Rhea County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47143 · population 32,839 · 315 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 374 records for Rhea County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 280 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (230 records). The deadliest single record is the December 24, 2015 flash flood: 1 death and $19,000 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
- 374on 280 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 16 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $27Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest EF4
- 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 Rhea County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 230 since 1960. 43% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 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 | 230 | 181 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 4 | $3.5M | 14 of 95 |
| Hail | 65 | 50 | 1977-2025 | 0 | 0 | $21K | 18 of 95 |
| Floods | 33 | 32 | 1997-2023 | 1 | 0 | $19M | 28 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 32 | 32 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 69 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 2003-2025 | 0 | 0 | $46K | 71 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 3 | 1983-2012 | 0 | 2 | $3.4M | 88 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1998-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 28 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 72 of 95 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 18 of 95 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | $604K | 68 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 Rhea County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Rhea County from 1983 to 2012, the strongest rated EF4, with 0 deaths and 2 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Rhea County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 0 of them in Rhea County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 19:06, as SPC files it | Dunlap | EF4 | 40.16 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Rhea County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-02 | Dayton Airport, Rhea County | EF0 2.7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2011-04-27 | Ideal Vly, Rhea County | EF1 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 2011-04-27 | Morgan Spgs, Rhea County | EF4 16 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.6M |
| 1983-06-04 | Rhea County | F1 20 mi x 50 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 Rhea County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 16, 2025 strong wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindWashington, Rhea County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-08 | HailSpring City, Rhea County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindMorgan Spgs, Rhea County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | HailFive Pts, Rhea County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | HailFive Pts, Rhea County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindSpring City, Rhea County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-19 | Winter WeatherRhea County · forecast zone Rhea | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-16 | Strong WindRhea County · forecast zone Rhea | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-01-10 | Heavy SnowRhea County · forecast zone Rhea | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-12-25 | FloodDayton, Rhea County | 0 | 0 | $311K | |
| 2015-12-24 | Flash FloodDayton, Rhea County | 1 | 0 | $19K | |
| 2012-03-02 | TornadoDayton Airport, Rhea County | EF0 2.7 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-12-24 | Flash FloodDayton, Rhea County A section of Hwy 30 crossing Rattan Creek near Dayton washed out. Two vehicles were washed away, with rescues required. One fatality. | 1 | 0 | $19K | |
| 1998-03-20 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Rhea County A mobile home just north of Dayton was overturned. Four persons sustained minor injuries. Trees down throughout county. Around 2000 customers were without power immediately following the storm. | 0 | 4 | $181K | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoMorgan Spgs, Rhea County New Harmony Tornado. This tornado continued its destuctive path into Rhea County. The 190 mph wind destroyed 19 roofs and 21 homes had damage. Trees and powerlines were also downed. Two people were injured. This tornado had a total path length of 40.2 miles and was responsible for four deaths in Bledsoe County. | EF4 16 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.6M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-05-06 | Flash FloodCountywide, Rhea County | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2003-02-14 | FloodRhea County · forecast zone Rhea | 0 | 0 | $5.3M | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoMorgan Spgs, Rhea County | EF4 16 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $2.6M |
| 2010-07-19 | Thunderstorm WindRoddy, Rhea County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2005-07-28 | LightningDayton, Rhea County | 0 | 0 | $604K | |
| 2015-12-25 | FloodDayton, Rhea County | 0 | 0 | $311K | |
| 1998-03-20 | Thunderstorm WindCountywide, Rhea County | 0 | 4 | $181K | |
| 2004-07-13 | Thunderstorm WindDayton, Rhea County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $27K |
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: June 4, 1983 (tornado, Rhea 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 Rhea 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 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 87 | 70 | 30 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 25 | 6 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 15 | 8 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 13 | 5 | 5 |
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 1960 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 29 · Mar 30 · Apr 45 · May 59 · Jun 68 · Jul 58 · Aug 27 · Sep 9 · Oct 8 · Nov 6 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Rhea County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Rhea County: 15 major disasters, 5 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for severe storm (10) and flood (3).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2011-05-01 | DR-1974 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated 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 |
| 2001-11-03 | FM-2387 | Fire | Tn - Chattanooga Fire Complex - 11/03/01 |
| 1998-04-20 | DR-1215 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 1998-01-13 | DR-1197 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1991-01-04 | DR-889 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Rhea County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Rhea County from 1997 to 2023, on 32 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Rhea County ranks 1407th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.7 million on 82 claims filed in Rhea County; the most in one year was 20 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1982: 1 · 1990: 7 · 1991: 1 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 4 · 1997: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 20 · 2004: 17 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2019: 12 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 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 Rhea County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Rhea County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.5 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 | $746K | 4.9 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $286K | 61 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $20K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 237 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $8.5M | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.2M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $46K | 3.8 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 Rhea 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 Rhea CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Rhea County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis