NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
Arizona Summary
From 1980–2024 (as of May 8, 2024), there have been 33 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect Arizona. These events included 15 drought events, 3 flooding events, 1 severe storm event, and 14 wildfire events. The 1980–2023 annual average is 0.8 events (CPI-adjusted); the annual average for the most recent 5 years (2019–2023) is 1.6 events (CPI-adjusted).
| Disaster Type | Events | Events/Year | Percent Frequency | Total Costs | Percent of Total Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 15 | 0.3 | 45.5% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 14.8% |
| Flooding | 3 | 0.1 | 9.1% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 18.7% |
| Freeze | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Severe Storm | 1 | 0.0 | 3.0% | $5.0B-$10.0B | 53.4% |
| Tropical Cyclone | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Wildfire | 14 | 0.3 | 42.4% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 13.2% |
| Winter Storm | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| All Disasters | 33 | 0.7 | 100.0% | $10.0B-$20.0B | 100.0% |
| Drought | 15 | 0.3 | 48.4% | $1.0B-$2.0B | 17.8% |
| Flooding | 2 | 0.0 | 6.5% | $250M-$500M | 4.2% |
| Freeze | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Severe Storm | 1 | 0.0 | 3.2% | $2.0B-$5.0B | 62.9% |
| Tropical Cyclone | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Wildfire | 13 | 0.3 | 41.9% | $500M-$1.0B | 15.1% |
| Winter Storm | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| All Disasters | 31 | 0.7 | 100.0% | $5.0B-$10.0B | 100.0% |
| Time Period | Billion-Dollar Disasters | Events/ | Cost | Percent of Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 2 | 0.2 | $1.0B-$2.0B | 17.8% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 1 | 0.1 | $100M-$250M | 1.0% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 11 | 1.1 | $1.0B-$2.0B | 12.4% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 11 | 1.1 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 58.3% |
| Last 5 Years (2019-2023) | 8 | 1.6 | $1.0B-$2.0B | 10.5% |
| Last 3 Years (2021-2023) | 6 | 2.0 | $500M-$1.0B | 8.9% |
| Last Year (2023) | 1 | 1.0 | $100M-$250M | 1.3% |
| All Years (1980-2024)* | 33 | 0.7 | $10.0B-$20.0B | 100.0% |
| 1980s (1980-1989) | 1 | 0.1 | $100M-$250M | 3.0% |
| 1990s (1990-1999) | 0 | 0.0 | $0M | 0% |
| 2000s (2000-2009) | 11 | 1.1 | $500M-$1.0B | 12.5% |
| 2010s (2010-2019) | 11 | 1.1 | $2.0B-$5.0B | 69.0% |
| Last 5 Years (2019-2023) | 8 | 1.6 | $500M-$1.0B | 15.5% |
| Last 3 Years (2021-2023) | 6 | 2.0 | $500M-$1.0B | 13.3% |
| Last Year (2023) | 1 | 1.0 | $100M-$250M | 2.1% |
| All Years (1980-2024)* | 31 | 0.7 | $5.0B-$10.0B | 100.0% |
| Event | Type | Begin Date |
End Date |
Summary |
CPI-AUnadjusted Estimated Cost (in Billions) |
Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Southern/ Spring-Fall 2023 | Drought | April 1, 2023 | September 30, 2023 | Drought conditions impacted numerous Southern and Midwestern states (TX, LA, OK, KS, IL, MO, NE) and surrounding states. The agriculture sector has been impacted across these affected states including damage to field crops from lack of rainfall. Ranchers have also been forced to sell-off livestock early in some regions due to high feeding costs. For the second straight year, portions of the Mississippi River have experienced low water levels impacting river commerce. This low flow has also allowed salt water from the Gulf of Mexico to migrate northward, along the bottom of the Mississippi River, impacting water quality in southern Louisiana. Several Northwestern states including Washington, Oregon and Montana have also been impacted by increasing drought effects. | $14.6 CI | 247 |
Western/ 2022 | Drought | January 1, 2022 | December 31, 2022 | Severe drought conditions impacted many Western and Central states. Large reservoirs across the West including Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Lake Oroville, and Shasta Lake, among others continue to be depleted. Lake Mead, the Nation's largest reservoir, is nearing dead pool status and is at the lowest level since it was filled in the 1930s. The Great Salt Lake is also near record-low levels. The impacts of the drought affected crop production across may states and sharply increased feeding costs for livestock. Many segments of the Mississippi River also experienced low water levels causing delays and reductions in river commerce. Extreme heat also developed for many days across Western and Central states. These excess heat conditions caused more than one hundred heat-related fatalities focused across Arizona, Nevada, California, Oregon and Texas. The 2022 drought was one of the costlier droughts on record, with a diverse array of direct impacts across different regions and industries. | $23.3 CI | 136 |
Western Wildfires Spring-Fall 2022 | Wildfire | April 1, 2022 | November 30, 2022 | Severe drought conditions and periods of extreme heat provided conditions favorable for another damaging western wildfire season most focused across New Mexico, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California and Alaska. The Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak Fires in New Mexico merged in April consuming over 340,000 acres. This became the largest and most destructive wildfire on record in New Mexico - damaging or destroying over 1,000 structures. Other large wildfires included the Double Creek Fire (Oregon), the Moose Fire (Idaho), the Mosquito Fire (California), the Trail Creek Fire (Montana) and the Lime Complex Fire (Alaska), among many others. Over 7.5 million acres burned nationally during the 2022 wildfire season. | $3.3 CI | 17 |
Western Wildfires 2021 | Wildfire | June 1, 2021 | December 31, 2021 | Severe drought conditions and periods of extreme heat provided conditions favorable for another damaging western wildfire season most focused across California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Arizona. The Dixie Fire consumed over 960,000 acres making it the second-largest wildfire on record in California while also destroying more than 1,000 structures. California's Caldor Fire grew rapidly during August, threatening South Lake Tahoe communities and burned over 220,000 acres. Other large wildfires included the Ford Corkscrew Fire (Washington), the Bootleg Fire (Oregon), the Boundary Fire (Idaho), the Trail Creek Fire (Montana) and the Telegraph Fire (Arizona), among many others. There was also the Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado on December 30 that damaged or destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses. This wildfire is the most destructive on record in Colorado. Throughout the wildfire season air quality was also a concern across numerous states, as ash and fine particulates from wildfires obscured the skies and made outdoor activities more hazardous. Over 7.1 million acres burned nationally during the 2021 wildfire season. | $12.0 CI | 8 |
Western Drought and Heat Wave 2021 | Drought | January 1, 2021 | December 31, 2021 | Western drought conditions were persistent throughout 2021, as the drought expanded and intensified across many Western states. A historic heat wave also developed for many days across the Pacific Northwest shattering numerous all-time high temperature records across the region. This prolonged heat dome was maximized over the states of Oregon and Washington and extended well into Canada. These extreme temperatures impacted several major cities and millions of people. For example, Portland reached a high of 116 degrees F while Seattle reached 108 degrees F. These extreme temperatures caused hundreds of direct and indirect heat-related fatalities across Oregon and Washington, not including excess mortality that may be hundreds of additional deaths. This combined drought and heat rapidly dried out vegetation across the West, impacting agriculture. Low water levels also forced the hydroelectric power plant at Lake Oroville in California to shut down for the first time since it opened in 1967. | $10.0 CI | 229 |
California Flooding and Severe Weather January 2021 | Flooding | January 24, 2021 | January 29, 2021 | California was impacted by an atmospheric river in late-January, in which more than 7 inches of rain fell from southern California to the central California coast. Rainfall totals exceeded 15 inches in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. These heavy rains caused flooding and mudslides in some of the same areas burned by wildfires in late-2020. This combination caused dozens of slides and debris flows damaging homes, vehicles and businesses and infrastructure. Highway 1 south of Big Sur was washed out while the Sierra Nevada range received several feet of snow, closing major highways. In addition to significant rain and snow, high winds also caused extensive power outages across parts the region. | $1.3 CI | 2 |
Western Wildfires - California, Oregon, Washington Firestorms Fall 2020 | Wildfire | August 1, 2020 | December 30, 2020 | A record-breaking U.S. wildfire season burned more than 10.2 million acres. California more than doubled its previous annual record for area burned (last set in 2018) with over 4.1 million acres. Five of the top six largest wildfires on record in California (dating to 1932) burned during August and September. The August Complex was the largest California wildfire, which began as 37 separate wildfires within the Mendocino National Forest, set off after storms caused >10,000 lightning strikes across Northern California. Approximately 10,500 structures were damaged or destroyed across California. Oregon also had historic levels of wildfire damage, as over 2,000 structures burned. These wildfires spread rapidly and destroyed several small towns in California, Oregon and Washington. Colorado also had a severe wildfire season, as its three largest wildfires on record burned during 2020. Dense wildfire smoke also produced hazardous air quality that affected millions of people that also included major cities for weeks. Hundreds of additional wildfires also burned across other Western states. | $19.7 CI | 46 |
Western/ Summer-Fall 2020 | Drought | June 1, 2020 | December 30, 2020 | Widespread, continuous drought and record heat affected more than a dozen Western and Central states for much of the summer, fall and into the winter months. Persistent above-average temperatures and precipitation deficits caused D3 (extreme) and D4 (exceptional) drought coverage in December that was the largest extent since August 2012. Death Valley recorded a temperature of 130 degrees F - the highest measured temperature globally in decades - while Los Angeles county recorded a record high of 121 degrees F. There were considerable crop and livestock impacts across the West and Central states from both the persistent heat and increasingly dry conditions. The combined drought and heat also assisted in drying out vegetation across the West that contributed to the Western wildfire potential and severity. | $5.4 CI | 45 |
Southwest/ Summer-Fall 2018 | Drought | June 1, 2018 | December 30, 2018 | Drought conditions were present across numerous Southwestern and Plains states (TX, OK, KS, MO, CO, NM, AZ, UT). The most extreme drought conditions continue to persist across the Four Corners region of the Southwest. The agriculture sector has been impacted across the affected states including damage to field crops from lack of rainfall. Ranchers have also be forced to sell-off livestock early in some regions due to high feeding costs. | $3.8 CI | 0 |
Western Wildfires, California Firestorm Summer-Fall 2017 | Wildfire | June 1, 2017 | December 31, 2017 | A historic firestorm damages or destroys over 15,000 homes, businesses and other structures across California in October. The combined destruction of the Tubbs, Atlas, Nuns and Redwood Valley wildfires represent the most costly wildfire event on record, also causing 44 deaths. Extreme wildfire conditions in early December also burned hundreds of homes in Los Angeles. Numerous other wildfires across many western and northwestern states burn over 9.8 million acres exceeding the 10-year annual average of 6.5 million acres. Montana in particular was affected by wildfires that burned in excess of 1 million acres. These wildfire conditions were enhanced by the preceding drought conditions in several states. | $23.0 CI | 54 |
Western/ Summer-Fall 2016 | Wildfire | June 1, 2016 | December 31, 2016 | Western and Southern states experienced an active wildfire season with over 5.0 million acres burned nationally. Most notable was the firestorm that impacted Gatlinburg, Tennessee with hurricane-force wind gusts in extremely dry conditions creating volatile wildfire behavior. These wildfires destroyed nearly 2,500 structures and caused 14 fatalities. The drought conditions in many areas of the Southeast and California worsened the wildfire potential. | $3.1 CI | 21 |
Western Drought 2015 | Drought | January 1, 2015 | December 31, 2015 | Drought conditions were present across numerous western states (CA, NV, OR, WA, ID, MT, UT, AZ) with the most severe conditions continuing to plague California for all of 2015. The agriculture sector was again impacted by a lack of rainfall resulting in hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland remaining fallow and requiring excess groundwater pumping to irrigate existing agriculture interests. Wildfire conditions were further enhanced by the ongoing drought. California experienced extensive damage from both drought and wildfire impacts. Drought conditions did improve dramatically across Texas and Oklahoma, in the form of several major flood events. | $6.0 CI | 0 |
Western Drought 2014 | Drought | January 1, 2014 | December 31, 2014 | Historic drought conditions affected the majority of California for all of 2014 making it the worst drought on record for the state. Surrounding states and parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas also experienced continued severe drought conditions. This is a continuation of drought conditions that have persisted for several years. | $5.3 CI | 0 |
Western/ Spring-Fall 2013 | Drought | March 1, 2013 | November 30, 2013 | The 2013 drought slowly dissipated from the historic levels of the 2012 drought, as conditions improved across many Midwestern and Plains states. However, moderate to extreme drought did remain or expand into western states (AZ, CA, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WI, WY). In comparison to 2011 and 2012 drought conditions the US experienced only moderate crop losses across the central agriculture states. | $14.2 CI | 53 |
U.S. Drought/ 2012 | Drought | January 1, 2012 | December 31, 2012 | The 2012 drought is the most extensive drought to affect the U.S. since the 1930s. Moderate to extreme drought conditions affected more than half the country for a majority of 2012. The following states were affected: CA, NV, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, AZ, NM, TX, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, AR, MO, IA, MN, IL, IN, GA. Costly drought impacts occurred across the central agriculture states resulting in widespread harvest failure for corn, sorghum and soybean crops, among others. The associated summer heat wave also caused 123 direct deaths, but an estimate of the excess mortality due to heat stress is still unknown. | $41.4 CI | 123 |
Western Wildfires Summer-Fall 2012 | Wildfire | June 1, 2012 | November 30, 2012 | Wildfires burned over 9.2 million acres across the U.S. in 2012. This is the 3rd highest annual total since the year 2000. The most damaging wildfires occurred in the western states (CO, ID, WY, MT, CA, NV, OR, WA). Colorado experienced the most costly wildfires (e.g., Waldo Canyon fire) where several hundred residences were destroyed. | $2.4 CI | 8 |
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona Wildfires Summer-Fall 2011 | Wildfire | June 1, 2011 | November 30, 2011 | Continued drought conditions and periods of extreme heat provided conditions favorable for a series of historic wildfires across Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. The Bastrop Fire in Texas was the most destructive fire in Texas history destroying over 1,500 homes. The Wallow Fire consumed over 500,000 acres in Arizona making it the largest on record in Arizona. The Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico was also the state's largest wildfire on record scorching over 150,000 acres while threatening the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Over 3 million acres have burned across Texas this wildfire season. | $2.5 CI | 5 |
Southern Plains/ Spring-Summer 2011 | Drought | March 1, 2011 | August 31, 2011 | Drought and heat wave conditions created major impacts across Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, southern Kansas, and western Louisiana. In Texas and Oklahoma, a majority of range and pastures were classified in "very poor" condition for much of the 2011 crop growing season. | $17.0 CI | 95 |
Arizona Severe Weather October 2010 | Severe Storm | October 5, 2010 | October 6, 2010 | An unusual series of severe thunderstorms across Arizona produced numerous tornadoes and widespread, severe hail damage. Over one-hundred buildings were damaged or destroyed by tornadoes while thousands of automobiles and buildings were damaged by large hail across Phoenix and surrounding cities. | $5.4 CI | 0 |
Western Wildfires Summer-Fall 2009 | Wildfire | June 1, 2009 | November 30, 2009 | Residual and sustained drought conditions across western and south-central states resulted in thousands of wildfires. Most affected states include CA, AZ, NM, TX, OK, and UT. National wildfire acreage burned exceeds 5.9 million acres. Over 200 homes and structures destroyed in the California "Station" fire alone. | $1.5 CI | 10 |
U.S. Wildfires Fall 2008 | Wildfire | September 1, 2008 | November 30, 2008 | Drought conditions across numerous western, central and southeastern states (AK, AZ, CA, NM, ID, UT, MT, NV, OR, WA, CO, TX, OK, NC, FL ) resulted in thousands of wildfires; national acreage burned exceeding 5.2 million acres (mainly in the west) and over 1,000 homes and structures destroyed in California fires alone. | $1.8 CI | 16 |
Western/ Summer-Fall 2007 | Drought | June 1, 2007 | November 30, 2007 | Severe drought with periods of extreme heat over most of the southeast and portions of the Great Plains, Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes area, resulting in major reductions in crop yields, along with very low stream-flows and lake levels. Includes states of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, WI, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, FL, TN, VA, WV, KY, IN, IL, OH, MI, PA, NY. | $5.4 CI | 15 |
Western Wildfires Summer 2007 | Wildfire | June 1, 2007 | August 31, 2007 | Continued drought conditions and high winds over much of the western U.S. (AK, AZ, CA, ID, UT, MT, NV, OR, WA) resulting in numerous wildfires; with national acreage burned exceeding 8.9 million acres (mainly in the west) and over 3,000 homes and structures destroyed in southern California alone. | $4.1 CI | 12 |
Numerous Wildfires 2006 | Wildfire | January 1, 2006 | December 31, 2006 | Numerous wildfires driven by dry weather and high winds burned over 9.8 million acres, across the western half of the country including Alaska. This is the second highest annual total behind the 10.1 million acres burned in 2015 since record-keeping began in 1960. The most affected states were AK, AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, MT, NM, NV, OK, OR, TX, WA, WY | $2.3 CI | 28 |
Midwest/ Spring-Summer 2006 | Drought | March 1, 2006 | August 31, 2006 | Rather severe drought affected crops especially during the spring-summer, centered over the Great Plains region with other areas affected across portions of the south -- including states of ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, TX, MN, IA, MO, AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, MT, WY, CO, NM. | $9.5 CI | 0 |
California Wildfires Fall 2003 | Wildfire | September 1, 2003 | November 30, 2003 | Dry weather, high winds, and resulting wildfires in Southern California burned over 3,700 homes. Nearly 4.0 million acres burned across numerous western states including Alaska. | $6.6 CI | 22 |
Western/ Spring-Fall 2003 | Drought | March 1, 2003 | November 30, 2003 | 2003 drought across western and central portions of the U.S. with losses to agriculture. The states most impacted include AZ, CO, IA, ID, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, OR, SD, WA and WI. | $8.6 CI | 35 |
Western Fire Season Fall 2002 | Wildfire | September 1, 2002 | November 30, 2002 | Major wildfires over 11 western states from the Rockies to the west coast due to drought and periodic high winds, with over 7.1 million acres burned. | $2.3 CI | 21 |
U.S. Drought Spring-Fall 2002 | Drought | March 1, 2002 | November 30, 2002 | Moderate to extreme drought over large portions of more than 30 states, including the western states, the Great Plains, and much of the eastern U.S. | $15.9 CI | 0 |
Western/ Spring-Fall 2000 | Drought | March 1, 2000 | November 30, 2000 | Western/Central/Southeast Drought/Heat Wave. The states impacted include AZ, AL, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, KS, LA, MS, MT, NE, NM, OK, OR, SC, TN, and TX. | $9.2 CI | 140 |
Western Fire Season Summer-Fall 1994 | Wildfire | June 1, 1994 | November 30, 1994 | Severe wildfire season in the western states due to dry weather conditions. The states most impacted include CA, AZ, OR, WA, CO, UT, NV, NM and TX. | $1.5* CI | 0 |
Arizona Flooding October 1983 | Flooding | September 29, 1983 | October 3, 1983 | Throughout the state, excessive rainfall caused many rivers to overflow. After the rain ended the Santa Cruz, Rillito and Gila rivers experienced their highest crests on record. Five towns including Clifton, Duncun, Winkelman, Hayden and Marana were alomost completely flooded. In Marana many homes were submerged forcing residents to be evacuated. Over 700 homes were destroyed in Clifton. In addition, 86 of the town's 126 businesses were heavily damaged due to the flooding. Around 3,000 buildings were destroyed due to this flooding. | $1.2* CI | 14 |
Western Storms and Flooding December 1982-March 1983 | Flooding | December 13, 1982 | March 31, 1983 | Severe storms and flooding, especially in the states of WA, OR, CA, AZ, NV, ID, UT, and MT | $4.8 CI | 50 |
†Deaths associated with drought are the result of heat waves. (Not all droughts are accompanied by extreme heat waves.)
Flooding events (river basin or urban flooding from excessive rainfall) are separate from inland flood damage caused by tropical cyclone events.
*Statistics valid as of May 8, 2024
Citing this information:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2024). https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/billions/, DOI: 10.25921/stkw-7w73