Garfield County, Utah
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 49017 · population 5,083 · 5,180 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 613 records for Garfield County, Utah from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 445 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (338 records). 424 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 March 21, 2023 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone South Central Utah, which covers the county: 3 deaths, 1 injury and $39,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 7 declarations naming the county since 1977, 5 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Mammoth Fire” on June 5, 2021.
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
- 613on 445 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1952 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $63Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 7latest 2021
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 Garfield County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 338 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Utah'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 | 338 | 246 | 1996-2026 | 5 | 32 | $434K | 25 of 29 |
| Floods | 147 | 116 | 1996-2025 | 3 | 4 | $2.4M | 7 of 29 |
| High wind and dust storms | 54 | 41 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 11 | $3.9M | 27 of 29 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 20 | 18 | 1972-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21K | 27 of 29 |
| Hail | 17 | 17 | 1986-2022 | 0 | 0 | $40K | 20 of 29 |
| Heat | 9 | 6 | 2005-2021 | 6 | 0 | – | 7 of 29 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 2 | 1998-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 29 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 5 | 5 | 2005-2019 | 3 | 0 | $16M | 28 of 29 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 4 | $40M | 25 of 29 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 2000-2017 | 0 | 0 | $369K | 22 of 29 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 21 of 29 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2012 | 2 | 1 | – | 14 of 29 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2005-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 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.
How many tornadoes has Garfield County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Garfield County from 2000 to 2017, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Garfield County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Utah.
Every tornado record filed for Garfield County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-07-10 | Natch, Garfield County | EFU 0.05 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-09-22 | Panguitch, Garfield County | EF1 0.75 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $369K |
| 2016-08-26 | Panguitch, Garfield County | EF0 0.34 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-09-08 | Panguitch, Garfield County | F0 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Garfield County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 30, 2025 strong wind.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherGarfield County and Wayne County · forecast zone Western Canyonlands | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherGarfield County and Kane County · forecast zone Bryce Canyon Country | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherGarfield County and Kane County · forecast zone Bryce Canyon Country | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-29 | Flash FloodBullfrog/Glen, Garfield County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-07 | Flash FloodBullfrog/Glen, Garfield County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-17 | Flash FloodEscalante Municipal Airport, Garfield County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-21 | Winter WeatherGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah A two-vehicle crash occurred just before 7PM MDT on U.S. Highway 89, and resulted in 3 fatalities. The Utah Department of Transportation reported that it was snowing at the time of the accident and the road was snow-covered. The Utah Highway Patrol indicated that weather was a likely factor in the crash. Though ... | 3 | 1 | $39K | |
| 2013-07-01 | HeatGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah Hot temperatures contributed to the deaths of three hikers in southern Utah. On July 3, an elderly couple from California received permits to hike The Wave, a popular destination in far southern Utah. Both victims were found on the morning of July 4, and it is believed that they died during the afternoon of the 3rd, ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-09-10 | Flash FloodEscalante Municipal Airport, Garfield County Flash flooding occurred in a small, but popular, slot canyon called Egypt 3, located near the Escalante River in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. This flooding resulted in two fatalities and two more injuries. The drainage of Egypt 3 is very small, measuring approximately 1.2 square miles. The area is void of ... | 2 | 2 | – | |
| 2005-01-08 | AvalancheBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone X Nw Kane/Xs Xe Iron/N W Washington/Nw Wc Garfield/Piute/W Wayne/Sevier T C/X E Millard/S Sanpete T Sc/X Se Juab/P X Nw Emery/X E Beaver A stalled storm system just off the southern California coast was able to tap abundant tropical moisture from the central Equatorial Pacific Ocean and dump copious amounts of rain and wet snow on many portions of Utah. The relatively warm air ahead of the storm raised snow levels and rain fell on an already deep ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-12-28 | Winter StormBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone Central And Southwest Mountains Another potent winter storm hit much of Utah, with the northern part of the state the hardest hit. Weather was believed to be the main factor in 2 traffic fatalities. Several hundred minor accidents and fender benders occurred up and down the Wasatch Front, with no major injuries reported. Strong south winds ahead of ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-08-25 | Flash FloodRubys Inn, Garfield County A 64-year-old woman was reported overdue from a hike on the Fairyland Loop Trail. A search of the area was conducted, with the woman being found deceased. Details are unclear, but showers and thunderstorms were in the area. A news release from Bryce Canyon National Park stated dry washes had higher flows because of ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2013-08-15 | HeatEmery County and 2 more · forecast zone San Rafael Swell A 56-year-old woman and her husband were hiking the Brimhall Double Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park on August 15, when the woman became ill. The man went to get help, but she had passed away by the time medical personnel arrived. The cause of death was heat exhaustion, with temperatures exceeding 90 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2013-07-21 | HeatGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah Hot temperatures returned to southern Utah in late July, and another heat-related death occurred at The Wave, a popular hike near the Utah/Arizona border. A 27-year-old Arizona woman was hiking The Wave with her husband on July 22, when they got lost and spent several hours trying to find their way back to their ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-19 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $35M | |
| 2011-10-08 | Debris FlowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2002-04-15 | High WindBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone X Nw Kane/Xs Xe Iron/N W Washington/Nw Wc Garfield/Piute/W Wayne/Sevier T C/X E Millard/S Sanpete T Sc/X Se Juab/P X Nw Emery/X E Beaver | 75 kt wind | 0 | 10 | $3.4M |
| 2017-06-17 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2017-07-01 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2003-08-23 | Flash FloodTropic, Garfield County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 2016-09-22 | TornadoPanguitch, Garfield County | EF1 0.75 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $369K |
| 2012-07-01 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 4 | $193K |
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 Garfield 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 | – | – | – | – | 98 | 100 | 76 | 64 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 24 | 68 | 47 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 6 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
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 Garfield County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 65 · Feb 78 · Mar 70 · Apr 42 · May 21 · Jun 34 · Jul 56 · Aug 66 · Sep 42 · Oct 29 · Nov 36 · Dec 74 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Garfield County
FEMA's register lists 7 declarations that include Garfield County: 3 major disasters, 3 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for biological (2) and flood (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-06-05 | FM-5388 | Fire | Mammoth Fire |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4525 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3478 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-02-11 | DR-1955 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3223 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1983-04-30 | DR-680 | Flood | Severe Storms, Landslides & Flooding |
| 1977-01-20 | EM-3024 | 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 Garfield County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 147 flood or flash flood records for Garfield County from 1996 to 2025, on 116 days, with 3 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Garfield County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $15,000 on 2 claims filed in Garfield County; the most in one year was 1 in 2019. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2019: 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 Garfield County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Garfield County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.0M | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High | $275K | 18 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $165K | 6.4 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $913K | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | 1.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $300K | once in about 975 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $510K | once in about 75 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.6M | 3.6 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 Garfield 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 UtahEvery Utah tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in UtahThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Utah recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Garfield CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Garfield County's FEMA declarations (CSV)7 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis