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Winter in Cochise County, Arizona
19 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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.
Cochise County, Arizona, has 19 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 9 different years.
January is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 10 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.4% of the 1,318 winter events recorded in Arizona; its 0.3 per 100 square miles compares with 1.2 statewide.
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Arizona
| Measure | Cochise County | Arizona | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 19 | 1,318 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 0.3 | 1.2 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.5 | 1.8 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 44 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | February | January |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
4Mar
0Apr
1May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
1Dec
5
Recorded events
All 19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2010 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2010 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Feb 2009 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Dec 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Feb 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2008 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2007 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Jan 2007 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 2004 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Jan 2002 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Dec 2001 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Apr 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Nov 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Cochise County had?
19 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Cochise County?
22 Jan 2010 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Cochise County?
NCEI records no damage estimate for events of this type in the county.
How does Cochise County compare with Arizona for winter?
0.3 events per 100 square miles against 1.2 statewide; the county holds 19 of the state's 1,318 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 Winter hub and the county page.