Pima County, AZ Environment & Hazard Risk

• Heat waveVery High$133M/yr expected annual loss, about 8.1 events a year
• WildfireRelatively High$37.56M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 230 years
• LightningVery High$2.51M/yr expected annual loss, about 43 events a year
• HailRelatively Moderate$1.81M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$6.32M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 68 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.31M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$200K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.8 events a year
• DroughtRelatively Moderate$459K/yr expected annual loss, about 57 events a year
• LandslideVery Low$2,235/yr expected annual loss, about 2.1 events a year
• AvalancheVery Low$358/yr expected annual loss, about once every 100 years
• TornadoRelatively Low$688K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• HurricaneVery Low$4,770/yr expected annual loss, about once every 61 years
• Cold waveVery Low$150/yr expected annual loss, about once every 874 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, ice storm, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

2,620 of 383,267 (0.7%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

8,094

Insured in high-risk zones

1,708 (21%)

Flood claims since 1978

584

Claims paid since 1978

$7.87M

• Thunderstorm Wind659
• Flash Flood546 · 22 deaths
• Heat271 · 371 deaths
• Drought271
• Excessive Heat243 · 312 deaths
• Hail152
• Lightning78 · 3 deaths
• Wildfire67
• Flood44 · 1 death
• Winter Storm44

• Excessive Heat07/14/2023

  Tucson Metro Area

  40 deaths

  What happened

  Very hot temperatures of 6 to 13 degrees above normal caused the Major Heat Risk category to be reached across eastern Pima County July 14-29. Record highs at Tucson International Airport included 112 degrees on July 20 and 25 (also reached 112 July 18-19); 111 on July 16, 17 and 21; and 110 on the 15th. A total of 40 heat-related fatalities were reported by the Pima County Medical Examiner. Heat was determined to be the primary cause of death for 13 individuals in Tucson, one in Oro Valley, and one near Sahuarita. Seven of these deaths occurred outdoors while eight individuals were found indoors with A/C units which were either not working, turned off or not present at all. Heat was determined to be a contributing factor for 25 individuals, in Tucson or the immediate vicinity. Twelve of these included the complicating factor of drug toxicity (10 outdoors and 2 indoors with a nonfunctioning A/C). Ten in Tucson suffered from various health issues (2 outdoors and 8 indoors with a nonfunctioning A/C). Heat was a contributing factor for an additional three individuals who had other health issues, one each in Green Valley, Sahuarita and Vail.

• Excessive Heat07/08/2024

  Tucson Metro Area

  20 deaths

  What happened

  Hot temperatures 8 to 11 degrees above normal were experienced in the Tucson Metro Area July 8 through July 12, causing the Major Heat Risk category to be reached. Tucson International Airport topped out each day between 109 and 112 degrees. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary factor in the death of eight individuals and a contributing factor in the deaths of twelve individuals.

• Heat07/11/2023

  Tucson Metro Area

  14 deaths

  What happened

  Hot temperatures up to 6 degrees above normal caused the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached in eastern Pima County where temperatures topped out between 101 and 107 degrees. A total of 14 heat-related fatalities were reported by the Pima County Medical Examiner. Heat was determined to be the primary cause of death for two individuals found in the desert, one near Three Points on the 12th and another in the Ironwood Forest National Monument on the 13th. Heat was also found to the primary cause of death for four individuals in Tucson. Two individuals were found on the 13th on Tucson streets and subsequently died at the hospital. Another was found deceased outdoors on the 13th and a fourth died on the 12th in their home where the A/C had been turned off. Heat was found to be a contributing factor in the deaths of 8 individuals in Tucson. Two persons died in their homes in which the A/C unit was either broken or turned off. They both also had complicating factors of heart disease. Six others were found outside at various locations in the city. The complicating factor for four of them was drug toxicity, while the other two suffered from other health issues.

• Excessive Heat07/14/2023

  Tohono O Odham Nation

  12 deaths

  What happened

  Very hot temperatures of 5 to 13 degrees above normal caused the Major Heat Risk category to be reached across the Tohono O'odham Nation July 14-29. Record highs at Sells included 113 degrees on July 20; 112 on July 19; 111 on July 17, 18, 21 and 22; and 110 on July 15, 17 and 29. A total of 12 heat-related fatalities were reported by the Pima County Medical Examiner. Heat was determined to be the primary cause of death for eight individuals found in the desert during the period; one individual who died in a non-air conditioned shack in Topawa on July 21; and an elderly couple who died in their Santa Rosa home due to a broken A/C unit on July 27. Heat was determined to be a contributing factor for one individual found in a shack in Ali Chugk on July 20. A complicating factor in the fatality was drug toxicity.

• Excessive Heat06/12/2021

  Tohono O Odham Nation

  11 deaths

  What happened

  Very hot high temperatures of 106 to 119 degrees, or 8 to 13 degrees above normal, occurred in the lower elevations of southeast Arizona June 12-20, and caused the High Heat Risk category to be reached. New record daily high temperature records were established at numerous sites on several days during this period. For Tucson International Airport, this nine day period contributed to the hottest June on record and the 4th hottest temperature on record of 115 degrees occurred on June 15. Sites that tied or broke all time hottest temperature records included Ajo with 119 degrees, Sasabe with 113, Green Valley with 112. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was the primary cause of death for 14 people found in the desert of Pima and Santa Cruz counties during this time period.

• Heat08/07/2023

  Tucson Metro Area

  10 deaths

  What happened

  Hot temperatures up to 5 degrees above normal caused the Moderate Heat Risk category to be reached in Tucson where temperatures topped out between 100 and 105 degrees. The Pima County Medical Examiner determined heat to be the primary cause of death for seven individuals in the Tucson Metro area (six indoors with nonfunctioning A/C units and one hiking outdoors). Heat was determined to be a contributing factor in the deaths of three other individuals (two indoors with nonfunctioning A/C units but complicating factors of drug toxicity; and another outdoors with a complicating factor of other health issues).

• Excessive Heat07/31/2026

  Tucson Metro Area

  6 deaths

• Excessive Heat07/30/2026

  Tucson Metro Area

  3 deaths

• Excessive Heat07/29/2026

  Tucson Metro Area

  2 deaths

• Excessive Heat07/28/2026

  Tucson Metro Area

  2 deaths

• Excessive Heat07/27/2026

  Tucson Metro Area

  4 deaths

• Excessive Heat07/27/2026

  Tohono O Odham Nation

  1 death

• Excessive Heat07/26/2026

  Tohono O Odham Nation

  1 death

• Excessive Heat07/26/2026

  Tucson Metro Area

  2 deaths

• Hurricane Lester (1992)08/20/1992 · 985 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby

• Tucson City ofServes 732,906 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+32 monitoring or reporting
• Metropolitan DwidServes 45,570 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations+67 monitoring or reporting
• Oro Valley Water UtilityServes 42,316 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
• Community Wc of Green ValleyServes 22,085 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
• Usaf Davis Monthan AFBServes 18,640 · Groundwater · FederalNo health violations+12 monitoring or reporting
• Sahuarita Water CompanyServes 18,178 · Groundwater · Public and privateNo health violations
• Vail Water CompanyServes 17,500 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
• Flowing Wells Irrigation DistrictServes 16,000 · Groundwater · Private1 health violation+55 monitoring or reporting