | 4 | $253K | |
| 2020-10-13 | Dust StormAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area A Grant County official reported road closures 5 miles northeast of Moses Lake. Blowing dust created near zero visibility due to strong winds. There was one fatality in a vehicle stopped on the side of the road to wait out the poor visibility. The car was subsequently rear ended by a semi-truck. | 1 | 1 | $23K | |
| 2023-12-04 | Winter WeatherAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area Prior to 7 AM, a 9-year-old was killed in a crash just south of Warden after the vehicle he was traveling in hit a patch of ice and spun off the roadway. The three other occupants sustained non-life-threatening injuries. An estimated 3 inches of snow was reported. | 1 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2020-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindWashtucna, Adams County The Washtucna Community reported that a man lost his life during storm clean up. Due to strong winds, numerous trees were uprooted, property damage, and an unoccupied trailer was blown into a power pole. | 27 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $17K |
| 2020-02-04 | Winter StormAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin Multiple collisions and slide offs were reported along Interstate 90 in Adams County due to fresh light snow accumulations melting and subsequently freezing to the road surface. A fatal accident was reported from the Ritzville area. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-11-29 | Dense FogAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area The Washington State Patrol reported one fatality (indirect) when a motorist tried to pass another car on a two lane road during a period of dense fog. The car ran into an oncoming semi truck. The driver of the car was killed while the driver of the truck escaped injury. | 1 | 0 | $235K | |
| 1997-03-08 | AvalancheAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin An avalanche kills a man while snowmobiling. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1996-11-19 | Ice StormAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area Before the freezing rain hit there was already 2 to 4 inches of snow on the ground. Between 1 and 1.5 inches of freezing rain fell over the Spokane area, knocking out power to 50% of the people and forcing the mayor to declare a state of emergency. It was the worst ice storm in 60 years, and the worst power outage in ... | 1 | 0 | $13M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-11-19 | Ice StormAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 1 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2001-06-27 | HailRitzville, Adams County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $6.7M |
| 2022-04-04 | High WindAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 47 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5.3M |
| 2026-06-21 | WildfireAdams County and 4 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | |
| 1998-08-06 | WildfireRitzville, Adams County | 0 | 1 | $3.7M | |
| 2006-12-14 | High WindAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.4M |
| 2007-01-07 | High WindAdams County and Grant County · forecast zone Moses Lake Area | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.8M |
| 2009-01-13 | Freezing FogAdams County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Columbia Basin | 0 | 0 | $2.8M |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $30, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 23, 1983 (tornado, Adams County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Adams County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 31 | 82 | 23 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 22 | 40 | 44 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 1 | 17 | 24 | 6 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
61% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 69 · Feb 47 · Mar 19 · Apr 18 · May 18 · Jun 17 · Jul 34 · Aug 32 · Sep 25 · Oct 12 · Nov 38 · Dec 38 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Adams County
FEMA's register lists 10 declarations that include Adams County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for biological (2) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-08-04 | FM-5447 | Fire | Lind Fire |
| 2020-03-22 | DR-4481 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3427 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-04-21 | DR-4309 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, Mudslides |
| 2009-03-02 | DR-1825 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow |
| 2005-09-07 | EM-3227 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1997-01-17 | DR-1159 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Land & Muds Slides,Flooding |
| 1996-02-09 | DR-1100 | Flood | High Winds, Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1980-05-21 | DR-623 | Volcanic Eruption | Volcanic Eruption, Mt. St. Helens |
| 1977-03-31 | EM-3037 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Adams County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 7 flood or flash flood records for Adams County from 1997 to 2017, on 6 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Adams County ranks 2436th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lind Fire | 2022-08-04 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $9,901 on 8 claims filed in Adams County; the most in one year was 2 in 2023. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1993: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Adams County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Adams County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $650K | once in about 227 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.6M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $547K | once in about 310 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $351K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $379K | 4.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $143K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $8 | once in about 455 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $3.7M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Adams County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in WashingtonEvery Washington tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in WashingtonThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Washington recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Adams CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Adams County's FEMA declarations (CSV)10 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis