Chester County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47023 · population 17,340 · 286 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 370 records for Chester County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 309 days; the most frequent are heat records (89 records). The deadliest single record is the March 22, 1952 tornado: 23 deaths and 100 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1975, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on February 6, 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
- 370on 309 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 23107 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $35Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Chester County most?
The most frequent records are heat records: 89 since 2007. 75% of its heat records since 2007 fell in July and August. The rank column places the county among Tennessee'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 89 | 86 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 95 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 78 | 73 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 6 | $1.0M | 74 of 95 |
| Hail | 76 | 59 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $94K | 7 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 50 | 50 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $71K | 22 of 95 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 95 |
| Floods | 23 | 22 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $410K | 50 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 13 | 1952-2024 | 23 | 101 | $33M | 22 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 11 | 10 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 95 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | $149K | 34 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 2008-2023 | 0 | 0 | $131K | 88 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 14 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 95 |
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 Chester County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Chester County from 1952 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 23 deaths and 101 injuries recorded in the county. That is 22nd of 95 Tennessee counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Chester County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 38 people, 23 of them in Chester County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952-03-21 23:30, as SPC files it | Bolivar to Henderson | F4 | 46.8 mi | 38 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Chester County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-27 | Deanburg, Chester County | EF1 2.12 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2012-04-26 | Montezuma, Chester County | EF2 1.89 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $514K |
| 2011-04-26 | Jacks Creek, Chester County | EF0 8.23 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 1999-01-22 | Henderson, Chester County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $177 |
| 1998-04-16 | Henderson, Chester County | F0 1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 1996-11-07 | Mifflin, Chester County | F0 5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 1995-05-18 | Chester County | F0 8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1990-04-28 | Chester County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1988-11-19 | Chester County | F2 3 mi x 90 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1985-11-27 | Chester County | F1 2.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1962-02-23 | Chester County | F1 14 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1953-03-14 | Chester County | F2 18.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1952-03-22 | Chester County | F4 19.8 mi x 177 yd | 23 | 100 | $2.5M 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 Chester County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 27, 2024 tornado ($7,526 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A weak tornado crossed from Hardeman County into Chester County knocking down trees. The tornado eventually lifted in a heavily forested area.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1225300)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | HeatChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-29 | HeatChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Cold/Wind ChillChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | Cold/Wind ChillChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Cold/Wind ChillChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-14 | DroughtChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-19 | HeatChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-18 | HeatChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952-03-22 | TornadoChester County | F4 19.8 mi x 177 yd | 23 | 100 | $2.5M step |
| 2013-01-30 | Thunderstorm WindHenderson, Chester County Straight line winds damaged about 100 homes across Chester County. A 33 foot long recreational vehicle was tossed into the family swimming pool and a 16 foot trailer was wrapped upside down around some trees about 200 yards away. The heaviest damage was in the northeast part of the county. Numerous trees and power ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 4 | – |
| 2012-04-26 | TornadoMontezuma, Chester County A tornado touched down along Highway 225 and Silerton Road near Montezuma and moved southeast for roughly 2 miles. Six homes were damaged with two sustaining significant damage. A roof of a church sustained minor damage. A few farm sheds were damaged as well. A camper and boat was destroyed. Trees were snapped in the ... | EF2 1.89 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $514K |
| 2005-11-15 | Thunderstorm WindHenderson, Chester County Some trees were blown down. One tree fell on a car causing one injury. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 1999-05-05 | Thunderstorm WindHenderson, Chester County Nearly forty houses and mobile homes were damaged. Some trees and power lines were knocked down., | 0 | 1 | $177K |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-04-26 | TornadoMontezuma, Chester County | EF2 1.89 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $514K |
| 1996-09-27 | Thunderstorm WindHenderson, Chester County | 0 | 0 | $376K | |
| 1999-05-05 | Thunderstorm WindHenderson, Chester County | 0 | 1 | $177K | |
| 2011-04-26 | TornadoJacks Creek, Chester County | EF0 8.23 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $98K |
| 1996-11-07 | TornadoMifflin, Chester County | F0 5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $47K |
| 2005-11-15 | Thunderstorm WindHenderson, Chester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $15K |
| 1995-05-18 | TornadoChester County | F0 8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2024-05-27 | TornadoDeanburg, Chester County | EF1 2.12 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 22, 1952 (tornado, Chester County, 23 killed).
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 Chester 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 25 | 63 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 26 | 17 | 9 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 16 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 14 | 20 | 12 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 6 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 8 | 11 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
75% of its heat records since 2007 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 35 · Mar 33 · Apr 43 · May 38 · Jun 44 · Jul 63 · Aug 37 · Sep 6 · Oct 10 · Nov 12 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Chester County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Chester County: 12 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and winter storm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | DR-4898 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3635 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2011-05-09 | DR-1978 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2010-05-04 | DR-1909 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-08-21 | DR-1856 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1999-05-12 | DR-1275 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1167 | Tornado | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High Winds |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1975-03-22 | DR-459 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Chester County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Chester County from 1996 to 2021, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chester County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $42,000 on 2 claims filed in Chester County; the most in one year was 1 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2003: 1 · 2010: 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 Chester County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chester County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.8 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 | $2.4M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.1M | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $4.8M | once in about 163 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $438K | 14 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $54K | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $360K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $132K | 59 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $3K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Chester 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 TennesseeEvery Tennessee tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Heat in TennesseeThe state's heat records, by county, year and month
- The Tennessee recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Chester CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Chester County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis