Cimarron County, Oklahoma
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 40025 · population 2,285 · 1,835 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 955 records for Cimarron County, Oklahoma from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 563 days; the most frequent are hail reports (286 records). The deadliest single record is the August 18, 1997 lightning: 1 death. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 2001, 16 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
- 955on 563 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 18 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $265Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 56strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 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 Cimarron County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 286 since 1961. 63% of its hail reports since 1961 fell in May and June. 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 286 | 161 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 0 | $367K | 77 of 77 |
| High wind and dust storms | 204 | 103 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 77 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 169 | 111 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $471K | 77 of 77 |
| Winter storms | 99 | 86 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 1 | $6.5M | 59 of 77 |
| Drought | 75 | 75 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $249M | 73 of 77 |
| Tornadoes | 56 | 38 | 1950-2025 | 0 | 3 | $8.4M | 77 of 77 |
| Extreme cold | 31 | 27 | 2007-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 77 |
| Floods | 16 | 12 | 1996-2020 | 0 | 0 | $41K | 76 of 77 |
| Wildfires | 9 | 8 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 1 | – | 50 of 77 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 5 | 1997-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 77 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 77 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 1997-2000 | 1 | 3 | – | 64 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 Cimarron County had?
NOAA records 56 tornadoes in Cimarron County from 1950 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 3 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 56 tornadoes whose track touched Cimarron County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 56, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-05-18 12:50, as SPC files it | UnnamedCrossed CO, OK | F4 | 38.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Oklahoma.
Every tornado record filed for Cimarron County (56)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-08 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 2.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-06 | Boise City, Cimarron County | EFU 5.51 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-06-06 | Keyes, Cimarron County | EFU 0.8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-29 | Boise City, Cimarron County | EFU 0.68 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-06-13 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 1.87 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-06-13 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 0.91 mi x 35 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 0.31 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 0.44 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 0.12 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 0.11 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Boise City, Cimarron County | EFU 0.47 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 2.87 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-30 | Felt, Cimarron County | EFU 0.12 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-02 | Felt, Cimarron County | EF0 0.01 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-06-25 | Boise City, Cimarron County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-06-25 | Keyes, Cimarron County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-16 | Felt, Cimarron County | EF0 0.31 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-16 | Felt, Cimarron County | EF0 0.52 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-31 | Keyes, Cimarron County | EF0 1.75 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-23 | Felt, Cimarron County | EF1 6.01 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2010-05-23 | Felt, Cimarron County | EF0 2.05 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-19 | Felt, Cimarron County | EF0 0.27 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-05-31 | Sturgis, Cimarron County | EF0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-05-31 | Keyes, Cimarron County | EF0 0.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-15 | Felt, Cimarron County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2003-05-15 | Griggs, Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-15 | Wheeless, Cimarron County | F1 5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $72K |
| 2003-05-15 | Boise City, Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-09-17 | Boise City, Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-06-03 | Felt, Cimarron County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-25 | Felt, Cimarron County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 1992-06-19 | Cimarron County | F1 2 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M step |
| 1991-05-11 | Cimarron County | F0 0.5 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1988-05-30 | Cimarron County | F1 10 mi x 73 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1987-05-03 | Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-08-02 | Cimarron County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-08-21 | Cimarron County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-07-09 | Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-06-23 | Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1981-06-11 | Cimarron County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1977-05-18 | Cimarron County | F2 16.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1977-05-18 | Cimarron County | F4 29.3 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-05-28 | Cimarron County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1971-04-22 | Cimarron County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1971-04-19 | Cimarron County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1971-04-19 | Cimarron County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-07-03 | Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-07-03 | Cimarron County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-07-03 | Cimarron County | F0 6.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1964-05-10 | Cimarron County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1962-08-30 | Cimarron County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1962-05-17 | Cimarron County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1961-06-05 | Cimarron County | F2 28.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K step |
| 1960-04-12 | Cimarron County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1951-06-21 | Cimarron County | F1 4.3 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1950-10-01 | Cimarron County | F1 15.8 mi x 33 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 Cimarron County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 25, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindKenton, Cimarron County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindBoise City, Cimarron County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-26 | HailFelt, Cimarron County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindGriggs, Cimarron County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindBoise City, Cimarron County | 88 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-25 | HailBoise City, Cimarron County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindBoise City, Cimarron County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-15 | WildfireCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-14 | WildfireCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-14 | WildfireCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-08-18 | LightningBoise City, Cimarron County A man was riding a horse at Black Mesa StatePark around Lake Carl Etling and were struck by lightning.Both the man and the horse were killed instantly. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-05-25 | LightningBoise City, Cimarron County Three men were injured when lightning struck their pickup truck as they were getting out during a thunderstorm. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1992-06-19 | TornadoCimarron County | F1 2 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.5M step |
| 2006-12-28 | Heavy SnowCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron Snow was estimated to be six to eight inches fifteen miles northwest of Boise City along with three foot drifts. Roads were reported to be impassable. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2006-11-20 | WildfireCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron A wildfire fourteen miles north-northeast of Boise City Oklahoma burned an estimated five thousand acres and jumped the Cimarron River. One firefighter suffered non-burn related injuries. No damage was reported. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1961-06-05 | TornadoCimarron County | F2 28.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $3K 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-03-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $32M | |
| 2013-04-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $32M | |
| 2012-11-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $26M | |
| 2012-12-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $26M | |
| 2013-02-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $25M | |
| 2013-01-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $24M | |
| 2006-12-29 | BlizzardCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $5.9M | |
| 2013-09-01 | DroughtCimarron County · forecast zone Cimarron | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
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: June 19, 1992 (tornado, Cimarron 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 Cimarron 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 0 | 4 | 5 | 15 | 56 | 89 | 73 | 44 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 5 | 84 | 75 | 40 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 53 | 61 | 44 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 14 | 31 | 41 | 13 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | 31 | 41 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 13 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
63% of its hail reports since 1961 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 62 · Feb 68 · Mar 47 · Apr 94 · May 149 · Jun 209 · Jul 79 · Aug 75 · Sep 50 · Oct 36 · Nov 36 · Dec 50 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cimarron County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Cimarron County: 11 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and severe ice storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-07-19 | DR-4721 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2021-02-24 | DR-4587 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021-02-17 | EM-3555 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-04-05 | DR-4530 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3462 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-05-26 | DR-4315 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2011-02-02 | EM-3316 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-07-26 | DR-1926 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-01-30 | EM-3308 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-10-09 | DR-1803 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-12-10 | EM-3280 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-02-01 | DR-1677 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2007-01-14 | EM-3272 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-01-10 | DR-1623 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3219 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-10 | DR-1465 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2002-02-01 | DR-1401 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 2001-06-29 | DR-1384 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Cimarron County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cimarron County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $6.7M | 151 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $637K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $139K | once in about 188 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $58K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $176K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $18K | once in about 1,736 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $10K | once in about 7 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cimarron 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 OklahomaEvery Oklahoma tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in OklahomaThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Oklahoma recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Cimarron CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cimarron County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis