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Tornado in Washington County, Missouri
28 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 28 tornado events in Washington County, Missouri, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 15 years.
April is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 10 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 3.7 per 100 square miles compares with 4.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 6 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 3 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 | Washington County | Missouri | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 3,118 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.7 | 4.5 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.9 | 5.1 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 6 | 429 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
7May
6Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
2Oct
5Nov
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 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 May 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF3 | $685K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 7 | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | 1 | 15 | County |
| 14 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Dec 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 24 May 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 2 | 22 | County |
| 21 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 3 | 47 | County |
| 8 Dec 1966 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Dec 1966 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 22 May 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 1 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Washington County had?
28 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 Washington County?
19 May 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Washington County?
The tornado of 21 May 1957, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Washington County compare with Missouri for tornado?
3.7 events per 100 square miles against 4.5 statewide; the county holds 28 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.