Alamosa County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08003 · population 16,357 · 723 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 450 records for Alamosa County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 363 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (252 records). 399 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 January 10, 2008 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1970, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Katrina Evacuation” on September 5, 2005.
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
- 450on 363 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 37 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 17strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 2020
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 Alamosa County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 252 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Colorado'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 | 252 | 204 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $460K | 28 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 127 | 106 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 6 | $593K | 8 of 63 |
| Tornadoes | 17 | 17 | 1955-2014 | 0 | 0 | $63K | 19 of 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 15 | 14 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 63 |
| Hail | 14 | 11 | 1961-2013 | 0 | 0 | $2.0M | 36 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 7 | 2000-2016 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 27 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 5 | 1996-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 63 |
| Floods | 4 | 2 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 57 of 63 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 1 | $76K | 20 of 63 |
| Drought | 2 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 1 | 0 | – | 39 of 63 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 63 |
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 Alamosa County had?
NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Alamosa County from 1955 to 2014, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 19th of 63 Colorado 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Alamosa County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Colorado.
Every tornado record filed for Alamosa County (17)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-22 | Mosca, Alamosa County | EF0 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-20 | Mosca, Alamosa County | EF0 0.1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-08-16 | Mosca, Alamosa County | EF1 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2006-07-09 | Alamosa County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-06-26 | Alamosa County | F0 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-07-15 | Alamosa County | F0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-08-10 | Alamosa County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-25 | Alamosa County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-08-05 | Mosca, Alamosa County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-27 | Alamosa County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-03-19 | Alamosa County | F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 1983-06-22 | Alamosa County | F1 1.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-06-19 | Alamosa County | F1 2 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1974-03-23 | Alamosa County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1958-07-18 | Alamosa County | F0 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1956-06-25 | Alamosa County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1955-07-10 | Alamosa County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
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 Alamosa County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 16, 2008 tornado ($11,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A brief tornado destroyed a mobile home in a rural area.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 123481)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | High WindAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-05 | Heavy SnowAlamosa County and 6 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | Dense FogAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | Dust StormAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Heavy SnowAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-19 | High WindAlamosa County and 6 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft | 71 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-06 | High WindAlamosa County and 6 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft | 66 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-08 | Thunderstorm WindAlamosa County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-01 | High WindAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-14 | High WindAlamosa County and 6 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Between 8500 & 11000 Ft | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-07 | Heavy SnowAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-06 | High WindAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-01-10 | AvalancheAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft A deadly avalanche occurred on the east slope of Blanca Peak. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-12-24 | Heavy SnowAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Pueblo And Eastern Fremont Counties/Pueblo And Vicinity An upper level low pressure system combined with upslope northerly winds at the surface to produce widespread snow across the southeast mountains and adjoining plains starting the morning of the 24th and lasting into Christmas morning. Storm totals ranged from 4 to 9 inches in and around the Wet Mountains. However, 12 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-10-24 | BlizzardAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Pueblo And Eastern Fremont Counties/Pueblo And Vicinity | 1 | 0 | $368K | |
| 1996-02-22 | High WindAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft High winds occurred along the lee slopes of the Rampart Range and Wet Mountains in the morning hours. Winds gusted to over 60 knots throughout much of that area...with a peak gust of 76 knots at Monument in El Paso county. Winds at the Air Force Academy gusted to 72 knots. Damage to roofs...shingles and fences was ... | 0 | 6 | $282K | |
| 1996-08-19 | LightningAlamosa County Two 17 year-old seniors from Alamosa High School, Briana Sykes and Ryan Coulson were struck by lightning. They were knocked off their feet. Ms. Sykes was taken to the hospital for observation and suffered a minor burn on her earlobe. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-04-30 | FloodAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Pueblo And Eastern Fremont Counties/Pueblo And Vicinity | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 1993-08-10 | HailAlamosa County | 0.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.0M |
| 1997-10-24 | BlizzardAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Pueblo And Eastern Fremont Counties/Pueblo And Vicinity | 1 | 0 | $368K | |
| 1996-02-22 | High WindAlamosa County and 4 more · forecast zone Northern Sangre De Cristo Mountains Above 11000 Ft | 0 | 6 | $282K | |
| 1995-03-19 | TornadoAlamosa County | F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 2008-08-16 | TornadoMosca, Alamosa County | EF1 0.25 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 10, 1955 (tornado, Alamosa 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 Alamosa 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 | – | – | – | – | 90 | 67 | 57 | 38 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 26 | 33 | 34 | 34 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Alamosa County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 48 · Feb 53 · Mar 66 · Apr 74 · May 24 · Jun 19 · Jul 14 · Aug 11 · Sep 19 · Oct 34 · Nov 41 · Dec 47 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Alamosa County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Alamosa County: 4 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4498 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3436 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3224 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-04-09 | EM-3185 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2002-06-19 | DR-1421 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1973-07-06 | DR-396 | Flood | Flooding & Landslides |
| 1970-09-22 | DR-293 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
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 Alamosa County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 4 flood or flash flood records for Alamosa County from 1999 to 1999, on 2 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Alamosa County ranks 2128th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4,195 on 18 claims filed in Alamosa County; the most in one year was 7 in 1979. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 7 · 1981: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2019: 1; 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 Alamosa County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Alamosa County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $1.2M | 73 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $457K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $263K | 58 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 571 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $826K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $40K | 6.1 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $148K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.5M | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Alamosa 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 ColoradoEvery Colorado tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in ColoradoThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Colorado recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Alamosa CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Alamosa County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis