Morgan County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47129 · population 21,024 · 522 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 385 records for Morgan County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 273 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (207 records). The deadliest single record is the November 10, 2002 tornado: 7 deaths, 28 injuries and $1.6 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 19 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
- 385on 273 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 946 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.8Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 9strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Morgan County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 207 since 1965. 40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 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 | 207 | 156 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 9 | $2.5M | 59 of 95 |
| Hail | 70 | 55 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 0 | $998K | 52 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 51 | 45 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 79 of 95 |
| Floods | 39 | 36 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $679K | 61 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 9 | 8 | 1965-2025 | 9 | 37 | $2.5M | 77 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2004-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 18 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 91 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 29 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 Morgan County had?
NOAA records 9 tornadoes in Morgan County from 1965 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 9 deaths and 37 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 9 tornadoes whose track touched Morgan County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 9, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 9 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-11-10 19:31, as SPC files it | Coalfield | F3 | 8.3 mi | 7 |
| 2025-02-06 18:53, as SPC files it | Clarkrange | EF2 | 21.92 mi | 2 |
| 1974-04-03 22:50, as SPC files it | Sunbright | F3 | 12.2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Morgan County (9)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-06 | Adkins Mill, Morgan County | EF2 13.76 mi x 200 yd | 2 | 3 | $700K |
| 2024-04-02 | Sunbright, Morgan County | EF1 2.86 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 2023-04-01 | Sunbright, Morgan County | EF1 1.44 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-03-03 | Lancing, Morgan County | EF0 3.68 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-11-10 | Wartburg, Morgan County | F3 8.3 mi x 300 yd | 7 | 28 | $1.6M |
| 2002-11-10 | Rugby, Morgan County | F0 1.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 1995-05-18 | Coalfield, Morgan County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1974-04-03 | Morgan County | F3 3.6 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 6 | $25K step |
| 1965-03-17 | Morgan County | F1 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Morgan County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 16, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Multiple trees were blown down by severe thunderstorm wind gusts, with one tree landing on a car. A nearby barn suffered the loss of its roof to the high storm winds.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1283104)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-30 | Flash FloodWartburg, Morgan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Winter WeatherMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindWartburg, Morgan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter WeatherMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter WeatherMorgan County · forecast zone Morgan | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindCoalfield, Morgan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-04 | Funnel CloudUnion, Morgan County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-16 | Thunderstorm WindSunbright, Morgan County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2025-05-17 | Thunderstorm WindUnion, Morgan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindStephens, Morgan County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-30 | HailWartburg, Morgan County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindWartburg, Morgan County | 52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-11-10 | TornadoWartburg, Morgan County A strong F3 tornado (with wind speeds estimated around 175 mph) touched down 4.4 miles south of Wartburg in the Mossy Grove community killing 5 people and injuring 28. This tornado then struck Joyner at 8:40 P.M. killing two more people for a total of 7 dead. The tornado damaged 63 homes while destroying 24 others. In ... | F3 8.3 mi x 300 yd | 7 | 28 | $1.6M |
| 2025-02-06 | TornadoAdkins Mill, Morgan County This tornado first formed in Fentress County before tracking into heavily forested and rugged areas of Morgan County. Aerial imagery from Tennessee Highway Patrol indicated the tornado produced tree damage as it moved through the forests of Morgan County. The tornado continued to moved southeast where it produced EF-2 ... | EF2 13.76 mi x 200 yd | 2 | 3 | $700K |
| 1974-04-03 | TornadoMorgan County | F3 3.6 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 6 | $25K step |
| 2003-08-22 | Thunderstorm WindLancing, Morgan County A few trees reported down by 911 dispatch. Five people were injured by lightning at the Morgan County Fair in Wartburg. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 5 | – |
| 2003-05-15 | Thunderstorm WindSunbright, Morgan County A severe thunderstorm downburst occurred at Joann Henry's trailer park damaging nearly every mobile home in the park with six homes totally destroyed. Four persons in one family were injured in the downburst event. In addition, several trees were downed. | 78 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $160K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-11-10 | TornadoWartburg, Morgan County | F3 8.3 mi x 300 yd | 7 | 28 | $1.6M |
| 1995-05-18 | HailCoalfield, Morgan County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $968K |
| 2025-02-06 | TornadoAdkins Mill, Morgan County | EF2 13.76 mi x 200 yd | 2 | 3 | $700K |
| 2010-07-19 | Flash FloodOakdale, Morgan County | 0 | 0 | $271K | |
| 2003-05-15 | Thunderstorm WindSunbright, Morgan County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $160K |
| 2025-08-16 | Thunderstorm WindSunbright, Morgan County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2006-09-23 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Morgan County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $44K |
| 2005-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindSunbright, Morgan County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $38K |
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: April 3, 1974 (tornado, Morgan 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 Morgan 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 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 104 | 41 | 29 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 35 | 9 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 16 | 14 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 16 | 8 | 9 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 33 · Feb 37 · Mar 30 · Apr 54 · May 51 · Jun 58 · Jul 56 · Aug 30 · Sep 8 · Oct 4 · Nov 10 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Morgan County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Morgan County: 16 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (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 |
| 2023-04-07 | DR-4701 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 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 |
| 2017-06-23 | DR-4320 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2015-04-02 | DR-4211 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Flooding |
| 2011-03-31 | DR-1965 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3217 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-05-08 | DR-1464 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-11-13 | DR-1441 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornados |
| 1999-01-15 | DR-1260 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1998-04-20 | DR-1215 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes 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 |
| 1991-01-04 | DR-889 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-03-22 | DR-459 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-06-28 | DR-395 | 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 Morgan County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 39 flood or flash flood records for Morgan County from 1996 to 2026, on 36 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Morgan County ranks 2436th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $58,000 on 8 claims filed in Morgan County; the most in one year was 2 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1993: 1 · 2003: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2018: 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 Morgan County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Morgan County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.5 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 | $586K | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $26K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.5M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $100K | once in about 276 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $80K | 8.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $151K | 59 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $759K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $37K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Morgan 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 Morgan CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Morgan County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis