Pitkin County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08097 · population 17,292 · 971 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,114 records for Pitkin County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 1,021 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (779 records). 1,035 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 13, 2007 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $1,423 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 6 declarations naming the county since 1977, 4 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Katrina Evacuation” on September 5, 2005.
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 1,021 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 3053 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $23Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 1strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 6latest 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 Pitkin County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 779 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 | 779 | 770 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 29 | – | 5 of 63 |
| Drought | 136 | 126 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 79 | 70 | 1998-2026 | 26 | 21 | $1.2M | 6 of 63 |
| Floods | 31 | 27 | 1997-2023 | 1 | 0 | $5.6M | 13 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 28 | 25 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $28K | 52 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 21 | 8 | 2024-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 12 | 12 | 2018-2025 | 0 | 0 | $16M | 25 of 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 9 | 7 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 63 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 2003-2017 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 16 of 63 |
| Hail | 5 | 5 | 1975-2006 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 63 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1997-2008 | 1 | 3 | $3K | 22 of 63 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 63 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1975-1975 | 0 | 0 | $137K | 49 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 Pitkin County had?
NOAA records 1 tornado in Pitkin County from 1975 to 1975, the strongest rated F2, 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 Pitkin 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 Pitkin County (1)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-06-20 | Pitkin County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Pitkin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 7, 2026 avalanche (1 death).
All information paraphrased from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center report on the incidence. The fatal avalanche was triggered by a solo backcountry skier in an area known locally as Boss Basin, in the area of Vail Pass, CO. Boss Basin is comprised of a series of northeast-facing slopes that are low-angled at the top, descending into steeper slopes below, ending at a flat bench. Conditions in the Vail Pass area on the accident day were rated by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center at Moderate (3/5) near and above treeline, with a Considerable (2/5) rating below treeline. The main concern was listed as Persistent Slab Avalanches, favoring slopes northwest through north to northeast facing at all elevation bands. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1322091)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-05 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Colorado River Basin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-14 | High WindEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-07 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-05 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Colorado River Basin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-24 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-03-13 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys Three people were on a backcountry ski vacation near Aspen. They chose to ascend Mount Shimer about 7 miles southeast of Aspen. They were ascending a tree covered, north facing slope near the 12,088 foot level. At approximately 1:50 pm, the lead skier remotely triggered a large avalanche in the bowl to the east. Just ... | 2 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2000-03-17 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys Two skiers were caught and killed in an avalanche near Highland Peak. This was a hard-slab avalanche which fractured at about 4 feet below the surface of the snow pack. The avalanche traveled about 1100 feet in the vertical and was about 500 feet wide. Four other skiers in the group outran the avalanche. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-03-29 | Winter StormEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys One to two feet of snow fell across the area while frequent wind gusts of 20 to 40 mph produced blowing and drifting snow. An accident involving 60 to 75 vehicles occurred in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 at Mile Marker 189, about 1 mile west of the Vail Pass summit. The eastbound lanes were subsequently closed ... | 1 | 22 | – | |
| 2021-03-22 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys A pair of backcountry skiers unintentionally triggered a soft slab avalanche near Lime Creek south of Edwards, Colorado. The avalanche ran about 1000 feet and was 3 feet deep and 25 feet wide. Both skiers were caught with one fatality. Please visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Center's website for additional ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2021-02-04 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys A pair of backcountry skiers triggered an avalanche near the top of a large open bowl locally known as Marvin's West or Big Marvin (southeast of Vail, CO). But skiers were caught in the avalanche with one unable to escape the path resulting in a fatality. Please visit the Colorado Avalanche Information Centers website ... | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2014-01-07 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys An avalanche was triggered by a group of skiers in the East Vail Chutes. This medium sized slide injured two of the skiers and killed another. Trees up to 12 inches in diameter were also snapped off. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 2002-03-14 | AvalancheEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys A group of backcountry skiers triggered a large soft-slab avalanche about four miles south of Ashcroft at an elevation of 11,000 feet. The avalanche was estimated to be 600 to 800 feet across and traveled 300 to 400 vertical feet. One person was buried and killed, two others injured and two were buried, but not hurt. | 1 | 2 | – | |
| 1996-02-20 | Heavy SnowEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys 12-24 inches of snow fell over the central and northern mountains. 6-8 inches were common in the southwest mountains. There were numerous vehicle accidents, including a 20 car/truck pile up on I-70 near Vail. Avalanches and snow accumulations resulted in numerous road closures over the mountain passes. | 1 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-06-01 | FloodEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | $5.2M | |
| 2018-08-01 | WildfireEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | |
| 2018-09-01 | WildfireEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | |
| 2018-10-01 | WildfireEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | |
| 2018-07-03 | WildfireEagle County and 2 more · forecast zone Gore And Elk Mountains/Central Mountain Valleys | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | |
| 2021-07-29 | Debris FlowRedstone, Pitkin County | 0 | 0 | $545K | |
| 2021-07-22 | Debris FlowRedstone, Pitkin County | 0 | 0 | $327K | |
| 1999-07-28 | Flash FloodRedstone, Pitkin County | 0 | 0 | $266K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 20, 1975 (tornado, Pitkin 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 Pitkin 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 | – | – | – | – | 94 | 260 | 287 | 138 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 63 | 35 | 38 |
| Landslides and avalanches | – | – | – | – | 2 | 20 | 30 | 27 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 1 | 20 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
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 Pitkin County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 175 · Feb 158 · Mar 140 · Apr 110 · May 61 · Jun 25 · Jul 61 · Aug 30 · Sep 31 · Oct 83 · Nov 101 · Dec 139 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Pitkin County
FEMA's register lists 6 declarations that include Pitkin County: 3 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and coastal storm (1).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2002-06-19 | DR-1421 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 1984-07-27 | DR-719 | Flood | Severe Storms, Mudslides, Landslides & Flooding |
| 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 Pitkin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Pitkin County from 1997 to 2023, on 27 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pitkin County ranks 1887th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $236,000 on 31 claims filed in Pitkin County; the most in one year was 9 in 1995. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1983: 2 · 1984: 4 · 1985: 1 · 1991: 4 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 9 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2018: 1 · 2025: 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 Pitkin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pitkin County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $26.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avalanche | Very High | $11M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively High | $1.1M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $639K | 54 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $444K | once in about 724 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $13M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $102K | 54 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $202K | once in about 1,266 years (modeled) |
| Volcanic Activity | Very Low | $4 | once in about 10,000 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Pitkin 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 Pitkin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Pitkin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)6 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis