Williamson County, Tennessee

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 47187 · population 247,523 · 583 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 915 records for Williamson County, Tennessee from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 472 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (430 records). The deadliest single record is the December 24, 1988 tornado: 1 death and 7 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1974, 14 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
915on 472 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
623 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$110Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
26strongest F4
FEMA declarations
16latest 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 Williamson County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 430 since 1960. 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.

Williamson County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 430 216 1960-2026 4 0 $4.4M 37 of 95
Hail 197 90 1961-2025 0 0 $114K 20 of 95
Floods 97 65 1996-2025 1 0 $16M 21 of 95
Winter storms 71 65 1996-2026 0 0 $208K 60 of 95
Lightning 31 27 1998-2024 0 6 $3.8M 3 of 95
Drought 29 29 2007-2026 0 0 – 50 of 95
Tornadoes 26 23 1963-2025 1 17 $84M 33 of 95
High wind and dust storms 16 15 2001-2025 0 0 $1.1M 28 of 95
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 8 8 2009-2023 0 0 – 8 of 95
Heavy rain 5 4 2008-2020 0 0 – 15 of 95
Heat 4 4 2010-2025 0 0 – 43 of 95
Extreme cold 1 1 2022-2022 0 0 – 65 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 Williamson County had?

NOAA records 26 tornadoes in Williamson County from 1963 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 17 injuries recorded in the county. That is 33rd of 95 Tennessee counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Williamson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 26, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Williamson County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1988-12-24 06:04, as SPC files itFranklin to BrentwoodF46 mi1
2003-05-11 02:20, as SPC files itUnnamedF31 mi0
1963-01-10 23:55, as SPC files itSpring Hill to Thompson's StationF34 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Tennessee.

Every tornado record filed for Williamson County (26)
Every tornado recorded in Williamson County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-03-30 Craigfield, Williamson County EF0 1.81 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $25K
2023-08-12 Ewingville, Williamson County EF0 1.85 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $97K
2021-05-09 Rudderville, Williamson County EF0 0.78 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $5K
2020-09-01 Bending Chestnut, Williamson County EF0 2.8 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $6K
2019-02-06 New Hope, Williamson County EF0 0.27 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $6K
2017-03-01 Berrys Chapel, Williamson County EF1 10.48 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $8.8M
2015-04-03 Kingfield, Williamson County EF0 5.6 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $25K
2013-01-30 Bending Chestnut, Williamson County EF0 0.92 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $89K
2013-01-30 Ewingville, Williamson County EF0 2 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $139K
2013-01-30 College Grove, Williamson County EF0 0.29 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $133K
2012-04-26 Franklin, Williamson County EF0 3.77 mi x 100 yd 0 6 $96K
2008-02-06 Kingfield, Williamson County EF0 1.6 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2008-02-05 Lampley Store, Williamson County EF2 19.98 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $343K
2005-11-15 Thompsons Station, Williamson County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-11 Franklin, Williamson County F3 1 mi x 300 yd 0 1 $3.5M
2003-05-11 Nolensville, Williamson County F1 0.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-05 Franklin, Williamson County F1 4 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $4.8M
2001-10-24 Leipers Fork, Williamson County F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
2001-02-25 Franklin, Williamson County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1988-12-24 Williamson County F4 6 mi x 150 yd 1 7 $25M step
1986-02-17 Williamson County F0 0.7 mi x 13 yd 0 0 $250K step
1985-08-16 Williamson County F1 1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1976-02-17 Williamson County F1 12.3 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $250K step
1972-04-21 Williamson County F1 1.5 mi x 50 yd 0 3 $250K step
1968-05-26 Williamson County F1 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 –
1963-01-10 Williamson County F3 2.7 mi x 400 yd 0 0 –

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 Williamson County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 28, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Williamson County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-05-01 DroughtWilliamson County · forecast zone Williamson 0 0 –
2026-04-28 Thunderstorm WindFairview, Williamson County 61 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-04-16 Thunderstorm WindFranklin, Williamson County 52 kt wind 0 0 $10K
2026-04-16 Thunderstorm WindFairview, Williamson County 43 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2026-04-01 DroughtWilliamson County · forecast zone Williamson 0 0 –
2026-03-15 Thunderstorm WindEpworth, Williamson County 52 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2026-01-24 Winter StormWilliamson County · forecast zone Williamson 0 0 –
2025-12-18 Thunderstorm WindEpworth, Williamson County 52 kt wind 0 0 $5K
2025-11-07 Thunderstorm WindBerrys Chapel, Williamson County 61 kt wind 0 0 $25K
2025-11-07 Thunderstorm WindMallorys, Williamson County 52 kt wind 0 0 $10K
2025-11-07 HailArrington, Williamson County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-11-07 Thunderstorm WindBerrys Chapel, Williamson County 52 kt wind 0 0 $5K

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

Records with deaths or injuries in Williamson County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1988-12-24 TornadoWilliamson County F4 6 mi x 150 yd 1 7 $25M step
2022-10-12 Thunderstorm WindForest Home, Williamson County Strong thunderstorm winds downed a tree onto a vehicle on Old Natchez Trace northwest of Franklin. A 22-year-old woman who was driving at the time was killed. 50 kt wind 1 0 $10K
2020-05-03 Thunderstorm WindHarpeth, Williamson County A tree fell onto and killed a man near Bethesda Road at Highway 431 who was outside playing with his daughter along a creek. 56 kt wind 1 0 –
2011-04-27 Thunderstorm WindMudsink, Williamson County A woman was struck in the head by a fallen tree limb and then died 24 hours later. 55 kt wind 1 0 –
2010-05-01 Flash FloodPeytonsville, Williamson County Flash flooding was reported along Peytonsville Road. Portions of Peytonsville Road had fallen into a nearby creek. Also, a fatality occurred when a man drove his vehicle into Garrison Creek at 12:30 PM CST. 1 0 $69K
2003-06-11 Thunderstorm WindFranklin, Williamson County A large tree fell on a minivan during a severe thunderstorm. It killed a 58 year-old woman who was driving southbound on Liberty Church Road. 60 kt wind 1 0 –
2012-04-26 TornadoFranklin, Williamson County An NWS Storm Survey confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down in Franklin. Damage began near the intersection of Highway 96 and Founders Point Boulevard where several trees were snapped and minor roof damage occurred. Continuous damage was noted heading to the south-southeast through Jim Warren Park where several vehicles ... EF0 3.77 mi x 100 yd 0 6 $96K
2024-07-30 LightningNolensville, Williamson County House was stuck by lightning in Nolen Meade subdivision. Fire heavily damaged the attic and top floor. Four firefighters were injured due to smoke inhalation. Damages are a rough estimate. 0 4 $235K

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.

The costliest records in Williamson County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2010-05-02 FloodNolensville, Williamson County 0 0 $14M
2017-03-01 TornadoBerrys Chapel, Williamson County EF1 10.48 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $8.8M
2003-05-05 TornadoFranklin, Williamson County F1 4 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $4.8M
2003-05-11 TornadoFranklin, Williamson County F3 1 mi x 300 yd 0 1 $3.5M
2010-10-24 LightningMallorys, Williamson County 0 0 $2.4M
2021-03-27 Flash FloodClovercroft, Williamson County 0 0 $1.6M
2023-03-03 High WindWilliamson County · forecast zone Williamson 50 kt wind 0 0 $969K
1999-05-05 Thunderstorm WindFairview, Williamson County 0 0 $843K

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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: December 24, 1988 (tornado, Williamson County, 1 killed).

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 Williamson 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).

Williamson County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind0163486620799
Hail022411464686
Floods––––14154028
Winter storms––––444617
Lightning––––34204
Drought––––09515 z

Drought in the 2020-26: 15 records against 5 in the decade before, 15 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Williamson County days with a record above.

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 Williamson County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 63 · Feb 60 · Mar 101 · Apr 107 · May 150 · Jun 123 · Jul 112 · Aug 50 · Sep 43 · Oct 35 · Nov 34 · Dec 37 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Williamson County

FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Williamson County: 12 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and winter storm (2).

Declarations including Williamson County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-02-06DR-4898Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2026-01-24EM-3635Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2025-04-02EM-3625Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2021-05-08DR-4601TornadoSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2020-04-02DR-4514BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3473BiologicalCovid-19
2010-05-04DR-1909Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2008-02-07DR-1745Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2005-09-05EM-3217HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2003-05-08DR-1464Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
1999-05-12DR-1275Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
1998-04-20DR-1215Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding
1994-02-28DR-1010Severe StormSevere Winter Ice Storm,Flash Flooding
1979-05-07DR-585Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1975-03-22DR-459FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1974-04-04DR-424TornadoTornadoes

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 Williamson County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 97 flood or flash flood records for Williamson County from 1996 to 2025, on 65 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Williamson County ranks 309th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $31.1 million on 1,103 claims filed in Williamson County; the most in one year was 439 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 3 · 1979: 46 · 1980: 26 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 3 · 1983: 4 · 1984: 24 · 1986: 4 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 11 · 1990: 19 · 1991: 3 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 20 · 1994: 18 · 1995: 15 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 12 · 1998: 36 · 1999: 14 · 2000: 14 · 2001: 1 · 2003: 60 · 2004: 10 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 439 · 2011: 18 · 2013: 14 · 2015: 3 · 2017: 28 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 21 · 2021: 198 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 4; 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 Williamson County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Williamson County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $98.0 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Williamson County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Cold WaveRelatively High$13M1.2 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively High$3.4M6.1 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively High$1.0Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$12Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$57M2.2 a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$469K5.2 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$8.5Monce in about 298 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$1.8M4.9 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Williamson County

  1. Davidson County 1,709
  2. Williamson County 915
  3. Rutherford County 903
  4. Maury County 639
  5. Dickson County 602
  6. Hickman County 491
  7. Cheatham County 393
  8. Marshall County 372

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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