Apache County, AZ Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Low natural hazard risk, led by lightning. 846 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $21.01M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 846
- Most often high wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 29
- 0.1% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- Since 1851
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Low
Score 78.8 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 99.8 of 100
Community resilience
Very Low
Score 0.3 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $10.28B · Agriculture value exposed: $23.18M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $41.38M
Risk by hazard
- LightningVery High$2.33M/yr expected annual loss, about 53 events a year
- WildfireRelatively High$6.05M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 168 years
- LandslideRelatively Moderate$51.64K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.5 events a year
- Winter weatherRelatively High$224K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.2 events a year
- EarthquakeRelatively Low$371K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,015 years
- Cold waveRelatively Low$831K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 48 years
- Volcanic activityVery Low$11/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,333 years
- Ice stormRelatively Low$53.09K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 67 years
- AvalancheVery Low$310/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
- DroughtRelatively Low$78.69K/yr expected annual loss, about 106 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$168K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- HurricaneVery Low$1,346/yr expected annual loss, about once every 97 years
- HailVery Low$13.18K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 16 years
- Strong windVery Low$32.33K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 25 years
- TornadoVery Low$5,469/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 29 of 26,483 (0.1%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 161
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 18 (11%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 10
- Claims paid since 1978
- $18.33K
Flood claims paid per year
- Flooding$1,113 · 1 claim
Storm history
Since 1996: 846 events, 10 deaths, $67.45M in damage
- High Wind276
- Heavy Snow198 · 2 deaths
- Flash Flood108
- Dust Storm54
- Heavy Rain37
- Winter Storm33 · 4 deaths
- Funnel Cloud24
- Hail20
- Thunderstorm Wind17
- Wildfire16
Events per year
18 tornadoes on record (EF0 7, F0 7).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Wildfire06/01/2011
White Mountains
$58M damage
What happened
The Wallow Fire entered Apache County around 200 PM on June first. The fire burned a total of 313,103 acres in Apache County. The fire did not spread after June 30th (it was contained). The fire was declared out (controlled) on July 13th. It cost an estimated 58 million dollars to fight the fire in Apache County alone.
- Winter Storm01/13/1997
Northeast Plateaus and Mesas From Highway 264 North
2 deaths
What happened
Perhaps the largest snow storm of the decade brought heavy snow to most of northern Arizona. Heavy snow fell from early Sunday morning, the 12th, through last Tuesday night, the 14th. Four deaths from exposure occurred during, or immediately after the storm, on the Navajo Nation Reservation and were directly related to this catastropic winter storm. The Governor of Arizona declared a State of Emergency for Coconino, Gila and Navajo counties on Tuesday the 14th. Following the storm, National Guard trucks and helicopters were needed to evacuate people on the Navajo Nation who required medical attention due to chronic medical problems and who were unable to obtain needed medication. National Guard helicopters also dropped food to people and livestock who were stranded for several days following the storm. Unofficial snow accumulations up to 6 feet were reported along the Mogollon Rim in extreme southeastern Coconino county. Very strong winds created drifts as high as 10 feet at many wind-prone areas across northern Arizona. Numerous trees fell on cars, houses and roads causing power outages and property damage. Hundreds of miles of major highways were closed mainly along the...
- Heavy Snow01/03/2005
White Mountains
2 deaths
What happened
A powerful winter storm began to move across northern Arizona on January 3rd and lingered into early January 5th. Widespread snowfall was reported above 5000 feet with generally 4 to 12 inches of total snowfall from 5000 to 6000 feet...12 to 20 inches from 5000 to 7000 feet...and 20 to 45 inches above 7000 feet. Heavy rainfall also occurred with the storm with elevations below 6000 feet along and south of the Mogollon Rim receiving generally one to two inches of rainfall. Some elevations between 5000 to 6000 feet saw heavy rainfall turn to snowfall during the event as snow levels lowered.Two teenagers week killed on January 3rd when their car slid on ice and hit a truck south of Hon Dah.Some storm snowfall totals (in inches) inclued: Alpine 7.5, Bellemont 25.4, Munds Park 18.5, Crown King 8.0, Payson 8.0, Flagstaff 35.0, Pine 10.0, Forest Lakes 37.0, Prescott 4-8, Grand Canyon North Rim 14.0, Grand Canyon South Rim 9.0, Greer 18.0 Hart Prairie 34.0, Heber 8.0, Williams 23.5, Jaacob Lake 12.0, Yarnell 7.0, Pinetop 13, Fort Defiance (8000') 12, Arizona Snowbowl ski resort (10800') 47, Sunrise Ski resort 33, Mormon Lake 25, Black Mesa 8-12, and Witeriver 8-10.For the city of...
- High Wind87 kt wind03/31/1999
Northeast Plateaus and Mesas South of Highway 264
17 injured, $2,000 damage
What happened
Very strong pre frontal southerly winds wrecked havoc across northern Arizona this afternoon. Early in the event, 90 mph (78kt) winds were measured at the Meteor Crater. Other peak wind gusts include 93 mph (81 kt) at the Winslow Airport, 104 mph (90kt) at the St. Johns Airport, and 60 mph (52 kt) at the Petrified Forest. The long duration of very strong winds induced large areas of blowing dust across the east central sections of the state. Interstate 40 westbound between Winslow and Holbrook and eastbound from Flagstaff to Holbrook was closed for eleven hours due to the cleanup of several car accidents and blown over semi trailers. During the height of the event, visibilities were down to zero on Interstate 40 in the vicinity of Winslow, with one traffic fatality occurring in a ten car pile up. A second fatality occurred 5 miles south of Snowflake when a passenger van was blown across the road and head on into a semi. On Navajo route 15, seventeen students were injured after their school bus went head on into a semi. Winds estimated at 100 mph had reduced visibilities to zero in this accident. There were numerous reports of power lines down and damaged roofs in Winslow,...
- Lightning08/20/2006
Mc Nary, Apache County
1 death, 1 injured
What happened
Three people sought shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm. Lightning stuck the tree. One person was killed and one person as injured. This happened about 8 miles south of McNary.
- Lightning07/16/2007
Nazlini, Apache County
1 death
What happened
A 21-year-old man from the town of Nazlini was watching a rain swollen waterfall from a metal bridge. He was struck by a lightning bolt while standing on the bridge. He was transported to a Phoenix hospital where he later died. Other individuals in the vicinity of the strike were knocked over by the shock wave but were not seriously injured.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Flash Flood07/29/2026
Chinle, Apache County
- Flash Flood07/29/2026
Ft Defiance, Apache County
- Flash Flood07/29/2026
Ft Defiance, Apache County
- Flash Flood07/29/2026
Window Rock, Apache County
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind07/28/2026
St Johns Muni Arpt, Apache County
- Flash Flood07/22/2026
Chinle, Apache County
- Flash Flood07/18/2026
Steamboat Canyon, Apache County
- Flash Flood07/18/2026
Steamboat Canyon, Apache County
Drinking water
18 community water systems serve about 18,567 people. Violations since 2021.
6 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 7 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Eagar Town ofServes 4,590 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+14 monitoring or reporting
- St Johns City ofServes 3,500 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+14 monitoring or reporting
- Springerville Town ofServes 1,972 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+112 monitoring or reporting
- Petrified Forest NPServes 1,742 · Purchased groundwater · FederalNo health violations+16 monitoring or reporting
- Cedar Grove Water CompanyServes 1,564 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
- Alpine DwidServes 1,320 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+1 monitoring or reporting
- Lord AZ Water 2 - Winchester TrailsServes 1,289 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
- Livco Water CompanyServes 1,120 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Sanders, 7 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 90°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 19°F in Jan. About 8.2 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 3.6 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 48°F | 19°F | 0.89 in | 0.8 in |
| Feb | 52°F | 22°F | 0.38 in | 0.7 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 26°F | 0.70 in | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 31°F | 0.41 in | - |
| May | 77°F | 38°F | 0.32 in | - |
| Jun | 88°F | 46°F | 0.11 in | - |
| Jul | 90°F | 56°F | 1.17 in | - |
| Aug | 88°F | 56°F | 1.38 in | - |
| Sep | 82°F | 48°F | 0.53 in | - |
| Oct | 70°F | 37°F | 0.86 in | - |
| Nov | 58°F | 26°F | 0.70 in | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 19°F | 0.71 in | 1.1 in |
| Year | 52°F average | 8.16 in | 3.6 in | |
Pollution sites
1 Superfund site and 2 toxic release facilities in Apache County
Superfund sites
- Lukachukai Mountains Mining DistrictFinalCove
Toxic release facilities
- Springerville Generating Station2.2 million lbs released, Springerville
- Coronado Generating Station311,350 lbs released, Saint Johns
Total: 2.5 million lbs in 2024, 83,295 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk15 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Apache County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Apache County relatively low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $21.01M a year. The highest-rated hazards are lightning (very high), wildfire (relatively high), landslide (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Apache County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 846 storm events affecting Apache County, most often high wind (276), heavy snow (198), flash flood (108).
- How many tornadoes have hit Apache County?
- 18 tornadoes have been recorded in Apache County since 1950.
- How many homes in Apache County have flood insurance?
- 29 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Apache County, covering about 0.1% of homes. The program has paid $18.33K on 10 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Apache County?
- At Sanders, average highs reach 90°F in Jul and lows fall to 19°F in Jan, with 8.2 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.