Sierra Vista

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Every large fire

1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Flood insurance figures are for Cochise County, the county that contains Sierra Vista.

Claims by ZIP code

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Cochise County, the county that contains Sierra Vista.

River gauges

1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

The drought index is for Cochise County, the county that contains Sierra Vista.

1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Cochise County.

Mapped by AZ GS (213), USGS Post-Fire Debris Flows (10), NASA (3), USGS Conterminous (1).

1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jul 1, 2011Wildfire, Dragoon/Mule/Huachuca And Santa Rita Mountains$15.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Monument Fire was contained on July 7, after charring 30,526 acres (nearly 47 square miles). The fire destroyed 62 homes, four businesses, 18 outbuildings, and damaged seven homes. Nearly 10,000 people were evacuated from areas south of Sierra Vista at the peak of the fire.

2. May 9, 2011Strong Wind, Upper San Pedro River Valley$11.2 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Strong surface winds occurred in Sierra Vista. Homeland Security's aerostat, an anti-trafficking balloon, broke free from its tether and crashed into the Canyon de Flores neighborhood in Sierra Vista. Equipment from the aerostat was picked up from 39 different sites throughout the neighborhood. Minor damage was reported to a few vehicles and homes, as well as a damage to power lines south of Fort Huachuca. The aerostat, based at the fort since 1986, was a total loss and will be replaced.

3. Aug 23, 2022Flash Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Heavy rain of 2-2.5 in less than 90 minutes northeast of town caused flash flooding in St. David, mainly southwest of State Route 80, although the highway was closed due to flooding for a period of time. A total of 53 homes sustained at least some flood damage. A homeowner with a basement reported flood water hit a depth of 6 feet, destroying a new furnace and damaging electrical wiring. Floodwaters also affected septic tanks and wells.

4. Aug 24, 2022Flood$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Rainfall of 2 at the headwaters of Rucker Creek traveled downstream and through and existing breach in a berm combined with rainfall in the immediate area, resulted in an exacerbation of flooding in Elfrida. Flood waters expanded west of Highway 191 and became deeper throughout most of the community. A total of 42 residences sustained at least some flood damage. Eleven sustained major damage and 3 were determined to be a total loss. A couple of businesses also sustained flood damage and floodwaters also affected septic tanks and wells.

5. Aug 24, 2010Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Benson News-Sun and a local city official reported extensive damage to much of the city of Benson from thunderstorm activity. The city official reported numerous mature and young trees uprooted, street signs bent or pulled completely out of the ground, damage to dwellings from uprooted trees, small sheds and car ports were lifted and thrown 50-75 feet, and shingle damage to numerous homes. Also, property fences were knocked over, camper trailers were turned over, and numerous power outages. The newspaper added that one particular insurance provider received 40 claims from residents, mostly related to roof damage. Additional information from the newspaper stated that at least…

6. Jul 10, 2011Flash Flood$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Very heavy rainfall (1.5 to 3 inches) occurred over the Monument Fire Burn area in the Huachuca Mountains resulting in significant flash flooding and damage to areas in Ash, Miller and Carr Canyons, as well as along Highway 92. Heavy rain fell only over the Ash, Miller, and Carr Canyons, but due to the burn scars, water quickly flowed down the mountain to areas that received little or no rain. Boulders, trees, mud, and propane tanks were carried by the flood waters. At least a dozen homes were damaged with most having significant structural damage. A propane tank crashed through one home's wall and into the living room leaking liquid propane. Other homes had all their lawn…

7. Feb 2, 2011Frost/Freeze, Upper San Pedro River Valley$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Several communities across the Upper San Pedro River Valley suffered from frozen and burst water pipes as temperatures dropped into the single digits to low teens. In addition, 4500 Sierra Vista Southwest Gas customers lost their natural gas flow. Most of the damage was at Fort Huachuca where over 400 homes suffered from broken water pipes with more than 100 homes sustaining damage. About 40 outpost buildings had ceilings collapse due to broken water pipes. Sierra Vista Fire Department also responded to several fire calls related to space heaters and candles.||In Benson, the city received over 100 calls regarding burst water pipes. The San Pedro Terrace Apartments on Pearl Street…

8. Dec 7, 2009High Wind, Cochise County$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Widespread damaging winds occurred across Cochise County during the overnight hours. Law enforcement reported winds blew out windows of some businesses in Sierra Vista. Wind gusts near 70 mph blew portions of a roof off a warehouse in Sierra Vista, with the debris striking nearby power lines and causing power disruptions. Roof damage was also reported at a motel in Sierra Vista, with about half of the roof removed. Debris from the roof landed in a nearby parking lot, damaging several cars. High winds damaged a large sign at a restaurant, with numerous traffic signs receiving damage throughout the Sierra Vista area. Several reports of fallen trees and broken limbs were received,…

9. Jun 1, 2011Wildfire, Chiricahua Mountains$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Horseshoe 2 fire continued to burn through much of the month of June as extremely dry conditions and fuels, and strong winds aided in the fire's growth. As the fire continued to grow to the northwest, the communities of Cave Creek Canyon, Paradise, Whitetail Canyon, West Turkey Creek, and West Pinery Canyon were evacuated. Crews were put in place to protect the communities, but some structures were lost. In all, 9 homes and 14 outbuildings burned, including the historic Barfoot fire lookout. Chiricahua National Monument in the northern portion of the fire was closed on June 3 and remained closed through the summer. ||One firefighter was injured when he and another lookout were…

10. Jun 20, 2017Wildfire, Upper San Pedro River Valley$750,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The lightning caused Encino Fire ignited on June 20th south of Sonoita and spread rapidly north due to thunderstorm outflow winds. At least five homes and 30 power poles were destroyed by the fire. Many residents of Sonoita were evacuated and State Routes 82 and 83 were both closed temporarily. A firefighter was injured when he broke his ankle. The fire was fully contained by June 25th after burning 1289 acres.

1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

All-time high

112°FJul 4, 1989

All-time low

3°FDec 8, 1978

Warmest night

82°F3 times, most recently Jun 20, 2021

Coldest day

26°FFeb 4, 2011

Wettest day

3.10 inFeb 21, 2013

Snowiest day

12.0 inJan 16, 1916

Hottest year

2020mean 67.6°F

Coldest year

1905mean 60.4°F

Wettest year

190527.84 in

Driest year

19247.36 in

Station Tombstone (USC00028619), 4,659 ft elevation, 17.7 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 24, 2026; 93.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Declarations for Cochise County.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

• Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
• Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
• Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
• Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
• Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
• Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00028619.
• River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
• Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
• Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.