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Flood in Smith County, Tennessee
32 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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 32 flood events in Smith County, Tennessee, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 14 years.
July is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 4,414 flood events recorded in Tennessee; its 10.2 per 100 square miles compares with 10.7 statewide.
Compared with Tennessee
| Measure | Smith County | Tennessee | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 32 | 4,414 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 10.2 | 10.7 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 15.9 | 6.3 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 121 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | July | February | June |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
5Mar
2Apr
0May
4Jun
6Jul
7Aug
2Sep
1Oct
0Nov
2Dec
1
Recorded events
All 32 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Feb 2021 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2020 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2020 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2019 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 2017 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 2017 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2017 | Flash Flood | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2016 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2016 | Flash Flood | — | $2.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2010 | Flash Flood | — | $1.0M | $100K | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2010 | Flood | — | $1.6M | $1K | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2009 | Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2004 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2004 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2003 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2002 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1999 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Smith County had?
32 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Smith County?
27 Feb 2021 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Smith County?
The flash flood of 11 May 2016, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.0M.
How does Smith County compare with Tennessee for flood?
10.2 events per 100 square miles against 10.7 statewide; the county holds 32 of the state's 4,414 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 Flood hub and the county page.