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Tornado in Ray County, Missouri
34 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 34 tornado events in Ray County, Missouri, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 24 years.
May is the busiest month, with 14 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 3,118 tornado events recorded in Missouri; its 6.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Missouri
| Measure | Ray County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 34 | 3,118 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.0 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.8 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 429 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
1Apr
2May
14Jun
4Jul
5Aug
2Sep
0Oct
1Nov
2Dec
2
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 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2015 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1977 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1977 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 29 Nov 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1973 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1971 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1967 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1967 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 2 | 18 | County |
| 11 May 1966 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1963 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Dec 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1951 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Ray County had?
34 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 Ray County?
18 May 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Ray County?
The tornado of 24 Jan 1967, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Ray County compare with Missouri for tornado?
6.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 34 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 30 Sep 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.