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Tornado in Ripley County, Missouri
24 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.
Ripley County, Missouri, has 24 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 19 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 3,118 tornado events recorded in Missouri; its 3.8 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 11 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Missouri
| Measure | Ripley County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 24 | 3,118 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.8 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 22.6 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 429 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
4Apr
4May
3Jun
1Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
4Dec
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 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.4M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 26 May 2024 | Tornado | EF2 | $575K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF2 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 5 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F2 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 30 Apr 1970 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Ripley County had?
24 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 Ripley County?
30 Mar 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Ripley County?
The tornado of 24 Dec 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Ripley County compare with Missouri for tornado?
3.8 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 24 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.