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Tornado in Apache County, Arizona
18 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Apache County, Arizona, has 18 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 15 different years.
October is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 5.9% of the 306 tornado events recorded in Arizona; its 0.2 per 100 square miles compares with 0.3 statewide.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 0 at (E)F1, 0 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Arizona
| Measure | Apache County | Arizona | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 18 | 306 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.2 | 0.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.7 | 0.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 3 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | October | July | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
2Jun
2Jul
3Aug
3Sep
3Oct
4Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 18 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 May 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2025 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Oct 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 1962 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1957 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Apache County had?
18 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Apache County?
25 May 2026 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Apache County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Apache County compare with Arizona for tornado?
0.2 events per 100 square miles against 0.3 statewide; the county holds 18 of the state's 306 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.