Lake County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47095 · population 7,005 · 166 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 320 records for Lake County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 299 days; the most frequent are heat records (103 records). 212 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the December 10, 2021 tornado: 3 deaths and $4.9 million in damage 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
- 320on 299 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 31 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $12Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest EF4
- 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 Lake County most?
The most frequent records are heat records: 103 since 2007. 81% of its heat records since 2007 fell in July and August. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 103 | 101 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 62 | 62 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $52K | 4 of 95 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 54 | 53 | 1956-2024 | 0 | 1 | $727K | 54 of 95 |
| Hail | 28 | 25 | 1971-2025 | 0 | 0 | $906K | 24 of 95 |
| Drought | 25 | 25 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 5 of 95 |
| Floods | 16 | 16 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | 34 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 9 | 1978-2021 | 3 | 0 | $6.5M | 11 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 1998-2023 | 0 | 0 | $112K | 20 of 95 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1999-2001 | 0 | 0 | $101K | 18 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2005-2008 | 0 | 0 | $221K | 2 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 Lake County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Lake County from 1978 to 2021, the strongest rated EF4, with 3 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 11th 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Lake County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 8 people, 3 of them in Lake County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-10 19:07, as SPC files it | CaruthersvilleCrossed AR, MO, TN | EF4 | 81.17 mi | 8 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Lake County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-10 | Mooring, Lake County | EF4 11.22 mi x 1,800 yd | 3 | 0 | $4.9M |
| 2021-12-10 | Hathaway, Lake County | EF2 3.24 mi x 1,800 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-09-01 | Wynnburg, Lake County | EF0 2.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2014-06-07 | New Markham, Lake County | EF1 4.75 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2005-07-22 | Ridgely, Lake County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2002-04-28 | Tiptonville, Lake County | F1 3.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 1999-01-21 | Tiptonville, Lake County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $89 |
| 1995-05-18 | Obion Co, Lake County | F2 15 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $145K |
| 1995-04-20 | Ridgely, Lake County | F0 1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1978-03-13 | Lake County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Lake County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the December 10, 2021 tornado (3 deaths and $4.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
After traveling along the Mississippi River the tornado crossed into Lake County, Tennessee southwest of Wynnburg. The tornado significantly damaged trees with debarking southwest of Wynnburg. Homes and shop buildings suffered substantial damage north of Wynnburg. The tornado approached the Reelfoot Lake area and caused significant damage to a hotel, convenience store, restaurant, and camping facilities in the Cypress Point area. Three fatalities occurred in this area. On the southeast shore of Reelfoot Lake, the tornado damaged cabins and numerous recreational vehicles that were parked in a storage area. The tornado then crossed into Obion County, Tennessee. Peak winds in Lake County were estimated at 165-170 mph.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 997133)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | HeatLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-29 | HeatLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-24 | DroughtLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Cold/Wind ChillLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | Cold/Wind ChillLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-26 | Cold/Wind ChillLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Cold/Wind ChillLake County · forecast zone Lake | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Cold/Wind ChillLake County · forecast zone Lake | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-10 | TornadoMooring, Lake County After traveling along the Mississippi River the tornado crossed into Lake County, Tennessee southwest of Wynnburg. The tornado significantly damaged trees with debarking southwest of Wynnburg. Homes and shop buildings suffered substantial damage north of Wynnburg. The tornado approached the Reelfoot Lake area and ... | EF4 11.22 mi x 1,800 yd | 3 | 0 | $4.9M |
| 2020-05-04 | Thunderstorm WindCottonwood, Lake County A macroburst struck southern portions of Lake County causing widespread damage. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. A mobile home was destroyed in Ridgely. Many homes in the Cottonwood area suffered roof damaged. | 70 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-10 | TornadoMooring, Lake County | EF4 11.22 mi x 1,800 yd | 3 | 0 | $4.9M |
| 2002-04-28 | TornadoTiptonville, Lake County | F1 3.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2000-04-16 | HailTiptonville, Lake County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $857K |
| 2019-02-23 | FloodTiptonville, Lake County | 0 | 0 | $577K | |
| 1995-05-18 | TornadoObion Co, Lake County | F2 15 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $145K |
| 2003-05-10 | Thunderstorm WindMadie, Lake County | 80 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $112K |
| 2014-06-07 | TornadoNew Markham, Lake County | EF1 4.75 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2006-04-02 | HailTiptonville, Lake County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $37K |
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: March 13, 1978 (tornado, Lake 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 Lake 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 32 | 70 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 17 | 30 | 13 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 8 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 15 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 6 | 3 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
81% of its heat records since 2007 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 37 · Mar 16 · Apr 23 · May 34 · Jun 34 · Jul 67 · Aug 37 · Sep 9 · Oct 8 · Nov 7 · Dec 13 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lake County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Lake County: 16 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and tornado (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 |
| 2023-05-17 | DR-4712 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| 2022-01-14 | DR-4637 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2021-12-13 | EM-3576 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-07-09 | DR-4550 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2011-05-09 | DR-1978 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2011-05-09 | DR-1979 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-04 | EM-3321 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2009-02-17 | DR-1821 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2000-06-12 | DR-1331 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1997-03-07 | DR-1167 | Tornado | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes, Flooding, Hail, High Winds |
| 1995-06-14 | DR-1057 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1975-03-22 | DR-459 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-05-11 | DR-382 | Flood | Severe 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 Lake County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Lake County from 1996 to 2025, on 16 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lake County ranks 1928th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $371,000 on 29 claims filed in Lake County; the most in one year was 11 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 5 · 1983: 1 · 1995: 3 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 2 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 1 · 2011: 11 · 2013: 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 Lake County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lake County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $5.6M | once in about 59 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $396K | 13 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $105K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $463K | 16 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.0M | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $888K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $30K | 7.3 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $82K | 58 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 Lake 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
- Heat in TennesseeThe state's heat records, 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 Lake CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lake County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis