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Wind in Apache County, Arizona
22 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
NCEI records 22 wind events in Apache County, Arizona, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
July is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 12 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.4% of the 5,191 wind events recorded in Arizona; its 0.2 per 100 square miles compares with 4.6 statewide.
17 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with Arizona
| Measure | Apache County | Arizona | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 22 | 5,191 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.2 | 4.6 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.4 | 7.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 28 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | August | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
1May
1Jun
4Jul
5Aug
3Sep
4Oct
3Nov
1Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Sep 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 79 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 107 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 Oct 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 71 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Apache County had?
22 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Apache County?
10 Sep 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Apache County?
The thunderstorm wind of 30 Jul 2012, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $4K.
How does Apache County compare with Arizona for wind?
0.2 events per 100 square miles against 4.6 statewide; the county holds 22 of the state's 5,191 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 Wind hub and the county page.