Grundy County, Tennessee

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47061 · population 13,485 · 360 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 302 records for Grundy County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 247 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (107 records). The most damaging was the November 6, 2018 tornado ($881,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1973, 20 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
302on 247 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
08 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$11Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
9strongest F3
FEMA declarations
22latest 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 Grundy County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 107 since 1963. 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.

Grundy County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 107 87 1963-2025 0 0 $1.5M 79 of 95
Winter storms 59 57 1996-2026 0 0 $2.5M 30 of 95
Hail 48 38 1959-2017 0 0 $15K 51 of 95
Drought 45 45 2007-2026 0 0 $6K 9 of 95
Floods 23 21 1998-2024 0 0 $515K 75 of 95
High wind and dust storms 9 9 2000-2025 0 0 $712K 33 of 95
Tornadoes 9 8 1952-2025 0 8 $5.8M 69 of 95
Extreme cold 1 1 2022-2022 0 0 – 53 of 95
Lightning 1 1 2005-2005 0 0 $15K 71 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 Grundy County had?

NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Grundy County from 1952 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 8 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Grundy County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9: 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 Grundy County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1959-03-26 18:10, as SPC files itCarthageF319.5 mi0
1952-02-13 23:00, as SPC files itMonteagle to TracyF35.1 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.

Every tornado record filed for Grundy County (9)
Every tornado recorded in Grundy County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-04-05 Monteagle, Grundy County EF1 6.38 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $500K
2021-12-11 Dogtown, Grundy County EF0 8.92 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $54K
2018-11-06 Counter Pen, Grundy County EF1 15.2 mi x 700 yd 0 0 $294K
2018-11-06 Pelham, Grundy County EF2 10.2 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $881K
2011-04-27 Gruetli, Grundy County EF0 1.16 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $12K
2004-05-30 Tracy City, Grundy County F1 1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $47K
1994-06-26 Altamont To, Grundy County F2 4 mi x 50 yd 0 6 $995K
1955-02-01 Grundy County F1 2 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $25K step
1952-02-13 Grundy County F3 5.1 mi x 400 yd 0 2 $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 Grundy County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 7, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Grundy County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-05-01 DroughtGrundy County · forecast zone Grundy 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtGrundy County · forecast zone Grundy 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Winter StormGrundy County · forecast zone Grundy 0 0 –
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindDogtown, Grundy County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindClouse Hill, Grundy County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindClouse Hill, Grundy County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-06-06 Thunderstorm WindClouse Hill, Grundy County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-05-27 Thunderstorm WindClouse Hill, Grundy County 43 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2025-04-05 TornadoMonteagle, Grundy County EF1 6.38 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $500K
2025-04-05 Thunderstorm WindMonteagle, Grundy County 70 kt wind 0 0 $50K
2025-03-15 Thunderstorm WindPalmer, Grundy County 83 kt wind 0 0 $500K
2025-03-04 High WindGrundy County · forecast zone Grundy 52 kt wind 0 0 $15K

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 Grundy County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1994-06-26 TornadoAltamont To, Grundy County A tornado touched down several just west of Altamont. One house and several mobile homes were destroyed. Numerous trees were uprooted. F2 4 mi x 50 yd 0 6 $995K
1952-02-13 TornadoGrundy County F3 5.1 mi x 400 yd 0 2 $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 Grundy County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-11-06 TornadoPelham, Grundy County EF2 10.2 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $881K
2025-03-15 Thunderstorm WindPalmer, Grundy County 83 kt wind 0 0 $500K
2025-04-05 TornadoMonteagle, Grundy County EF1 6.38 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $500K
2018-11-06 TornadoCounter Pen, Grundy County EF1 15.2 mi x 700 yd 0 0 $294K
2018-11-06 Thunderstorm WindBarkertown, Grundy County 87 kt wind 0 0 $118K
2004-05-30 TornadoTracy City, Grundy County F1 1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $47K
2018-11-06 Thunderstorm WindBarkertown, Grundy County 87 kt wind 0 0 $29K
2025-03-04 High WindGrundy County · forecast zone Grundy 52 kt wind 0 0 $15K

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: February 13, 1952 (tornado, Grundy 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 Grundy 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).

Grundy County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind014218224119
Winter storms––––4633 z16
Hail12141515100
Drought––––020916
Floods––––38102

Winter storms in the 2010s: 33 records against 6 in the decade before, 33 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Grundy County days with a record above.

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 Grundy County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 39 · Feb 35 · Mar 30 · Apr 35 · May 31 · Jun 29 · Jul 24 · Aug 17 · Sep 8 · Oct 9 · Nov 25 · Dec 20 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Grundy County

FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Grundy County: 15 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and flood (3).

Declarations including Grundy 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
2023-05-17DR-4712Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado
2020-04-02DR-4514BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3473BiologicalCovid-19
2015-04-02DR-4211Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm and Flooding
2005-09-05EM-3217HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-10-07DR-1568Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2003-05-08DR-1464Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2001-11-03FM-2387FireTn - Chattanooga Fire Complex - 11/03/01
1999-04-13FM-2250FireTn - Wildfires 4/13/99
1999-01-15DR-1260Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
1998-01-13DR-1197Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1997-04-02DR-1171Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
1994-02-28DR-1010Severe StormSevere Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding
1993-03-14EM-3095SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
1991-01-04DR-889FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1974-04-04DR-424TornadoTornadoes
1973-06-28DR-395FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1973-03-21DR-366FloodHeavy 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 Grundy County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Grundy County from 1998 to 2024, on 21 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Grundy County ranks 2685th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $36,000 on 3 claims filed in Grundy County; the most in one year was 1 in 1994. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1994: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 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 Grundy County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Grundy County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.3 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 Grundy County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$1.5M1.2 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.8Monce in about 4 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$379K5.6 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$338Konce in about 315 years (modeled)
LandslideRelatively Low$2Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$50K6.8 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$97K21 modeled event-days a year
Ice StormRelatively Low$24Kabout once 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 Grundy County

  1. Franklin County 735
  2. Coffee County 529
  3. Warren County 441
  4. Marion County 422
  5. Grundy County 302
  6. Sequatchie County 279

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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