Osage County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29151 · population 13,248 · 607 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 346 records for Osage County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 275 days; the most frequent are hail reports (95 records). The deadliest single record is the February 21, 2008 sleet, filed for the forecast zone Osage, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 30 declarations naming the county since 1973, 28 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
- 346on 275 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 14 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $10Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 11strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 30latest 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 Osage County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 95 since 1963. 63% of its hail reports since 1963 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 | 95 | 61 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 103 of 114 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 80 | 65 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 0 | $101K | 104 of 114 |
| Heat | 52 | 52 | 1999-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 48 | 47 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $145K | 79 of 114 |
| Floods | 41 | 40 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $43K | 78 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 10 | 1959-2017 | 0 | 4 | $10M | 107 of 114 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 108 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 97 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 2001-2009 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 51 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2005-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 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 Osage County had?
NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Osage County from 1959 to 2017, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 4 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Osage County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11: 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.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-05-01 14:30, as SPC files it | Linn | F3 | 9 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Osage County (11)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-06 | Argyle, Osage County | EF1 7.26 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-02-27 | Judge, Osage County | EF1 0.24 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-03-10 | Westphalia, Osage County | EF1 6.61 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-12 | Chamois, Osage County | F0 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-12 | Chamois, Osage County | F1 8.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-08 | Linn, Osage County | F1 8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 1992-07-02 | Osage County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-01 | Osage County | F3 9 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M step |
| 1981-06-21 | Osage County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1969-04-17 | Osage County | F1 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1959-09-28 | Osage County | F1 5.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Osage County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 27, 2011 thunderstorm wind ($24,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Thunderstorm winds caused scattered damage throughout Osage county. In Westphalia, the roof of a gym on a school sustained major damage when a large portion of the roof was blown off. Further to the east on County Road 811, a large tree was blown down onto a mobile home cutting it into two. No injuries were reported at this location. On County Road 806, a horse barn was blown down. The horses were unhurt, but an RV stored in the barn was damaged. A shed across the street was destroyed as well. In Linn, the high winds damaged several pieces of equipment for track and field events at the high school and a rooftop A/C unit was blown on its side at the elementary school.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 287320)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-27 | HailCooper Hill, Osage County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | HailByron, Osage County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | HailBabbtown, Osage County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-25 | Excessive HeatOsage County · forecast zone Osage | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter StormOsage County · forecast zone Osage | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-06-30 | HailChamois, Osage County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-03-27 | HailSt Aubert, Osage County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-06 | TornadoArgyle, Osage County | EF1 7.26 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindWestphalia, Osage County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-04-26 | HailBonnots Mill, Osage County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-04-08 | HailLoose Creek, Osage County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-19 | HailLinn, Osage County | 2.50 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-02-21 | SleetOsage County · forecast zone Osage Another winter storm dropped freezing rain, sleet and some light snow across Central, Southeast, and East Central Missouri starting during the early morning hours on the 21st and finally ending shortly after midnight on the 22nd. Enough freezing rain fell across Madison, St. Francois, and Ste. Genevieve counties to ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1983-05-01 | TornadoOsage County | F3 9 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 3 | $2.5M step |
| 1959-09-28 | TornadoOsage County | F1 5.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-04-08 | TornadoLinn, Osage County | F1 8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.8M |
| 2011-02-27 | Thunderstorm WindWestphalia, Osage County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $24K |
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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 1, 1983 (tornado, Osage 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 Osage 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 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 41 | 26 | 8 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 25 | 12 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 20 | 29 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 11 | 20 | 10 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 14 | 16 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
63% of its hail reports since 1963 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 28 · Feb 17 · Mar 32 · Apr 49 · May 47 · Jun 29 · Jul 51 · Aug 48 · Sep 10 · Oct 5 · Nov 12 · Dec 18 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Osage County
FEMA's register lists 30 declarations that include Osage County: 22 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (16) and flood (6).
| 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 |
| 2017-06-02 | DR-4317 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2016-01-21 | DR-4250 | Flood | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| 2013-09-06 | DR-4144 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, 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 |
| 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 |
| 2008-03-19 | DR-1749 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-12-27 | DR-1736 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3281 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-06-11 | DR-1708 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-01-15 | DR-1676 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1999-04-20 | DR-1270 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1976-09-24 | EM-3017 | Drought | Drought |
| 1973-04-19 | DR-372 | Severe Storm | Heavy Rains, Tornadoes & 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 Osage County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 41 flood or flash flood records for Osage County from 1996 to 2023, on 40 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Osage County ranks 1003rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.4 million on 180 claims filed in Osage County; the most in one year was 47 in 1993. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1979: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 7 · 1990: 4 · 1993: 47 · 1994: 5 · 1995: 29 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 16 · 2011: 4 · 2013: 18 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 15 · 2017: 17 · 2019: 6 · 2022: 1 · 2025: 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 Osage County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Osage County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | 12 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $237K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $11K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.5M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $6.7M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $51K | 9.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $65K | 5.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $166K | 4.9 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 Osage 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 Osage CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Osage County's FEMA declarations (CSV)30 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis