Arizona Storm & Severe Weather History
Since 1952, Arizona has logged 17,846 severe-weather events — about 241 a year — with 2,155 direct deaths, 1,164 injuries and $4.3B in reported property damage.
By event type
Thunderstorm Wind4,10314 d$573.3M
Flash Flood3,480111 d$252.8M
Excessive Heat1,8671110 d$25K
Hail1,3191 d$2.8B
High Wind9744 d$4.6M
Heavy Snow9203 d$655K
Heat779792 d—
Dust Storm7646 d$4.3M
Heavy Rain702—$4.0M
Drought633——
Flood40512 d$41.6M
Winter Storm33217 d$1.3M
Wildfire31519 d$337.2M
Tornado3063 d$49.5M
Lightning25524 d$8.2M
Funnel Cloud219——
Events by year
19522026
Notable events (1,010)
Events with deaths, major damage, or a strong tornado — deadliest first.
Winter StormNovember 29, 2001
Yavapai County Mountains · 1 killed ·
LightningOctober 21, 2000
Pinal · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
LightningAugust 12, 2000
Gila · 1 killed · 2 injured ·
Winter StormMarch 5, 2000
Southern Gila/Tonto Nf Foothills · 1 killed ·
LightningJuly 27, 1999
Maricopa · 1 killed · 1 injured ·
Dust StormJuly 6, 1999
S Gila/Ne Maricopa/X N Pinal · 1 killed · 14 injured ·
LightningDecember 15, 1998
Maricopa · 1 killed · 3 injured ·
Flash FloodAugust 9, 1998
Pima · 1 killed ·
LightningMay 20, 1997
Cochise · 1 killed ·
LightningMay 20, 1997
Cochise · 1 killed ·
Winter StormJanuary 12, 1997
Chuska Mountains And Defiance Plateau · 1 killed ·
Winter StormJanuary 12, 1997
Chinle Valley · 1 killed ·
Thunderstorm WindJuly 10, 1988
Maricopa · 1 killed · 6 injured ·
HailOctober 5, 2010
Maricopa · 1 injured · $1.8B damage
HailOctober 5, 2010
Maricopa · $900.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 25, 2006
Maricopa · 1 injured · $150.0M damage
HailOctober 5, 2010
Maricopa · $110.0M damage
Frost/FreezeJanuary 12, 2013
Greater Phoenix Area · $100.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindAugust 14, 1996
Maricopa · $100.0M damage
WildfireJuly 1, 2003
Pima · $66.0M damage
WildfireJune 17, 2003
Pima · $66.0M damage
WildfireJune 1, 2011
White Mountains · $58.0M damage
WildfireApril 28, 2018
Eastern Mogollon Rim · $50.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 29, 2021
Gila · $40.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 14, 2002
Maricopa · $30.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindSeptember 19, 1999
Maricopa · 2 injured · $30.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 14, 2024
Pima · $25.0M damage
Frost/FreezeJanuary 12, 2013
Central Deserts · $25.0M damage
Tornado (F2)June 21, 1972
Maricopa · 3 injured · $25.0M damage
WildfireApril 17, 2022
Western Mogollon Rim · $20.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindAugust 28, 2008
Maricopa · $20.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 14, 2002
Maricopa · $20.0M damage
Thunderstorm WindJuly 14, 2002
Maricopa · $20.0M damage
HailSeptember 15, 1999
Yavapai · 2 injured · $18.0M damage
WildfireJuly 1, 2011
Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca And Santa Rita Mountains · $15.0M damage
Strong WindMay 9, 2011
Upper San Pedro River Valley · $11.2M damage
Frost/FreezeJanuary 12, 2013
Northwest Maricopa County · $10.0M damage
Flash FloodJuly 31, 2012
Maricopa · 1 injured · $10.0M damage
WildfireJune 20, 2010
Western Mogollon Rim · $10.0M damage
Flash FloodAugust 16, 2008
Coconino · $10.0M damage
Source: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to date. The early decades (tornadoes from 1950, hail and wind from 1955) are mostly tornadoes; all event types are recorded consistently only from 1996. The "notable" list is filtered to events with fatalities, major damage or a strong tornado. Damage is the reporting office's estimate. A record of past weather is not a forecast. See About the Data.