Rio Grande County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08105 · population 11,498 · 912 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 783 records for Rio Grande County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 498 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (594 records). 748 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 19, 2010 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 9 declarations naming the county since 1970, 7 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “West Fork Fire Complex” on June 21, 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
- 783on 498 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 71 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $37Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 2strongest EF0
- FEMA declarations
- 9latest 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 Rio Grande County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 594 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 | 594 | 379 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $634K | 19 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 131 | 84 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $250K | 19 of 63 |
| Hail | 21 | 19 | 1955-2024 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 34 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 9 | 7 | 2002-2013 | 0 | 0 | $36M | 30 of 63 |
| Floods | 5 | 4 | 1999-2003 | 0 | 0 | $44K | 53 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 5 | 5 | 2006-2016 | 5 | 1 | – | 30 of 63 |
| Drought | 4 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 63 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 2 | 2022-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 2 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 3 | 1973-1990 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 63 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 35 of 63 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 1995-2012 | 0 | 0 | $12K | 41 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 Rio Grande County had?
NOAA records 2 tornadoes in Rio Grande County from 1995 to 2012, the strongest rated EF0, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Rio Grande County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 2: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Colorado.
Every tornado record filed for Rio Grande County (2)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-09-25 | Del Norte, Rio Grande County | EF0 1.38 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 1995-06-29 | Monte Vista, Rio Grande County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
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 Rio Grande County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 2, 2016 avalanche (1 death).
A snowmobile rider died in an avalanche in the Lost Mine Creek drainage between Campo Mollino and Park Creek.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 611167)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | High WindAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | Dense FogAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | Dust StormAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindRio Grande County and Saguache County · forecast zone Del Norte Vicinity / Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-06 | Heavy SnowRio Grande County and Saguache County · forecast zone Del Norte Vicinity / Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Heavy SnowRio Grande County and Saguache County · forecast zone Del Norte Vicinity / Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Heavy SnowConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Heavy SnowAlamosa County and Rio Grande County · forecast zone Alamosa Vicinity / Central San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-08 | Heavy SnowConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-02 | Heavy SnowConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-26 | Heavy SnowConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-03 | Heavy SnowRio Grande County and Saguache County · forecast zone Del Norte Vicinity / Northern San Luis Valley Below 8500 Ft | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-03-19 | AvalancheConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft Two men were buried and perished when up to 2 1/2 feet of snow slid off a cabin roof 17 miles west of Creede. This was the first instance of a fatal roof avalanche since 1996 in Vail. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2012-02-16 | AvalancheConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft A back country skier was killed in an avalanche near Wolf Creek Pass in the Gibbs Creek drainage basin. The skier was found under 5-feet of snow in a 600 foot by 600 foot slide. Another skier was injured. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2016-02-02 | AvalancheConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Upper Rio Grande Valley / Eastern San Juan Mountains Below 10000 Ft A snowmobile rider died in an avalanche in the Lost Mine Creek drainage between Campo Mollino and Park Creek. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-11-22 | AvalancheConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Eastern San Juan Mountains Above 10000 Ft An avalanche at Wolf Creek Ski Area killed the Wolf Creek Ski Area Director. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1998-04-02 | Heavy SnowConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Teller County/Rampart Range/Pikes Peak A strong upper level system brought a quick blast of snow to south central and southeast Colorado. Snow totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches across the affected area, with a high of 18 inches at the Valley View Hot Springs in the Northern San Luis Valley, and 15 inches at the Wolf Creek Ski Area in the Eastern San Juan ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-11-27 | Winter StormConejos County and 2 more · forecast zone Western Fremont And Northern Custer Counties A strong winter storm system moved into Colorado from the west, bringing an abundance of moisture and gusty winds from 20 to 40 mph. The storm brought accumulations of 12 to 20 inches to the Eastern San Juan and La Garita mountains during the morning and afternoon of the 27th. The San Luis valley received 6 to 18 ... | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-06-19 | WildfireSouth Fork, Rio Grande County | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 2002-07-01 | WildfireSouth Fork, Rio Grande County | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 2012-09-25 | TornadoDel Norte, Rio Grande County | EF0 1.38 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 1995-06-29 | TornadoMonte Vista, Rio Grande County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
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 Rio Grande 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 | – | – | – | – | 156 | 175 | 122 | 141 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 40 | 26 | 17 | 48 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
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 Rio Grande County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 101 · Feb 112 · Mar 120 · Apr 108 · May 30 · Jun 18 · Jul 14 · Aug 8 · Sep 26 · Oct 52 · Nov 85 · Dec 109 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rio Grande County
FEMA's register lists 9 declarations that include Rio Grande County: 4 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (3) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-28 | DR-4498 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3436 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2013-06-21 | FM-5031 | Fire | West Fork Fire Complex |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3224 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-06-19 | DR-1421 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2002-06-19 | FM-2428 | Fire | Million Fire |
| 1977-01-29 | EM-3025 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973-07-06 | DR-396 | Flood | Flooding & Landslides |
| 1970-09-22 | DR-293 | Flood | Heavy Rains & 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 Rio Grande County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 5 flood or flash flood records for Rio Grande County from 1999 to 2003, on 4 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Rio Grande County ranks 2321st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $14,000 on 11 claims filed in Rio Grande County; the most in one year was 3 in 1980. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 3 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1985: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2019: 3; 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 Rio Grande County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rio Grande County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $1.2M | 75 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $959K | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $532K | 54 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $55K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $448K | once in about 599 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $67K | once in about 7,203 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $705K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.7M | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Rio Grande 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 Rio Grande CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rio Grande County's FEMA declarations (CSV)9 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis