Greenlee County, Arizona
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 04011 · population 9,527 · 1,843 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 407 records for Greenlee County, Arizona from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 311 days; the most frequent are drought records (116 records). 352 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 July 10, 2024 heat, filed for the forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1966, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Wallow Fire” on June 2, 2011.
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
- 407on 311 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1330 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $3.8Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Greenlee County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 116 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 | 116 | 77 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 15 |
| Winter storms | 115 | 86 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $17K | 1 of 15 |
| Heat | 46 | 45 | 2011-2026 | 12 | 0 | – | 5 of 15 |
| Wildfires | 39 | 34 | 2010-2025 | 0 | 2 | $137K | 2 of 15 |
| Floods | 28 | 28 | 2000-2022 | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | 10 of 15 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 28 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 28 | $169K | 5 of 15 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 19 | 19 | 1991-2025 | 0 | 0 | $129K | 12 of 15 |
| Hail | 9 | 9 | 1990-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 15 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2011-2025 | 1 | 0 | $394K | 2 of 15 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 6 of 15 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 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.
When was the last damaging storm in Greenlee County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 19, 2026 heat (1 death).
High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 16 degrees above normal, causing Minor HeatRisk. The Safford Airport reached a high temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the primary factor in the cause of death for an individual in Pima.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1325964)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-19 | HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone White Mountains Of Graham And Greenlee Counties | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-14 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone White Mountains Of Graham And Greenlee Counties | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone White Mountains Of Graham And Greenlee Counties | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-12 | Thunderstorm WindGuthrie, Greenlee County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone White Mountains Of Graham And Greenlee Counties | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-01 | DroughtGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-23 | WildfireGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone White Mountains Of Graham And Greenlee Counties | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-10 | HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys Hot temperatures about 4 to 8 degrees above normal were experienced in the Upper Gila River Valley on July 10 through July 12, causing the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached. The County Medical Examiner Office reported two deaths, both with the primary cause as heat in Safford and Pima during this time period. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-19 | HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 16 degrees above normal, causing Minor HeatRisk. The Safford Airport reached a high temperature of 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was the primary factor in the cause of death for an individual in Pima. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-22 | Excessive HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 6 degrees above normal, causing Major HeatRisk. The Safford Agriculture Center reached a high temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Safford. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-07 | Excessive HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 13 degrees above normal, causing Major HeatRisk. The Safford Agricultural Center reached a high temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Safford. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-03 | Excessive HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 9 degrees above normal, causing Moderate HeatRisk. The Safford COOP site reached a high temperature of 107 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a factor in the cause of death for an individual in Safford and was heat contributed. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-18 | HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 3 degrees above normal, causing Minor HeatRisk. The Safford Regional Airport reached a high temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that the cause of death for an individual in Solomon was heat contributed. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-01 | HeatGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys High temperatures in Southeastern Arizona were 4 degrees below normal and a low temperature 8 degrees above normal, causing Low HeatRisk. The Black Hills RAWS near Bylas reached a high temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that the cause of death for an individual in Bylas to be ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-24 | Cold/Wind ChillGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys Cold morning temperatures were 4 to 7 degrees below normal across Southeastern Arizona. The Safford Airport reached a low temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that environmental cold exposure was the primary factor in the cause of death for an individual in Pima. | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-02-12 | FloodGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River Valley | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | |
| 2011-02-02 | Frost/FreezeGraham County and Greenlee County · forecast zone Upper Gila River And Aravaipa Valleys | 0 | 0 | $394K | |
| 2022-08-22 | FloodDuncan, Greenlee County | 0 | 0 | $252K |
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 Greenlee 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 | 61 | 55 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 51 | 37 | 13 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 13 | 33 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 12 | 27 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 14 | 11 | 3 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
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 Greenlee County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 44 · Feb 44 · Mar 27 · Apr 25 · May 20 · Jun 41 · Jul 58 · Aug 54 · Sep 24 · Oct 18 · Nov 17 · Dec 35 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Greenlee County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Greenlee County: 10 major disasters, 2 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for flood (6) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4524 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3442 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-06-02 | FM-2915 | Fire | Wallow Fire |
| 2010-03-18 | DR-1888 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-09-07 | DR-1660 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-12 | EM-3241 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-04-14 | DR-1586 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-01-19 | DR-977 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1983-10-05 | DR-691 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-12-21 | DR-570 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-03-04 | DR-551 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1972-10-25 | DR-360 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1966-04-30 | DR-217 | Flood | 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 Greenlee County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 28 flood or flash flood records for Greenlee County from 2000 to 2022, on 28 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Greenlee County ranks 1121st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.2 million on 142 claims filed in Greenlee County; the most in one year was 74 in 1983. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 51 · 1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1983: 74 · 1984: 4 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 4 · 2000: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2013: 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 Greenlee County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Greenlee County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $653K | 66 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $531K | once in about 302 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $589K | 3.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $31K | 84 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $28K | 9.1 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $332 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $3.5M | about once 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 Greenlee County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- 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 Greenlee CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Greenlee County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis