Denver County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08031 · population 715,210 · 153 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 852 records for Denver County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 583 days; the most frequent are hail reports (350 records). The deadliest single record is the December 18, 1998 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Denver Metropolitan Area, which covers the county: 3 deaths and 15 injuries. FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1965, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on July 16, 2015.
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
- 852on 583 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 13134 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $378Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Denver County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 350 since 1955. 70% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in May and June. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 350 | 155 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 21 | $246M | 1 of 63 |
| Winter storms | 184 | 178 | 1996-2026 | 4 | 53 | $30M | 4 of 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 125 | 97 | 1957-2026 | 1 | 9 | $58K | 1 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 99 | 97 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 12 | $276K | 1 of 63 |
| Floods | 31 | 25 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 1 | $4.1M | 1 of 63 |
| Lightning | 19 | 19 | 1997-2018 | 2 | 8 | $2.2M | 1 of 63 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 18 | 1966-2022 | 0 | 13 | $84M | 1 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 1996-2025 | 5 | 15 | $12M | 4 of 63 |
| Drought | 5 | 5 | 2002-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 63 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 2000-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 63 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 5 | 2007-2025 | 1 | 1 | $6K | 1 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2015-2015 | 0 | 1 | – | 29 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 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 Denver County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Denver County from 1966 to 2022, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries recorded in the county. That is 1st of 63 Colorado counties and 16th of 3,080 U.S. 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 20 tornadoes whose track touched Denver County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19: 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988-06-15 17:24, as SPC files it | Glendale | F3 | 2.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Colorado.
Every tornado record filed for Denver County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-08-05 | Denver International Arp, Denver County | EFU 0.01 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-06-12 | Denver International Arp, Denver County | EFU 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-09-08 | Denver International Arp, Denver County | EF0 0.01 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-06-24 | Denver County | EF1 2.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-06-18 | Lowry Afb, Denver County | EF1 2.4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-06-06 | Lowry Afb, Denver County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-26 | Denver International Arp, Denver County | EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-09 | Denver International Airport, Denver County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-05-29 | Denver County | F0 0.8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1988-06-15 | Denver County | F3 2.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 7 | $25M step |
| 1988-06-15 | Denver County | F2 0.5 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1987-06-12 | Denver County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-12 | Denver County | F1 0.7 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-06-08 | Denver County | F2 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 6 | $2.5M step |
| 1982-06-03 | Denver County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1981-06-03 | Denver County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1981-05-28 | Denver County | F1 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-06-09 | Denver County | F1 0.3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1966-04-11 | Denver County | F0 | 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 Denver County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 21, 2022 cold/wind chill (1 death).
Wind chill temperatures ranged from -25F to -40F. According to the city of Denver, at least one person died from exposure to the dangerously cold temperatures.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1069961)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindDenver International Arp, Denver County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | HailDenver County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-12-18 | Cold/Wind ChillAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone Denver Metropolitan Area An Arctic airmass settled in over northeastern Colorado dropping overnight temperatures well below zero for 6 consecutive days. Overnight temperatures bottomed out at 19 degrees below zero on the morning of the 22nd. At least 15 people, mostly homeless, were treated for hypothermia at area hospitals. The bitter cold ... | 3 | 15 | – | |
| 2006-12-20 | BlizzardAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County Storm totals along the Urban Corridor included: 34 inches, 10 miles south-southeast of Buckley AFB, 32 inches at Littleton, 30 inches near Castle Rock and Thornton, 29.5 inches near Parker, 28 inches at Wheat Ridge, 26 inches at Castle Rock, 25.5 inches at Centenniel, 25 inches at Niwot, 24 inches at Aurora, near ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-03-01 | Winter WeatherAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County A band of heavy snow, produced around one inch in less than 30 minutes, contributed to a chain of accidents in the northbound lanes of Interstate 25, between Logan Street and University Boulevard. The combination of excessive speed and very poor driving conditions led the chain reaction; it involved 104 vehicles and ... | 1 | 30 | – | |
| 2009-03-30 | Winter WeatherAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County A band of heavy snow, induced by a strong upper level jetstream, wreaked havoc on the morning commute in Denver, as well as area north and east of the Denver area. The snow was heaviest on the east side of the Denver metro area where storm totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches. The combination of reduced visibilities and ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2007-05-14 | Heavy RainDenver County Severe thunderstorms producing large hail, very heavy rain and tornadoes impacted the Urban Corridor and adjacent plains. Heavy rain associated with a severe thunderstorm caused flooding along a small tributary draining into the South Platte River. The incident occurred at 13th and Decatur Street, near Invesco Field. ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 1997-07-30 | LightningDenver County One man was killed, his girlfriend critically injured, when they were struck by lightning at the Kennedy Golf Course. Both were struck in the head when they took refuge under a tree during a downpour. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 1997-06-07 | LightningDenver County Two plumbers were injured, one critically, when lightning struck a pipe they were working on in a building under construction. The bolt apparently hit one man in the hand, it then passed through his chest and struck the other worker. The critically injured man died a few days later. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2022-12-21 | Cold/Wind ChillAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County Wind chill temperatures ranged from -25F to -40F. According to the city of Denver, at least one person died from exposure to the dangerously cold temperatures. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-06-09 | HailDenver County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $229M |
| 2003-03-17 | BlizzardAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County | 0 | 2 | $25M | |
| 2001-06-20 | HailDenver International Airport, Denver County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $17M |
| 2014-11-10 | Frost/FreezeAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone N Douglas County Below 6000 Feet / Denver / W Adams & Arapahoe Counties / E Broomfield County | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2001-04-11 | BlizzardAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone Denver Metropolitan Area | 0 | 0 | $5.2M | |
| 1997-06-23 | LightningDenver County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 1999-08-10 | FloodDenver County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2011-07-07 | Flash FloodDenver 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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 15, 1988 (tornado, Denver 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 Denver 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 9 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 35 | 57 | 86 | 94 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 33 | 45 | 55 | 51 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 5 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 32 | 30 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 34 | 23 | 18 | 24 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 10 | 10 | 6 |
| Lightning | – | – | – | – | 6 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
70% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 38 · Feb 48 · Mar 45 · Apr 58 · May 140 · Jun 211 · Jul 139 · Aug 45 · Sep 26 · Oct 28 · Nov 32 · Dec 42 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Denver County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Denver County: 6 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (4) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4498 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3436 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-07-16 | DR-4229 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2013-09-14 | DR-4145 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2013-09-12 | EM-3365 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2007-01-07 | EM-3270 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3224 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-04-09 | EM-3185 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2002-06-19 | DR-1421 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1973-05-23 | DR-385 | Flood | Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and Flooding |
| 1965-06-19 | DR-200 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Severe Storms & 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 Denver County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Denver County from 1996 to 2025, on 25 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Denver County ranks 843rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $719,000 on 243 claims filed in Denver County; the most in one year was 47 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1979: 11 · 1980: 7 · 1981: 4 · 1982: 11 · 1983: 10 · 1984: 8 · 1985: 11 · 1986: 1 · 1987: 4 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 7 · 1998: 14 · 1999: 2 · 2000: 3 · 2001: 7 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 5 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 8 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2014: 4 · 2015: 47 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 2 · 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 Denver County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Denver County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $222 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Very High | $72M | 8.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Very High | $4.4M | 52 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively High | $28M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $4.1M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $94M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $10M | 1.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $562K | 14 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $7.4M | once in about 1,490 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Denver 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
- Hail in ColoradoThe state's hail reports, 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 Denver CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Denver County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis