Jefferson County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47089 · population 54,645 · 275 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 376 records for Jefferson County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 270 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (230 records). The most damaging was the February 28, 2011 flood ($2.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 19 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
- 376on 270 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 05 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.6Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Jefferson County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 230 since 1957. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in May and June. 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 230 | 172 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 3 | $2.9M | 9 of 95 |
| Hail | 51 | 39 | 1986-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 27 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 50 | 41 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $27K | 33 of 95 |
| Floods | 18 | 15 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.0M | 81 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 6 | 1955-2023 | 0 | 0 | $352K | 70 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $119K | 30 of 95 |
| Lightning | 5 | 5 | 1996-2010 | 0 | 2 | $215K | 17 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 2 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $45K | 3 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 69 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2009-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 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 Jefferson County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Jefferson County from 1955 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 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 Jefferson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Jefferson County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-12 | Douglas Lake North, Jefferson County | EF0 1.11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-12 | Shady Grove, Jefferson County | EF0 0.43 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-06-13 | Hodges, Jefferson County | EF1 2 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $63K |
| 2011-04-27 | Chestnut Hill, Jefferson County | EF0 0.85 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2011-04-27 | Kansas, Jefferson County | EF0 3.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2011-04-27 | Oakland, Jefferson County | EF0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2011-04-27 | Jefferson City, Jefferson County | EF0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 1997-07-04 | New Market, Jefferson County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 1974-04-04 | Jefferson County | F0 4.5 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1955-03-25 | Jefferson County | F2 16.3 mi x 1,760 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 December 18, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodJefferson City, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodPiedmont, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-28 | Flash FloodOakland, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowJefferson County · forecast zone Jefferson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-19 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson City, Jefferson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-18 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson City, Jefferson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-10-21 | HailDandridge, Jefferson County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson City, Jefferson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindDandridge, Jefferson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-17 | Thunderstorm WindFlat Gap, Jefferson County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-17 | HailDeep Spgs, Jefferson County | 1.25 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-11 | Thunderstorm WindNew Market, Jefferson County Wind damaged a mobile home. A couple was injured and had to be helped from their home. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2004-07-17 | LightningGravelly Hill, Jefferson County A man was struck by lightning which knocked the man unconscious for a few minutes and produced minor injuries. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2002-07-02 | LightningDouglas Lake North, Jefferson County A 17 year old female received shock from lightning strike while leaning against a metal camping trailer. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1989-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-02-28 | FloodJefferson City, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | |
| 2001-10-24 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Jefferson County | 0 | 0 | $450K | |
| 1997-07-04 | TornadoNew Market, Jefferson County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $46K |
| 2004-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindNew Market, Jefferson County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2004-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindNew Market, Jefferson County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 2004-06-12 | Thunderstorm WindNew Market, Jefferson County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 4, 1974 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 31 | 87 | 54 | 46 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 8 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 11 | 18 | 10 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 25 · Mar 23 · Apr 32 · May 57 · Jun 77 · Jul 48 · Aug 39 · Sep 11 · Oct 8 · Nov 6 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Jefferson County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Jefferson County: 16 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and flood (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-06 | DR-4898 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3635 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2025-04-02 | EM-3625 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2024-10-02 | DR-4832 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2023-09-27 | DR-4742 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| 2020-04-02 | DR-4514 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3473 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4427 | Flood | Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides |
| 2017-06-23 | DR-4320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2015-04-02 | DR-4211 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2011-03-31 | DR-1965 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1998-04-20 | DR-1215 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-04-14 | DR-1022 | Flood | Extensive Rainfall and Flash Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1984-05-25 | DR-708 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-424 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973-03-21 | DR-366 | Flood | Heavy 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 Jefferson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 18 flood or flash flood records for Jefferson County from 1997 to 2026, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Jefferson County ranks 2020th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $268,000 on 24 claims filed in Jefferson County; the most in one year was 5 in 2019. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 1 · 1994: 4 · 1997: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2011: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2023: 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 Jefferson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jefferson County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.3 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $43K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $463K | 52 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.9M | once in about 245 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.5M | once in about 13 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.1M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $76K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $389K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $612K | once in about 2 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 TennesseeEvery Tennessee tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in TennesseeThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Tennessee 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)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis