Wayne County, Utah
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 49055 · population 2,466 · 2,461 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 491 records for Wayne County, Utah from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 433 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (255 records). 299 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 January 8, 2005 avalanche, filed for the 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, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 4 declarations naming the county since 1977, 2 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
- 491on 433 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 645 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $76Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 4latest 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 Wayne County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 255 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 | 255 | 238 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 29 | $276K | 20 of 29 |
| Floods | 168 | 147 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 1 | $16M | 2 of 29 |
| High wind and dust storms | 24 | 22 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 11 | $3.7M | 24 of 29 |
| Hail | 12 | 12 | 1983-2022 | 0 | 0 | $60K | 15 of 29 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 6 | 1969-2010 | 0 | 0 | $102K | 9 of 29 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 5 | 5 | 2005-2019 | 3 | 0 | $16M | 21 of 29 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2012-2026 | 0 | 4 | $40M | 20 of 29 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 3 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | $724 | 12 of 29 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 4 | 4 | 1965-1996 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 29 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 2 | 1998-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 of 29 |
| Heat | 3 | 2 | 2013-2021 | 1 | 0 | – | 9 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 Wayne County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Wayne County from 1969 to 2010, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 9th 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 8 tornadoes whose track touched Wayne County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Utah.
Every tornado record filed for Wayne County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010-10-06 | Hanksville, Wayne County | EF0 1.24 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-09-12 | Hanksville, Wayne County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-04-04 | Caineville, Wayne County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1986-08-31 | Wayne County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1981-07-24 | Wayne County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-05-31 | Wayne County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1969-05-31 | Wayne County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1969-05-31 | Wayne County | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Wayne County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 19, 2025 wildfire ($35.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
The Forsyth Fire started on Thursday, June 19th, 2025. Initial reports from fire officials state the fire is suspected to have originated as a holdover from lightning in the Pine Valley Mountains. A long stretch of hot, dry, and windy conditions prevailed ahead of the fire's discovery on the 19th. A nearby RAWS station in Pine Valley (TT900) observed Red Flag conditions (wind gusts >25 mph and RH <15%) for about 16 hours from the afternoon of the 19th to the early morning hours on the 20th. A mandatory evacuation order for the Pine Valley community was issued at 9:21 PM on the 19th. Red Flag conditions redeveloped late morning on the 20th, with strong southwest winds eventually pushing the fire into the community of Pine Valley. Washington County Sheriff reports 14 homes and 4 outbuildings destroyed in Pine Valley despite mitigation efforts. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1278611)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-22 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-19 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-18 | Winter WeatherGarfield County and Wayne County · forecast zone Western Canyonlands | 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 | – | |
| 2026-02-16 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-02 | Flash FloodTorrey, Wayne County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-19 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $35M | |
| 2025-06-06 | Flash FloodFruita, Wayne County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-05 | Flash FloodFruita, Wayne County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-13 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-05 | Heavy SnowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | – | |
| 2013-08-15 | HeatEmery County and 2 more · forecast zone San Rafael Swell A 56-year-old woman and her husband were hiking the Brimhall Double Bridge Trail in Capitol Reef National Park on August 15, when the woman became ill. The man went to get help, but she had passed away by the time medical personnel arrived. The cause of death was heat exhaustion, with temperatures exceeding 90 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2007-02-17 | AvalancheBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone Central And Southwest Mountains Human triggered avalanche on Signal Peak claimed the life of a snowmobiler. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-04-08 | Winter StormBeaver 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 Another vigorous storm brought great powder to all of Utah's mountains, with heavy snow also in the northern valleys. Gusty winds also blew ahead of the front. The storm was even cold enough to bring the first April snowfall in 72 years to St. George, where a light dusting of about half an inch was reported. The storm ... | 0 | 19 | $18K | |
| 2002-04-15 | High WindBeaver 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 Almost all of Utah was overly taxed as a powerful spring storm brought damaging winds and blowing dust to the area. The winds ahead of the cold front toppled semis, caused numerous traffic accidents, closed freeways, whipped up wildfires, and produced widespread power outages. At the storms peak, nearly 100,000 people ... | 75 kt wind | 0 | 10 | $3.4M |
| 1998-12-19 | Winter StormBeaver County and 9 more · forecast zone Central And Southwest Mountains The leading edge of an arctic airmass brought heavy snow to much of Northern Utah late on the 19th into the 20th, with the heavy snow pushing into Southern Utah on the 21st. For awhile on the 20th, I-70 from Salina to Green River was closed due to heavy snow. Power outages were also noted in portions of South Jordan. ... | 0 | 10 | $181K | |
| 2012-07-01 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains The Shingle Fire began on July 1st, five miles east of Duck Creek, Utah and 4 miles south of State Route 14. The fire was caused by sparks from an ATV. In total, the Shingle Fire burned 8,061 acres before it was 100% contained on July 11th. Four firefighters were injured while fighting the blaze. The fire caused the ... | 0 | 4 | $193K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-19 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $35M | |
| 2011-10-08 | Debris FlowBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $16M | |
| 2006-10-06 | Flash FloodFruita, Wayne County | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2002-04-15 | High WindBeaver 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 | 75 kt wind | 0 | 10 | $3.4M |
| 2021-09-01 | Flash FloodHanksville, Wayne County | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | |
| 2017-06-17 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2017-07-01 | WildfireBeaver County and 6 more · forecast zone Southern Mountains | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2013-09-10 | FloodHanksville Airport, Wayne County | 0 | 0 | $380K |
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: August 31, 1986 (tornado, Wayne 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 Wayne 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 | – | – | – | – | 66 | 88 | 56 | 45 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 30 | 75 | 55 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 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 Wayne County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 50 · Feb 55 · Mar 47 · Apr 27 · May 14 · Jun 30 · Jul 57 · Aug 69 · Sep 34 · Oct 26 · Nov 28 · Dec 54 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wayne County
FEMA's register lists 4 declarations that include Wayne County: one major disaster, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for biological (2) and coastal storm (1).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-04 | DR-4525 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3478 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3223 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 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 Wayne County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 168 flood or flash flood records for Wayne County from 1997 to 2025, on 147 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wayne County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 2 claims filed in Wayne County; the most in one year was 2 in 1983. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1983: 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 Wayne County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wayne County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $1.8 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 | $98K | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $145K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $209K | 1.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $145K | 41 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $26K | 117 modeled event-days a year |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $1K | once in about 30 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $54K | once in about 1,800 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $230K | once in about 119 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wayne 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 Wayne CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wayne County's FEMA declarations (CSV)4 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis