Lewis County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29111 · population 10,016 · 505 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 405 records for Lewis County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 290 days; the most frequent are hail reports (115 records). The deadliest single record is the July 12, 2015 thunderstorm wind: 1 death. FEMA has issued 27 declarations naming the county since 1965, 25 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
- 405on 290 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 316 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 27latest 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 Lewis County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 115 since 1955. 50% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 115 | 72 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 2 | $66K | 69 of 114 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 110 | 83 | 1958-2026 | 1 | 0 | $1.1M | 71 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 53 | 51 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 114 |
| Floods | 44 | 41 | 1996-2023 | 2 | 0 | $14M | 66 of 114 |
| Heat | 41 | 40 | 1999-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 33 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 11 | 1957-2016 | 0 | 11 | $18M | 98 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 10 | 9 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 19 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 55 of 114 |
| Drought | 6 | 6 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 105 of 114 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1999-2005 | 0 | 3 | – | 27 of 114 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 46 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 Lewis County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Lewis County from 1957 to 2016, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 11 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 Lewis 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Lewis County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-04-27 | Maywood, Lewis County | EF1 2.01 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-30 | Ewing, Lewis County | EF1 3.35 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2007-08-08 | Durham, Lewis County | EF0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-10 | Steffenville, Lewis County | F2 20 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 6 | $8.0M |
| 2003-05-10 | Steffenville, Lewis County | F0 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-04 | Canton, Lewis County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-08 | La Belle, Lewis County | F2 16 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $3.7M |
| 1998-06-14 | Lewistown, Lewis County | F1 9.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-04-30 | La Grange, Lewis County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 1997-04-30 | Ewing, Lewis County | F1 15 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $368K |
| 1970-06-12 | Lewis County | F2 6.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1961-07-22 | Lewis County | F1 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1957-05-21 | Lewis County | F2 3.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 1957-05-21 | Lewis County | F2 3.8 mi x 400 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 Lewis County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 25, 2024 hail ($4,704 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A trained spotter reported 2 inch hail in Williamstown. Hailstones broke multiple cars' windshields in town.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1182102)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindLewistown, Lewis County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | HailLewistown, Lewis County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-29 | Winter StormLewis County · forecast zone Lewis | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-05 | High WindLewis County · forecast zone Lewis | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Cold/Wind ChillLewis County · forecast zone Lewis | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormLewis County · forecast zone Lewis | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-06-25 | HailWilliamstown, Lewis County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2024-06-13 | HailLewistown, Lewis County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | HailLa Belle, Lewis County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindLa Belle, Lewis County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindDurham, Lewis County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindEwing, Lewis County | 78 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-07-12 | Thunderstorm WindLa Grange, Lewis County Sub-severe thunderstorm winds in combination with saturated soils, caused a large tree to be blown over at Wakonda State Park in the area where RVs are allowed to stay. The tree fell onto an RV, crushing the front section of it. Five people were trapped in the vehicle. One occupant was crushed by the fallen tree and ... | 35 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2015-07-11 | Flash FloodLa Grange, Lewis County Up to five inches of rain fell onto already saturated soils causing flash flooding. Numerous roads were flooded including Highways C and B at LaGrange. County Road 322, also known as 190th Street, was flooded where Reddish Branch Creek flows under it, about 3 miles east northeast of LaBelle, just east of intersection ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-05-15 | FloodMonticello, Lewis County At 245 am, a young woman was travelling west of County Road 195th, when the car she was driving in went into water covering the road due to the North Fabius River, which was in flood. The car became completely submerged and she perished. The North Fabius River was at 21.16 feet at the time of the accident, over ten ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-05-10 | TornadoSteffenville, Lewis County A tornado formed just north of the Marion Lewis County line and continued northeast for 20 miles, eventually causing major damage in the city of Canton. The tornado first formed southeast of Steffenville where it damaged a barn and other outbuildings. Six homes suffered varying degrees of roof damage as the tornado ... | F2 20 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 6 | $8.0M |
| 2005-06-26 | LightningMaywood, Lewis County Three men were injured when the truck they were standing by was struck by lightning. The men were knocked to the ground and were treated for superficial burns. The bolt melted the radio antenna, the radio, left a hole in the back window, and left burn marks on the drive's side mirror. | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1999-04-08 | TornadoLa Belle, Lewis County A tornado tore a 16 mile path of destruction across Lewis County causing an estimated $2.1 million in damage. The tornado first formed near LaBelle, where it destroyed a modular home and seriously damaged another home. Several barns were destroyed as were numerous sheds and other farm outbuildings. Several homes in ... | F2 16 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $3.7M |
| 1957-05-21 | TornadoLewis County | F2 3.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K step |
| 2008-05-30 | HailEwing, Lewis County A man caught outside was injured by hail which was up to 1 1/4 inch in diameter. | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-04 | FloodFenway, Lewis County | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2003-05-10 | TornadoSteffenville, Lewis County | F2 20 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 6 | $8.0M |
| 1999-04-08 | TornadoLa Belle, Lewis County | F2 16 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $3.7M |
| 1993-09-02 | Thunderstorm WindCanton, Lewis County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1997-04-30 | TornadoEwing, Lewis County | F1 15 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $368K |
| 2001-04-05 | HailEwing, Lewis County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 1997-04-30 | TornadoLa Grange, Lewis County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2008-05-30 | TornadoEwing, Lewis County | EF1 3.35 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
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: May 21, 1957 (tornado, Lewis County); May 21, 1957 (tornado, Lewis 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 Lewis 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 48 | 34 | 14 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 40 | 29 | 13 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 19 | 14 | 9 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 22 | 19 | 1 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 17 | 21 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
50% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 25 · Feb 13 · Mar 23 · Apr 44 · May 72 · Jun 63 · Jul 67 · Aug 51 · Sep 17 · Oct 5 · Nov 6 · Dec 19 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lewis County
FEMA's register lists 27 declarations that include Lewis County: 20 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (16) and flood (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4929 | 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 |
| 2016-01-02 | EM-3374 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| 2011-06-30 | EM-3325 | Flood | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1995-06-02 | DR-1054 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Hail, Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-995 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1986-10-14 | DR-779 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-11-01 | DR-407 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-04-19 | DR-372 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1965-06-14 | DR-198 | Severe Storm | 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 Lewis County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 44 flood or flash flood records for Lewis County from 1996 to 2023, on 41 days, with 2 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lewis County ranks 1116th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.5 million on 143 claims filed in Lewis County; the most in one year was 45 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 4 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 4 · 1991: 1 · 1993: 25 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 9 · 2002: 5 · 2008: 45 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 20 · 2013: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2019: 14; 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 Lewis County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lewis County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.1 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 | $1.6M | 8.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $622K | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $287K | 6.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $326K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $151K | 47 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $3.9M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $509K | 4.4 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 Lewis 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
- Hail in MissouriThe state's hail reports, 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 Lewis CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lewis County's FEMA declarations (CSV)27 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis