Pima County, Arizona
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1954 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
30
Tornado reports
190
Hail reports
568
Floods since 1996
1,724
All events
28
Deaths
$235.1M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Pima County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 29 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Swift water rescue reported for two individuals in the Santa Cruz River, with one fatality and two injuries. MRMS Multi-Sensor estimated between 1.0-1.5 inches of rainfall fell in multiple locations nearby.
Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall went through the Tucson Metro on August 8th resulting in 0.5 to 1.0 inches of rain leading to flash flooding and running washes. In addition, the Pima County Medical Examiner found that drowning was the primary factor in the death of one individu…
Thunderstorms brought heavy intense rainfall over the Tucson Metro area. Rainfall totals ranged from 1 to 2.5 inches from Pima County Alert Gauges. Tucson Fire Department responded to over 25 calls with 15 of those calls relating to stranded drivers or stuck in swift moving water…
Flash flooding occurred across a large part of central and southwest Tucson. Around 2 inches of rain fell in 60-90 minutes from the Catalina Foothills near Alvernon Way west through Flowing Wells and south to Tucson Estates, Drexel Heights and the Pascua Pueblo. Rain totals of at…
Up to 1.5 inches of rain in less than 1 hour caused rapid flows on Flato Wash which swept away a vehicle on Old Nogales Highway. The lone driver, who had driven around police barricades, and the vehicle were swept downstream to the west side of main Nogales Highway where the vehi…
Torrential rain associated with moisture from the remnants of tropical system Norbert caused extensive flooding of Tucson's east side. Many streets were inundated with 1 to 2 feet of water, stalling numerous vehicles. Several swift water rescues occurred including the rescue of d…
Local law enforcement reported that a maintenance worker was struck by lightning while outside the middle school in Sells. The individual was flown to a Tucson area hospital and later succumbed to injuries sustained from the strike.
Heavy rain of two to four inches occurred the previous afternoon on Tucson's west side near Ajo Way and Kinney Road and directly over the Brawley Wash just west of Sandario Road. In addition, two to three inches of rain fell in the Sierrita Mountains west of Green Valley. By the …
Extremely heavy rainfall across southern Tucson resulted in significant wash and stream flooding downstream from Tucson. Overflowing washes toppled a wall in the Rancho Sahuarita subdivision in Sahuarita resulting in damage to 15 homes and a muddy mess. Water up to one foot was o…
Heavy rain caused poor visibility and ponding of water on Interstate 10. The driver of an automobile lost control of vehicle in the rain and crashed into a semi-tractor trailer which had slowed to under 15 mph because of the rain. The driver of the automobile died at the scene. I…
Two men were injured due to a lightning strike on a golf course. One man suffered life threatening injuries, which he later died from. Another man was about 50 feet away, and received a milder shock from the lightning strike.
Swift water rescue was attempted at Sells Wash near Sells. The vehicle was washed away attempting to cross wash. Three people died and two were rescued.
A vehicle was found near 15th Avenue and Mable Street where a man had been swept away due to flash flooding.
Large wall of water moved down seven falls in Bear Canyon. About 50 people sought higher ground and many of those needed to be rescued by helicopter.
One person drowned in a car that got swept into Rodeo Wash near east Irvington Road.
Extremely heavy rainfall across the Tucson Metro Area on the morning on September 7th prompted widespread flash flooding. Numerous roads across the Tucson Metro Area were impassable and closed due to flooding. Additionally, at least ten vehicles became stuck in different low wate…
Road flooding in Town of Three Points caused a vehicle to become stuck in a flooded roadway, leading to a swift water rescue and the drowning of a 3 year-old little boy. Also, mud and water flooded a residential garage, and Brawley Wash flooded Mile Wide Road.
Two to four inches of rainfall near the Village of Sells, caused several of the washes in the area to flood. A vehicle entered into the Artesa wash, which at the time was running very high with water, and became stuck. Family members tried to get everyone out of the car and to sa…
The body of a 70-year-old man was found in a Cemetery in Tucson on Sunday, May 29, 2005. The man was killed by lightning on Saturday night while visiting a gravesite at the cemetery.
A man was killed when he was caught in a flooded wash and drowned in the east part of Tucson. Street flooding was reported in central Tucson.
An intense thunderstorm produced torrential rainfall along Interstate 10 between mile markers 285 and 292 near the Pima County and Cochise County line. The Arizona Department of Transportation worked six accidents involving a total of nine vehicles resulting in seven non-life-thr…
Strong daytime heating and unstable conditions caused several dust devils to form across the region. One dust devil formed at Hoffman Park located at the 4800 block of South Cecilia St. in Tucson. Parents were able to pull their children out of a jumping castle just before the st…
At 1230 MST, pima county dispatch reported a 8 inch diamter tree blown down in a residental area. A spotter reported a measured wind gust of 58 mph at 1240 MST.
A line of very intense thunderstorms moved from southeast to northwest through the Tucson Metro area. The storm was most intense from midtown Tucson extending to the northwest into portions of Marana. Wind damage was extensive across the much of the Tucson Metro with an estimate …
Heavy rain of 1.5-2.5 fell in less than 1 hour over the Finger Rock Canyon watershed with 2.29 recorded in 30 minutes at the Mt. Kimball gauge near the headwaters, which was in the severe burn area of the 2020 Bighorn Fire burn scar. Finger Rock Wash rose over 14 feet at a downst…
Widespread heavy rain of 2 to 4 inches with isolated amounts of 5 to 8 inches fell mainly from the evening of October 1st through the morning hours of October 2nd. Runoff from this rainfall continued through the night of the 2nd, with the peak flows generally during the afternoon…
Thunderstorms produced 2 to 3 inches of rain in around on hour on both sides of I-10 from Cortaro to Twin Peaks which caused flash flooding. Some of these areas had als received 1 to 2 inches of rain two days earlier. Many roads and intersections were closed due to flash flooding…
Large hail up to golf ball size occurred in a swath across Tucson from the Catalina Foothills through midtown's Amphi area southwestward to the Tucson Estates area. Hundreds of vehicles sustained hail damage ranging from dented hoods to broken windshields and many homes suffered …
Extensive wind damage occurred on the north side of Tucson due to a microburst. Damage reported included 28 power poles knocked down including a dozen at River Road and Dodge Blvd resulting in 35,000 customers without power, some for an extended period as much as two days. Damage…
Several rivers running through the Tucson Metro Area flooded on July 31, 2006. The Rillito River flooded with water over the cement banks near Dodge Boulevard. Additionally, the Rillito River was over bankfull just east of the Swan Road Bridge. River Road near La Cholla Road was …
Six to Seven inches of rain fell in the headwaters of Sabino and Bear Canyons on the south slopes of the Catalina mountains early in the morning. At one point 2 inches of rain in 20 minutes was recorded by a remote rain gage. Most of the rain fell over a three hour periof between…
A series of strong thunderstorms moving through Tucson brought widespread damage. Many power poles were knocked over with roofs torn off some buildings. As much as four inches of rain accompanied these storms. Some areas received three-quarters inch hail. Washes in the area were …
Thunderstorms moving through the Avra Valley Airport brought downburst winds that damaged 20 airplanes, two of which were completely destroyed. A 5,000 gallon tank containing 2,000 gallons of water was moved over 2,000 feet. Many hanger doors were blown in. Winds also overturned …
Roofs blown off, trees uprooted, and power interrupted to some 20,000 customers. Power poles were snapped by high winds on the west side of the city. Winds reached as high as 60 mph at the National Weather Service in Tucson.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Sahuarita road closed in multiple locations due to flash flooding. A nearby rain gauge recorded 0.91 inches of rainfall.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Swift water rescue reported near Elm St and N Stone Rd. Nearby rainfall gauges recorded between 0.5 and 0.75 inches of rainfall. No injuries or fatalities reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Reported 8 power poles reported down, leaving 7,000 customers without power in the Tucson Metro.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large palo verde tree downed due to thunderstorm wind gust. Time estimated from radar.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding within the Black Wash that impacted a large area of the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe land.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Electrical substation transformer impacted by storm that caused a power outage across Tohono O'odham Nation. Power loss is unknown with estimated causes either thunderstorm winds or power line arcing.
Hail Hail
Report of penny sized hail. Time and placement estimated by radar. No injuries or damage reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Davis Monthan AFB recorded wind gust of 58 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A dry microburst caused roof damage to a large steel warehouse building. With this microburst, there was a recorded wind gust of 56 mph.
Dust Devil Dust Devil
Dust devil caused a 9 inch diameter tree branch to be broken. No injuries or fatalities associated with this dust devil.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 12 | 1 |
| 2025 | 62 | 2 |
| 2024 | 56 | 1 |
| 2023 | 49 | 1 |
| 2022 | 82 | 1 |
| 2021 | 94 | 1 |
| 2020 | 30 | 0 |
| 2019 | 44 | 1 |
| 2018 | 48 | 0 |
| 2017 | 43 | 1 |
| 2016 | 32 | 0 |
| 2015 | 71 | 1 |
| 2014 | 46 | 0 |
| 2013 | 52 | 0 |
| 2012 | 79 | 0 |
| 2011 | 70 | 0 |
| 2010 | 42 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 0 |
| 2008 | 63 | 0 |
| 2007 | 63 | 0 |
| 2006 | 52 | 1 |
| 2005 | 70 | 1 |
| 2004 | 29 | 0 |
| 2003 | 43 | 0 |
| 2002 | 29 | 0 |
| 2001 | 33 | 0 |
| 2000 | 41 | 0 |
| 1999 | 33 | 0 |
| 1998 | 31 | 0 |
| 1997 | 30 | 0 |
| 1996 | 53 | 1 |
| 1995 | 22 | 0 |
| 1994 | 15 | 2 |
| 1993 | 9 | 0 |
| 1992 | 8 | 1 |
| 1991 | 4 | 1 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 |
| 1989 | 8 | 0 |
| 1988 | 9 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 8 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 9 | 2 |
| 1983 | 9 | 0 |
| 1982 | 10 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 5 | 0 |
| 1979 | 7 | 0 |
| 1978 | 5 | 0 |
| 1977 | 3 | 0 |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 |
| 1975 | 7 | 1 |
| 1974 | 7 | 3 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 6 | 1 |
| 1970 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 7 | 2 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 0 |
| 1966 | 3 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 4 | 2 |
| 1963 | 4 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 9 | 1 |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 3 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Pima County, measured to its path.
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