Federal Heights

Population 14,075 (2025)

210 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Federal Heights since 1950, 2 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on July 14, 2025.

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026

Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950210
Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198411

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Adams County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Adams County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

210

2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Flood insurance claims

154

Adams County

$594,000 paid since 1978

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

Largest: Calwood, 2020

Details

Strongest tornado

May 18, 1975, 4.1 mile path

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

5.5magnitude

August 9, 1967, 19.8 miles away

Details

Federal disaster declarations

Most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, 2020

Details

Record high

104°F

Reached 4 times, most recently June 29, 2018

Details

Record low

−25°F

Reached 4 times, most recently December 22, 1990

Details

Tornadoes

About 3 tornados a year since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

May 18, 1975

F3, 4.1 mile path

440 yards wide.

Most recent

Monday, July 14, 2025

EFU, 0.2 mile path

Within the past year.

Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.

By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950

Jul 14, 2025	EFU	0.2	10	0
Jun 13, 2025	EFU	0.1	10	0
Jul 6, 2023	EFU	0.0	25	0
Jul 6, 2023	EFU	0.0	25	0
Jun 22, 2023	EF1	6.3	25	0
Apr 25, 2023	EFU	0.0	50	0
Aug 5, 2022	EFU	0.0	25	0
Jul 29, 2022	EFU	0.0	50	0
Jul 29, 2022	EFU	0.0	50	0
Jun 12, 2022	EFU	0.0	50	0
Jun 7, 2021	EF2	7.5	50	0
Sep 8, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0
Sep 8, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0
Sep 6, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0
May 27, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0
Jun 24, 2015	EF1	2.8	50	0
May 7, 2015	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jul 28, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jul 28, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jun 21, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jun 21, 2014	EF1	0.2	100	0
Jun 8, 2014	EF1	0.2	100	1
May 21, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0
May 21, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0
May 21, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0
Aug 3, 2013	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jun 18, 2013	EF1	2.4	75	0
Jun 6, 2012	EF0	0.1	50	0
May 26, 2010	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jun 9, 2009	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jun 7, 2009	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jun 7, 2009	EF1	5.5	100	2
Jun 7, 2009	EF0	0.6	50	0
May 24, 2009	EF0	0.0	50	0
May 24, 2009	EF0	0.1	50	0
May 22, 2008	EF1	0.1	100	1
May 14, 2007	EF0	0.1	50	0
Jul 8, 2005	F0	0.1	50	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0
Oct 4, 2004	F1	0.1	50	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0
May 8, 2003	F0	0.1	50	0
May 8, 2003	F0	0.1	50	0
Aug 29, 2002	F1	0.1	50	1
Jun 20, 2001	F0	0.1	25	0
Jun 20, 2001	F0	0.1	25	0
Jul 10, 2000	F0	0.1	20	0
Aug 10, 1999	F0	0.1	0	0
Aug 10, 1999	F1	5.0	50	0
Jul 2, 1998	F0	0.1	30	0
May 24, 1998	F0	2.0	50	0
Jun 22, 1997	F1	0.1	50	0
Jun 22, 1997	F0	0.1	50	0
Jun 15, 1997	F1	0.1	50	0
Jun 6, 1997	F1	0.1	50	0
Aug 27, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Aug 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 28, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 28, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 12, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 12, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 12, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.2	50	0
Jun 22, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0
Jun 16, 1996	F1	1.5	300	0
Jun 6, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 6, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 3, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0
May 19, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 16, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 16, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 16, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 18, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 9, 1993	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 2, 1993	F1	0.1	50	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.8	23	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.5	50	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	1.0	50	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	1.5	100	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0
Aug 22, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 25, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 25, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 6, 1991	F0	1.0	50	0
Jul 11, 1990	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 9, 1990	F0	0.3	20	0
Jun 30, 1990	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 7, 1990	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 1, 1990	F0	0.1	13	0
Jun 1, 1990	F0	0.2	20	0
May 29, 1990	F1	1.1	50	0
May 29, 1990	F0	0.8	20	0
Jun 8, 1989	F1	0.1	20	0
Jun 26, 1988	F1	1.0	30	0
Jun 25, 1988	F1	0.5	30	0
Jun 25, 1988	F1	0.5	40	0
Jun 22, 1988	F1	0.5	40	0
Jun 15, 1988	F1	1.0	100	0
Jun 15, 1988	F3	2.5	200	7
Jun 15, 1988	F2	0.5	400	0
Jun 15, 1988	F1	2.0	100	0
Jun 10, 1988	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 10, 1988	F0	0.2	20	0
Jun 8, 1988	F1	0.5	30	0
Jun 8, 1988	F1	1.5	30	0
Jun 5, 1988	F2	0.5	50	0
Jun 5, 1988	F2	2.0	50	0
Apr 21, 1988	F0	0.2	30	0
Apr 19, 1988	F1	0.3	60	0
Jul 2, 1987	F1	0.2	30	0
Jul 2, 1987	F2	1.0	250	0
Jun 30, 1987	F1	0.8	30	0
Jun 23, 1987	F1	0.2	20	0
Jun 20, 1987	F1	1.0	30	0
Jun 20, 1987	F2	1.0	30	0
Jun 20, 1987	F1	0.2	20	0
Jun 12, 1987	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 9, 1987	F1	0.1	20	0
May 12, 1987	F1	0.7	20	0
Jun 9, 1986	F1	0.2	30	0
Jun 8, 1986	F1	2.0	100	0
Jun 8, 1986	F1	2.0	100	0
Jun 8, 1986	F2	2.0	100	0
Jun 8, 1986	F2	1.1	50	6
Aug 3, 1985	F1	0.3	20	0
Jul 26, 1985	F1	0.5	50	3
Jul 19, 1985	F2	0.5	40	0
Jun 3, 1985	F1	0.5	100	0
Jun 3, 1985	F1	0.5	100	0
Jul 6, 1984	F1	1.0	40	0
Jul 6, 1984	F1	1.0	50	0
Jun 3, 1984	F1	2.0	100	0
May 14, 1984	F1	5.0	77	0
Jun 12, 1983	F1	0.3	20	0
Jun 4, 1983	F1	2.0	50	0
Jun 2, 1983	F1	1.0	100	0
Jul 9, 1982	F1	0.5	50	0
Jul 9, 1982	F1	0.3	50	0
Jul 9, 1982	F1	0.3	50	0
Jun 30, 1982	F1	0.5	77	0
Jun 12, 1982	F0	1.0	200	0
Jun 3, 1982	F1	0.5	100	0
Jun 3, 1982	F1	0.5	100	0
Jun 3, 1982	F0	0.3	50	0
May 29, 1982	F1	0.5	50	0
Aug 16, 1981	F0	0.5	20	0
Jul 27, 1981	F0	0.5	30	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	0.9	50	2
Jun 3, 1981	F2	2.3	133	42
Jun 3, 1981	F2	0.1	50	0
Jun 2, 1981	F1	0.5	50	0
May 31, 1981	F1	0.3	30	0
May 28, 1981	F1	0.1	30	0
Oct 15, 1980	F2	1.5	50	0
Aug 7, 1980	F0	0.5	30	0
Jul 25, 1980	F1	0.5	40	0
Apr 30, 1980	F1	5.7	20	0
Jul 12, 1979	F0	2.0	50	0
Aug 1, 1978	F1	0.5	50	0
May 17, 1978	F1	0.5	17	0
May 17, 1978	F2	0.5	33	0
Jul 25, 1977	F0	0.1	20	0
Sep 14, 1976	F0	0.1	33	0
Sep 14, 1976	F0	0.1	33	0
Sep 14, 1976	F0	0.1	33	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0
May 30, 1976	F2	5.4	67	0
May 18, 1975	F3	4.1	440	0
May 18, 1975	F1	0.5	110	0
Jul 28, 1974	F0	0.1	23	0
Apr 19, 1971	F0	0.3	17	0
Apr 19, 1971	F1	0.2	27	0
Aug 5, 1969	F0	0.1	10	0
Aug 5, 1969	F0	0.1	10	0
May 5, 1969	F0	0.1	10	0
May 23, 1968	F1	0.5	100	1
Jul 3, 1967	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 3, 1967	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 3, 1967	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 14, 1967	F0	1.3	10	0
Jun 9, 1967	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 9, 1967	F1	0.3	150	0
May 30, 1967	F1	0.5	17	0
Apr 11, 1966	F0	0.1	183	0
Jun 30, 1965	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 30, 1965	F1	0.1	10	0
Jun 30, 1965	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 10, 1965	F0	0.1	10	0
Jun 5, 1961	F0	0.1	10	0
Jul 23, 1958	F1	0.1	10	0
Jun 8, 1958	F2	7.1	10	0
May 12, 1955	F1	0.1	150	0
Apr 25, 1954	F1	0.1	17	0
Sep 17, 1953	F1	0.1	50	0

Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.

Wildfire and smoke

11 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

October 17, 2020

Calwood Fire, 9,832 acres

24.0 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

December 30, 2021

Marshall Fire

6,302 acres in total.

Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984

Marshall	2021	8.3	6,302
Calwood	2020	24.0	9,832
Indian Gulch Fire	2011	14.0	1,636
Fourmile Canyon	2010	21.4	5,859
Old Stage	2009	19.9	3,156
Rocky Flats	2006	7.0	1,145
Overland	2003	24.0	3,229
Eldorado	2000	16.7	998
Sunnyside	1989	21.5	1,414
Unnamed	1989	23.1	1,305
Canyon	1988	23.2	1,090

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

Smokiest year

2021: 48 days

Heavy smoke on 26 days in 2020, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

16.7 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

17 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 22 so far in 2026.

Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.

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.

Floods and flood insurance

154 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $594,000 paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Adams County, the county that contains Federal Heights.

Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1984: 17 claims

$33,000 paid.

2nd most

2013: 15 claims

$92,000 paid.

3rd most

2015: 13 claims

$19,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code

80030	27	$244,000
80011	26	$45,000
80221	25	$53,000
80229	13	$43,000
80260	9	$17,000
80010	8	$5,101
80031	8	$20,000
80216	7	$119,000
80602	7	$21,000

Flood events since 1996

Flash Flood21
Flood5

1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.

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 Adams County, the county that contains Federal Heights.

Most severe crest

May 6, 1973

South Platte River at Henderson, 17.67 ft

6.67 feet above the 11.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

June 24, 2015

Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City, 13.44 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage

May 6, 1973	South Platte River at Henderson	17.67	+6.67	Major
Jun 17, 1965	South Platte River at Henderson	16.93	+5.93	Major
May 8, 1969	South Platte River at Henderson	14.91	+3.91	Moderate
Jun 24, 2015	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	13.44	+1.44	Moderate
May 9, 1957	South Platte River at Henderson	12.45	+1.45	Minor
Jul 7, 2011	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	12.80	+0.80	Minor
Sep 12, 2013	South Platte River at Henderson	11.65	+0.65	Minor
Jun 12, 2015	South Platte River at Henderson	11.40	+0.40	Minor
Jun 27, 1983	South Platte River at Henderson	11.35	+0.35	Minor
Jul 20, 1985	South Platte River at Henderson	11.24	+0.24	Minor
May 17, 1995	South Platte River at Henderson	11.00	0.00	Minor
Aug 24, 1992	South Platte River at Henderson	10.90	−0.10	Action
May 8, 2017	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	11.78	−0.22	Action
Jul 23, 2018	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	11.76	−0.24	Action
Jun 9, 1987	South Platte River at Henderson	10.70	−0.30	Action
Aug 21, 1984	South Platte River at Henderson	10.60	−0.40	Action
Apr 26, 1942	South Platte River at Henderson	10.55	−0.45	Action
Aug 21, 2019	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	11.53	−0.47	Action
May 24, 2020	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	11.34	−0.66	Action
Jul 13, 2011	South Platte River at Henderson	10.11	−0.89	Action
Jun 11, 1970	South Platte River at Henderson	10.10	−0.90	Action
Jun 1, 1991	South Platte River at Henderson	10.06	−0.94	Action
Jun 25, 2021	Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	11.06	−0.94	Action
Apr 30, 1999	South Platte River at Henderson	10.05	−0.95	Action
Aug 13, 1975	South Platte River at Henderson	10.04	−0.96	Action

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests

Clear Creek (CO) at Derby	10.5	7.60 ft	Jul 20, 2019	0
Sand Creek (CO) at Aurora	7.5	6.00 ft	Jul 29, 1997	0
Sand Creek (CO) near Commerce City	12.0	13.44 ft	Jun 24, 2015	0
South Platte River at Henderson	11.0	17.67 ft	May 6, 1973	2

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.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 159 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 19 months.

The drought index is for Adams County, the county that contains Federal Heights.

159

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

Months in extreme drought

10%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

July 2026

−6.46, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

19 months

April 1954 to October 1955.

Latest month

September 2026

−5.48, extreme drought

Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.

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.

Earthquakes

6 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 5.5 in 1967.

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

August 9, 1967

Magnitude 5.5

7 km SE of Lochbuie, Colorado; 19.8 miles away, 6.2 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

November 6, 2016

Magnitude 3.0

8 km ENE of Greeley, Colorado; 45.8 miles away.

Per year, 1973 to 2025.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Dec 25, 1994	4.0	41.2	6.2	9 km NE of Larkspur, Colorado
Apr 2, 1981	4.3	4.1	5.0	3 km NE of Northglenn, Colorado
Nov 26, 1967	5.2	7.2	3.1	4 km NE of Derby, Colorado
Aug 9, 1967	5.5	19.8	6.2	7 km SE of Lochbuie, Colorado
Apr 27, 1967	4.5	13.4	3.1	9 km SSE of Brighton, Colorado
Apr 10, 1967	4.3	15.0	3.1	7 km SE of Brighton, Colorado

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.
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.

Severe weather and other events

883 events in the National Weather Service record for Adams County, 620 of them since 1996.

361

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

Hail, 2 inches or larger

126

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

Winter weather events since 1996

Heat events since 1996

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

July 13, 2011

4.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

October 2, 1983

100 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996

Lightning	19	2	3	Sep 9, 2011
Dust storms and dust devils	1	0	0	Mar 3, 2016

Costliest events since 1996

Jul 13, 2011Hail$165 million

National Weather Service narrative
Severe thunderstorms produced extensive damage as they moved across the Urban Corridor. At Denver International Airport alone, large hail up to golfball size, very heavy rain and wind gusts to 59 mph caused substantial damage to 40 planes and stranded approximately 1,500 passengers overnight. Frontier and United Airlines were hardest hit as dozens of planes were taken out of service for repairs; forcing the cancellation of at least 220 flights over the next several days. Damage to the aircrafts alone was nearly $5 million. In addition, 83 cars in airport parking lots were damaged, along with some police cars and maintenance vehicles. In Watkins, two people suffered minor injuries…
May 22, 1996Hail$120 million

National Weather Service narrative
A severe thunderstorm producing large hail ranging in size from 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter rumbled across the northwest and northern portions of the Denver metropolitan area. The thunderstorm apparently developed from an outflow boundary generated from the supercell thunderstorm that moved across extreme northeastern Colorado earlier in the evening. The storm developed near the foothills and moved east northeast across northern portions of the metro area. The hardest hit areas were cities of Arvada and Westminster, northwest of Denver. The insurance industry estimated $60 million in damage to homes and personal property and $62 million in damage to automobiles for a total of $122…
May 26, 2010Hail$70.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Severe thunderstorms pounded parts the Urban Corridor and Northeast Plains with very large hail, damaging wind and tornadoes. The hail, ranging from golfball to baseball size, hit northeast Denver, Brighton and Commerce City the hardest. The storms then continued to spread to the north and east; impacting Hudson, Prospect Valley, Byers and Deer Trail. The strong thunderstorm wind and hail stripped bark and branches from trees. Numerous accidents were reported as the hail accumulated up to a foot in depth on roadways. Homes and vehicles in the area were pummeled by hail. The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Associated estimated to damage to be around $70 million; based off…
Jun 20, 2001Hail$49.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Large hail, damaging winds and very heavy rain pummeled a mobile home park in Watkins. In the park, 52 mobile homes, 14 recreational vehicles, 3 homes and a commercial building were damaged. Siding was riddled with holes and windows were broken. Vehicles sustained extensive body damage and the car windows were shattered. A handful of people were treated for minor cuts and bruises. Strong winds also flipped a tractor trailer along Interstate 70 near Watkins. At least 30 private planes at Front Range Airport were totalled. The radome protecting the National Weather Service doppler radar, which was tracking the storm, also sustained damage. The storm caused power outages which…
Jun 14, 1999Hail$35.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Damage from several hailstorms that struck areas in and near the Denver Metropolitan area from June 11th-14th totalled $35 million. Approximately $17.5 million was from automobile claims , with another $17.5 million in homeowner claims. The areas hardest hit by the storms included: Castle Rock, Commerce City, Evergreen and Golden.
Sep 12, 2013Flood$2.1 million

National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain, ranging from 4 to 10 inches through the entire storm event, caused widespread flooding along the entire drainage system of the South Platte River. Flooding and flash flooding inpacted Riverdale Golf Course and the Regional Park. The gulch that ran through those two areas caused flooding and erosion in several places including the newly created reservoirs between the Regional Park and 120th Avenue.|The Regional Park shop was also flooded as well as the Riverdale Golf Shop. All combined, the countyï¿½ï¿½ï¿½s estimated damage at the Park alone, not including the golf course, was about $637,000. Parts of Colorado Boulevard between CO7 and 168th Avenue were closed due to…
May 11, 2023Flood$1.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Dozens of roads in Adams County were hit by flooding and were closed due to damage. Authorities believe the damage and impact to the county was severe. The following streets were closed due to flooding: 26th Ave. between Yulle Road and Wolf Creek Road, 64th Ave. between Piggott Road and Wolf Creek Road, Piggott Road from 80th Ave. to 88th Ave., Old Victory Road from US 36 to SH 79, 72nd Ave. from Bradbury-Krebs Road to Xmore Road, Road 15 from Bradbury-Krebs Road to Xmore Road, 26th Ave. from Strasburg Road to Comanche Drive, 26th Ave. from Piggott Road to Yulle Road, 48th Ave. from Strasburg Road to Piggott Road, 112th Ave. from Headlight Road to Nordbye Road, 112th Ave. from…
Aug 4, 1999Flash Flood$500,000

National Weather Service narrative
Flooding and flash flooding problems developed over portions of the Urban Corridor as slow moving thunderstorms dumped anywhere from 2 to 3.5 inches of rainfall in approximately 3 hours. Near the junction of Interstate 25 and State Highway 36, up to 4 feet of water flooded an auto dealership. Approximately 45 cars were ruined. Sections of Interstate 25 and State Highway 36 near the interchange were closed due to floodwaters. Damage estimates to the dealership alone were approximately $500,000. Floodwaters, up to 5 feet deep, forced the evacuation of two mobile home parks in Federal Heights. In addition, railroad tracks were washed out near Federal Blvd. and 64th Avenue.Numerous…
Jul 13, 1996Tornado$220,000

National Weather Service narrative
A fast moving tornado ripped a 12-mile path of destruction near Strasburg, in eastern Adams County. The tornado caused extensive structural damage to several galvanized metal grain silos, farm buildings and sheds in the area. The roof of a two-story log home was completely torn off. The home received substantial damage from the wind and heavy rain that followed the tornado. Several other homes in the area sustained roof damage and a number of power poles were downed along Highway 36.
Jul 11, 2001Lightning$200,000

National Weather Service narrative
Lightning struck the roof of a home. Most of the damage was confined to the attic.

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.

Weather records

From Denver-stapleton, 10.5 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.

All-time high: 104°F4 times, most recently Jun 29, 2018
All-time low: −25°F4 times, most recently Dec 22, 1990
Warmest night: 72°FJul 25, 2003
Coldest day: −9°F2 times, most recently Feb 4, 1989
Wettest day: 3.88 inSep 12, 2013
Snowiest day: 23.6 inDec 24, 1982
Hottest year: 1981mean 54.1°F
Coldest year: 1951mean 48.4°F
Wettest year: 201524.07 in
Driest year: 19547.51 in
Snowiest season: 99.3 in1958-59

Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.

Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 16.8.

Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

October 18

Earliest: September 3, 1961

Median last snow

April 29

Latest: June 5, 1953

0 of 78 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Denver-stapleton (USW00023062), 5,286 ft elevation, 10.5 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 22, 2026; 98.7% 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.

Federal disaster declarations

12 since 1953. The most recent: Covid-19 Pandemic, March 28, 2020.

Declarations for Adams County.

Federal disaster declarations

Mar 28, 2020	Biological	Covid-19 Pandemic	Major disaster	DR-4498-CO
Mar 13, 2020	Biological	Covid-19	Emergency	EM-3436-CO
Jul 16, 2015	Flood	Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4229-CO
Sep 14, 2013	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-4145-CO
Sep 12, 2013	Flood	Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides	Emergency	EM-3365-CO
Jan 7, 2007	Snowstorm	Snow	Emergency	EM-3270-CO
Sep 5, 2005	Coastal Storm	Hurricane Katrina Evacuation	Emergency	EM-3224-CO
Apr 9, 2003	Snowstorm	Snow	Emergency	EM-3185-CO
Jun 19, 2002	Fire	Wildfires	Major disaster	DR-1421-CO
May 23, 1973	Flood	Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-385-CO
May 19, 1969	Flood	Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-261-CO
Jun 19, 1965	Tornado	Tornadoes, Severe Storms & Flooding	Major disaster	DR-200-CO

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

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

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 USW00023062.
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.
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.