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Tornado in Benton County, Missouri
31 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
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.
NCEI records 31 tornado events in Benton County, Missouri, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 17 years.
May is the busiest month, with 15 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 3,118 tornado events recorded in Missouri; its 4.4 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Missouri
| Measure | Benton County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 3,118 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.4 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 15.6 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 429 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
3Apr
7May
15Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
1Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 31 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | $425K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $115K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $148K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $160K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 May 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 20 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1960 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Benton County had?
31 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Benton County?
17 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Benton County?
The tornado of 15 Mar 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Benton County compare with Missouri for tornado?
4.4 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 31 of the state's 3,118 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 Tornado hub and the county page.