Grand County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08049 · population 15,695 · 1,846 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,114 records for Grand County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 575 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (879 records). 1,068 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 April 20, 2013 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: 5 deaths. FEMA has issued 8 declarations naming the county since 1977, 6 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Wildfires” on January 15, 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
- 1,114on 575 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 3262 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $190Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 8latest 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 Grand County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 879 since 1996. 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 | 879 | 406 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 3 | – | 38 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 127 | 104 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 6 | – | 27 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 47 | 46 | 2005-2025 | 30 | 22 | – | 16 of 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 23 | 14 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 1 | $262K | 40 of 63 |
| Floods | 16 | 13 | 2000-2023 | 0 | 10 | $165K | 47 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 2 | 2022-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 55 of 63 |
| Drought | 4 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 63 |
| Hail | 4 | 3 | 1993-2020 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 57 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2020-2024 | 2 | 0 | $190M | 51 of 63 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2004-2006 | 0 | 20 | – | 44 of 63 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1984-1984 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 53 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 Grand County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Grand County from 1984 to 1984, the strongest rated F1, 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 1 tornado whose track touched Grand County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 1, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Colorado.
Every tornado record filed for Grand County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-06-08 | Grand County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
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 Grand 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindGranby, Grand County | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindKremmling Airport, Grand County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-17 | Winter StormBoulder County and 3 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 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 | – | |
| 2026-05-05 | Winter StormBoulder County and 3 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | Winter WeatherBoulder County and 3 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | Winter WeatherGrand County and Jackson County · forecast zone West Jackson & West Grand 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 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | 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 | – |
| 2026-03-06 | 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 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-20 | AvalancheBoulder County and 4 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet A large avalanche killed five snowboarders over Loveland Pass. | 5 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-01-07 | AvalancheBoulder County and 4 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet Two snowmobilers were caught, buried and killed by a large avalanche. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-10-14 | WildfireGrand County and Summit County · forecast zone Grand & Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet The East Troublesome Fire destroyed 555 structures. Two fatalities were confirmed. Nine buildings suffered major damage and 34 sustained minor damage. Among the buildings destroyed, 366 were residential and 189 were outbuildings. Ten buildings belonging to businesses were destroyed in the fire. Grand County estimated ... | 2 | 0 | $190M | |
| 2008-12-26 | AvalancheGrand County and 2 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet Two snowmobilers were killed on the side of Gravel Mountain near Grand Lake. The avalanche occurred when one of the men tried to assist the other, after his snowmobile had become stuck in the snow. Both men were buried by the slide and died at the scene of the accident. Another snowmobiler was partially buried in the ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-01-01 | AvalancheGrand County and 2 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet Two snowmobilers from Iowa were buried and killed in an avalanche in the Trap Park area of the Front Range, about 3.5 miles east-northeast of Cameron Pass. There were 12 snowmobilers in the party. Seven were caught, five partly buried and two fully buried; both buried riders were killed. The data was provided by the ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-05-29 | AvalancheGrand County and 2 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet Three climbers were caught in a rockslide and avalanche. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2013-03-17 | AvalancheGrand County and 2 more · forecast zone S & E Jackson / Larimer / N & Ne Grand / Nw Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet A climber was killed and his partner seriously injured when they were caught in an avalanche while descending Ypsilon Mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park. The victim and his partner were caught in the slide on the north side of Blitzen Ridge on the 13,514 foot Ypsilon Mountain. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2013-03-02 | AvalancheGrand County and Jackson County · forecast zone West Jackson & West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet A student from Colorado State Univeristy was killed in an avalanche near Cameron Pass. Two men were skiing in the backcountry near the Nokhu Crags in an area known as the Paradise Bowl. They had finished their run, and their dog was running down the tracks when the slide let loose. The victim's friend, also a college ... | 1 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-10-14 | WildfireGrand County and Summit County · forecast zone Grand & Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet | 2 | 0 | $190M | |
| 2011-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindGranby, Grand County | 72 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $262K |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 8, 1984 (tornado, Grand 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 Grand 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 | – | – | – | – | 127 | 167 | 353 | 232 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 13 | 44 | 30 | 40 |
| Landslides and avalanches | – | – | – | – | 0 | 15 | 18 | 14 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
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 Grand County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 172 · Feb 151 · Mar 118 · Apr 146 · May 63 · Jun 19 · Jul 17 · Aug 5 · Sep 9 · Oct 74 · Nov 140 · Dec 200 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Grand County
FEMA's register lists 8 declarations that include Grand County: 3 major disasters, 4 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for fire (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-01-15 | DR-4581 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2020-10-17 | FM-5378 | Fire | East Troublesome Fire |
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4498 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3436 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3224 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-04-09 | EM-3185 | Snowstorm | Snow |
| 2002-06-19 | DR-1421 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1977-01-29 | EM-3025 | 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 Grand County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Grand County from 2000 to 2023, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Grand County ranks 2477th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $46,000 on 7 claims filed in Grand County; the most in one year was 2 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2022: 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 Grand County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Grand County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $20.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Very High | $4.7M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $122K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $983K | 60 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $889K | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $441K | once in about 972 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $12M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $39K | 26 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $288K | once in about 961 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Grand 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
- 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 Grand CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Grand County's FEMA declarations (CSV)8 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis