Payson, AZ
Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data
Payson 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 Gila County, AZ. The county's highest-rated hazards are wildfire, lightning, and inland flooding.
Storm events near Payson
NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Payson's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Payson 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 Gila County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Payson along with the rest of the county, not a Payson-specific figure.
| Hazard | NRI score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | 99.1 | Relatively High |
| Inland Flooding | 93.1 | Relatively Moderate |
| Coastal Flooding | — | Not Applicable |
| Earthquake | 59 | Very Low |
| Heat Wave | 86.7 | Relatively Moderate |
| Tornado | 13.4 | Very Low |
| Avalanche | 58 | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | 3 | Very Low |
| Drought | 24.6 | Very Low |
| Hail | 29.3 | Very Low |
| Hurricane | 7.7 | Very Low |
| Ice Storm | — | Not Applicable |
| Landslide | 77.6 | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | 94.1 | Relatively High |
| Strong Wind | 41.7 | Relatively Low |
| Tsunami | — | Not Applicable |
| Volcanic Activity | 9.1 | Very Low |
| Winter Weather | 86 | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Gila County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.
More on Gila County:
Frequently asked questions
What natural hazards is Payson, AZ at risk of?
Payson 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 Gila County, where Payson is located, are wildfire, lightning, and inland flooding.
What is Payson's biggest natural hazard risk?
Wildfire is the highest-rated hazard for Gila County, where Payson is located, scoring 99.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Relatively High").
Is Payson a high-risk area for natural disasters?
Somewhat — Payson 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 Gila County.
Has Payson had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?
NOAA has recorded 2 tornado, 8 hail, 50 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Payson since 2016.