Coal County, Oklahoma

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 40029 · population 5,266 · 517 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 509 records for Coal County, Oklahoma from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 407 days; the most frequent are hail reports (150 records). The deadliest single record is the April 11, 2001 tornado: 1 death, 1 injury and $125,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1970, 25 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on April 30, 2024.

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
509on 407 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
28 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
31strongest F3
FEMA declarations
27latest 2024

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 Coal County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 150 since 1974. 62% of its hail reports since 1974 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.

Coal County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 150 101 1974-2025 0 3 $11M 60 of 77
Heat 95 95 2001-2026 0 0 – 4 of 77
Drought 75 75 2000-2026 0 0 $14M 13 of 77
Severe thunderstorm wind 68 55 1977-2025 0 0 $693K 73 of 77
Winter storms 40 40 1996-2026 0 0 $1.4M 17 of 77
Tornadoes 31 23 1950-2025 1 5 $2.4M 58 of 77
Floods 21 14 1999-2020 1 0 $27K 51 of 77
Extreme cold 10 10 1996-2025 0 0 – 7 of 77
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 8 8 1998-2004 0 0 – 7 of 77
High wind and dust storms 5 5 1996-2002 0 0 – 63 of 77
Wildfires 4 4 2017-2018 0 0 – 31 of 77
Lightning 2 2 1998-2017 0 0 $2K 37 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 Coal County had?

NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Coal County from 1950 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 5 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 31 tornadoes whose track touched Coal County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 1 of them in Coal County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Coal County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2016-05-09 16:18, as SPC files itBromideEF39.06 mi1
2001-04-11 04:25, as SPC files itWardvilleF213 mi1
1992-05-11 13:55, as SPC files itTupelo to CentrahomaF312 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Oklahoma.

Every tornado record filed for Coal County (31)
Every tornado recorded in Coal County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-04-19 Lehigh, Coal County EF1 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $75K
2024-11-03 Cottonwood, Coal County EFU 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2024-11-03 Tupelo, Coal County EFU 0.3 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2020-04-22 Olney, Coal County EF0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2019-12-28 Lehigh, Coal County EF0 0.2 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $12K
2019-05-18 Cottonwood, Coal County EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 3 $29K
2019-04-30 Lehigh, Coal County EF1 0.75 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $6K
2017-05-19 Bromide, Coal County EFU 3 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2016-05-09 Bromide, Coal County EF0 0.46 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2016-05-09 Lehigh, Coal County EF1 3.65 mi x 750 yd 0 0 $37K
2013-05-20 Lehigh, Coal County EF1 5.9 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $38K
2006-05-09 Olney, Coal County F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2001-05-20 Tupelo, Coal County F0 0.1 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2001-05-20 Centrahoma, Coal County F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2001-04-11 Tupelo, Coal County F2 4.5 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $667K
2001-04-11 Coalgate, Coal County F2 8 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $125K
1997-05-25 Tupelo, Coal County F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
1993-04-24 Centrahoma, Coal County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1992-05-11 Coal County F0 3 mi x 73 yd 0 0 –
1992-05-11 Coal County F2 4 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $250K step
1992-05-11 Coal County F3 12 mi x 150 yd 0 1 $250K step
1992-05-11 Coal County F1 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1982-06-04 Coal County F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 $250 step
1981-05-13 Coal County F2 4.5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $3K step
1981-05-13 Coal County F1 0 0 $30 step
1963-04-24 Coal County 0 0 –
1963-03-18 Coal County F2 0 0 $3K step
1957-05-25 Coal County F1 0 0 –
1954-07-23 Coal County F2 0.3 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $250 step
1954-05-01 Coal County F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $3K step
1950-04-28 Coal County F2 0.8 mi x 100 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 Coal County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 19, 2025 tornado ($75,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The roof of a home was damaged, a shed destroyed and numerous trees were damaged just west of the Coal-Atoka County line near E1770 Road.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1254384)
The 12 most recent records kept for Coal County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-18 HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2026-03-01 DroughtCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2026-02-01 DroughtCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2026-01-23 Winter StormCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2026-01-20 DroughtCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2025-08-20 HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2025-08-19 Excessive HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2025-08-18 Excessive HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2025-08-17 HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2025-08-16 HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 –
2025-08-15 HeatCoal County · forecast zone Coal 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 Coal County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2001-04-11 TornadoCoalgate, Coal County This tornado formed 4 miles southeast of Coalgate and tracked northeastward for 8 miles before crossing into northwest Atoka County at 0434 CST (See following entry for information about the Atoka County segment). The tornado then continued for another 5 miles before dissipating at 0440 CST. In Coal County, 1 ... F2 8 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $125K
2015-05-10 FloodTupelo, Coal County Flooding occurred following several rounds of heavy rainfall. One fatality occurred when a truck stalled in floodwater and the occupant attempted to get out of the vehicle. The individual was swept away and perished. The incident occurred near Norfleet Rd and county road 3170 in rural Coal county. 1 0 $25K
2019-05-18 TornadoCottonwood, Coal County A brief QLCS tornado caused damage at a natural gas production facility that was under construction about 8 miles north-northeast of Coalgate. Multiple large shipping containers were blown over and light frame structures were damaged. Flying debris damaged numerous vehicles and injured 3 people. EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 3 $29K
1994-04-26 HailBromide, Coal County 2.75 in hail 0 3 $10.0M
1992-05-11 TornadoCoal County F3 12 mi x 150 yd 0 1 $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.

