Gilpin County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08047 · population 5,803 · 150 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 108 records for Gilpin County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 81 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (52 records). 89 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 22, 2025 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 1969, 6 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides” on September 14, 2013.
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
- 108on 81 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 13 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $905Kas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 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 Gilpin County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 52 since 2024. 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 | 52 | 43 | 2024-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 31 | 22 | 2024-2026 | 0 | 3 | – | 9 of 63 |
| Hail | 16 | 10 | 1986-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2024-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 63 |
| Floods | 2 | 2 | 1998-2013 | 0 | 0 | $905K | 35 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2025-2025 | 1 | 0 | – | 20 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 63 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 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.
When was the last damaging storm in Gilpin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 22, 2025 avalanche (1 death).
A backcountry skier is dead after being buried in an avalanche on Berthoud Pass Saturday, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The skier-triggered avalanche happened on Mines Peak east of the pass, in a rocky part of the mountain face known as The Fingers, around 4:45 p.m.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1228812)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-05 | Winter StormClear Creek County and 4 more · forecast zone Jefferson & W Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Ne Park Counties Below 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-05 | Winter StormBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | Winter WeatherBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | High WindBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 86 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 96 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-14 | Strong WindClear Creek County and 4 more · forecast zone Jefferson & W Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Ne Park Counties Below 9000 Feet | 49 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindClear Creek County and 4 more · forecast zone Jefferson & W Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Ne Park Counties Below 9000 Feet | 82 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-06 | Winter StormClear Creek County and 4 more · forecast zone Jefferson & W Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Ne Park Counties Below 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-06 | Winter StormBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-24 | High WindBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 76 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-24 | Winter WeatherBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-22 | AvalancheBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet A backcountry skier is dead after being buried in an avalanche on Berthoud Pass Saturday, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The skier-triggered avalanche happened on Mines Peak east of the pass, in a rocky part of the mountain face known as The Fingers, around 4:45 p.m. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-25 | Strong WindBoulder County and 6 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet Sixteen people were rescued from Dillion Reservoir after a windstorm hit the area. According to the sheriff’s office, rescuers were called to a capsized kayak. Crews located a man in the water. As crews assisted the kayaker, the sheriff’s office said they received another call about a pontoon. Thirteen people were on ... | 47 kt wind | 0 | 3 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-07-31 | Flash FloodBlack Hawk, Gilpin County | 0 | 0 | $905K |
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 Gilpin 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 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
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 Gilpin County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 13 · Feb 14 · Mar 16 · Apr 8 · May 10 · Jun 4 · Jul 6 · Aug 10 · Sep 2 · Oct 2 · Nov 8 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Gilpin County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Gilpin County: 4 major disasters, 4 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 |
| 2013-09-14 | DR-4145 | 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 |
| 1969-05-19 | DR-261 | Flood | 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 Gilpin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 2 flood or flash flood records for Gilpin County from 1998 to 2013, on 2 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Gilpin County ranks 2636th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1,462 on 4 claims filed in Gilpin County; the most in one year was 2 in 1995. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1994: 1 · 1995: 2 · 2006: 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 Gilpin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gilpin County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $1.2M | once in about 190 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $40K | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Low | $131K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $581K | 5.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $225K | 63 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $42K | 33 a year (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $1 | once in about 10,000 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $50K | once in about 1,745 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Gilpin County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- 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 Gilpin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Gilpin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis