Taney County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29213 · population 55,976 · 632 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 859 records for Taney County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 472 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (289 records). The deadliest single record is the May 27, 2017 flash flood: 3 deaths and $602,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1976, 21 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
- 859on 472 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 659 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $84Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 22strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Taney County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 289 since 1968. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 289 | 169 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 10 | $3.4M | 21 of 114 |
| Hail | 232 | 133 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.1M | 26 of 114 |
| Floods | 160 | 105 | 1996-2025 | 6 | 0 | $43M | 28 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 50 | 48 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 10 | $789K | 82 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 42 | 15 | 2011-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 15 of 114 |
| Drought | 31 | 30 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.6M | 36 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 22 | 18 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 39 | $24M | 74 of 114 |
| Heat | 9 | 9 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 96 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | 80 of 114 |
| Wildfires | 6 | 6 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $334K | 4 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 4 | 2008-2025 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 68 of 114 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2001-2017 | 0 | 0 | $973K | 26 of 114 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 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 Taney County had?
NOAA records 22 tornadoes in Taney County from 1957 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 39 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 23 tornadoes whose track touched Taney County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 22: 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.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Taney County (22)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-26 | Bradleyville, Taney County | EF0 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 2024-05-13 | Ridgedale, Taney County | EF0 1.23 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2021-12-10 | Walnut Shade, Taney County | EF1 1.57 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $131K |
| 2021-04-28 | Walnut Shade, Taney County | EF0 0.57 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $136K |
| 2021-04-28 | Ike, Taney County | EF0 0.09 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2019-04-30 | Branson Mem Airport, Taney County | EF0 1.02 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2019-04-30 | Protem, Taney County | EF1 1.72 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-05-19 | Branson Mem Airport, Taney County | EF0 0.25 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 1 | $12K |
| 2017-05-19 | Rockaway Beach, Taney County | EF1 8.7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-09 | Ike, Taney County | EF0 0.1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2017-03-09 | Forsyth, Taney County | EF0 1.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $120K |
| 2012-02-29 | Branson Mem Airport, Taney County | EF2 16.54 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 37 | $19M |
| 2011-05-22 | Day, Taney County | EF1 4.75 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $66K |
| 2010-04-24 | Branson Mem Airport, Taney County | EF0 0.51 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2009-05-08 | Swan, Taney County | EF1 2.76 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $688K |
| 2008-01-08 | Branson Mem Airport, Taney County | EF0 2.88 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 2006-03-11 | Branson, Taney County | F0 8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-08 | Forsyth, Taney County | F0 0.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-04-27 | Forsyth, Taney County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $995 |
| 1965-04-05 | Taney County | F1 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-05-18 | Taney County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1957-05-21 | Taney County | F2 14.5 mi x 500 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 Taney County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 30, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindKirbyville, Taney County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindGarber, Taney County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2026-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindForsyth, Taney County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Winter StormTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | High WindTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2025-10-01 | DroughtTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-23 | Flash FloodMincy, Taney County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-05-27 | Flash FloodBranson Mem Airport, Taney County Highway 165 was closed due flash flooding of Cooper Creek. Numerous swift water rescues were conducted around the Branson area. Three people visiting from out of town were swept away and drowned in flood waters along Cooper Creek right off Fall Creek Road. Cooper Creek rose about 10 feet in about 15 minutes. Water ... | 3 | 0 | $602K | |
| 2019-05-01 | Flash FloodWalnut Shade, Taney County During the late morning to the early afternoon three kayakers entered Bull Creek after heavy rainfall caused the river to rise nearly 14 feet. When the kayakers entered the river a river gauge on Bull Creek recorded a water level near 13 feet, or near 9 feet above normal stage. The kayakers entered the river near ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2020-06-09 | FloodWheelerville, Taney County Bull Creek was receding but still in flood when a kayaker crossed a low water crossing and drowned after being caught in a downstream hydraulic. Time is estimated. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2012-02-29 | TornadoBranson Mem Airport, Taney County This is a continuation of the EF-2 rated tornado that touched down in Stone County at 01:13 CST then tracked into western Taney County west of Branson. The path length in Taney County was near 16 miles and the overall path length was approximately 22 miles. While mostly rated EF1 in Taney County, there was evidence of ... | EF2 16.54 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 37 | $19M |
| 2025-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindRidgedale, Taney County Four individuals were injured by flying debris at the Thunder Ridge Nature Arena. Stage displays and sound systems were damaged, as well as facility tents and other structures. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 4 | $100K |
| 2022-12-22 | Winter WeatherTaney County · forecast zone Taney A light glaze of freezing drizzle began in the early morning hours of December 22nd and lasted approximately one to two hours before transitioning to snow. Snowfall accumulation reports ranged from 1.0 inches at the COOP observer station in Ozark Beach to 2.5 inches in Branson via a public report. Roads became ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 2022-12-22 | Winter StormTaney County · forecast zone Taney A light glaze of freezing drizzle began in the early morning hours of December 22nd and lasted approximately one to two hours before transitioning to snow. Snowfall accumulation reports ranged from 1.0 inches at the COOP observer station in Ozark Beach to 2.5 inches in Branson via a public report. Due to extreme cold ... | 0 | 3 | – | |
| 1999-08-11 | Thunderstorm WindTaneyville, Taney County A downburst along the Christian and Taney County line flipped over and destroyed a trailer in Taney County and rolled another trailer over in Christian County. Tree and power line damage also occurred. Two persons were slightly injured by golfball sized hail while running for shelter. | 0 | 2 | $89K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-02-29 | TornadoBranson Mem Airport, Taney County | EF2 16.54 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 37 | $19M |
| 2011-04-25 | Flash FloodWalnut Shade, Taney County | 0 | 0 | $13M | |
| 2017-04-30 | Flash FloodPt Lookout, Taney County | 0 | 0 | $12M | |
| 2008-03-18 | Flash FloodIke, Taney County | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 2015-12-27 | FloodPt Lookout Airport, Taney County | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | |
| 2007-04-07 | Frost/FreezeTaney County · forecast zone Taney | 0 | 0 | $1.7M | |
| 2008-03-31 | Flash FloodIke, Taney County | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | |
| 2013-08-08 | Flash FloodHollister, Taney County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M |
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: May 21, 1957 (tornado, Taney 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 Taney 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 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 24 | 58 | 122 | 63 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 31 | 84 | 66 | 43 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 8 | 40 | 66 | 46 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 13 | 12 | 19 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 24 | 18 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 12 | 12 |
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 Taney County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 36 · Feb 38 · Mar 80 · Apr 121 · May 182 · Jun 90 · Jul 107 · Aug 75 · Sep 32 · Oct 37 · Nov 23 · Dec 38 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Taney County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Taney County: 16 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (13) and flood (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 |
| 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 |
| 2011-05-09 | DR-1980 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2011-02-03 | EM-3317 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-02-17 | DR-1822 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2008-03-19 | DR-1749 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3281 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2006-03-16 | DR-1631 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes 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 |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-995 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-09-24 | EM-3017 | Drought | Drought |
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 Taney County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 160 flood or flash flood records for Taney County from 1996 to 2025, on 105 days, with 6 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Taney County ranks 599th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $18.5 million on 400 claims filed in Taney County; the most in one year was 133 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 2 · 1984: 3 · 1990: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1995: 2 · 2002: 2 · 2004: 5 · 2008: 66 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 133 · 2013: 29 · 2015: 81 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 64 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2024: 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 Taney County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Taney County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $41.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Very High | $2.0M | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $762K | 58 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $64K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $28M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.2M | 13 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $189K | 10 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.7M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | 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 Taney 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in MissouriThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Taney CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Taney County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis