Choctaw County, Oklahoma

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 40023 · population 14,133 · 770 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 578 records for Choctaw County, Oklahoma from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 414 days; the most frequent are hail reports (200 records). The deadliest single record is the May 20, 2015 flood: 1 death. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1968, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes” on July 19, 2023.

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
578on 414 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
345 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$932Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
31strongest F5
FEMA declarations
22latest 2023

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 Choctaw County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 200 since 1956. 53% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in April and May. The rank column places the county among Oklahoma's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Choctaw County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 200 136 1956-2026 0 0 $339K 69 of 77
Severe thunderstorm wind 164 122 1966-2026 0 0 $2.1M 59 of 77
Drought 75 75 1998-2026 0 0 $905M 43 of 77
Floods 32 26 1996-2026 1 0 $233K 38 of 77
Heat 32 32 1998-2024 2 0 – 59 of 77
Tornadoes 31 24 1954-2026 0 43 $22M 70 of 77
Winter storms 26 26 1996-2026 0 0 $1.6M 71 of 77
Wildfires 9 9 2005-2024 0 2 $856K 23 of 77
Lightning 4 4 1997-2005 0 0 $156K 27 of 77
High wind and dust storms 3 3 1996-2008 0 0 $7K 73 of 77
Extreme cold 2 2 1996-1996 0 0 – 54 of 77

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 Choctaw County had?

NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Choctaw County from 1954 to 2026, the strongest rated F5, with 0 deaths and 43 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 27 tornadoes whose track touched Choctaw County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Choctaw County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1982-04-02 15:50, as SPC files itBroken BowF553 mi0
2022-11-04 15:16, as SPC files itBrookstonCrossed OK, TXEF444.71 mi0
1960-05-04 21:16, as SPC files itSoperF430.8 mi0
2016-05-09 17:22, as SPC files itBennington to SoperEF313.8 mi0
1982-04-02 15:10, as SPC files itSoperF38 mi0
1961-05-05 18:30, as SPC files itHugoF30.1 mi0
1954-04-30 09:30, as SPC files itHugoF31 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Oklahoma.

Every tornado record filed for Choctaw County (31)
Every tornado recorded in Choctaw County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-05-27 Goodland, Choctaw County EFU 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2026-04-28 Speer, Choctaw County EF1 8.5 mi x 550 yd 0 0 $150K
2022-11-04 Ord, Choctaw County EF2 18.8 mi x 1,700 yd 0 1 $908K
2016-05-09 Boswell Ammons Airport, Choctaw County EF3 10.4 mi x 3,100 yd 0 2 $3.7M
2016-05-09 Virgil, Choctaw County EFU 0.5 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2016-05-09 Old Messer, Choctaw County EFU 6 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2016-05-09 Goodland, Choctaw County EF1 6.1 mi x 650 yd 0 0 $307K
2015-12-12 Bunch, Choctaw County EF1 3.3 mi x 250 yd 0 0 –
2008-04-09 Soper, Choctaw County EF0 0.1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2008-03-31 Sawyer, Choctaw County EF0 0.1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2007-10-17 Ft Towson, Choctaw County EF0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1999-11-22 Hugo, Choctaw County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1999-11-22 Hugo, Choctaw County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1999-05-11 Soper, Choctaw County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $2K
1991-06-05 Choctaw County F0 3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1991-06-05 Choctaw County F0 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1983-11-22 Choctaw County F2 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1982-04-02 Choctaw County F5 22 mi x 500 yd 0 25 $2.5M step
1982-04-02 Choctaw County F3 8 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1981-10-13 Choctaw County F1 0 0 –
1981-04-03 Choctaw County F1 2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-03-19 Choctaw County F1 9.8 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1964-04-03 Choctaw County F1 1.5 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $3K step
1961-05-05 Choctaw County F3 0 0 $25K step
1961-03-05 Choctaw County F2 3.8 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1960-05-20 Choctaw County 0 0 $3K step
1960-05-04 Choctaw County F4 7.6 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $250K step
1960-05-04 Choctaw County F4 3.4 mi x 150 yd 0 3 $250K step
1959-08-27 Choctaw County F1 2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $3K step
1957-04-02 Choctaw County F1 16.8 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1954-04-30 Choctaw County F3 1 mi x 150 yd 0 12 $250K 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 Choctaw County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 28, 2026 tornado ($150,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

