Moody County, South Dakota
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 46101 · population 6,336 · 519 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 657 records for Moody County, South Dakota from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 509 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (186 records). 332 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 November 14, 1996 ice storm, filed for the forecast zone Moody, which covers the county: 1 death, 2 injuries and $753,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1969, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on August 15, 2024.
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
- 657on 509 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 24 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $37Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2024
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 Moody County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 186 since 1996. 46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The rank column places the county among South Dakota'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 186 | 185 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 3 | $1.9M | 5 of 66 |
| Hail | 123 | 74 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | 21 of 66 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 96 | 61 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 25 of 66 |
| Floods | 95 | 64 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21M | 11 of 66 |
| High wind and dust storms | 47 | 46 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $280K | 13 of 66 |
| Extreme cold | 40 | 38 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 66 |
| Drought | 37 | 37 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.4M | 15 of 66 |
| Heat | 17 | 17 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 17 of 66 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 7 | 1956-2008 | 0 | 1 | $1.1M | 49 of 66 |
| Lightning | 5 | 5 | 1998-2011 | 0 | 0 | $165K | 3 of 66 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 66 |
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 Moody County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Moody County from 1956 to 2008, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Moody 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 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in South Dakota.
Every tornado record filed for Moody County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-06-05 | Trent, Moody County | EF1 0.85 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2006-09-16 | Colman, Moody County | F0 0.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-06-24 | Egan, Moody County | F0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-05-07 | Colman To, Moody County | F1 15 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1983-05-05 | Moody County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1983-05-05 | Moody County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1983-05-05 | Moody County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1969-07-13 | Moody County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-07-13 | Moody County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1956-06-29 | Moody County | F2 15.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Moody County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 1, 2023 drought ($6.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Extreme (D3) drought conditions improved to severe (D2) by mid-month. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1141152)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-29 | HeatMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-24 | HailFlandreau, Moody County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-24 | HailSioux Falls Jct, Moody County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-31 | DroughtMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | BlizzardMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-12 | High WindMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-21 | Strong WindMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-21 | Winter WeatherMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-16 | Strong WindMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-11-14 | Ice StormMoody County · forecast zone Moody An ice storm consisting of several periods of freezing rain caused widespread damage and paralyzed travel. Widespread damage occurred to electrical poles and lines, leaving thousands without power for up to four days. Numerous accidents occurred, including many vehicles which slid off the road. One fatality occurred ... | 1 | 2 | $753K | |
| 2020-01-03 | Winter WeatherMoody County · forecast zone Moody Snowfall totaled 1.1 inches in Flandreau and 1.0 inch 11 miles north of Colman. Despite the lesser snowfall amounts, winds gusted as high as 33 mph at Flandreau which resulted in visibility briefly as low as one half mile. The following morning, a fatality (indirect) occurred when a northbound pickup pulling a trailer ... | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 1956-06-29 | TornadoMoody County | F2 15.6 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-06-01 | FloodColman, Moody County | 0 | 0 | $18M | |
| 2023-10-01 | DroughtMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | $6.3M | |
| 1996-06-19 | HailFlandreau, Moody County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
| 2012-05-05 | Thunderstorm WindFlandreau, Moody County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
| 2019-04-11 | BlizzardMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | $970K | |
| 2019-09-12 | FloodColman, Moody County | 0 | 0 | $769K | |
| 1996-11-14 | Ice StormMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 1 | 2 | $753K | |
| 2021-07-01 | DroughtMoody County · forecast zone Moody | 0 | 0 | $553K |
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 $3K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 29, 1956 (tornado, Moody 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 Moody 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 18 | 48 | 77 | 43 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 71 | 20 | 15 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 20 | 28 | 28 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 64 | 22 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 5 | 4 | 29 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 18 | 17 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 63 · Feb 50 · Mar 59 · Apr 68 · May 57 · Jun 78 · Jul 93 · Aug 33 · Sep 38 · Oct 18 · Nov 31 · Dec 69 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Moody County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Moody County: 18 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (9) and severe storm (8).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-15 | DR-4807 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2022-06-29 | DR-4656 | Severe Storm | Severe Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-04-05 | DR-4527 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3475 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-11-18 | DR-4469 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2019-06-07 | DR-4440 | Flood | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding |
| 2011-05-13 | DR-1984 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2010-11-02 | DR-1947 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2010-05-13 | DR-1915 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2008-07-09 | DR-1774 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3234 | Coastal Storm | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2001-05-17 | DR-1375 | Flood | Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, and Ice Jams |
| 1997-04-07 | DR-1173 | Flood | Severe Flooding, Sever Winter Storms,Heavy Rains High Winds |
| 1997-02-28 | DR-1161 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1997-01-10 | DR-1156 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Blizzard Conditions |
| 1995-05-26 | DR-1052 | Flood | Flooding |
| 1993-07-19 | DR-999 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1992-07-02 | DR-948 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1984-07-19 | DR-717 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-06-17 | EM-3015 | Drought | Drought |
| 1969-04-18 | DR-257 | Flood | 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 Moody County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 95 flood or flash flood records for Moody County from 1997 to 2025, on 64 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Moody County ranks 1584th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $760,000 on 59 claims filed in Moody County; the most in one year was 16 in 1997. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1993: 7 · 1997: 16 · 2001: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2010: 12 · 2011: 7 · 2019: 13; 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 Moody County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Moody County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.2M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $180K | 19 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $564K | 5.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.9M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $324K | 12 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $844K | 11 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $469K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $59K | once in about 1,873 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Moody 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 South DakotaEvery South Dakota tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Winter storms in South DakotaThe state's winter storm records, by county, year and month
- The South Dakota recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Moody CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Moody County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis