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Tornado in Vernon County, Missouri
33 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 33 tornado events in Vernon County, Missouri, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
May is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 8 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 4.0 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 6 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Missouri
| Measure | Vernon County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 3,118 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 16.8 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 429 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
3Apr
7May
8Jun
2Jul
2Aug
2Sep
1Oct
1Nov
4Dec
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 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $150K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 31 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $700K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1995 | Tornado | F3 | $7.0M | — | — | 9 | County |
| 4 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Dec 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 15 Mar 1982 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1969 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Oct 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1956 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1954 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1954 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Vernon County had?
33 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 Vernon County?
2 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Vernon County?
The tornado of 15 Mar 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Vernon County compare with Missouri for tornado?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 33 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.