Adair County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29001 · population 25,279 · 567 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 406 records for Adair County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 301 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (134 records). The deadliest single record is the May 13, 2009 tornado: 2 deaths, 6 injuries and $6.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1973, 24 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 3, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 406on 301 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 411 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $11Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Adair County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 134 since 1956. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Missouri's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 134 | 106 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 55 of 114 |
| Hail | 105 | 82 | 1957-2023 | 0 | 1 | $38K | 68 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 53 | 52 | 1997-2025 | 2 | 4 | $434K | 54 of 114 |
| Floods | 47 | 31 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 85 of 114 |
| Drought | 22 | 22 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 114 |
| Heat | 14 | 14 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 66 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 8 | 1960-2014 | 2 | 6 | $7.7M | 112 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 2 | 2008-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 78 of 114 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $302K | 62 of 114 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 50 of 114 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Adair County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Adair County from 1960 to 2014, the strongest rated EF2, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 10 tornadoes whose track touched Adair County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-13 17:09, as SPC files it | Kirksville | EF2 | 5.8 mi | 2 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Adair County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-09-10 | Pure Air, Adair County | EF1 18.27 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-04 | Loeffler, Adair County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-13 | Kirksville, Adair County | EF2 5.8 mi x 150 yd | 2 | 6 | $6.9M |
| 2009-05-13 | Pure Air, Adair County | EF1 7.72 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 1998-06-14 | Kirksville, Adair County | F0 5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-09-16 | Adair County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-05-26 | Adair County | F1 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-09-21 | Adair County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1960-05-16 | Adair County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-05-16 | Adair County | F2 8.7 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Adair County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 25, 2021 winter weather (2 deaths).
Light snow fell through the day on January 25. While the heavier snow fell across far northern Missouri into southern and central Iowa, there was enough snow in Adair County to cause a vehicle accident that resulted in injuries and at least two fatalities. In the middle of the event, around 2 pm LST, the head-on vehicle collision occurred when one vehicle lost control on an icy or snow covered roadway and veered into oncoming traffic. Missouri Highway Patrol Crash Report: https://www.mshp.dps.missouri.gov/HP68/AccidentDetailsAction?ACC_RPT_NUM=210040140 .
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 940805)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | Thunderstorm WindIrk Cannon Mem Airport, Adair County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-28 | Winter StormAdair County · forecast zone Adair | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-11 | Thunderstorm WindPure Air, Adair County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-18 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillAdair County · forecast zone Adair | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-04 | Winter StormAdair County · forecast zone Adair | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-01-25 | Winter WeatherAdair County · forecast zone Adair | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-11-12 | Winter WeatherAdair County · forecast zone Adair | 0 | 4 | $59K | |
| 2014-09-10 | TornadoPure Air, Adair County | EF1 18.27 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindKirksville, Adair County | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-07-12 | HailNovinger, Adair County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-04 | TornadoLoeffler, Adair County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-13 | TornadoKirksville, Adair County | EF2 5.8 mi x 150 yd | 2 | 6 | $6.9M |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-13 | TornadoKirksville, Adair County An EF2 tornado touched down at 17:09 CST, 2 miles north-northwest of Kirksville. This tornado traveled east over northern portions of Kirksville, before lifting at 17:20 CST, 2 miles west-southwest of the town of Clay. This tornado killed two people and damaged numerous homes in northern Kirksville. Ten homes were ... | EF2 5.8 mi x 150 yd | 2 | 6 | $6.9M |
| 2021-01-25 | Winter WeatherAdair County · forecast zone Adair Light snow fell through the day on January 25. While the heavier snow fell across far northern Missouri into southern and central Iowa, there was enough snow in Adair County to cause a vehicle accident that resulted in injuries and at least two fatalities. In the middle of the event, around 2 pm LST, the head-on ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-11-12 | Winter WeatherAdair County · forecast zone Adair Light snow caused several vehicle accidents across the region as roads iced up. Along HWY 63 about 1-2 miles north of Kirksville a vehicle slid into the path of another vehicle, striking it head on. Four people were injured in the accident. | 0 | 4 | $59K | |
| 2002-04-24 | HailNovinger, Adair County A man caught outside during the hailstorm received bruises on his arm. | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | $25K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-05-13 | TornadoKirksville, Adair County | EF2 5.8 mi x 150 yd | 2 | 6 | $6.9M |
| 2002-05-11 | Flash FloodKirksville, Adair County | 0 | 0 | $820K | |
| 2008-07-25 | FloodNovinger, Adair County | 0 | 0 | $754K | |
| 1997-04-10 | Heavy SnowAdair County · forecast zone Adair | 0 | 0 | $368K | |
| 2005-05-11 | LightningKirksville, Adair County | 0 | 0 | $302K | |
| 2009-05-13 | TornadoPure Air, Adair County | EF1 7.72 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 1998-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindKirksville, Adair County | 0 | 0 | $91K | |
| 2002-04-24 | HailNovinger, Adair County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | $25K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 16, 1960 (tornado, Adair County); May 16, 1960 (tornado, Adair County); May 26, 1973 (tornado, Adair County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Adair County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 6 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 22 | 42 | 10 |
| Hail | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 15 | 33 | 34 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 21 | 22 | 8 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 23 | 16 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 10 | 11 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 23 · Mar 13 · Apr 41 · May 61 · Jun 67 · Jul 73 · Aug 39 · Sep 27 · Oct 12 · Nov 11 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Adair County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Adair County: 20 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (15) and severe ice storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4929 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2023-09-21 | DR-4741 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-03-26 | DR-4490 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3482 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-07-09 | DR-4451 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4238 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2014-10-31 | DR-4200 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-03-23 | DR-1961 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2011-02-03 | EM-3317 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-08-17 | DR-1934 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-06-19 | DR-1847 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2009-01-30 | EM-3303 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-11-13 | DR-1809 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and A Tornado |
| 2008-06-25 | DR-1773 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-12-27 | DR-1736 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3281 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-11 | DR-1524 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-05-06 | DR-1412 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2002-02-06 | DR-1403 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1995-06-02 | DR-1054 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-995 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-09-24 | EM-3017 | Drought | Drought |
| 1974-06-10 | DR-439 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-11-01 | DR-407 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-04-19 | DR-372 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Adair County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 47 flood or flash flood records for Adair County from 1996 to 2023, on 31 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Adair County ranks 2075th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $531,000 on 21 claims filed in Adair County; the most in one year was 6 in 2023. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1981: 2 · 1982: 2 · 1993: 3 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2023: 6 · 2026: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Adair County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Adair County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.8M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $40K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $928K | 7.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $440K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $666K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $161K | 11 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $238K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $442K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Adair County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in MissouriEvery Missouri tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in MissouriThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Missouri recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Adair CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Adair County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis