County Hazards

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Winter in Bates County, Missouri

45 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.

45 events · 0 deaths recorded · peak month January · county share of state 0.7%

Winter event locations in and around Bates County. Boundaries: US Census Bureau.

NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.

Bates County, Missouri, has 45 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.

January is the busiest month, with 17 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 28 events against 17 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.

The county holds 0.7% of the 6,559 winter events recorded in Missouri; its 5.4 per 100 square miles compares with 9.5 statewide.

Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.

Compared with Missouri

MeasureBates CountyMissouriUS
Winter events since 1950456,559287,339
Per 100 square miles5.49.58.1
Per 10,000 residents27.910.68.7
Deaths recorded0582,509
Busiest monthJanuaryJanuaryJanuary

By year

195019882026
Winter events recorded in Bates County per year, 1950 to 2026 (2026 is partial).

Seasonality

Jan
17
Feb
11
Mar
4
Apr
0
May
0
Jun
0
Jul
0
Aug
0
Sep
0
Oct
0
Nov
4
Dec
9
Winter events in Bates County by month of occurrence, all years.

Recorded events

All 45 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.

DateEvent typeMagnitudeProperty damageCrop damageDeathsInjuriesGeography
24 Jan 2026Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2025Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
4 Jan 2025Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
4 Jan 2025Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
4 Jan 2025Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
10 Mar 2022Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
17 Feb 2022Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
1 Jan 2021Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
6 Feb 2019Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
11 Jan 2019Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
25 Nov 2018Blizzard—————Forecast zone
14 Jan 2017Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
1 Mar 2014Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
4 Feb 2014Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
21 Dec 2013Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
23 Mar 2013Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
25 Feb 2013Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
21 Feb 2013Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
13 Feb 2012Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
1 Feb 2011Blizzard—————Forecast zone
19 Jan 2011Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
10 Jan 2011Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
20 Mar 2010Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
7 Feb 2010Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
24 Dec 2009Blizzard—————Forecast zone
9 Dec 2007Ice Storm—$2K———Forecast zone
20 Jan 2007Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
12 Jan 2007Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
1 Dec 2006Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
30 Nov 2006Heavy Snow—$1K———Forecast zone
29 Nov 2006Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
10 Jan 2006Winter Weather—————Forecast zone
8 Dec 2005Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
25 Jan 2004Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
10 Dec 2003Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
23 Feb 2003Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
2 Jan 2003Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
30 Jan 2002Ice Storm—$580K———Forecast zone
9 Feb 2001Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
28 Jan 2001Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
13 Dec 2000Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone
11 Dec 2000Winter Storm—————Forecast zone
8 Nov 2000Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
21 Dec 1997Ice Storm—————Forecast zone
9 Jan 1997Heavy Snow—————Forecast zone

Questions and answers

How many winter events has Bates County had?

45 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.

When was the last recorded winter event in Bates County?

24 Jan 2026 (Heavy Snow). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.

What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Bates County?

The ice storm of 30 Jan 2002, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $580K.

How does Bates County compare with Missouri for winter?

5.4 events per 100 square miles against 9.5 statewide; the county holds 45 of the state's 6,559 recorded events.

Provenance

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Winter hub and the county page.