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Tornado in Perry County, Missouri
27 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 27 tornado events in Perry County, Missouri, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,118 tornado events recorded in Missouri; its 5.7 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Missouri
| Measure | Perry County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 3,118 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.7 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.3 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 429 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
1Mar
4Apr
6May
4Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
2Oct
3Nov
1Dec
4
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2021 | Tornado | EF2 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF4 | $8.0M | — | 1 | 12 | County |
| 17 Nov 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F2 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F4 | $7.0M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 21 Jul 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F3 | $1.0M | — | 2 | 10 | County |
| 15 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F3 | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 13 | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 1967 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 6 Mar 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Perry County had?
27 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 Perry County?
14 Mar 2025 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Perry County?
The tornado of 21 Dec 1967, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Perry County compare with Missouri for tornado?
5.7 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 27 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.