Santa Cruz County storm history
Storm events recorded in Santa Cruz County, Arizona between 1950 and 2025.
27
Total events
0
Tornadoes
0
Hail
1
Floods
2
Deaths
$665K
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
The Florida Fire was a lightning caused fire that started on July 7, 2005 in the Santa Rita Mountains about 25 miles south of the City of Tucson. The fire burned a total of 23,183 acres, injured 13 firefighters and was contained on July 21, 2005 at 6 pm MST. At the peak of the fi…
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Five inches of snow occurred near Sonoita.
Blizzard Blizzard
Blizzard conditions occurred on the mountains above 7000 feet in Santa Cruz County.
High Wind High Wind
Mount Hopkins RAWS, which is 3 miles south of Madera Canyon, measured a wind gust of 63 mph at 1:19 AM MST.
High Wind High Wind
A trained spotter measured a wind gust of 70 mph three miles northeast of Canelo at 3:10 AM MST. Strong winds caused damage to numerous power poles and lines in Santa Cruz County, causing power outages to thousands of residents in the Sonoita, Elgin and Patagonia areas. A rancher…
Wildfire burned near 5,000 acres near Fort Huachuca in Santa Cruz County. The fire burned at least four homes and six private vehicles near the west gate entrance. One injury was reported due to burns from the fire.
High Wind High Wind
A trained spotter in Rio Rico measured a wind gust of 61 mph.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Sonoita, at an elevation of just under 5000 feet had 5 inches of snow. Meanwhile, the higher elevations of the Santa Rita mountains had in excess of one foot of snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy snowfall occurred in the higher elevations of the Santa Rita Mountains in Santa Cruz County.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Rio Rico and Nogales, at an elevation below 4000 feet had about 2 inches of snow. In addition, Madera Canyon at about 5000 feet had 6 to 7 inches of snow.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Numerous locations below 5000 feet including the Canelo area and Highway 83 had in excess of 2 inches of snowfall.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy Snow in excess of 8 inches occurred above 6500 feet in the Santa Rita Mountains.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Four inches of snow fell in Patagonia from this event.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
A trained spotter in Sonoita, located at 4,970 feet, reported 2 inches of snowfall.
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
There were reports of 10 to 12 inches of snow in the Santa Rita Mountains.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Santa Rita Mountains received 12 inches of snow.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Flood Flood
Residents in Patagonia were landlocked due to flooding of the Harshaw Creek and Sonoita Creek. The Old Tucson Road flooded due to high water rises along the Nogales wash. Also, 800 feet of South River Road flooded along the Santa Cruz River.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2005 | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 |