The costliest records in Coal County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1994-04-26 HailBromide, Coal County 2.75 in hail 0 3 $10.0M
2000-12-26 Ice StormCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 $1.0M
1994-04-26 HailBromide, Coal County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $995K
2001-04-11 TornadoTupelo, Coal County F2 4.5 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $667K
2007-01-12 Winter StormCoal County · forecast zone Coal 0 0 $353K
2001-04-11 TornadoCoalgate, Coal County F2 8 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $125K
2025-04-19 TornadoLehigh, Coal County EF1 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $75K
2016-05-09 TornadoLehigh, Coal County EF1 3.65 mi x 750 yd 0 0 $37K

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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 11, 1992 (tornado, Coal County); May 11, 1992 (tornado, Coal 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 Coal 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).

Coal County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail0032656331814
Heat––––03092
Drought––––0183126
Severe thunderstorm wind00182018156
Winter storms––––615145
Tornadoes42036574

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

What time of year?

62% of its hail reports since 1974 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 36 · Feb 40 · Mar 30 · Apr 68 · May 98 · Jun 41 · Jul 58 · Aug 59 · Sep 20 · Oct 20 · Nov 21 · Dec 18 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Coal County

FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Coal County: 19 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and severe ice storm (6).

Declarations including Coal County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-04-30DR-4776TornadoSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
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
2019-07-12DR-4453Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2017-07-25DR-4324TornadoSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2016-02-10DR-4256Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Flooding
2015-05-26DR-4222Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2013-05-20DR-4117TornadoSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2011-02-02EM-3316Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2010-01-30EM-3308Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2009-02-15DR-1820Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
2008-05-09DR-1754FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2007-12-10EM-3280Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2007-07-07DR-1712Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2007-02-01DR-1678Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
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
1981-11-04DR-649FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1973-06-13DR-392Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, & Tornadoes
1970-10-14DR-297Severe StormHeavy 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 Coal County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 21 flood or flash flood records for Coal County from 1999 to 2020, on 14 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Coal County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $27,000 on 2 claims filed in Coal County; the most in one year was 1 in 1986. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1986: 1 · 2015: 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 Coal County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Coal County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.0 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 Coal County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
HailRelatively High$2.3M7 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$640K43 modeled event-days a year
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$217K1.8 a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$484Konce in about 73 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$771Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$203K21 modeled event-days a year
Cold WaveRelatively Low$261K1.3 a year (modeled)
LandslideVery Low$1Konce in about 6 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Coal County

  1. Pittsburg County 1,125
  2. Pontotoc County 1,043
  3. Johnston County 728
  4. Atoka County 723
  5. Hughes County 638
  6. Coal County 509

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

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