Washington County, Utah
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 49053 · population 180,117 · 2,428 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 850 records for Washington County, Utah from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 608 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (308 records). The deadliest day on its record was September 14, 2015: flash flood records filed for Washington County that day count 20 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1977, 12 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Forsyth Fire” on June 20, 2025.
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
- 850on 608 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 4390 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $590Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 2025
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 Washington County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 308 since 1996. The rank column places the county among Utah'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 | 308 | 251 | 1996-2026 | 6 | 38 | $1.9M | 17 of 29 |
| Floods | 300 | 209 | 1996-2025 | 27 | 28 | $525M | 1 of 29 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 82 | 66 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $442K | 8 of 29 |
| High wind and dust storms | 81 | 72 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 11 | $6.0M | 15 of 29 |
| Hail | 26 | 22 | 1958-2023 | 0 | 0 | $16K | 8 of 29 |
| Heavy rain | 16 | 12 | 1997-2021 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 4 of 29 |
| Heat | 8 | 6 | 2013-2024 | 6 | 2 | – | 4 of 29 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 8 | 8 | 2005-2022 | 3 | 2 | $16M | 17 of 29 |
| Wildfires | 8 | 8 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 7 | $40M | 13 of 29 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 3 | 1998-2005 | 0 | 0 | $177K | 13 of 29 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 2 | $499K | 9 of 29 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1986-2017 | 0 | 0 | $81 | 11 of 29 |
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 Washington County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Washington County from 1986 to 2017, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 11th of 29 Utah counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Washington County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Utah.
Every tornado record filed for Washington County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-07-08 | Hurricane Airport, Washington County | EFU 0.05 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-08-24 | Hurricane Airport, Washington County | EF0 1.05 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-08-31 | Washington County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-05-30 | Washington County | F1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Washington County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 18, 2026 winter weather (2 injuries and $300,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Snow Squall. Numerous mesonet sensors across southwest Utah reported snow squall conditions, including heavy snow, wind gusts between 30 to 60 mph, visibility between 0.10 to 0.25 miles, and very low road grips indicative of a flash freeze. Multiple crashes were reported near mile post 54 and resulted in 2 minor injuries. 4 semi trucks were involved in the accident, and one jackknifed.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1306284)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherBeaver County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Utah | 0 | 2 | $300K | |
| 2026-02-17 | Winter StormBeaver County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Utah | 0 | 0 | $80K | |
| 2026-02-16 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-09 | High WindBeaver County and 2 more · forecast zone Southwest Utah | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-24 | FloodCentral, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $30K | |
| 2025-10-12 | Flash FloodBloomington, Washington County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-11 | Flash FloodZion Lodge, Washington County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-09-14 | Flash FloodGrafton, Washington County A thunderstorm producing heavy rain moved over Hildale, Utah in the early afternoon, producing flash flooding along Short Creek and other neighboring drainages. This water flooded Highway 59, and portions of the road were closed and gated off, as this is a somewhat common occurrence for the community. However, a ... | 13 | 3 | $934K | |
| 2015-09-14 | Flash FloodZion Lodge, Washington County Multiple rounds of heavy rainfall brought flash flooding to Zion National Park, including along North Creek, but the most notable flood occurred in Keyhole Canyon. A group of seven people entered Keyhole Canyon in the early afternoon, planning to travel through the small but popular canyoneering route. Flooding in ... | 7 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-03-21 | Winter WeatherGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah A two-vehicle crash occurred just before 7PM MDT on U.S. Highway 89, and resulted in 3 fatalities. The Utah Department of Transportation reported that it was snowing at the time of the accident and the road was snow-covered. The Utah Highway Patrol indicated that weather was a likely factor in the crash. Though ... | 3 | 1 | $39K | |
| 2013-07-01 | HeatGarfield County and 2 more · forecast zone South Central Utah Hot temperatures contributed to the deaths of three hikers in southern Utah. On July 3, an elderly couple from California received permits to hike The Wave, a popular destination in far southern Utah. Both victims were found on the morning of July 4, and it is believed that they died during the afternoon of the 3rd, ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-01-08 | AvalancheBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone X Nw Kane/Xs Xe Iron/N W Washington/Nw Wc Garfield/Piute/W Wayne/Sevier T C/X E Millard/S Sanpete T Sc/X Se Juab/P X Nw Emery/X E Beaver A stalled storm system just off the southern California coast was able to tap abundant tropical moisture from the central Equatorial Pacific Ocean and dump copious amounts of rain and wet snow on many portions of Utah. The relatively warm air ahead of the storm raised snow levels and rain fell on an already deep ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-12-28 | Winter StormBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone Central And Southwest Mountains Another potent winter storm hit much of Utah, with the northern part of the state the hardest hit. Weather was believed to be the main factor in 2 traffic fatalities. Several hundred minor accidents and fender benders occurred up and down the Wasatch Front, with no major injuries reported. Strong south winds ahead of ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1998-07-27 | Flash FloodZion National Park, Washington County Flash flooding killed 2 California hikers in the Narrows of Zion National Park. Flash flooding occurred again on the Canal Canyon Creek just south of Spring City causing even more damage. Heavy rains in Utah county caused minor basement flooding in Pleasant Grove and mudslides in Spanish Fork Canyon. | 2 | 0 | $362 | |
| 2005-01-10 | FloodWashington County · forecast zone Sc Washington A stalled storm system just off the southern California coast was able to tap abundant tropical moisture from the central Equatorial Pacific Ocean and dump copious amounts of rain and wet snow on many portions of Utah. The relatively warm air ahead of the storm raised snow levels and rain fell on an already deep ... | 1 | 6 | $453M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-01-10 | FloodWashington County · forecast zone Sc Washington | 1 | 6 | $453M | |
| 2025-06-19 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $35M | |
| 2010-12-19 | FloodGoldstrike, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $27M | |
| 2011-10-08 | Debris FlowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2012-09-11 | Flash FloodSanta Clara, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $9.6M | |
| 1996-11-21 | Flash FloodSt George Municipal, Washington County | 0 | 2 | $9.4M | |
| 1997-01-03 | Flash FloodSt George, Washington County | 0 | 11 | $9.2M | |
| 2020-08-23 | Flash FloodSt George, Washington County | 0 | 0 | $6.1M |
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 $30, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 30, 1986 (tornado, Washington 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 Washington 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 | – | – | – | – | 79 | 97 | 73 | 59 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 16 | 74 | 120 | 90 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 24 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 13 | 28 | 23 | 17 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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 Washington County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 70 · Feb 82 · Mar 83 · Apr 41 · May 29 · Jun 36 · Jul 137 · Aug 129 · Sep 67 · Oct 51 · Nov 41 · Dec 84 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Washington County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Washington County: 5 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 6 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (6) and flood (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-20 | FM-5591 | Fire | Forsyth Fire |
| 2020-07-13 | FM-5321 | Fire | Veyo West Fire |
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4525 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3478 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2016-06-21 | FM-5130 | Fire | Saddle Fire |
| 2012-11-03 | DR-4088 | Flood | Severe Storm and Flooding |
| 2011-02-11 | DR-1955 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2009-08-30 | FM-2831 | Fire | Mill Flat Fire |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3223 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-06-27 | FM-2564 | Fire | Blue Springs Fire |
| 2005-02-01 | DR-1576 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2004-06-16 | FM-2521 | Fire | Brookside Fire |
| 1989-01-31 | DR-820 | Flood | Dike Failure & Flash Flooding |
| 1977-01-20 | EM-3024 | 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 Washington County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 300 flood or flash flood records for Washington County from 1996 to 2025, on 209 days, with 27 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Washington County ranks 1530th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.2 million on 64 claims filed in Washington County; the most in one year was 7 in 2005. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1980: 3 · 1981: 1 · 1989: 3 · 1995: 2 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2004: 3 · 2005: 7 · 2007: 7 · 2010: 1 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 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 Washington County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $148 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 | Very High | $5.7M | 41 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively High | $68M | once in about 58 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively High | $1.2M | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $66M | 6.7 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Relatively High | $1.4M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $3.7M | 2.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.1M | once in about 99 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $109K | once in about 67 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Washington 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 UtahEvery Utah tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in UtahThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Utah recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Washington CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Washington County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis