Meigs County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47121 · population 12,744 · 195 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 237 records for Meigs County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 204 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (129 records). The deadliest single record is the May 2, 1953 tornado: 4 deaths and 8 injuries. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1973, 17 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
- 237on 204 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 411 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $21Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 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 Meigs County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 129 since 1963. 43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 fell in June and July. 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 | 129 | 118 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 2 | $1.7M | 10 of 95 |
| Hail | 43 | 37 | 1984-2025 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 10 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 27 | 27 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 95 |
| Floods | 24 | 22 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 20 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $30K | 29 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 1953-2023 | 4 | 9 | $3.8M | 61 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $42K | 6 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 65 of 95 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2K | 54 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 Meigs County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Meigs County from 1953 to 2023, the strongest rated F4, with 4 deaths and 9 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Meigs County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 5 people, 4 of them in Meigs County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-05-02 03:00, as SPC files it | Decatur | F4 | 4.2 mi | 4 |
| 1994-04-15 10:30, as SPC files it | Englewood | F3 | 15 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Meigs County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-02 | East View, Meigs County | EF0 0.09 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-12 | Decatur, Meigs County | EF0 0.57 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Brittsville, Meigs County | EF0 0.75 mi x 110 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 1993-02-21 | Midway To, Meigs County | F1 3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1953-05-02 | Meigs County | F4 2.3 mi x 33 yd | 4 | 8 | $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 Meigs County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 15, 2025 lightning ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindCalico, Meigs County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowMeigs County · forecast zone Meigs | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-12 | Thunderstorm WindBeta, Meigs County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-12 | Thunderstorm WindBig Spg, Meigs County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailPeakland, Meigs County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailEuchee, Meigs County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | HailTen Mile, Meigs County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | LightningDecatur, Meigs County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2025-03-15 | Thunderstorm WindDecatur, Meigs County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-19 | Winter WeatherMeigs County · forecast zone Meigs | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Heavy SnowMeigs County · forecast zone Meigs | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-03-02 | TornadoEast View, Meigs County | EF0 0.09 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953-05-02 | TornadoMeigs County | F4 2.3 mi x 33 yd | 4 | 8 | $250K step |
| 2019-12-30 | Thunderstorm WindForest Grove, Meigs County Thunderstorm winds rolled a mobile home with two occupants. Both occupants suffered minor injuries. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2023-01-12 | TornadoDecatur, Meigs County Straight-line winds blew down trees and caused minor outbuilding damage near Decatur Creek and Goodfield Road. Then, a tornado developed just southwest of the corner of Sharp Road and Highway 58. It tracked northeast across Highway 58, and ended just south of Crestview Lane. Maximum winds were estimated at 75 mph. | EF0 0.57 mi x 150 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Meigs County | 0 | 0 | $15M | |
| 2003-02-14 | FloodMeigs County · forecast zone Meigs | 0 | 0 | $443K | |
| 2004-07-06 | Thunderstorm WindDecatur, Meigs County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoBrittsville, Meigs County | EF0 0.75 mi x 110 yd | 0 | 0 | $20K |
| 2025-03-15 | LightningDecatur, Meigs County | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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 2, 1953 (tornado, Meigs County, 4 killed).
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 Meigs 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 | 0 | 2 | 22 | 69 | 26 | 9 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 8 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 23 · Feb 19 · Mar 19 · Apr 23 · May 37 · Jun 37 · Jul 35 · Aug 19 · Sep 5 · Oct 2 · Nov 6 · Dec 12 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Meigs County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Meigs County: 14 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and winter storm (2).
| 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 |
| 2023-09-27 | DR-4742 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornado |
| 2023-05-17 | DR-4712 | 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 |
| 2015-04-02 | DR-4211 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-07 | DR-1568 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2003-03-20 | DR-1456 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2002-11-13 | DR-1441 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornados |
| 2002-04-05 | DR-1408 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-02-28 | DR-1010 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 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 Meigs County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 24 flood or flash flood records for Meigs County from 1997 to 2024, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Meigs County ranks 2685th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $18,000 on 3 claims filed in Meigs County; the most in one year was 1 in 1982. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2017: 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 Meigs County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Meigs County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $491K | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $8K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $459K | once in about 237 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $47K | 23 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $419K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $509K | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $95K | 60 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $12K | once in about 621 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Meigs 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 Meigs CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Meigs County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis