Chaffee County, Colorado
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1978 and 2023, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
1
Tornado reports
10
Hail reports
20
Floods since 1996
48
All events
2
Deaths
$3.2M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Chaffee County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 1 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
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.
One woman perished and three were injured from the lightning strike.
Very heavy rain saturated quartz monzonite soil...and the soil and boulders flowed down to the Chalk Creek Canyon floor and County Road 162.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Debris Flow Debris Flow
A boulder the size of an engine was reported to have fallen into the road of Highway 285.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Law enforcement reported significant flooding just north of the highway 50, between Poncha Springs and Salida.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Public reported over 2 inches of rain received that was entering garage of home.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Chaffee county sheriff reports rock and mudslides along Highway 285 just north of Poncha Pass. CDOT was called out to clear debris.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Salida airport.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency management reported county roads 107 and 107A were flooded.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rainfall washed out County road 371, from a small drainage which flows across the road. Two cars were stuck in the mud.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
One to three feet of water and mud over county road 162.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County road 304 was washed out.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Highway 304 at Chalk Cliffs was washed out.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County roads 110 and 111 were washed out.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County Highway 101 is washed out near junction of Highway 50.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County Road 162 was closed when over a foot of water and mud flowed through the low water crossing.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A flash flood and mud flow on US Highway 285 near Johnson Village made the road impassible for a time.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Debris Flow Debris Flow
Heavy rain caused numerous debris flows across County Road 344. Numerous campers who were west of the debris flows were evacuated into Buena Vista.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Hail Hail
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Hail Hail
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy thunderstorm rains of up to 3 inches in a short period of time produced severe mudslides in the Alpine area.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Heavy rain caused flooding of several county roads around Salida, including County Roads 107, 108, 111, and 291.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding occurred, which brought 2 to 3 feet of standing water and mud in low lying residental areas of Buena Vista.
Hail Hail
Lightning Lightning
Flash Flood Flash Flood
In total, five mudslides occurred on Cottonwood Pass Road (CR 306) about one mile west of the hot springs pool. The mud on the road ranged from two to 14 feet deep. Cottonwood Hot Springs and several residences needed to be evacuated as a precaution.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The ongoing mudslides occurred on Cottonwood Pass road, causing a threat to motorists, campers, and nearby homeowners.
Lightning Lightning
While no humans were affected, a pig was struck by lightning and killed. The pig was a prized swine, scheduled to be entered in the 4-H competition at the Chaffee County Fair.
A young woman was struck by lightning in Monarch Park campground. She was taken to the hospital in nearby Salida, and then by helicopter to University Hospital in Denver. She apparently has recovered quite well from injuries suffered.
Lightning Lightning
Lightning Lightning
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tornado F0 Tornado
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016 | 3 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Chaffee County, measured to its path.
We couldn’t get your location. Check that location access is allowed for this site, or type an address.