Routt County, Colorado
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 08107 · population 24,767 · 2,362 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 3,229 records for Routt County, Colorado from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 1,510 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (2,225 records). 3,126 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 15, 2020 avalanche, filed for the forecast zone Flattop Mountains, which covers the county: 2 deaths and 1 injury. 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
- 3,229on 1,510 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 84 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $3.6Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest F1
- 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 Routt County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 2,225 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 | 2,225 | 1,060 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $65K | 15 of 63 |
| Drought | 495 | 139 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 13 of 63 |
| Extreme cold | 130 | 79 | 2003-2025 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 11 of 63 |
| Wildfires | 103 | 87 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 2 | $1.7M | 7 of 63 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 87 | 70 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 63 |
| High wind and dust storms | 83 | 64 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $646K | 50 of 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 27 | 25 | 1976-2024 | 0 | 0 | $180K | 36 of 63 |
| Floods | 26 | 24 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $577K | 39 of 63 |
| Hail | 19 | 17 | 1988-2014 | 0 | 0 | $349K | 41 of 63 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 19 | 19 | 2001-2026 | 7 | 2 | $4K | 26 of 63 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 8 | 2003-2013 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 25 of 63 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 3 | 1980-2018 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 46 of 63 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2003-2009 | 0 | 0 | $57K | 46 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 Routt County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Routt County from 1980 to 2018, 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Routt County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Colorado.
Every tornado record filed for Routt County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-24 | Clark, Routt County | EF0 0.35 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-15 | Steamboat Springs, Routt County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1980-05-30 | Routt County | F1 0.5 mi x 40 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 Routt County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 22, 2026 avalanche (1 injury).
On the accident day, the avalanche danger in the area in question was rated 3/5 - Considerable for areas near and above treeline. Below treeline, avlanche danger was rated 2/5 or moderate. A Special Avalache Advisory was in effect due to recent snow and strong winds forming thick, cohesive slabs over an unusually weak and shallow snowpack. Slopes with wind drifted snow were indicated as most dangerous, with deep (2-3 feet) buried weak layers giving little warning before breaking into an avlanche. Avalanches of small to large size were likely at all levels on aspects northwest through north to east, and likely near or above treeline on aspects south through southeast. The accident group consisted of 4 skiers, who had spent most of the day successfully skiing east facing slopes. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1315394)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-31 | Dense FogMoffat County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Yampa River Basin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-17 | Winter WeatherMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-05 | Winter WeatherMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtEagle County and 4 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtRoutt County · forecast zone Upper Yampa River Basin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtMoffat County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Yampa River Basin | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 4 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | Winter WeatherMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | Winter WeatherEagle County and 4 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | Winter WeatherMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindMoffat County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Yampa River Basin | 50 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02-15 | AvalancheGarfield County and 3 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains A hard slab avalanche was unintentionally triggered by 3 motorized snow-bikers following a week of heavy, wind blown snow in the South Fork of Dickson Creek, east of Red and White Mountain. The avalanche was 3 to 4 feet in depth, 600 feet wide and debris ran for about 300 vertical feet. The avalanche was described a ... | 2 | 1 | – | |
| 2022-03-19 | AvalancheMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains On March 19, two backcountry skiers planned a trip to an area locally known as the Dome in the North Fork of Fish Creek. The area is approximately eight miles east of the town of Steamboat Springs. While descending into a steeper, more open area, one of the skiers triggered an avalanche, was swept downhill and pinned ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2008-02-01 | AvalancheGarfield County and 3 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains Three snowmobilers were coming down Little Box Canyon on a groomed trail in the southwestern Flat Tops north of the town of Rifle. The first two riders noticed that the third was no longer behind them. The pair turned around and headed up the canyon and found a fresh avalanche that had buried the third snowmobiler. ... | 1 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2006-10-25 | Winter StormGarfield County and 3 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains This early season storm produced 6 to 12 inches of snow, and winds gusting 30 to 50 mph. Local snowfall amounts up to 18 inches occurred in the higher terrain near Buford. A hunter died from exposure after getting disoriented in the storm within the same general area where 18 inches of snow fell. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-01-03 | AvalancheMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains Around lunch time the Routt County Sheriffs office was notified that a backcountry skier had been buried on Soda Mountain near Buffalo Pass. Companions quickly found their friend after 8-10 minutes but could not revive the 26-year-old skier. The group of skiers had used snowmobiles to access the backcountry. The ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2002-03-17 | AvalancheGarfield County and 3 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains Snowmobilers triggered a medium-sized soft-slab avalanche on Pagoda Peak, 36 miles southwest of Steamboat Springs in northeast Rio Blanco County. The slide buried and killed one man under 3 feet of snow while still on his snowmobile and partly buried another person. The slide was 300 to 400 feet wide and traveled 400 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-03-18 | AvalancheMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains A backcountry skier was caught and buried in an avalanche on the northeast slope of Farwell Mountain, at the 10,840 foot level. The avalanche location is about 23 miles north of Steamboat Springs. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-22 | AvalancheMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains On the accident day, the avalanche danger in the area in question was rated 3/5 - Considerable for areas near and above treeline. Below treeline, avlanche danger was rated 2/5 or moderate. A Special Avalache Advisory was in effect due to recent snow and strong winds forming thick, cohesive slabs over an unusually weak ... | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-04-08 | Strong WindMoffat County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Yampa River Basin | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $302K |
| 2023-07-16 | WildfireMoffat County and 2 more · forecast zone Central Yampa River Basin | 0 | 0 | $291K | |
| 1997-09-20 | HailHayden, Routt County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $276K |
| 2021-08-01 | WildfireMoffat County and Routt County · forecast zone Elkhead And Park Mountains | 0 | 0 | $272K | |
| 2004-07-08 | Thunderstorm WindSteamboat Spgs, Routt County | 71 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $70K |
| 2005-06-24 | HailOak Creek, Routt County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2008-02-01 | AvalancheGarfield County and 3 more · forecast zone Flattop Mountains | 1 | 0 | $1K |
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: May 30, 1980 (tornado, Routt 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 Routt 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 | – | – | – | – | 167 | 782 | 879 | 397 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 254 | 138 | 103 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 0 | 21 | 33 | 76 |
| Wildfires | – | – | – | – | 1 | 27 | 31 | 44 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | – | – | – | – | 0 | 10 | 47 z | 30 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 17 | 13 | 44 z |
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds in the 2010s: 47 records against 10 in the decade before, 46 of them forecast-zone records. High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 44 records against 13 in the decade before, 44 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Routt County days with a record above.
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 Routt County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 483 · Feb 453 · Mar 367 · Apr 316 · May 167 · Jun 109 · Jul 89 · Aug 90 · Sep 140 · Oct 249 · Nov 322 · Dec 444 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Routt County
FEMA's register lists 6 declarations that include Routt 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 Routt County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 26 flood or flash flood records for Routt County from 1997 to 2024, on 24 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Routt County ranks 1823rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $415,000 on 36 claims filed in Routt County; the most in one year was 11 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1984: 6 · 1986: 1 · 1993: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 4 · 1998: 1 · 2003: 2 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 11 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2019: 2; 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 Routt County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Routt County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $86K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $180K | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $634K | 55 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $645K | once in about 787 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $13M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $49K | 60 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $356K | once in about 965 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Routt 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 Routt CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Routt County's FEMA declarations (CSV)6 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis