Worth County, Missouri
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 29227 · population 1,973 · 267 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 225 records for Worth County, Missouri from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 179 days; the most frequent are hail reports (80 records). The deadliest single record is the August 1, 2001 heat, filed for the forecast zone Worth, which covers the county: 4 deaths. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on August 3, 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
- 225on 179 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 911 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $3.9Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 13strongest F3
- 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 Worth County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 80 since 1981. 66% of its hail reports since 1981 fell in May and June. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 80 | 48 | 1981-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 114 |
| Winter storms | 50 | 50 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | $495K | 9 of 114 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 32 | 29 | 1978-2026 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 98 of 114 |
| Drought | 15 | 15 | 2000-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 114 |
| Heat | 14 | 14 | 1999-2023 | 7 | 0 | – | 45 of 114 |
| Tornadoes | 13 | 12 | 1955-2024 | 2 | 11 | $3.4M | 30 of 114 |
| Extreme cold | 12 | 12 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 114 |
| Floods | 4 | 3 | 2008-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 114 of 114 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2015-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 36 of 114 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 1 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 58 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 Worth County had?
NOAA records 13 tornadoes in Worth County from 1955 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 2 deaths and 11 injuries recorded in the county. That is 30th of 114 Missouri 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Worth County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 13: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958-10-08 19:05, as SPC files it | Parnell | F3 | 23.1 mi | 2 |
| 2001-04-11 10:30, as SPC files it | Mount AyrCrossed IA, MO | F3 | 76.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Missouri.
Every tornado record filed for Worth County (13)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-04-26 | Irena, Worth County | EF0 1.16 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-30 | Denver, Worth County | EF1 1.93 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-04 | Worth County | F1 15 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $264K |
| 2004-08-26 | Worth County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-24 | Grant City, Worth County | F0 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-04-11 | Denver, Worth County | F2 14 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $167K |
| 1992-07-25 | Worth County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1992-07-25 | Worth County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1983-05-27 | Worth County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1958-10-10 | Worth County | F3 20.1 mi x 300 yd | 2 | 7 | $250K step |
| 1956-07-11 | Worth County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1956-04-02 | Worth County | F1 2.7 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-04-23 | Worth County | F2 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Worth County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 1, 2006 heat (2 deaths).
Oppressive heat and humidity continued from July...with heat indices from 105 to 115 degrees before ending on August 2nd. Two males aged 58 and 62 died due to the heat.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 5529259)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-18 | HailGrant City, Worth County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | HailSheridan, Worth County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-18 | HailSheridan, Worth County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindDenver, Worth County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-16 | HailSheridan, Worth County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-24 | Flash FloodIrena, Worth County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-23 | Heavy RainGrant City, Worth County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-23 | Heavy RainSheridan, Worth County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-18 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillWorth County · forecast zone Worth | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-11 | Heavy SnowWorth County · forecast zone Worth | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-04 | Winter StormWorth County · forecast zone Worth | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-04-26 | TornadoIrena, Worth County | EF0 1.16 mi x 50 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-08-01 | HeatWorth County · forecast zone Worth Excessive heat and humidity covered northwest Missouri between August 1st and August 5th. Afternoon heat indices ranged from 105 to 113 degrees. Three males and one female died in the Kansas City Metropolitan area. | 4 | 0 | – | |
| 1958-10-10 | TornadoWorth County | F3 20.1 mi x 300 yd | 2 | 7 | $250K step |
| 2006-08-01 | HeatWorth County · forecast zone Worth Oppressive heat and humidity continued from July...with heat indices from 105 to 115 degrees before ending on August 2nd. Two males aged 58 and 62 died due to the heat. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-08-09 | HeatWorth County · forecast zone Worth Excessive heat and humidity again plagued northwest Missouri on August 9th. Afternoon heat indices ranged from 105 to 110 degrees. A 64 year old male died from the heat in Kansas City. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1992-07-25 | TornadoWorth County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1992-07-25 | TornadoWorth County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1955-04-23 | TornadoWorth County | F2 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-04-10 | Heavy SnowWorth County · forecast zone Worth | 0 | 0 | $460K | |
| 2005-06-04 | TornadoWorth County | F1 15 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $264K |
| 2001-04-11 | TornadoDenver, Worth County | F2 14 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $167K |
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: October 10, 1958 (tornado, Worth County, 2 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 Worth 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 38 | 24 | 7 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 20 | 18 | 8 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
66% of its hail reports since 1981 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 21 · Mar 5 · Apr 27 · May 33 · Jun 47 · Jul 24 · Aug 15 · Sep 7 · Oct 4 · Nov 4 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Worth County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Worth County: 15 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and severe ice storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-03 | DR-4929 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2015-08-07 | DR-4238 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2014-10-31 | DR-4200 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, 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 |
| 2008-06-25 | 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 |
| 2007-06-11 | DR-1708 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-06-11 | DR-1524 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1993-07-09 | DR-995 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1984-06-21 | DR-713 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-09-24 | EM-3017 | Drought | Drought |
| 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 Worth County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Worth County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.1 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 | $2.2M | 9.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $498K | 18 modeled event-days a year |
| Landslide | Very Low | $3K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $18K | once in about 771 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $315K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $286K | 4.7 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $81K | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $5K | 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 Worth 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
- Hail in MissouriThe state's hail reports, 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 Worth CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Worth County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis