How Likely Is a Tornado in Navajo County, AZ?
Navajo County, AZ: what NOAA's tornado record says
Navajo County has recorded 23 tornado touches in NOAA's 76-year database, a rate of roughly one every 3.3 years - our Moderate band. Put another way: Navajo County sees more tornado activity than 57% of US counties. Among 15 Arizona counties in this dataset, Navajo County ranks 6 for how often a tornado touches down.
Beyond the frequency band: violent history
23 weak and 0 significant tornadoes make up Navajo County's 23-track record - none violent. NOAA has never logged an EF4 or EF5 crossing this county.
The dollar figure Navajo County's rating leads to
Cost nationally: $2,890-$13,280, about $7,645 typical. Arizona has no state rebate program confirmed here; FEMA's underlying 75% cost-share exists nationwide, but applying through a state program is what usually makes it real, and none was found for Arizona this pass.
What a direct hit isn't required for
A direct hit is not required for Navajo County to lose power - outbreak-wide outages across Arizona regularly reach homes and businesses well outside the actual tracks. A battery bank covers that gap without a generator's fuel and venting needs.
What this number is, and is not
One caveat before relying on Navajo County's number: it is county-wide, and it covers about 9,949 square miles, so a single touch counts the same as one in a county a fraction of that size. Weaker pre-1990s tornadoes are also documented as undercounted in NOAA's own record. Navajo County has about 109,516 residents.