This tornado developed west of the 4240 Road, near Pinekke Road. It moved east-southeast snapping large tree limbs and uprooting small trees. The tornado crossed Highway 93 on the northern banks of Lake Hugo, where some trees were uprooted and large tree limbs were snapped. Numerous trees were uprooted and a few were snapped south of Apple, and a home was damaged. It continued to move east-southeast across the E2000 Road, and then crossed Highway 147 before dissipating over rugged terrain. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 95 to 105 mph.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1325216)
The 12 most recent records kept for Choctaw County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-23 Thunderstorm WindForney, Choctaw County 70 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-23 Thunderstorm WindBluff, Choctaw County 61 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-23 Thunderstorm WindDuland, Choctaw County 71 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-23 Flash FloodHugo, Choctaw County 0 0 –
2026-06-23 Thunderstorm WindGay, Choctaw County 65 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-01 DroughtChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw 0 0 –
2026-05-27 TornadoGoodland, Choctaw County EFU 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw 0 0 –
2026-04-28 Thunderstorm WindFt Towson, Choctaw County 65 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-28 TornadoSpeer, Choctaw County EF1 8.5 mi x 550 yd 0 0 $150K
2026-04-24 HailSoper, Choctaw County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-24 HailUnger, Choctaw County 0.75 in hail 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Choctaw County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2015-05-20 FloodFallon, Choctaw County A man drove into flood waters on Ballpark Road north of Hugo during the evening of May 21st. The vehicle became stranded. The driver was able to escape the flood water but then went back into the water to gather personal items. He reportedly stepped into a hole, went under water, and was swept away. The man drown and ... 1 0 –
2011-08-01 Excessive HeatChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw A strong ridge of high pressure that dominated the weather across the south central United States for much of July, continued through the first couple weeks of August. Unseasonably hot weather resulted across the region with official records at the Tulsa International Airport indicating that August 2011 was the 5th ... 1 0 –
1998-07-06 HeatChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw A blistering heat wave struck the south-central part of the nation during July 1998, including much of eastern Oklahoma. A drought also accompanied the heat wave in southeast Oklahoma, combining with the heat wave to cause devastating crop damage. (For specific information on the drought aspect and crop damage, see ... 1 0 –
1982-04-02 TornadoChoctaw County F5 22 mi x 500 yd 0 25 $2.5M step
1954-04-30 TornadoChoctaw County F3 1 mi x 150 yd 0 12 $250K step
1960-05-04 TornadoChoctaw County F4 3.4 mi x 150 yd 0 3 $250K step
2016-05-09 TornadoBoswell Ammons Airport, Choctaw County This is the second segment of a two segment tornado that began at 624 pm CDT in Bryan County, Oklahoma. The tornado strengthened and widened rapidly after developing southeast of Bennington. It was about 2500 yards wide and was producing EF-2 damage to trees by the time it reached the Choctaw County border at around ... EF3 10.4 mi x 3,100 yd 0 2 $3.7M
2005-12-27 WildfireChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw A large wildfire in southwestern Choctaw County burned more than 1000 acres over a 10 mile swath. Some of the communities near the fire were Unger, Speer and Boswell. At least four homes were destroyed and 2 people were injured. 0 2 $756K

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.

The costliest records in Choctaw County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1998-07-06 DroughtChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw 0 0 $905M
2016-05-09 TornadoBoswell Ammons Airport, Choctaw County EF3 10.4 mi x 3,100 yd 0 2 $3.7M
2013-12-05 Ice StormChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw 0 0 $1.4M
2022-11-04 TornadoOrd, Choctaw County EF2 18.8 mi x 1,700 yd 0 1 $908K
2005-12-27 WildfireChoctaw County · forecast zone Choctaw 0 2 $756K
2008-06-14 Thunderstorm WindFt Towson, Choctaw County 65 kt wind 0 0 $658K
2001-05-28 Thunderstorm WindHugo, Choctaw County 69 kt wind 0 0 $542K
2026-04-28 TornadoSpeer, Choctaw County EF1 8.5 mi x 550 yd 0 0 $150K

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: April 2, 1982 (tornado, Choctaw 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 Choctaw 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).

Choctaw County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail1632454613318
Severe thunderstorm wind052942412639
Drought––––1123428
Floods––––71393
Heat––––151214
Tornadoes36155353

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

53% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 28 · Feb 36 · Mar 56 · Apr 99 · May 109 · Jun 65 · Jul 48 · Aug 39 · Sep 23 · Oct 24 · Nov 28 · Dec 23 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Choctaw County

FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Choctaw County: 14 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and severe ice storm (6).

Declarations including Choctaw County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2023-07-19DR-4721Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2021-02-24DR-4587Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2021-02-17EM-3555Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2020-04-05DR-4530BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3462BiologicalCovid-19
2015-05-26DR-4222Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2014-01-30DR-4164Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2011-02-02EM-3316Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2010-01-30EM-3308Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2008-07-09DR-1775Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2007-12-10EM-3280Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2007-07-07DR-1712Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2007-01-14EM-3272Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms and Flooding
2006-01-10DR-1623FireExtreme Wildfire Threat
2005-09-05EM-3219HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2001-06-29DR-1384Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2001-01-05DR-1355Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
2000-12-28EM-3158Severe Ice StormSevere Winter and Ice Storm
1990-05-18DR-866Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1973-06-13DR-392Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, & Tornadoes
1972-01-14DR-317FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1968-05-29DR-241FloodHeavy Rains & 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 Choctaw County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 32 flood or flash flood records for Choctaw County from 1996 to 2026, on 26 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Choctaw County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $236,000 on 6 claims filed in Choctaw County; the most in one year was 2 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1984: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2021: 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 Choctaw County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Choctaw County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.2 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Choctaw County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
DroughtRelatively High$2.2M42 modeled event-days a year
Ice StormRelatively High$520K1.3 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$1.2M23 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.3Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$270K5 a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$69Konce in about 432 years (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Low$429Kabout once a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$30K5 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 Choctaw County

  1. McCurtain County 1,236
  2. Bryan County 863
  3. Lamar County, TX 765
  4. Pushmataha County 738
  5. Atoka County 723
  6. Red River County, TX 646
  7. Choctaw County 578

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

Next