Dyer County, Tennessee

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47045 · population 36,762 · 512 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 490 records for Dyer County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 416 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (140 records). The deadliest single record is the April 2, 2006 tornado: 16 deaths, 70 injuries and $29.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1973, 22 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
490on 416 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
37148 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$167Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
33strongest F4
FEMA declarations
24latest 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 Dyer County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 140 since 1956. 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.

Dyer County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 140 125 1956-2026 0 0 $8.1M 78 of 95
Heat 106 103 2007-2026 0 0 – 7 of 95
Winter storms 65 65 1996-2025 1 1 $52K 49 of 95
Hail 55 45 1967-2026 0 0 $405K 77 of 95
Floods 36 32 1996-2025 0 0 $20M 69 of 95
Tornadoes 33 27 1952-2026 35 146 $138M 13 of 95
Drought 30 30 2007-2026 0 0 – 39 of 95
Extreme cold 12 12 2007-2026 0 0 – 10 of 95
Lightning 6 6 1996-2007 1 1 $221K 29 of 95
High wind and dust storms 5 5 1996-2023 0 0 $66K 78 of 95
Hurricanes and tropical storms 2 2 2005-2008 0 0 $152K 8 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 Dyer County had?

NOAA records 33 tornadoes in Dyer County from 1952 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 35 deaths and 146 injuries recorded in the county. That is 13th 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 32 tornadoes whose track touched Dyer County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 33: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 35 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Dyer County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2006-04-02 18:32, as SPC files itNewbernF318 mi16
1952-03-21 20:30, as SPC files itDyersburgF318.1 mi10
1952-03-21 20:30, as SPC files itNewbernF42 mi4
1952-03-21 18:00, as SPC files itYorkvilleF44.7 mi2
1998-04-16 03:00, as SPC files itDyersburgF34 mi2
1997-03-01 19:00, as SPC files itDyersburgF415 mi1
2021-12-10 22:32, as SPC files itNewbern to DresdenCrossed KY, TNEF3122.62 mi0
1982-04-02 19:20, as SPC files itDyersburgF38 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.

Every tornado record filed for Dyer County (33)
Every tornado recorded in Dyer County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-04-27 Dyersburg, Dyer County EF0 0.98 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K
2025-04-02 Jenkinsville, Dyer County EF1 4.7 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $1.9M
2021-12-10 Newbern, Dyer County EF2 6.16 mi x 1,000 yd 0 0 $708K
2017-07-03 Newbern, Dyer County EF0 0.31 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2017-03-01 Dyersburg, Dyer County EF0 3.71 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $60K
2009-05-24 Midway, Dyer County EF0 3.88 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-02 Chic, Dyer County EF2 1.37 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $55K
2008-01-08 South Fork, Dyer County EF1 3.46 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $27K
2006-04-02 Newbern, Dyer County F3 18 mi x 880 yd 16 70 $29M
2004-10-18 Evansville, Dyer County F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $1.6M
2003-05-04 Dyersburg, Dyer County F0 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $16K
2003-05-04 Newbern, Dyer County F1 2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $40K
2003-05-04 Finley, Dyer County F1 4 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $321K
2003-05-04 Dyersburg, Dyer County F2 15 mi x 200 yd 0 10 $80M
2001-06-27 Unionville, Dyer County F0 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2K
2001-06-27 Dyersburg, Dyer County F0 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2K
1998-04-16 Ro Ellen, Dyer County F3 4 mi x 100 yd 2 3 $453K
1997-03-01 Chic, Dyer County F4 15 mi x 200 yd 1 15 $3.7M
1996-01-18 Miston, Dyer County F0 0.3 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $19K
1991-06-15 Dyer County F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $3K step
1989-06-11 Dyer County F0 0.9 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $250 step
1982-04-02 Dyer County F3 8 mi x 77 yd 0 1 $2.5M step
1979-05-03 Dyer County F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1978-04-17 Dyer County F0 0.2 mi x 220 yd 0 0 $25K step
1975-11-10 Dyer County F1 0.1 mi x 23 yd 0 0 $25K step
1973-04-19 Dyer County F1 0 1 $25K step
1968-04-03 Dyer County F1 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 –
1957-06-27 Dyer County F1 2 mi x 13 yd 0 0 $25K step
1953-03-22 Dyer County F2 30.1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1953-03-14 Dyer County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $25K step
1952-03-21 Dyer County F4 2 mi x 200 yd 4 5 $250K step
1952-03-21 Dyer County F3 18.1 mi x 1,000 yd 10 30 $250K step
1952-03-21 Dyer County F4 4.7 mi x 200 yd 2 10 $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 Dyer County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 13, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Dyer County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-30 HeatDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-06-29 HeatDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindNewbern, Dyer County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindTrimble, Dyer County 50 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-06-01 DroughtDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-04-27 HailDyersburg, Dyer County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-27 TornadoDyersburg, Dyer County EF0 0.98 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K
2026-04-01 DroughtDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-03-24 DroughtDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-02-01 Cold/Wind ChillDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 –
2026-02-01 DroughtDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 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 Dyer County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2006-04-02 TornadoNewbern, Dyer County A tornado spawned from the same parent supercell that produced damaging tornadoes west of the Mississippi River moved across Dyer County during the evening of April 2nd. The most affected areas were Millsfield, Maxey, and Newbern. The F3 tornado resulted in sixteen fatalities and 70 injuries. Seventy-one homes were ... F3 18 mi x 880 yd 16 70 $29M
1952-03-21 TornadoDyer County F3 18.1 mi x 1,000 yd 10 30 $250K step
1952-03-21 TornadoDyer County F4 2 mi x 200 yd 4 5 $250K step
1952-03-21 TornadoDyer County F4 4.7 mi x 200 yd 2 10 $250K step
1998-04-16 TornadoRo Ellen, Dyer County The tornado started west of Ro Ellen and moved east. One mobile home with two persons inside was destroyed. The two persons in the mobile home were killed. Two other mobile homes were destroyed. A brick home was destroyed with a truck thrown on top of the house. Several other homes were damaged. Numerous trees and ... F3 4 mi x 100 yd 2 3 $453K
1997-03-01 TornadoChic, Dyer County A tornado developed in Mississippi county Arkansas near the town of Lennie. Three mobile homes were damaged or destroyed and a cotton trailer was over turned. The tornado touched down again in Dyer county in Tennessee. The most severe damage with the tornado occurred in Dyer county. A thirteen-year-old girl was killed ... F4 15 mi x 200 yd 1 15 $3.7M
2006-05-30 LightningNewbern, Dyer County A 37 year old man was killed when lightning struck a tree he was using for a shelter at the Oakview Links Golf Course. A 33 year old man was injured in the same strike and was transported to a hospital in Memphis. 1 1 $15
2012-12-25 Winter StormDyer County · forecast zone Dyer Snow accumulations of three inches fell across Dyer County. One fatality occurred from a car accident. 1 0 –

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 Dyer County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2003-05-04 TornadoDyersburg, Dyer County F2 15 mi x 200 yd 0 10 $80M
2006-04-02 TornadoNewbern, Dyer County F3 18 mi x 880 yd 16 70 $29M
2010-05-02 FloodDyersburg, Dyer County 0 0 $13M
2011-04-19 Thunderstorm WindChic, Dyer County 65 kt wind 0 0 $6.5M
1997-03-01 FloodDyer County · forecast zone Dyer 0 0 $3.7M
2025-04-02 TornadoJenkinsville, Dyer County EF1 4.7 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $1.9M
2004-10-18 TornadoEvansville, Dyer County F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $1.6M
2025-04-06 FloodCalvary, Dyer County 0 0 $1.3M

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, Dyer 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 Dyer 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).

Dyer County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind512101125273020
Heat––––013273
Winter storms––––3173015
Hail01061020612
Floods––––78138
Tornadoes614241123

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

What time of year?

Records by month in Dyer County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 40 · Feb 47 · Mar 38 · Apr 53 · May 56 · Jun 58 · Jul 94 · Aug 44 · Sep 7 · Oct 11 · Nov 16 · Dec 26 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Dyer County

FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Dyer County: 18 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (5).

Declarations including Dyer County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-02-06DR-4898Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2026-01-24EM-3635Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2025-06-19DR-4878Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2025-04-02EM-3625Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2022-01-14DR-4637TornadoSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2021-12-13EM-3576TornadoSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2020-07-09DR-4550Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2020-04-02DR-4514BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3473BiologicalCovid-19
2019-04-17DR-4427FloodSevere Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides
2011-05-09DR-1979Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2011-05-04EM-3321FloodFlooding
2010-05-04DR-1909Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2009-02-17DR-1821Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm and Flooding
2006-04-05DR-1634Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
2005-09-05EM-3217HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2003-05-08DR-1464Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
1998-04-20DR-1215Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
1997-03-07DR-1167TornadoHeavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High Winds
1994-02-28DR-1010Severe StormSevere Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding
1991-01-04DR-889FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1979-05-07DR-585Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1975-03-22DR-459FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1973-05-11DR-382FloodSevere 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 Dyer County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 36 flood or flash flood records for Dyer County from 1996 to 2025, on 32 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Dyer County ranks 750th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $7.3 million on 297 claims filed in Dyer County; the most in one year was 86 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 4 · 1979: 1 · 1981: 3 · 1990: 2 · 1992: 1 · 1997: 34 · 1998: 6 · 2001: 13 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 5 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 79 · 2011: 86 · 2012: 1 · 2016: 9 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2025: 45; 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 Dyer County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dyer County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $47.3 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 Dyer County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively High$574K1.3 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$31Monce in about 62 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$4.9Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$1.4M17 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$186K7.2 a year (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$3.2M2.6 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$786K13 modeled event-days a year
LightningRelatively Moderate$552K58 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 Dyer County

  1. Mississippi County, AR 758
  2. Gibson County 619
  3. Obion County 498
  4. Pemiscot County, MO 497
  5. Dyer County 490
  6. Lauderdale County 463
  7. Crockett County 393
  8. Lake County 320

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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