Hinsdale County, Colorado severe weather history spans 16 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The dominant hazard is flash flood, accounting for 37.5% of all recorded events. It ranks #3,167 nationally and #60 in Colorado.
16
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
2
Direct injuries
$92K
Property damage
The record
What the Hinsdale County, Colorado severe weather history record shows
Across the archive, Hinsdale County, Colorado severe weather history averages 0.6 recorded events a year. The busiest stretch on record is the 2010s, with 7 events logged in that decade alone.
The deadliest hazard in the Hinsdale County, Colorado record is flood, responsible for 1 direct deaths. The costliest is thunderstorm wind, with $50K in reported property damage. In total, 7 distinct hazard types appear in this county archive, each listed with its own dated record below.
By hazard type
Every hazard type recorded in Hinsdale County
| Hazard | Events | Deaths | Damage | Max | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | 6 | 0 | $36K | 0 | 1996–2022 |
| Debris Flow | 4 | 0 | $6K | 0 | 2013–2024 |
| Thunderstorm Wind | 2 | 0 | $50K | 75 | 2005–2011 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0.88 | 2025–2025 |
| Lightning | 1 | 0 | $300 | 0 | 2014–2014 |
| Flood | 1 | 1 | $0 | 0 | 2019–2019 |
| Heavy Rain | 1 | 0 | $0 | 0 | 2017–2017 |
Decade by decade
Hinsdale County, Colorado severe weather history by decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
Significant events
Deadliest events on record in Hinsdale County
| Date | Type | Location | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 28, 2019 | Flood | LAKE CITY | 1 | 0 | $0 |
| Jul 11, 2014 | Lightning | LAKE CITY | 0 | 2 | $300 |
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain which led to multiple mudslides along County Road 30 near Cinnamon Pass. The road was closed for an extended period of time. Several vehicles were stuck behind the mudslide and the occupants had to be rescued by Search and Rescue.
Water ran across Forest Service Road 520 near Colorado Highway 149 near the Hinsdale and Mineral County Line due to heavy rain from thunderstorms. Five feet of standing water on the road resulted from a blocked culvert, causing a vehicle to be trapped.
Two ultramarathon runners from Canada were struck by lightning on Handies Peak at about the 14,050 foot level while competing in the 100-mile Handrock Endurance Run. Both men incurred minor injuries. The headlamp of one runner exploded when struck by the lightning.
Context
Risk, population and federal disasters
Very Low
FEMA NRI risk rating
1,005
Population (ACS)
$438K
Median home value
8
Federal declarations
| Declared | Incident | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 PANDEMIC | DR |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | COVID-19 | EM |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Coastal Storm | HURRICANE KATRINA EVACUATION | EM |
| Jun 19, 2002 | Fire | WILDFIRES | DR |
| Jul 27, 1984 | Flood | SEVERE STORMS, MUDSLIDES, LANDSLIDES & FLOODING | DR |
| Jan 29, 1977 | Drought | DROUGHT | EM |
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many severe weather events have been recorded in Hinsdale County, Colorado?
16 events are on record between 1996 and 2025, causing 1 direct deaths and $92K in property damage.
What is the most common severe weather hazard in Hinsdale County?
Flash Flood, with 6 recorded events — 37.5% of everything in the archive for this county.
How many federal disaster declarations cover Hinsdale County?
8 federal disaster declarations from FEMA include Hinsdale County, each tied to a specific incident period.
How risky is Hinsdale County compared with the rest of the country?
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hinsdale County as very low risk, placing it in the 1 percentile of its state for expected annual loss.
Where does the Hinsdale County, Colorado severe weather history data come from?
Every figure is drawn from United States federal public-domain records: NOAA/NCEI Storm Events for the event archive, NOAA SPC SVRGIS for mapped tornado paths, FEMA for disaster declarations and risk ratings, and the U.S. Census for population context. Dates are shown in UTC and recent entries may still be revised by NOAA.
Nearby
Neighbouring counties
- Gunnison County 65
- Huerfano County 193
- Grand County 44
- Jackson County 11
- Gilpin County 19
- Jefferson County 657
Cite this page
“Hinsdale County, Colorado.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/colorado/hinsdale-county/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.