Cochise County, Arizona
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 04003 · population 125,169 · 6,210 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,250 records for Cochise County, Arizona from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 749 days; the most frequent are drought records (250 records). 634 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 August 6, 1997 flash flood: 6 deaths. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1970, 12 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Lizard Fire” on June 11, 2017.
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
- 1,250on 749 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 10090 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $60Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 18strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Cochise County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 250 since 2011. The rank column places the county among Arizona'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 250 | 78 | 2011-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 15 |
| Floods | 238 | 195 | 1996-2026 | 14 | 8 | $8.7M | 4 of 15 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 200 | 178 | 1959-2025 | 0 | 8 | $6.3M | 5 of 15 |
| Hail | 126 | 105 | 1971-2026 | 1 | 1 | $100K | 2 of 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | 126 | 91 | 1998-2026 | 2 | 42 | $18M | 6 of 15 |
| Heat | 100 | 75 | 2005-2026 | 70 | 0 | – | 6 of 15 |
| Winter storms | 84 | 53 | 1997-2024 | 1 | 1 | $58K | 10 of 15 |
| Wildfires | 53 | 39 | 2009-2025 | 0 | 15 | $23M | 4 of 15 |
| Extreme cold | 19 | 13 | 2011-2025 | 8 | 0 | $2.0M | 4 of 15 |
| Tornadoes | 18 | 18 | 1956-2024 | 0 | 7 | $933K | 5 of 15 |
| Lightning | 15 | 13 | 1996-2023 | 3 | 6 | $277K | 4 of 15 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 12 | 12 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 15 |
| Heavy rain | 8 | 8 | 2012-2026 | 1 | 2 | $260K | 11 of 15 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | $13K | 12 of 15 |
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 Cochise County had?
NOAA records 18 tornadoes in Cochise County from 1956 to 2024, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries recorded in the county. That is 5th of 15 Arizona 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 18 tornadoes whose track touched Cochise County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 18, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Arizona.
Every tornado record filed for Cochise County (18)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-21 | Pomerene, Cochise County | EFU 0.25 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-09-23 | Willcox, Cochise County | EF1 1.71 mi x 580 yd | 0 | 5 | $289K |
| 2017-07-29 | St David, Cochise County | EF0 0.12 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-09-22 | Sibyl, Cochise County | EF0 0.62 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-08-15 | Cochise Co Airport, Cochise County | EF0 0.79 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-11-29 | Douglas, Cochise County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-08-23 | Ft Huachuca, Cochise County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-08-29 | Huachuca City, Cochise County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-08-17 | Cochise County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1990-07-16 | Cochise County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-06-24 | Cochise County | F0 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1972-09-09 | Cochise County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1971-07-17 | Cochise County | F1 0.1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-07-16 | Cochise County | F1 | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1966-08-31 | Cochise County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1966-07-28 | Cochise County | F1 1 mi x 167 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1963-07-10 | Cochise County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1956-07-12 | Cochise County | 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 Cochise County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 26, 2026 excessive heat (1 death).
Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 4 degrees above normal with Moderate HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Benson. A Sierra Vista CWOP site recorded a high temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1353772)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Excessive HeatCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-25 | Flash FloodBenson, Cochise County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2026-06-24 | HailFt Huachuca Afb, Cochise County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | Excessive HeatCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodCascabel, Cochise County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodNaco, Cochise County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2026-06-12 | HeatCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-31 | HeatCochise County · forecast zone Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-13 | Dust StormCochise County · forecast zone Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-13 | High WindCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | High WindCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-13 | High WindCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 54 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-08-06 | Flash FloodDouglas, Cochise County Six illegal aliens attempting to cross into the United States from Mexico were drowned when they tried to cross a flooded drainage ditch. | 6 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-07-03 | Excessive HeatCochise County and Pima County · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley Very hot temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees above normal caused the Major Heat Risk category to be reached July 3-8. Record highs of 104 degrees on July 7 and 102 on July 8 occurred in Sierra Vista. The hottest temperature was 108 at Cascabel on July 3, 6 and 7. The Pima County Medical Examiner determined that heat was ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-24 | Excessive HeatCochise County and 3 more · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 6 degrees above normal with Major HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the primary factor in the cause of death for 2 individuals, one in Benson and one in Hereford. A Sierra Vista CWOP site recorded a high temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-06-25 | HeatCochise County · forecast zone Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet Hot temperatures 3 to 6 degrees above normal were experienced in eastern Cochise County June 25, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The high in Douglas was 99 degrees. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary factor in the death of two individuals found near Douglas. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-02-16 | Cold/Wind ChillCochise County and 2 more · forecast zone Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca And Santa Rita Mountains Temperatures fell into the teens during the morning of February 16 with wind chills in the single digits. While air temperatures were not as cold for the next 24 hours, winds increased to 20 to 30 mph with gusts of 50 to 60 mph and created wind chills as cold as the teens into the morning of February 17. The Pima ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-09-04 | HeatCochise County · forecast zone Eastern Cochise County Below 5000 Feet Hot temperatures 6 to 9 degrees above normal occurred in southeast Cochise County, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached September 4. A record high temperature of 105 degrees was set at McNeal. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for two males near ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-08-07 | Flash FloodWillcox, Cochise County Heavy rainfall near the Town of Cascabel and along Cascabel Road caused several locations of the road to be flooded and impassable. At 19:40 MST (7:40 pm MST) a 1997 Ford flatbed pick-up truck, driving on Cascabel Road near the town of Cascabel (at mile post 23), en route to the Town of St. David encountered flood ... | 2 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2005-07-02 | HeatCochise County · forecast zone Cochise County A strong ridge of high pressure across Arizona caused extreme heat in the desert Southwest with temperatures above seasonal normals. The extreme heat lasted for the first two weeks of July with some of the hottest days being over the Fourth of July weekend. Throughout this heat wave several bodies, some identified and ... | 2 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-07-01 | WildfireCochise County and 2 more · forecast zone Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca And Santa Rita Mountains | 0 | 0 | $20M | |
| 2011-05-09 | Strong WindCochise County and Pima County · forecast zone Upper San Pedro River Valley | 41 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15M |
| 2022-08-23 | Flash FloodSt David, Cochise County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2022-08-24 | FloodElfrida, Cochise County | 0 | 0 | $1.5M | |
| 2009-12-07 | High WindCochise County · forecast zone Cochise County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2010-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindBenson, Cochise County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $1.4M |
| 2011-06-01 | WildfireCochise County · forecast zone Chiricahua Mountains | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | |
| 2011-07-10 | Flash FloodBledsoe, Cochise County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 16, 1971 (tornado, Cochise County); July 28, 1966 (tornado, Cochise County); July 17, 1971 (tornado, Cochise 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 Cochise 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 121 | 129 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 29 | 71 | 74 | 64 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 5 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 30 | 69 | 57 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 38 | 24 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 25 | 48 | 46 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 20 | 78 z |
Heat in the 2020-26: 78 records against 20 in the decade before, 78 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Cochise County days with a record above.
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 Cochise County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 56 · Feb 70 · Mar 47 · Apr 73 · May 73 · Jun 145 · Jul 343 · Aug 241 · Sep 90 · Oct 35 · Nov 33 · Dec 44 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cochise County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Cochise County: 6 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 5 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (5) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4524 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3442 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-06-11 | FM-5183 | Fire | Lizard Fire |
| 2011-06-12 | FM-2919 | Fire | Monument Fire |
| 2011-05-09 | FM-2907 | Fire | Horseshoe Two Fire |
| 2009-05-18 | FM-2821 | Fire | Mule Pass Fire |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3241 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-06-21 | FM-2471 | Fire | Ash Fire |
| 2000-10-27 | DR-1347 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1999-10-15 | DR-1304 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, High Winds |
| 1993-01-19 | DR-977 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1983-10-05 | DR-691 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-15 | EM-3038 | Drought | Drought |
| 1970-09-22 | DR-294 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flash |
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 Cochise County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 238 flood or flash flood records for Cochise County from 1996 to 2026, on 195 days, with 14 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cochise County ranks 1236th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $641,000 on 115 claims filed in Cochise County; the most in one year was 10 in 1983. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 3 · 1981: 1 · 1983: 10 · 1984: 3 · 1986: 2 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 5 · 1990: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 10 · 2000: 3 · 2001: 7 · 2003: 5 · 2006: 4 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 7 · 2011: 8 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2014: 8 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2026: 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 Cochise County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cochise County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $90.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Very High | $1.8M | 56 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively High | $19M | once in about 112 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively High | $22M | 2.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $44M | 6.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 76 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $682K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 562 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $1K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cochise 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 ArizonaEvery Arizona tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Drought in ArizonaThe state's drought records, by county, year and month
- The Arizona recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Cochise CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cochise County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis