Enter any address in Greenlee County, Arizona to see its FEMA flood zone
Flash floods from summer thunderstorms dominate the flood risk profile, accounting for 21 of the 26 recorded flood events over the last 30 years, alongside 5 general flood events.
Severe weather impacts have included an event on July 24, 2022, when scattered thunderstorms produced heavy rain and flash flooding in Clifton. Additionally, heavy rain upstream in New Mexico caused the Gila River to flood at Duncan on August 22, 2022, closing Highway 70 and causing minor flooding to several homes and a couple of businesses. Tropical moisture remnants, such as those from Tropical Depression Odile on September 16, 2014, have also contributed to heavy rainfall in the area.
Residents and property owners should pay the most attention based on historical insurance claims. The highest volume of claims occurred in areas with unknown flood zones, totaling 126 claims with an average payout of $17,475 and an average recorded water depth of 3 inches. Properties located in Zone A should also remain vigilant, as they accounted for 13 claims with an average payout of $9,692 and a higher average recorded water depth of 10 inches. Properties in Zone X_UNSHADED and Zone X_SHADED recorded fewer claims with lower average payouts and shallower water depths.
Summary generated from NOAA storm narratives and NFIP claim data for this county. Not predictive.
4 NOAA storm reports from this county describe what happened, in the words of the meteorologists who were there.
Greenlee County, Arizona has recorded 26 flood-related events since 1996 according to NOAA's Storm Events Database, including 21 flash floods and 5 river or area floods. The county has received 13 federal disaster declarations, 6 of which involved flooding or coastal storms. Enter any address above to check its FEMA flood zone designation.
FEMA Disaster Declarations (1966–2020)
Source: OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries.
| Declaration | Type | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Covid-19 | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Covid-19 Pandemic | Biological | Jan 20, 2020 |
| Wallow Fire | Fire | Jun 1, 2011 |
| Severe Winter Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jan 18, 2010 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Jul 25, 2006 |
| Hurricane Katrina Evacuation | Hurricane | Aug 29, 2005 |
| Severe Storms And Flooding | Severe Storm | Feb 10, 2005 |
| Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding | Flood | Jan 5, 1993 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Sep 23, 1983 |
| Severe Storms & Flooding | Flood | Dec 21, 1978 |
NOAA Storm Events Database (1996–2025)
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
| Type | Date | Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood | Jul 24, 2022 | 50.00K |
| Flood | Aug 22, 2022 | 250.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 18, 2021 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 16, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 7, 2014 | 0.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 1, 2014 | 20.00K |
| Flood | Sep 14, 2013 | 50.00K |
| Flash Flood | Sep 6, 2012 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Aug 23, 2011 | 25.00K |
| Flash Flood | Jul 11, 2011 | 1.00K |
Flash Flood — Jul 24, 2022
Scattered thunderstorms moved northwest across southeast Arizona during the afternoon and evening. Storms produced heavy rain and flash flooding in Clifton, on the Tohono O'odham Nation and in western Pima County. Isolated flash flooding, wind damage and blowing dust occurred in other locations.
Flood — Aug 22, 2022
Heavy rain upstream in New Mexico caused the Gila River to flood at Duncan, where Highway 70 was closed, and several homes and a couple businesses experienced minor flooding. Downstream at Solomon, the bridge was partially flooded.
Flash Flood — Jul 18, 2021
Slow moving thunderstorms developed across Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties during the afternoon. Heavy rain up to 2 inches per hour caused areas of flash flooding.
Flash Flood — Sep 16, 2014
An initial band of moisture associated with Tropical Depression Odile, once rated as strong as a Category 4 hurricane, contributed to heavy rainfall in Greenlee County on September 16th. A precipitable water value of 1.91 inches was noted on the Tucson sounding at 1200 UTC September 17th. Odile took a sharp turn to the east later that day, which limited rainfall from Tucson westward, although w...
Flash Flood — Jul 7, 2014
Precipitable water values in Southeast Arizona were between 1.5 and 1.8 inches with weak steering flow. Thunderstorms that developed were very slow moving with rainfall amounts in excess of one inch in some locations. Flash flooding occurred in both Pima and Greenlee Counties. Heavy rains in Nogales, Sonora caused flooding in Nogales, AZ which closed the Deconcini Port of Entry for the first ti...
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database.
Source: OpenFEMA NFIP Individual Claims (2.25M records analyzed).
FEMA assigns flood zone designations to areas in Greenlee County, Arizona:
AE High Risk — 1% annual chance of flooding. Insurance required.
VE Very High Risk — Coastal flooding with wave action.
X (Shaded) Moderate Risk — 500-year floodplain.
X Low Risk — Outside major floodplains.
Properties in Greenlee County, Arizona that are in FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas (zones A and V) with a mortgage from a federally regulated or insured lender, or a federally backed loan, are required to carry flood insurance.
Even outside high-risk zones, flood insurance is recommended. From 2014 to 2024, nearly one-third of NFIP claims came from outside the high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Visit FloodSmart.gov to find an agent and get a quote.