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Weld County, Colorado

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Relatively Moderate overall risk
8th of 64highest risk in Colorado
$105Mexpected losses a year
14federal declarations
1 in 333homes with flood insurance
Photo: David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0

Weld County, Colorado has a moderate overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is higher than 89% of US counties. It ranks 8th of 64 counties in Colorado. The costliest hazards here are inland flooding, cold waves and tornadoes. FEMA estimates about $105 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $318 per resident. Since 1965 it has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (11 major disasters). The most recent was in September 2013 (severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides). Fewer than 1 in 100 homes here carry federal flood insurance (325 policies). Since 1978, federal flood insurance has paid about $5.6 million on 194 claims here, including $5.2 million for floods in 2013.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Weld County

$44.5 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.
$18.9 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 2 times a year.
  • Insulate pipes in outside walls, crawl spaces and garages.
  • Know how to shut off the main water valve.
$16.1 million a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 4 times a year.
  • Pick a shelter spot: a basement, or an inside room on the lowest floor with no windows.
  • Turn on emergency alerts on your phone and keep a weather radio.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
Inland floodingModerate88.5
$44M
Cold waveHigh96.3
$19M
TornadoHigh95.1
$16M
HailHigh99.0
$14M
Strong windHigh95.0
$4M
EarthquakeLow77.8
$2M
LightningHigh91.6
$2M
WildfireLow87.7
$1M
Heat waveLow60.1
$775K
Winter weatherHigh93.6
$762K
Ice stormModerate78.4
$482K
DroughtLow38.1
$75K
LandslideVery Low41.2
$960
Volcanic activityVery Low61.2
$53

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is very low and community resilience is relatively moderate in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Weld County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Flood6
Severe Storm3
Tornado1
Dam/Levee Break1
Fire1
Snowstorm1

Most recent

Sep 14, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesMajor disaster
Sep 12, 2013Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and MudslidesEmergency
May 26, 2008Severe Storms and TornadoesMajor disaster
Sep 5, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Apr 9, 2003SnowEmergency
Jun 19, 2002WildfiresMajor disaster
May 17, 2001Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
May 17, 1999Co-Flooding 4/30/99Major disaster
Aug 1, 1997Severe Storms, Heavy Rain, Flash Floods, Flooding, MudslidesMajor disaster
Aug 2, 1976Severe Storms & Flash FloodingMajor disaster
Show all 14
May 23, 1973Heavy Rains, Snowmelt and FloodingMajor disaster
May 8, 1973Dam FailureMajor disaster
May 19, 1969Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster
Jun 19, 1965Tornadoes, Severe Storms & FloodingMajor disaster

Colorado also had 15 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1950

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 1,914 storm reports in Weld County since 1950, with 5 deaths and 102 injuries and about $436 million in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an EF3 tornado on May 22, 2008 near Platteville Arpt.

293tornadoes
1,179hail reports, largest 4.5 inches
344damaging thunderstorm winds
67floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 22, 2008EF3Platteville Arpt78 / 1
May 15, 1952F3–5 / 0
Jun 7, 2021EF2Firestone0 / 0
Jun 5, 1988F2–0 / 0
May 8, 1965F2–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Sep 12, 2013FloodWarren$234M
May 22, 2008TornadoPlatteville Arpt$147M
Jun 7, 1995HailGilcrest$25M
May 28, 2024FloodGreeley$3M
Jun 23, 1997HailGreeley$3M
Jul 10, 2001HailGreeley$3M

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 29, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Flood insurance in Weld County

Check your address flood zone ›
0.3%of homes have federal flood insurance (325 policies)
12.1%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$5.6 millionpaid on 194 flood claims since 1978
2013costliest year, with $5.2 million paid

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Weld County

$471,700median home value (Colorado $539,400, US $332,700)
2001median year homes were built (Colorado 1988, US 1980)
30%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
6.1%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 129,637 housing units.

Compare in Colorado

All 64 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
El Paso CountyModerateInland flooding
Denver CountyHighInland flooding
Arapahoe CountyModerateHail
Jefferson CountyHighInland flooding
Adams CountyModerateHail
Larimer CountyModerateInland flooding
Douglas CountyModerateInland flooding
Boulder CountyModerateInland flooding

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Adams CountyModerate10
Larimer CountyModerate28
Boulder CountyModerate17
Laramie County, WYLow3
Broomfield CountyVery Low4
Morgan CountyLow10
Logan CountyLow10
Kimball County, NEVery Low6

Common questions about Weld County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Weld County?

Inland flooding has the highest expected yearly losses in Weld County, about $44.5 million a year in FEMA's estimate. Cold wave is second at $18.9 million.

How many federal disasters has Weld County had?

Weld County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1965, including 11 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides in September 2013.

Is Weld County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Relatively Moderate, 8th highest of 64 in Colorado. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Weld County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. About 1 in 333 homes in Weld County has federal flood insurance. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Weld County had?

NOAA records list 293 tornadoes in Weld County since 1950. The strongest was an EF3 tornado on May 22, 2008 near Platteville Arpt. The weather service has also logged 1,179 hail reports and 67 floods here.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.