Cottonwood, AZ
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Cottonwood is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk — near the middle compared to other US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Yavapai County, AZ. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, lightning, and inland flooding.
Storm events near Cottonwood
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Cottonwood's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Cottonwood itself, not the whole county.
County-wide hazard risk
Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Yavapai County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Cottonwood along with the rest of the county, not a Cottonwood-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.6 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 96.1 | Relatively High |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 85.3 | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | 85 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 32.7 | Relatively Low |
| Avalanche | 53.8 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 2.8 | Very Low |
| Drought | 29.4 | Very Low |
| Hail | 89.8 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | 0 | No Rating |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 70 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 98.9 | Very High |
| Strong Wind | 41.5 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 57 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 94.3 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Yavapai County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
Other cities in Yavapai County:
More on Yavapai County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Cottonwood, AZ at risk of?
Cottonwood is rated Relatively Moderate for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — near the middle compared to other US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Yavapai County, where Cottonwood is located, are wildfire, lightning, and inland flooding.
What is Cottonwood's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Yavapai County, where Cottonwood is located, scoring 99.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Cottonwood a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Cottonwood carries near the middle compared to other US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively Moderate" for Yavapai County.
Has Cottonwood had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 3 tornado, 15 hail, 124 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Cottonwood since 2016.