Firestone

Population 20,129 (2025)

190 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Firestone since 1950, 3 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 1950190
Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198413
Major flood years since 1978, Weld County1

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 Weld 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 Weld County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

190

3 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

Largest: Calwood, 2020

Details

Flood insurance claims

194

Weld County

$5.7 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

EF3

May 22, 2008, 38.7 mile path

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

5.5magnitude

August 9, 1967, 20.5 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, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

May 22, 2008

EF3, 38.7 mile path

1,760 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.

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	0
Jun 13, 2025	EFU	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 20, 2024	EFU	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 6, 2023	EF0	0.0	20	0	0
Aug 5, 2022	EFU	0.0	25	0	0
Jul 29, 2022	EFU	0.0	50	0	0
Jun 12, 2022	EFU	0.0	50	0	0
Jun 7, 2021	EF2	7.5	50	0	0
Sep 8, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0	0
May 27, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0	0
May 27, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0	0
May 26, 2019	EF0	0.0	25	0	0
Apr 12, 2016	EFU	0.0	50	0	0
Jun 4, 2015	EF3	6.7	440	0	0
May 7, 2015	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 28, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 28, 2014	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 21, 2014	EF1	0.2	100	0	0
May 7, 2014	EF0	2.6	100	0	0
Aug 3, 2013	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Aug 3, 2013	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Aug 3, 2013	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Aug 3, 2013	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 6, 2012	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
May 26, 2010	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
May 26, 2010	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
May 18, 2010	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 9, 2009	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 7, 2009	EF0	0.6	50	0	0
May 24, 2009	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
May 22, 2008	EF1	0.1	100	1	0
May 22, 2008	EF3	38.7	1,760	78	1
May 14, 2007	EF0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 8, 2005	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Oct 4, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Aug 10, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Mar 24, 2004	F0	0.1	50	0	0
May 8, 2003	F0	0.1	50	0	0
May 8, 2003	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 20, 2001	F0	0.1	25	0	0
Jun 20, 2001	F0	0.1	25	0	0
Jul 10, 2000	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Sep 1, 1999	F0	0.1	0	0	0
Aug 10, 1999	F1	0.1	0	0	0
Aug 10, 1999	F1	0.1	0	0	0
Aug 10, 1999	F0	0.1	0	0	0
Aug 10, 1999	F1	5.0	50	0	0
Jul 2, 1998	F0	0.1	30	0	0
Jun 22, 1997	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 22, 1997	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 15, 1997	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 6, 1997	F1	0.1	50	0	0
Aug 27, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 28, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 13, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 12, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 12, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jul 9, 1996	F0	0.2	50	0	0
Jun 22, 1996	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 7, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 6, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 3, 1995	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 16, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 16, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 16, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 18, 1994	F0	0.1	10	0	0
May 28, 1993	F0	0.1	100	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.8	23	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.5	50	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	1.0	50	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	1.5	100	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 20, 1992	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Aug 22, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 25, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 25, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 25, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 22, 1991	F0	0.1	50	0	0
Jun 22, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 22, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 6, 1991	F0	1.0	50	0	0
Jun 2, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 2, 1991	F0	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 9, 1990	F0	0.3	20	0	0
Jun 30, 1990	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 7, 1990	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 1, 1990	F0	0.1	13	0	0
Jun 1, 1990	F0	0.2	20	0	0
May 29, 1990	F1	1.1	50	0	0
Jun 25, 1988	F1	1.0	63	0	0
Jun 25, 1988	F1	0.5	40	0	0
Jun 22, 1988	F1	0.5	40	0	0
Jun 15, 1988	F1	1.0	100	0	0
Jun 15, 1988	F1	2.0	100	0	0
Jun 8, 1988	F1	0.5	30	0	0
Jun 8, 1988	F1	1.5	30	0	0
Jun 5, 1988	F2	0.5	50	0	0
Jun 5, 1988	F2	2.0	50	0	0
Apr 21, 1988	F0	0.2	30	0	0
Apr 19, 1988	F1	0.3	60	0	0
Jul 7, 1987	F1	1.5	40	0	0
Jul 2, 1987	F1	0.2	30	0	0
Jul 2, 1987	F2	1.0	250	0	0
Jun 23, 1987	F1	0.2	20	0	0
Jun 20, 1987	F1	1.0	30	0	0
Jun 9, 1986	F1	0.2	30	0	0
Aug 2, 1985	F1	0.3	20	0	0
Jul 26, 1985	F1	0.5	50	3	0
Aug 1, 1984	F1	0.5	50	0	0
Jun 13, 1984	F1	0.5	50	0	0
May 18, 1984	F2	5.0	50	0	0
May 18, 1984	F2	5.0	50	0	0
May 18, 1984	F2	5.0	50	0	0
Apr 25, 1984	F1	2.0	100	0	0
Apr 19, 1984	F1	1.0	150	0	0
Jul 10, 1983	F1	0.5	50	0	0
Jul 7, 1983	F1	0.2	30	0	0
Jun 16, 1983	F1	0.6	33	0	0
Jun 12, 1983	F1	0.3	20	0	0
Jun 4, 1983	F1	2.0	50	0	0
Jun 2, 1983	F1	1.0	100	0	0
Jul 26, 1982	F1	1.0	50	0	0
Jul 9, 1982	F1	0.5	50	0	0
Jun 25, 1982	F2	1.0	200	0	0
Jun 3, 1982	F1	1.0	77	0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	0.2	40	0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	0.3	40	0	0
Jun 3, 1981	F1	0.9	50	2	0
Jun 3, 1981	F2	2.3	133	42	0
Jun 2, 1981	F1	0.5	50	0	0
May 31, 1981	F1	0.2	27	0	0
May 31, 1981	F1	0.3	30	0	0
May 28, 1981	F1	0.1	30	0	0
Oct 15, 1980	F2	1.5	50	0	0
Aug 27, 1980	F1	2.0	40	0	0
Aug 7, 1980	F0	0.5	30	0	0
Jul 25, 1980	F1	0.5	40	0	0
Apr 30, 1980	F1	5.7	20	0	0
Jul 12, 1979	F0	2.0	50	0	0
May 17, 1978	F1	0.5	17	0	0
Aug 10, 1976	F1	0.1	50	1	0
Jul 4, 1976	F1	0.3	150	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.2	100	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F2	1.5	200	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0	0
Jun 4, 1976	F1	0.5	150	0	0
May 30, 1976	F2	5.4	67	0	0
May 29, 1976	F0	0.1	20	0	0
Jun 18, 1975	F1	1.0	100	0	0
Apr 19, 1971	F1	0.2	27	0	0
May 23, 1968	F1	0.5	100	1	0
Jul 3, 1967	F0	0.1	10	0	0
May 30, 1967	F1	0.5	17	0	0
Jun 30, 1965	F0	0.1	10	0	0
May 22, 1965	F1	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 7, 1963	F1	0.5	10	0	0
Jun 5, 1961	F0	0.1	10	0	0
May 15, 1960	F1	0.5	17	0	0
Jul 23, 1958	F1	0.1	10	0	0
Jul 1, 1958	F1	0.1	10	0	0
Jun 8, 1958	F2	7.1	10	0	0
May 12, 1958	F1	0.1	10	0	0
May 30, 1957	F2	1.3	10	1	0
May 30, 1957	F2	9.1	10	0	0
May 29, 1957	F0	0.1	10	0	0
May 12, 1955	F1	0.1	150	0	0
May 9, 1955	F1	0.1	100	0	0
Apr 25, 1954	F1	0.1	17	0	0
Sep 17, 1953	F1	0.1	50	0	0
May 15, 1952	F3	7.4	150	5	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

13 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

October 17, 2020

Calwood Fire, 9,832 acres

16.5 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

July 29, 2024

Alexander Mountain Fire

9,691 acres in total.

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

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984

Alexander Mountain	2024	23.6	9,691
Marshall	2021	16.4	6,302
Calwood	2020	16.5	9,832
Sunday Fire	2020	18.2	2,201
Fourmile Canyon	2010	21.8	5,859
Old Stage	2009	16.8	3,156
Rocky Flats	2006	20.5	1,145
Overland	2003	18.4	3,229
Big Elk	2002	24.4	4,345
Eldorado	2000	24.4	998
Sunnyside	1989	24.6	1,414
Unnamed	1989	19.1	1,305
Canyon	1988	19.0	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: 53 days

Heavy smoke on 31 days in 2020, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

17.9 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

15 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 23 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

194 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $5.7 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Weld County, the county that contains Firestone.

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

Most claims in one year

2013: 104 claims

$5.2 million paid.

2nd most

1999: 13 claims

$94,000 paid.

3rd most

2014: 7 claims

$23,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code

80631	30	$670,000
80645	25	$1.3 million
80516	20	$610,000
80550	14	$27,000
80634	13	$229,000
80621	12	$1.0 million
80530	12	$54,000
80504	11	$304,000
80543	9	$455,000
80644	8	$98,000
80520	7	$47,000
80615	6	$17,000

Flood events since 1996

Flash Flood44
Flood24
Heavy Rain4

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 Weld County, the county that contains Firestone.

Most severe crest

September 14, 2013

South Platte River near Kersey, 15.09 ft

5.09 feet above the 10.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

May 11, 2015

South Platte River near Kersey, 11.54 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage

Sep 14, 2013	South Platte River near Kersey	15.09	+5.09	Major
May 1, 1980	Big Thompson River (CO) near La Salle	9.91	+1.91	Moderate
May 8, 1973	South Platte River near Kersey	11.73	+1.73	Moderate
May 11, 2015	South Platte River near Kersey	11.54	+1.54	Moderate
May 1, 1999	Big Thompson River (CO) near La Salle	9.54	+1.54	Moderate
May 1, 1999	South Platte River near Kersey	11.50	+1.50	Moderate
May 31, 1995	Big Thompson River (CO) near La Salle	9.47	+1.47	Minor
Sep 15, 2013	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	9.25	+1.25	Minor
Jun 1, 2014	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	9.17	+1.17	Minor
Jun 14, 2010	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	9.16	+1.16	Minor
May 2, 1999	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	9.14	+1.14	Minor
Jun 13, 2015	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	9.07	+1.07	Minor
May 10, 2015	Saint Vrain Creek near Platteville	10.03	+1.03	Minor
May 31, 1995	South Platte River near Kersey	11.00	+1.00	Minor
Jun 5, 2015	Big Thompson River (CO) near La Salle	8.79	+0.79	Minor
Jun 18, 1965	South Platte River near Kersey	10.75	+0.75	Minor
May 8, 1969	South Platte River near Kersey	10.70	+0.70	Minor
Jun 13, 1997	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	8.48	+0.48	Minor
Jun 11, 2011	Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	8.46	+0.46	Minor
Jun 14, 1997	South Platte River near Kersey	10.40	+0.40	Minor
Jun 14, 2010	South Platte River near Kersey	10.39	+0.39	Minor
May 2, 1980	South Platte River near Kersey	10.31	+0.31	Minor
May 10, 1957	South Platte River near Kersey	10.26	+0.26	Minor
Jun 3, 2014	Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Greeley	8.73	+0.21	Minor
Sep 15, 2013	Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Greeley	8.65	+0.13	Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests

Big Thompson River (CO) near La Salle	8.0	9.91 ft	May 1, 1980	0
Cache La Poudre River (CO) at Greeley	8.5	8.73 ft	Jun 3, 2014	0
Cache La Poudre River (CO) near Greeley	8.0	9.25 ft	Sep 15, 2013	0
Saint Vrain Creek below Longmont	15.5	14.56 ft	May 9, 2015	0
Saint Vrain Creek near Platteville	9.0	10.03 ft	May 10, 2015	0
South Platte River at Fort Lupton	11.0	10.98 ft	Sep 13, 2013	0
South Platte River near Kersey	10.0	15.09 ft	Sep 14, 2013	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.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 133 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 11 months.

The drought index is for Weld County, the county that contains Firestone.

133

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

Months in extreme drought

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

July 2026

−6.64, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

11 months

May 1934 to March 1935.

Latest month

September 2026

−5.37, 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

5 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; 20.5 miles away, 6.2 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

November 6, 2016

Magnitude 3.0

8 km ENE of Greeley, Colorado; 27.0 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

Apr 2, 1981	4.3	17.0	5.0	3 km NE of Northglenn, Colorado
Nov 26, 1967	5.2	20.1	3.1	4 km NE of Derby, Colorado
Aug 9, 1967	5.5	20.5	6.2	7 km SE of Lochbuie, Colorado
Apr 27, 1967	4.5	19.4	3.1	9 km SSE of Brighton, Colorado
Apr 10, 1967	4.3	18.2	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

1,941 events in the National Weather Service record for Weld County, 1,461 of them since 1996.

877

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

120

Hail, 2 inches or larger

289

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

Winter weather events since 1996

Heat events since 1996

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 4, 1983

4.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

June 20, 2024

90 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996

Lightning	27	1	4	May 8, 2017

Costliest events since 1996

Sep 12, 2013Flood$230 million

National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain, ranging from 4 to 10 inches through the entire storm event, caused widespread flooding along entire drainage system of the Cache La Poudre River including Greeley and vicinity. In Evans, thousands of residents were told not to flush their toilets or shower, prompting Greeley-Evans School District 6 to close schools. Similar problems occurred in Lasalle. County commissioners estimated at least $230 million in damages to properties and infrastructure throughout Weld County. County officials estimated more than 7,000 parcels of land were impacted by floodwaters; 2,900 were residential and 2,300 were agricultural. In addition, 355 commercial and 62 industrial properties…
May 22, 2008Tornado$147 million

National Weather Service narrative
A powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across Weld County and into Larimer County, carving a path of destruction, nearly 39 miles in length. The tornado, up to one-mile wide at times, initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington. A tornado assessment in the aftermath of the tornado revealed extensive areas of damage. On the enhanced Fujita Scale there were pockets of EF3 damage, mainly near the Missile Silo Park Campground, and to businesses and home in eastern Windsor. ||There was one fatality, and 78 injuries. One man was killed when he tried to escape the trailer park in his motor home. Preliminary estimates from…
May 28, 2024Flood$3.4 million

National Weather Service narrative
Multiple road closures occurred downtown Greeley due to flooding. These included 9th and 10th streets between 10th avenue and 14th avenue, 11th avenue from 8th street to 11th street, and 8th avenue from 10th street to 12th street. As of June 10th, 279 personal properties and businesses have been included in the report (disaster declaration), as well as 77 government buildings and public infrastructure, totaling approximately $3.4 million in damages from the storm.
Jun 23, 1997Hail$3.1 million

National Weather Service narrative
Large hail, up to golfball size, hammered the Greeley area causing extensive damage. Estimates included $2.25 million to homes with another $840,000 in automobile claims.
Jul 10, 2001Hail$2.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain, large hail and intense thunderstorm winds occurred in Greeley and vicinity. At least 50 trees were knocked down damaging cars and homes. Scattered power outages affected approximately 10,000 homes and businesses. A 341-ft radio tower was also blown down, knocking a local radio station off the air. In central Greeley, 10 garden level apartments were flooded at the Brentwood apartment complex. Extensive crop damage was reported in La Salle, Greeley, Milliken and Platteville. Approximately 20-30 percent of the crops in the area were damaged.
Aug 10, 2004Hail$2.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Large hail broke car windows, damaged roofs and stripped trees and at least 3,000 acres of crops. At Eaton's high school, middle school and two elementary schools, at least 60 skylights were shattered by hail. Water flooded the hallways and classrooms. Damage to the schools alone was estimated at $2 million.
May 27, 1997Hail$2.0 million
May 11, 2023Flood$1.0 million

National Weather Service narrative
Weld County closed 23 sections of county roads due to flooding. Roads that were closed or damaged included: Weld County Road 4 from County Roads 15-17, Weld County Road 6 from County Road 23-U.S. 85, Weld County Road 8 from County Road 23-U.S. 85, Weld County Road 10 from CO 79 - County Road 71, Weld County Road 10, from County Road 81-83, Weld County Road 14 from County Road 85-87, Weld County Road 15, from County Road 2-4, Weld County Road 16 from County Road 71-73, Weld County Road 16 from County Road 73-77, Weld County Road 17 from County Road 34-38, Weld County Road 42 from County Road 45-47, Weld County Road 48 from County Road 43-45, Weld County Road 50 from County Road…
Jul 13, 2001Flash Flood$600,000

National Weather Service narrative
Anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of rainfall reportedly fell in the Greeley area in less the 2 hours. As a result, several roads were inundated with up to 2 feet of water and many basements of homes and businesses were flooded. In the basement of Greeley City Hall, several boxes of documents dating back to the 1800's were drenched in the floodwaters. The roof of a local business collapsed during the deluge. Approximately 2300 homes and businesses in town suffered electrical outages.
Jun 7, 2021Tornado$531,000

National Weather Service narrative
The tornado touched down in southern Weld County. There were no injuries, but at least two calves were killed, and several chickens. Several homes lost windows and roofing material. One home lost an entire wall and most of its roof, and an unattached garage was completely destroyed with the car inside flipped on its roof. Nearby outbuildings sustained damage, and one caught fire due to downed power lines. Downed power lines also led to a closure of WCR 21 between Highway 66 and WCR 32.5.

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, 27.4 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, 27.4 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

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

Declarations for Weld 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
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
May 26, 2008	Severe Storm	Severe Storms and Tornadoes	Major disaster	DR-1762-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 17, 2001	Severe Storm	Severe Winter Storms	Major disaster	DR-1374-CO
May 17, 1999	Severe Storm	Co-Flooding 4/30/99	Major disaster	DR-1276-CO
Aug 1, 1997	Flood	Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, Mudslides	Major disaster	DR-1186-CO
Aug 2, 1976	Flood	Severe Storms & Flash Flooding	Major disaster	DR-517-CO
May 23, 1973	Flood	Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and Flooding	Major disaster	DR-385-CO
May 8, 1973	Dam/Levee Break	Dam Failure	Major disaster	DR-379-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.