Jefferson County, Iowa
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 19101 · population 15,635 · 436 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 450 records for Jefferson County, Iowa from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 333 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (133 records). The most damaging was the July 1, 2005 drought ($2.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1965, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on July 31, 2015.
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
- 450on 333 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $107Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 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 Jefferson County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 133 since 1996. 62% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among Iowa'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 133 | 128 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $124K | 12 of 99 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 118 | 80 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $996K | 39 of 99 |
| Hail | 93 | 55 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 67 of 99 |
| Floods | 24 | 20 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $550K | 90 of 99 |
| Extreme cold | 18 | 18 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | $598K | 70 of 99 |
| Drought | 17 | 17 | 2003-2013 | 0 | 0 | $29M | 67 of 99 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 12 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 3 | $74M | 94 of 99 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 10 | 10 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 99 |
| High wind and dust storms | 9 | 9 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | $216K | 90 of 99 |
| Heat | 5 | 5 | 1997-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 31 of 99 |
| Heavy rain | 5 | 4 | 2003-2021 | 0 | 0 | $80K | 73 of 99 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1996-2010 | 0 | 0 | $168K | 21 of 99 |
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 Jefferson County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Jefferson County from 1959 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, 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 13 tornadoes whose track touched Jefferson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-04-21 14:00, as SPC files it | Fairfield | F3 | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| 1959-05-09 19:00, as SPC files it | Lockridge to Wayland | F3 | 17.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Iowa.
Every tornado record filed for Jefferson County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | Pekin, Jefferson County | EF1 1.98 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-05-17 | Pleasant Plain, Jefferson County | EF1 1.27 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-04-02 | Fairfield, Jefferson County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2003-05-10 | Lockridge, Jefferson County | F0 2.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2003-05-10 | Glasgow, Jefferson County | F0 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 1999-04-08 | Pleasant Plain, Jefferson County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-08 | Batavia, Jefferson County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-04-20 | Jefferson County | F1 2 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1988-05-08 | Jefferson County | F2 27 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25M step |
| 1986-08-05 | Jefferson County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1982-09-13 | Jefferson County | F2 13 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1975-11-09 | Jefferson County | F2 8.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 3 | $250K step |
| 1967-04-21 | Jefferson County | F3 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1959-05-09 | Jefferson County | F3 17.8 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Jefferson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 13, 2010 flood ($338,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Heavy rains during the second week of August resulted in the Skunk River at Augusta going above the moderate flood stage level of 17 feet on August 13 around 2 pm CDT. It crested above the major flood stage level around 23.3 feet around 1 pm CDT August 16. It fell below the moderate flood stage level around 920 am CDT August 24.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 258905)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | Flash FloodFairfield, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-17 | TornadoPekin, Jefferson County | EF1 1.98 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | Thunderstorm WindLinby, Jefferson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-14 | HailMiddlekoop Field Airport, Jefferson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-14 | HailPackwood, Jefferson County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPackwood, Jefferson County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-02 | Thunderstorm WindPackwood, Jefferson County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-10 | HailPerlee, Jefferson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-10 | HailFairfield Municipal Airport, Jefferson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-10 | HailBatavia, Jefferson County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-11-09 | TornadoJefferson County | F2 8.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 3 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-07-01 | DroughtJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | |
| 2005-08-01 | DroughtJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | |
| 2003-05-10 | TornadoLockridge, Jefferson County | F0 2.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $160K |
| 2005-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Jefferson County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $121K |
| 2008-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindFairfield, Jefferson County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2006-04-02 | TornadoFairfield, Jefferson County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 8, 1988 (tornado, Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 20 | 59 | 35 | 19 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 45 | 27 | 16 |
| Hail | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 35 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 13 | 4 | 5 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 4 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 |
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 winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 50 · Feb 35 · Mar 32 · Apr 47 · May 48 · Jun 68 · Jul 29 · Aug 39 · Sep 26 · Oct 13 · Nov 12 · Dec 51 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Jefferson County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Jefferson County: 10 major disasters, 2 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-23 | DR-4483 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3480 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-07-31 | DR-4234 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2013-05-31 | DR-4119 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2008-01-04 | DR-1737 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2007-03-14 | DR-1688 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3239 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1998-07-02 | DR-1230 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-996 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-05-23 | DR-386 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1969-08-14 | DR-269 | Flood | Heavy Rains & Flooding |
| 1965-04-22 | DR-193 | Flood | 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Jefferson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jefferson County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.5 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 Moderate | $900K | 14 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 8.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $592K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $380K | 45 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $613K | 5.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.2M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $40K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $43K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Jefferson 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 IowaEvery Iowa tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in IowaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The Iowa recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Jefferson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Jefferson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis