Scotland County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29199 · population 4,696 · 437 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 418 records for Scotland County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 318 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (113 records). The most damaging was the August 1, 2005 drought ($13.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 24 declarations naming the county since 1973, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on September 21, 2023.
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
- 418on 318 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 14strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 24latest 2023
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 Scotland County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 113 since 1997. 63% of its winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 113 | 113 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $36K | 1 of 114 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 109 | 73 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 1 | $700K | 68 of 114 |
| Hail | 104 | 72 | 1976-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.8M | 52 of 114 |
| Floods | 32 | 28 | 2001-2023 | 0 | 0 | $542K | 80 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 14 | 13 | 1959-2024 | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | 71 of 114 |
| Drought | 13 | 13 | 2005-2013 | 0 | 0 | $19M | 70 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 2000-2019 | 0 | 0 | $748K | 15 of 114 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 10 | 10 | 1999-2018 | 0 | 1 | – | 13 of 114 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 1999-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 111 of 114 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2003-2011 | 0 | 0 | $380K | 16 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 2 | 2 | 1997-1997 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 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 Scotland County had?
NOAA records 14 tornadoes in Scotland County from 1959 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Scotland County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 14: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-01-24 14:45, as SPC files it | Queen to PulaskiCrossed IA, MO | F4 | 25.7 mi | 0 |
| 1973-04-20 18:35, as SPC files it | Arbela | F3 | 9.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Scotland County (14)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-27 | Azen, Scotland County | EF0 0.26 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-06-26 | Memphis, Scotland County | EF0 0.18 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-10-14 | Ella Ewing Lake, Scotland County | EF1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-04-27 | Arbela, Scotland County | EF0 0.23 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $123K |
| 2016-04-27 | Spillman Mound, Scotland County | EF1 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $123K |
| 2015-11-11 | Gorin Howard Field Arp, Scotland County | EF1 2.52 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-10-02 | Show Me Lake, Scotland County | EF1 0.82 mi x 210 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2006-03-12 | Arbela, Scotland County | F0 5.5 mi x 8 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2003-05-10 | Rutledge, Scotland County | F0 4.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $401K |
| 1998-06-14 | Rutledge, Scotland County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-17 | Scotland County | F0 0.5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1973-04-20 | Scotland County | F3 9.5 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1967-04-21 | Scotland County | F0 1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1959-03-14 | Scotland County | F1 1 mi x 50 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 Scotland County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 28, 2018 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
WGEM TV reported a tree blown down. A woman was injured.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 764644)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-26 | HailAzen, Scotland County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Winter WeatherScotland County · forecast zone Scotland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-28 | Winter StormScotland County · forecast zone Scotland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-03 | Thunderstorm WindSand Hill, Scotland County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-21 | Thunderstorm WindMemphis, Scotland County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-05 | Winter WeatherScotland County · forecast zone Scotland | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-27 | TornadoAzen, Scotland County | EF0 0.26 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-09-18 | HailMemphis, Scotland County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-06-28 | Thunderstorm WindMemphis, Scotland County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2018-06-26 | TornadoMemphis, Scotland County | EF0 0.18 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-10-14 | TornadoElla Ewing Lake, Scotland County | EF1 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-04-27 | TornadoArbela, Scotland County | EF0 0.23 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $123K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-06-28 | Thunderstorm WindMemphis, Scotland County WGEM TV reported a tree blown down. A woman was injured. | 61 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2008-02-04 | Dense FogScotland County · forecast zone Scotland According to the Memphis Democrat, dense fog contributed to a three-vehicle accident near Rutledge on Route W at 155 pm. An indirect injury occurred as a result of the accident. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-08-01 | DroughtScotland County · forecast zone Scotland | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2005-07-01 | DroughtScotland County · forecast zone Scotland | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2003-05-08 | HailEtna, Scotland County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.2M |
| 2005-05-03 | Frost/FreezeScotland County · forecast zone Scotland | 0 | 0 | $748K | |
| 2003-05-08 | HailGorin, Scotland County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $401K |
| 2003-05-10 | TornadoRutledge, Scotland County | F0 4.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $401K |
| 2007-10-02 | TornadoShow Me Lake, Scotland County | EF1 0.82 mi x 210 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2006-08-13 | Thunderstorm WindMemphis, Scotland County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
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: April 20, 1973 (tornado, Scotland 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 Scotland 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 | – | – | – | – | 15 | 51 | 36 | 11 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 32 | 40 | 16 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 30 | 43 | 13 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 18 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 7 | 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 winter storm records since 1997 fell in December and January. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 37 · Feb 29 · Mar 28 · Apr 35 · May 64 · Jun 75 · Jul 40 · Aug 35 · Sep 12 · Oct 9 · Nov 9 · Dec 45 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Scotland County
FEMA's register lists 24 declarations that include Scotland County: 18 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and severe ice storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-09-21 | DR-4741 | 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 |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4238 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2013-07-18 | DR-4130 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2011-03-23 | DR-1961 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm |
| 2011-02-03 | EM-3317 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2010-08-17 | DR-1934 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2009-01-30 | EM-3303 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2008-11-13 | DR-1809 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and A Tornado |
| 2008-06-25 | DR-1773 | 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 |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2002-05-06 | DR-1412 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2002-02-06 | DR-1403 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 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 |
| 1974-06-10 | DR-439 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1973-11-01 | DR-407 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Scotland County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Scotland County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.2 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 | $2.8M | 9.2 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $281K | 14 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Relatively Low | $3K | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $256K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $775K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $139K | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $308K | 3.9 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $323K | 4.5 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 Scotland 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
- Winter storms in MissouriThe state's winter storm records, 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 Scotland CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Scotland County's FEMA declarations (CSV)24 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis