Cole County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29051 · population 76,989 · 392 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 469 records for Cole County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 348 days; the most frequent are hail reports (147 records). The deadliest single record is the December 1, 2025 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Cole, which covers the county: 1 death and 1 injury. 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, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on July 9, 2019.
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
- 469on 348 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 239 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $221Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 2020
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 Cole County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 147 since 1958. 52% of its hail reports since 1958 fell in April and May. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 147 | 90 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | 23 of 114 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 141 | 114 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 16 of 114 |
| Heat | 52 | 52 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 1 | – | 14 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 48 | 47 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 4 | $552K | 21 of 114 |
| Floods | 42 | 39 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $994K | 55 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 32 | $214M | 77 of 114 |
| Lightning | 8 | 8 | 1997-2018 | 0 | 2 | $47K | 3 of 114 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 87 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 79 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 2001-2019 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 31 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2005-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 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 Cole County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Cole County from 1966 to 2026, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 32 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Cole County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12: 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-22 21:56, as SPC files it | Jefferson | EF3 | 32.68 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Cole County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-17 | Marion, Cole County | EF0 1.47 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-22 | Scrivner, Cole County | EF3 17.13 mi x 1,500 yd | 0 | 32 | $196M |
| 2017-05-19 | Wardsville, Cole County | EF1 0.95 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-08 | Eugene, Cole County | F1 12 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-04-15 | Elston To Frankenstei, Cole County | F1 25 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 1986-10-03 | Cole County | F2 3.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1984-03-15 | Cole County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1983-05-01 | Cole County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1983-05-01 | Cole County | F1 7 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-04-02 | Cole County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1980-05-12 | Cole County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1966-10-14 | Cole County | F1 3.3 mi x 50 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 Cole County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 8, 2026 flood ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-08 | FloodScrivner, Cole County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-06-08 | FloodScrivner, Cole County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindTaos, Cole County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindCole Jct, Cole County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | TornadoMarion, Cole County | EF0 1.47 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-16 | HailEugene, Cole County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-16 | HailEugene, Cole County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-01 | Winter WeatherCole County · forecast zone Cole | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2025-09-14 | Thunderstorm WindScruggs, Cole County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-25 | Excessive HeatCole County · forecast zone Cole | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindSt Martin, Cole County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-04 | Winter StormCole County · forecast zone Cole | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-12-01 | Winter WeatherCole County · forecast zone Cole Snow covered roads led to multiple accidents. Although only 2 to 3 inches of snow was reported, accidents and road closures led to at least one injury and one fatality. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2016-08-01 | Flash FloodMarion, Cole County Up to five inches of rain fell in a short amount of time causing flash flooding during the late evening hours of July 31st into the early morning hours of August 1st. Numerous roads were flooded including Missouri Boulevard in Jefferson City. Five water rescues were performed due to stranded motorists. Also, a body ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2019-05-22 | TornadoScrivner, Cole County A tornado crossed from Miller County (WFO Springfield’s County Warning Area) into Cole County at 1120 PM. As the tornado tracked to the northeast it crossed Lake Carmel and tore the roof off of a one story home on the northeast shore of the lake. Numerous trees were either snapped off or uprooted in the area as well. ... | EF3 17.13 mi x 1,500 yd | 0 | 32 | $196M |
| 2008-02-11 | Winter WeatherCole County · forecast zone Cole A light coating of freezing rain and sleet fell during the morning of February 11, 2008 resulting in numerous traffic accidents and injuries. At least 130 accidents were reported in Boone County resulting in 35 injuries. One death occurred in a traffic accident in Warren County on I-70 near mile marker 191. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2018-06-26 | LightningJefferson City, Cole County Storms were moving through the area. One person was struck by lightning in his front yard in Jefferson City. The man sustained non-life threatening injuries. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2008-06-24 | LightningSt Martin, Cole County A 17 year old male was struck by lightning in Binder Memorial State Park west of Jefferson City. The victim was revived by paramedics and airlifted to a local hospital. He was released from the hospital a week later. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2002-08-01 | HeatCole County · forecast zone Cole The hot temperatures of late July continued across central and eastern Missouri into early August. The temperature his 101 degrees in St. Louis on August 1, and then was 99 for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Columbia hit 99 degrees on August 3rd. There was one death reported by local health officials. A 59 year old man died ... | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-22 | TornadoScrivner, Cole County | EF3 17.13 mi x 1,500 yd | 0 | 32 | $196M |
| 1994-04-15 | TornadoElston To Frankenstei, Cole County | F1 25 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 2020-03-27 | HailLohman, Cole County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.4M |
| 1999-08-07 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson City, Cole County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2015-07-01 | Flash FloodSt Thomas, Cole County | 0 | 0 | $934K | |
| 2006-12-01 | Winter StormCole County · forecast zone Cole | 0 | 0 | $357K | |
| 2026-06-08 | FloodScrivner, Cole County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2024-05-07 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson City, Cole County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $9K |
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: October 3, 1986 (tornado, Cole 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 Cole 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 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 15 | 42 | 51 | 10 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 14 | 6 | 11 | 18 | 20 | 31 | 27 | 14 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 20 | 29 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 18 | 13 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 11 | 14 | 12 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its hail reports since 1958 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 23 · Feb 13 · Mar 42 · Apr 68 · May 78 · Jun 63 · Jul 68 · Aug 46 · Sep 18 · Oct 11 · Nov 14 · Dec 25 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Cole County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Cole County: 18 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and flood (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2017-06-02 | DR-4317 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2016-01-21 | DR-4250 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2016-01-02 | EM-3374 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4238 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-06-30 | EM-3325 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011-03-23 | DR-1961 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2011-02-03 | EM-3317 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-01-30 | EM-3303 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-03-19 | DR-1749 | 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 |
| 2007-01-15 | DR-1676 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 2006-12-29 | DR-1673 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-06 | DR-1463 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1999-04-20 | DR-1270 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-06-02 | DR-1054 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, Flooding |
| 1994-04-21 | DR-1023 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-995 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1986-10-14 | DR-779 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-09-24 | EM-3017 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Cole County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 42 flood or flash flood records for Cole County from 1996 to 2026, on 39 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cole County ranks 587th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $7.6 million on 416 claims filed in Cole County; the most in one year was 96 in 1993. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1981: 3 · 1982: 4 · 1983: 13 · 1985: 11 · 1986: 27 · 1987: 3 · 1990: 17 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 96 · 1994: 26 · 1995: 50 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 14 · 1999: 2 · 2001: 8 · 2002: 3 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2007: 5 · 2008: 10 · 2009: 4 · 2010: 6 · 2011: 3 · 2013: 10 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 22 · 2016: 13 · 2017: 9 · 2019: 26 · 2020: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 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 Cole County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cole County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $42.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.3M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $6.9M | 12 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $6.7M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $282K | 9.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $748K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $20M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.8M | once in about 538 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Cole 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
- Hail in MissouriThe state's hail reports, 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 Cole CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Cole County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis