Colorado natural disasters

The state's storm and disaster record · population 5,768,835 · 64 counties and county equivalents

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 51,187 storm events in Colorado since 1950, 46,704 of them since 1996 when every event type began to be recorded, and the Storm Prediction Center counts 2,479 tornadoes in the state since 1950. The most frequent records are hail reports (15,490). In NOAA's storm record since 1950, the deadliest storm in Colorado is the September 11, 2013 flash flood: 6 deaths, 5 injuries and $828 million in damage in 2025 dollars across 10 records. FEMA has made 112 declarations for Colorado since 1955, 109 for natural hazards; 26 were major disasters.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm events recorded in Colorado 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 $1 million
$1 million or more
$10 million or more
$100 million or more, or 10 deaths
$1 billion or more, or 100 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 events recorded: 51,1871950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded: 3221,930 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars: $14.2Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes (SPC): 2,4791950 to 2025
FEMA declarations: 11226 major disasters

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); tornado count: NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 1950-2025; damage in 2025 dollars (BLS CPI-U). Search the record at NCEI.

What natural disasters happen in Colorado?

By NOAA's records, Colorado's most frequent hazards are hail reports (15,490), winter storm records (15,010), severe thunderstorm wind events (4,650); the deadliest are landslide and avalanche records (128 deaths). Each hazard is counted over the years NOAA has recorded it everywhere: tornadoes since 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind since 1955, everything else since 1996. Open a hazard for its years, months, counties and worst events.

Colorado: records by hazard to June 30, 2026
Hazard	Records	Last 10 years	Killed	Injured	Damage	Counties
Hail	15,490	4,215	0	221	$6.5B	62 of 64
Winter storms	15,010	4,662	37	631	$70M	64 of 64
Severe thunderstorm wind	4,650	1,690	15	108	$61M	60 of 64
High wind and dust storms	4,370	2,038	13	132	$120M	64 of 64
Drought	3,044	885	0	3	–	56 of 64
Tornadoes	2,445	385	5	282	$611M	54 of 64
Floods	1,956	599	47	84	$1.8B	63 of 64
Extreme cold	1,068	601	5	15	$114M	61 of 64
Heavy rain	792	509	2	6	$1.4M	54 of 64
Wildfires	668	326	15	29	$4.7B	62 of 64
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds	628	237	4	5	$556K	48 of 64
Landslides and avalanches	576	266	128	106	$177M	43 of 64
Lightning	475	23	50	308	$19M	57 of 64
Heat	15	10	1	0	–	11 of 64

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: every record counted once in the state; "last 10 years" is 2017-2026 (2026 to June 30, 2026).

What were the deadliest disasters in Colorado?

The storms with the most deaths since 1950, from the National Weather Service's own entries. NOAA files one storm as several records when it crosses forecast zones and counties or changes type, and groups them under one episode; each row here is an episode, with its totals and the narrative of its deadliest record. Before 1996 tornado records carry no episode and stand alone. The narrative says what happened: some deaths the National Weather Service files under a weather type had another cause beside the weather.

Colorado: the 10 storm episodes with the most deaths
Date	Record	Killed	Injured	Damage
2013-09-11	Flash FloodRiverside, Boulder County One storm episode: 10 records in 7 places, 2013-09-11 to 2013-09-14; the totals are the episode's. A deep southerly flow over Colorado, ahead of a near stationary low pressure system over the Great Basin, pumped copious amounts of monsoonal moisture into the area. In addition, a weak stationary front stretched along the Front Range Foothills and Palmer Divide. As a result, a prolonged period of moderate to heavy ...	6	5	$828M
1997-07-28	Flash FloodFt Collins, Larimer County A flash flood killed 5 women and injured 40 others when a 10-15 foot wall of water surged through 2 mobile home parks. Over 8 inches of rainfall was measured in southwest Fort Collins during the evening hours as a series of storms developed, dumping heavy rain over the same area. The disaster occurred when debris ...	5	40	$349M
2009-03-30	Winter WeatherWeld County · forecast zone C & S Weld County One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. A band of heavy snow, induced by a strong upper level jetstream, wreaked havoc on the morning commute in Denver, as well as area north and east of the Denver area. The snow was heaviest on the east side of the Denver metro area where storm totals ranged from 2 to 5 inches. The combination of reduced visibilities and ...	5	5	–
1997-10-24	BlizzardConejos County and Costilla County · forecast zone Southern El Paso County/Colorado Springs And Vicinity One storm episode: 4 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's.	5	2	$1.7M
2013-04-20	AvalancheBoulder County and 4 more · forecast zone S & Se Grand / W Central & Sw Boulder / Gilpin / Clear Creek / Summit / N & W Park Counties Above 9000 Feet A large avalanche killed five snowboarders over Loveland Pass.	5	0	–
2021-07-20	Flash FloodRustic, Larimer County A debris flow moved into Black Hollow Gulch and damaged or destroyed several structures including four homes. Four people in one of the homes perished when their residence washed away in the floodwaters.	4	0	$545K
1998-12-18	Cold/Wind ChillAdams County and 3 more · forecast zone Denver Metropolitan Area An Arctic airmass settled in over northeastern Colorado dropping overnight temperatures well below zero for 6 consecutive days. Overnight temperatures bottomed out at 19 degrees below zero on the morning of the 22nd. At least 15 people, mostly homeless, were treated for hypothermia at area hospitals. The bitter cold ...	3	15	–
2011-12-19	Winter WeatherElbert County and Lincoln County · forecast zone N & Ne Elbert County Below 6000 Feet / N Lincoln County One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. A winter storm brought heavy snow to southern Lincoln County. Trained spotters in and around Karval measured 7 to 10 inches of snowfall. In northern Lincoln County the combination of light snow and freezing drizzle produced extremely hazardous road conditions and caused numerous accidents. The accidents involved 20 to ...	3	8	–
2021-02-01	AvalancheGunnison County and 3 more · forecast zone Northwestern San Juan Mountains A group of backcountry skiers triggered a large avalanche while on a multi-day trip in the mountains near The Nose, Middle Fork Mineral Creek southeast of Ophir. This was a soft slab avalanche that was 1000 feet wide and ran 1500 vertical feet. Four skiers were caught in the avalanche with 3 fatalities. Please visit ...	3	4	–
1999-02-06	AvalancheGunnison County · forecast zone West Elk And Sawatch Mountains/Taylor Park / W Lake / W Chaffee / Wc To Ec Gunnison A group of 4 college students were caught in an avalanche which was triggered by one of the skiers while traversing a slope just below the summit on Cumberland Pass, which is about 25 miles east-northeast of Gunnison in the Sawatch Mountain Range. The entire slope at the 12,000 foot elevation fractured 6 feet deep and ...	3	1	–

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed in this state, summed over the records of each episode (EPISODE_ID); a forecast-zone record counts the zone's deaths once. A tornado's whole-track deaths (SPC), on the state's tornado page, can be higher when the track crossed a state line. Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.

The costliest records in Colorado

Colorado: the 8 records with the most damage since 1993, 2025 dollars
Date	Record	Character	Killed	Injured	Damage
2017-05-08	HailEdgewater, Jefferson County	2.75 in hail	0	0	$2.8B
2021-12-30	WildfireBoulder County and Jefferson County · forecast zone Boulder & Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet / W Broomfield County		2	6	$2.2B
2012-06-26	WildfireEl Paso County · forecast zone Northern El Paso County / Monument Ridge / Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft		2	0	$514M
2012-07-01	WildfireEl Paso County · forecast zone Northern El Paso County / Monument Ridge / Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft		0	0	$514M
2009-07-20	HailColumbine, Jefferson County	1.25 in hail	0	0	$481M
2013-09-12	FloodSuperior, Boulder County		0	3	$377M
2013-06-11	WildfireEl Paso County · forecast zone Northern El Paso County / Monument Ridge / Rampart Range Below 7500 Ft		0	0	$371M
1997-07-28	Flash FloodFt Collins, Larimer County		5	40	$349M

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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 3, 1981 (tornado, Adams County); June 6, 1990 (tornado, Lincoln County); June 15, 1988 (tornado, Denver County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. BLS consumer price index.

Which counties in Colorado have the most records?

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950 attributed to each county (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).

Every county in Colorado

Billion-dollar disasters in Colorado

NOAA counted 76 weather or climate disasters from 1980-2024 that cost at least $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) and affected Colorado, led by severe storm (42). The most recent: Colorado Hail Storms and Southern Severe Weather (2024); Central, Southern, Eastern Severe Weather (2024); Central, Southern, Southeastern Tornado Outbreak (2024).

Colorado: billion-dollar disasters by type, 1980-2024
Type	Events	Total cost (NOAA's range)
Severe Storm	42	$20.0B-$50.0B
Drought	16	$5.0B-$10.0B
Wildfire	12	$5.0B-$10.0B
Winter Storm	3	$250M-$500M
Flooding	2	$2.0B-$5.0B
Freeze	1	$100M-$250M

Every one of the 76, newest first

Colorado Hail Storms and Southern Severe Weather2024
Central, Southern, Eastern Severe Weather2024
Central, Southern, Southeastern Tornado Outbreak2024
Southern and Eastern Severe Weather2024
Central, Southern, Northeastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave2024
Southern/Eastern/Northwestern Drought and Heat Wave2024
Northeastern and Eastern Severe Weather2023
Central Severe Weather2023
Rockies Hail Storms and Central and Eastern Severe Weather2023
Southern Severe Weather2023
Central and Eastern Tornadoes and Hail Storms2023
Central and Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave2022
Central Severe Weather2022
Southern Severe Weather2022
Western/Central Drought and Heat Wave2022
Midwest Derecho and Tornado Outbreak2021
Central Severe Storms2021
Western Wildfires2021
Northwest, Central, Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave2021
Western Drought and Heat Wave2021
Western Wildfires - California, Oregon, Washington Firestorms2020
Western/Central Drought and Heat Wave2020
Colorado Hail Storms2019
Rockies, Central and Northeast Tornadoes and Severe Weather2019
Rockies and Plains Hail Storms2018
Mountain West Severe Weather2018
Colorado Hail Storm2018
Colorado Hail Storm2018
Western Wildfires, California Firestorm2018
Southwest/Southern Plains Drought2018
Central and Eastern Severe Weather2018
Central and Northeast Severe Weather2018
Colorado Hail Storm and Central Severe Weather2017
Rockies and Northeast Severe Weather2016
Rockies/Central Tornadoes and Severe Weather2016
Plains Tornadoes and Central Severe Weather2016
Central and Northeast Severe Weather2015
Western and Alaskan Wildfires2015
Texas and Oklahoma Flooding and Severe Weather2015
Southern Plains Tornadoes2015
Rockies/Plains Severe Weather2014
Rockies/Midwest/Eastern Severe Weather2014
Western Drought2014
Colorado Flooding2013
Western/Plains Drought/Heat Wave2013
Rockies/Southwest Severe Weather2012
Western Wildfires2012
U.S. Drought/Heat Wave2012
Rockies and Midwest Derecho2011
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires2011
Southern Plains/Southwest Drought and Heat Wave2011
Rockies/Central/East Severe Weather2010
Colorado Hail Storm2009
Western Wildfires2009
U.S. Wildfires2008
Midwest Tornadoes and Severe Weather2008
U.S. Drought2008
Midwest/Plains/Southeast Drought2006
Colorado Hail Storms2004
Severe Storms/Tornadoes2003
Western/Central Drought/Heat Wave2003
Western Fire Season2002
U.S. Drought2002
Midwest/Ohio Valley Hail and Tornadoes2001
Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave2000
Western Fire Season2000
Southern Plains Drought1996
Western Fire Season1994
Midwest/Plains Tornadoes1994
Colorado Hail Storm1990
Western Fire Season1990
Northern Plains Drought1989
Western Severe Storms and Flooding1986
Severe Storms and Hail1984
Freeze/Cold Wave1983
Midwest/Plains/Southeast Tornadoes1982

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, state summary for Colorado, 1980-2024 (NCEI's last update; the product is archived). A disaster that affected several states counts in each. NCEI billion-dollar disasters.

Federal disaster declarations in Colorado

FEMA has made 112 declarations for Colorado since 1955: 26 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 79 fire management assistance declarations. The most common incident types are fire (86), flood (14), severe storm (3).

1950s 2
1960s 2
1970s 7
1980s 4
1990s 7
2000s 43
2010s 26
2020s 21

The 15 most recent declarations in Colorado
Declared	Number	Type	Title	Areas named
2026-09-01	DR-4944	Fire	Wildfires, Flooding, and Mudslides	4
2026-07-05	FM-5644	Fire	Willow Fire	1
2026-06-30	FM-5643	Fire	Gold Mountain Fire	1
2026-06-29	FM-5642	Fire	Aspen Acres Fire	2
2025-08-11	FM-5606	Fire	Oak Fire	1
2025-08-06	FM-5604	Fire	Elk Fire	1
2025-08-06	FM-5603	Fire	Lee Fire	1
2024-08-01	FM-5526	Fire	Quarry Fire	1
2024-07-31	FM-5525	Fire	Stone Mountain Fire	2
2024-07-31	FM-5524	Fire	Alexander Mountain Fire	1
2023-08-25	DR-4731	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes	14
2021-12-31	DR-4634	Fire	Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds	1
2021-12-30	FM-5423	Fire	Marshall Fire	1
2021-01-15	DR-4581	Fire	Wildfires	2
2020-10-17	FM-5379	Fire	Calwood Fire	1

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

Flood insurance claims in Colorado

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $90.7 million on 5,567 claims in 53 Colorado counties. Claims count insured losses only.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk across Colorado's counties

How FEMA's National Risk Index rates Colorado's counties overall: a model of expected future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of events.

Relatively High 2
Relatively Moderate 8
Relatively Low 19
Very Low 35

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.