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Wind in Benton County, Mississippi
56 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
Benton County, Mississippi, has 56 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 25 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 25 events against 28 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.3% of the 18,831 wind events recorded in Mississippi; its 13.8 per 100 square miles compares with 40.1 statewide.
12 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 4 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Mississippi
| Measure | Benton County | Mississippi | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 56 | 18,831 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 13.8 | 40.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 73.2 | 63.8 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 54 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | April | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
7Apr
13May
12Jun
5Jul
7Aug
1Sep
1Oct
3Nov
4Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 56 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 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2002 | High Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Mar 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Benton County had?
56 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Benton County?
18 May 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 69 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Benton County?
The thunderstorm wind of 5 May 2003, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $150K.
How does Benton County compare with Mississippi for wind?
13.8 events per 100 square miles against 40.1 statewide; the county holds 56 of the state's 18,831 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 Wind hub and the county page.