Roane County, Tennessee
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47145 · population 53,371 · 361 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 443 records for Roane County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 321 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (280 records). The deadliest single record is the January 14, 2024 heavy snow, filed for the forecast zone Roane, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1973, 22 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
- 443on 321 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 54 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $26Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest EF1
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 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 Roane County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 280 since 1957. 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 | 280 | 215 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 2 | $3.2M | 11 of 95 |
| Hail | 51 | 39 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $98K | 47 of 95 |
| Floods | 46 | 39 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $22M | 23 of 95 |
| Winter storms | 45 | 39 | 1996-2026 | 2 | 0 | $14K | 64 of 95 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 6 | 1977-2025 | 0 | 0 | $343K | 75 of 95 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 5 | 2003-2023 | 1 | 1 | $49K | 66 of 95 |
| Lightning | 3 | 2 | 1996-2018 | 1 | 1 | – | 52 of 95 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2015-2022 | 1 | 0 | – | 29 of 95 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $47K | 22 of 95 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2010-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 95 |
| Drought | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 77 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 Roane County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Roane County from 1977 to 2025, the strongest rated EF1, with 0 deaths and 0 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Roane County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Roane County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-02-21 16:05, as SPC files it | Lenoir to Maryville | F3 | 30 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.
Every tornado record filed for Roane County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-20 | Jonesville, Roane County | EF1 0.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2023-08-03 | Cave Creek, Roane County | EF1 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-10 | Kingston, Roane County | EF0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
| 2011-06-22 | Dogwood, Roane County | EF0 0.6 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 1993-02-21 | Cave Creek, Roane County | F1 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1977-10-01 | Roane County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Roane County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 20, 2025 tornado ($50,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A 100 yard wide EF-1 tornado with peak winds near 100 mph started near Blair Road and Butler Drive where several trees were uprooted and trunks snapped. The tornado tracked near Old Harriman Highway where numerous tree trunks were snapped along the path. The tornado lifted near Whaley Road and Old Harriman Highway. Tornado was on the ground for roughly a 0.5 mile.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1265418)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindEmory Hgts, Roane County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-30 | Heavy SnowRoane County · forecast zone Roane | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter WeatherRoane County · forecast zone Roane | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-04 | Thunderstorm WindUnion, Roane County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-04 | HailLawnville, Roane County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-04 | HailUnion, Roane County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-04 | HailRockwood, Roane County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindGlen Alice, Roane County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindJonesville, Roane County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | TornadoJonesville, Roane County | EF1 0.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindDyllis, Roane County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindOliver Spgs, Roane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-01-14 | Heavy SnowRoane County · forecast zone Roane Light freezing rain was noted by the COOP observer in Kingston, but otherwise widespread heavy snow fell across the county. Kingston COOP reported 9 inches of snow, and public reports of 7 inches and 8.5 inches were measured in Eagle Furnace and near Oak Ridge, respectively. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-04-01 | High WindRoane County · forecast zone Roane Strong winds blew the roof off a dugout at Rockwood Baseball Complex. The roof fell onto two people, a female adult and a child. Both were transported to local hospitals, where the adult died from her injuries. | 52 kt wind | 1 | 1 | – |
| 2018-07-06 | LightningKingston, Roane County Individual was struck by lightning after mowing lawn. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2015-02-16 | Cold/Wind ChillRoane County · forecast zone Roane Emergency manager reported a 44 year old male died. It was hypothermia related. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2005-05-14 | Thunderstorm WindKingston, Roane County A cedar tree injured a father and son in Kingston when it fell on them. | 60 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $5K |
| 2018-07-06 | LightningKingston Airport, Roane County A man was struck by lightning and killed while he was walking home after mowing a lawn. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-02-23 | FloodGlen Alice, Roane County | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2003-05-05 | Flash FloodCountywide, Roane County | 0 | 0 | $4.5M | |
| 2003-05-05 | Flash FloodCountywide, Roane County | 0 | 0 | $4.5M | |
| 2005-11-28 | Thunderstorm WindOliver Spgs, Roane County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $604K |
| 2011-02-28 | FloodHarriman, Roane County | 0 | 0 | $361K | |
| 1993-02-21 | TornadoCave Creek, Roane County | F1 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1995-05-18 | HailOliver Springs, Roane County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $97K |
| 2014-06-10 | TornadoKingston, Roane County | EF0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $62K |
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: October 1, 1977 (tornado, Roane 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 Roane 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 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 35 | 133 | 63 | 37 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 23 | 12 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 17 | 11 | 10 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 12 | 17 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Roane County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 35 · Mar 29 · Apr 46 · May 61 · Jun 82 · Jul 60 · Aug 41 · Sep 15 · Oct 14 · Nov 11 · Dec 17 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Roane County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Roane County: 19 major disasters, 5 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and flood (5).
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 2014-08-13 | DR-4189 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| 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 |
| 1993-03-14 | EM-3095 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1991-01-04 | DR-889 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1977-04-29 | DR-533 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-06-28 | DR-395 | 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 Roane County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 46 flood or flash flood records for Roane County from 1996 to 2025, on 39 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Roane County ranks 1766th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $522,000 on 40 claims filed in Roane County; the most in one year was 9 in 1990. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1990: 9 · 1991: 1 · 1994: 1 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 3 · 2002: 4 · 2003: 4 · 2004: 1 · 2011: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 2 · 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 Roane County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Roane County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $21.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $65K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $5.0M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.1M | 5.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $534K | 59 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.1M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $102K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $112K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $2.5M | once in about 220 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Roane 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 Roane CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Roane County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis