Knox County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29103 · population 3,731 · 504 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 282 records for Knox County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 233 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (69 records). The most damaging was the April 8, 1999 tornado ($886,000 in 2025 dollars). 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, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 3, 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
- 282on 233 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $2.7Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 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 Knox County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 69 since 1962. 49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in May and June. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 69 | 56 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21K | 97 of 114 |
| Hail | 62 | 50 | 1974-2024 | 0 | 0 | $11K | 106 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 51 | 50 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 44 of 114 |
| Heat | 40 | 40 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 32 of 114 |
| Floods | 29 | 27 | 1997-2019 | 0 | 0 | $252K | 87 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 8 | 1967-2023 | 0 | 2 | $2.4M | 109 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 22 of 114 |
| Drought | 6 | 6 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 104 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 Knox County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Knox County from 1967 to 2023, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 2 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 Knox 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-04-21 14:20, as SPC files it | Bucklin | F4 | 59 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Knox County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-04 | Baring, Knox County | EF2 1.64 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2016-04-27 | Greensburg, Knox County | EF0 0.03 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-13 | Knox City, Knox County | EF0 3.13 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-13 | Kenwood, Knox County | EF0 9.23 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-10 | Baring, Knox County | F2 7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-08 | Novelty, Knox County | F2 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $886K |
| 1975-08-16 | Knox County | F1 16 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1970-05-13 | Knox County | F2 7.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1967-08-18 | Knox County | F0 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Knox County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 4, 2023 tornado (2 injuries).
The tornado began on the southeast side of town just southeast of the Highway K and Dairy Avenue intersection. The tornado quickly strengthened as it moved northwest producing EF2 damage southwest of the intersection. A farm outbuilding was completely destroyed, several grain bins were thrown 1/4 to 1/2 mile downwind, and a home was heavily damaged with the roof and several walls removed. The tornado then crossed Highway K and the railroad tracks and moved through the center of the town of Baring. In Baring, 6-7 businesses and 62 homes were damaged. Notable was the post office which was heavily damaged with the removal of the roof and several walls. The tornado then exited town tracking to the northwest producing damage to a farm outbuilding on the east side of Highway 15 and damage to trees on the west side of the highway. The tornado dissipated shortly thereafter. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1146024)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindEdina, Knox County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-05 | High WindKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Cold/Wind ChillKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormKnox County · forecast zone Knox | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-06-13 | HailGreensburg, Knox County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-08-04 | TornadoBaring, Knox County | EF2 1.64 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2023-04-04 | HailNewark, Knox County | 3.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-04-27 | TornadoGreensburg, Knox County | EF0 0.03 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-06-04 | HailColony, Knox County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-07 | Thunderstorm WindHedge City, Knox County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-05-13 | TornadoKnox City, Knox County | EF0 3.13 mi x 100 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-04 | TornadoBaring, Knox County The tornado began on the southeast side of town just southeast of the Highway K and Dairy Avenue intersection. The tornado quickly strengthened as it moved northwest producing EF2 damage southwest of the intersection. A farm outbuilding was completely destroyed, several grain bins were thrown 1/4 to 1/2 mile downwind, ... | EF2 1.64 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-04-08 | TornadoNovelty, Knox County | F2 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $886K |
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: August 16, 1975 (tornado, Knox 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 Knox 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 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 23 | 19 | 2 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 15 | 4 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 19 | 13 | 8 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 17 | 20 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 17 | 9 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 25 · Feb 10 · Mar 11 · Apr 20 · May 45 · Jun 38 · Jul 52 · Aug 37 · Sep 15 · Oct 6 · Nov 7 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Knox County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Knox County: 20 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (16) and severe ice storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4929 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2023-09-21 | DR-4741 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4238 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2014-10-31 | DR-4200 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2013-07-18 | DR-4130 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2011-03-23 | DR-1961 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2011-02-03 | EM-3317 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-08-17 | DR-1934 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-06-19 | DR-1847 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2009-01-30 | EM-3303 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-11-13 | DR-1809 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and A Tornado |
| 2008-06-25 | DR-1773 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3281 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-11 | DR-1524 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-05-06 | DR-1463 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-05-06 | DR-1412 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2002-02-06 | DR-1403 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-995 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1984-06-21 | DR-713 | 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 Knox County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 29 flood or flash flood records for Knox County from 1997 to 2019, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Knox County ranks 2636th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.1 million on 4 claims filed in Knox County; the most in one year was 3 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2002: 1 · 2015: 3; 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 Knox County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Knox County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.0M | 8.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $247K | 8.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $149K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $130K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $661K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $232K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $242K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Knox 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in MissouriThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Knox CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Knox County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis