Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska
Census Area storm and disaster record · FIPS 02016 · population 5,168 · 4,393 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 501 records for Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 402 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (304 records). 495 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 February 25, 2020 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Eastern Aleutians, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 6 declarations naming the county since 2004, 4 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Flooding, and Remnants of Typhoon Halong” on October 22, 2025.
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
- 501on 402 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 10 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $18Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 6latest 2025
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 Aleutians West Census Area most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 304 since 2000. The rank column places the county among Alaska'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 304 | 250 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | $8.1M | 8 of 29 |
| Winter storms | 185 | 162 | 2001-2026 | 0 | 0 | $96K | 9 of 29 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 1997-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 29 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 3 | 3 | 2006-2020 | 1 | 0 | $2.3M | 11 of 29 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 2 | 1997-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 29 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 1998-2000 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 3 of 29 |
| Floods | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $7.8M | 24 of 29 |
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.
When was the last damaging storm in Aleutians West Census Area?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 25, 2020 avalanche (1 death).
Anchorage Daily News reported the avalanche death of a snowmobiler on Unalaska Island. The avalanche was noticed around 5:30 p.m. and Search and Rescue was called since the victim was known to be in the area.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 871644)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-08 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Central Aleutians | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-07 | BlizzardAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Pribilof Islands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-04 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Central Aleutians | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-04 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 107 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-11 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Pribilof Islands | 80 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-15 | Winter StormAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-03 | Winter StormAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-24 | Heavy SnowAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-22 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 71 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-02-25 | AvalancheAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-12-12 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Pribilof Islands | 114 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6.2M |
| 2009-12-03 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 100 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-25 | AvalancheAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians Anchorage Daily News reported the avalanche death of a snowmobiler on Unalaska Island. The avalanche was noticed around 5:30 p.m. and Search and Rescue was called since the victim was known to be in the area. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-10-22 | FloodAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Pribilof Islands | 0 | 0 | $7.8M | |
| 2015-12-12 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Pribilof Islands | 114 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6.2M |
| 2006-02-13 | Debris FlowAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | |
| 2009-12-03 | High WindAleutians West Census Area · forecast zone Eastern Aleutians | 100 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
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 Aleutians West Census Area'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 194 | 78 | 32 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 94 | 68 | 23 |
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 Aleutians West Census Area. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 89 · Feb 97 · Mar 70 · Apr 40 · May 3 · Jun 0 · Jul 0 · Aug 4 · Sep 27 · Oct 36 · Nov 60 · Dec 75 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Aleutians West Census Area
FEMA's register lists 6 declarations that include Aleutians West Census Area: 5 major disasters, one emergency and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-22 | DR-4893 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Remnants of Typhoon Halong |
| 2022-09-23 | DR-4672 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Flooding, and Landslides |
| 2020-04-09 | DR-4533 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3446 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-02-17 | DR-4257 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm |
| 2004-11-15 | DR-1571 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Tidal Surges and 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Aleutians West Census Area
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Aleutians West Census Area Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $29.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volcanic Activity | Relatively High | $3.2M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Tsunami | Relatively Moderate | $20M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $47K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $457K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $5.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | $17K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $2K | once in about 67 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $395 | once in about 107 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Aleutians West Census Area
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- High wind and dust storms in AlaskaThe state's high wind and dust records, by county, year and month
- The Alaska recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Aleutians West Census AreaThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Aleutians West Census Area's FEMA declarations (CSV)6 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis