Butler County, Missouri
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1956 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
48
Tornado reports
145
Hail reports
116
Floods since 1996
1,035
All events
16
Deaths
$108.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Butler County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 47 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
The tornado crossed into Butler County in the Mark Twain National Forest, then proceded east-southeast, passing 6 to 7 miles north of Poplar Bluff. An upscale residential subdivision beyond the northern outskirts of Poplar Bluff, just off U.S. Route 67, received extensive damage.…
An EF-3 tornado started along County Road 462 southeast of Stringtown and moved east northeast along County Road 450 all the way into Poplar Bluff. On the way it damaged numerous trees and did significant damage to several homes. Right as it crossed U.S. 67 on the northwest side …
Major flooding occurred on the Black River as the month began. At the Poplar Bluff river gage, the river crested at 21.96 feet late on the morning of the 1st. This crest was only a few inches below the record crest of 22.15 feet, set in March of 2008. The main levee from Poplar B…
The Black River rose rapidly above flood stage on the 30th, climbing about 14 feet in 18 hours. The flooding reached the major category as the month was closing out. A drowning occurred when a vehicle was swept off a county road outside of Harviell. The drowning victim was a 69-y…
Moderate flooding occurred along the Black River, resulting in one fatality and some flooded homes. Several homes were evacuated, and there was considerable flooding of streets and highways. In Poplar Bluff, portions of several streets were flooded with several feet of water, mai…
Flash flooding of drainage ditch number 1 for the Black River apparently caused a drowning fatality. A vehicle travelling along a small farm road parallel to the ditch got stuck in mud. The male victim was located several days later about 400 yards south of his pickup truck and s…
King Creek rose up to the bridge on County Road 421.
Flooding of roads and creeks was fairly widespread. Numerous county roads were under water. A portion of Highway N was closed. Several water rescues were conducted as motorists drove into flooded areas. Three teenagers drowned after their vehicle went into a flooded creek followi…
A moving vehicle along Highway 53 was destroyed by a very large oak tree that fell on it. Both occupants of the vehicle were killed, probably on impact. A small fire started in the engine compartment after emergency responders arrived. A 40-foot semi-trailer was overturned in the…
An EF-4 tornado that started in Arkansas lifted northeast through Ripley County and into Butler County just north of U.S. 160 east of Fairdealing. The tornado produced EF-2 damage as it briefly moved east, paralleling U.S. 160, and then turned northeast, dissipating just south of…
Major flooding occurred on the Black River. The river crested at 21.41 feet at Poplar Bluff, which was the third highest crest on record. The record crest was set only a few years earlier in 2008. The main levee from Poplar Bluff to the Qulin area was overtopped in more than thre…
Record flooding of the Black River occurred. At the Poplar Bluff gage, the river crested at 22.15 feet on March 19 at 4:30 P.M. CDT. The previous record crest was 21.68 feet in December of 1982. Flood stage there is 16 feet, and major flooding begins at 21 feet. Hundreds of homes…
Historic flooding struck much of Butler County. At least 1,000 people in the county were displaced from their homes by flooding. U.S. Coast Guard boats and helicopters from as far away as New Orleans assisted in evacuation efforts. The helicopters airlifted 37 people and six dogs…
A tornado touched down 5 miles west of Poplar Bluff destroying five houses and two mobile homes. Several minor injuries were reported. Reported by the Missouri Highway Patrol and Butler County officials.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured peak thunderstorm wind gust at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport ASOS station KPOF.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees and several tree limbs were downed by a thunderstorm line moving into northern Butler County. Report submitted via social media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large section of a tree was downed in Qulin as a thunderstorm line moved through the town. Report submitted via social media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A trained spotter estimated 70mph gusts through Neelyville. A few windows were smashed, possibly by hail. Portions of multiple trees were damaged in and around Neelyville. Multiple surges of wind occurred in a brief period through town, north of the core of the storm.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tractor trailer was blown over on US-67 one mile north of the Arkansas state line. Damage to trees and power lines were also observed near the state line.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts up to 60mph were estimated in Stringtown as a thunderstorm moved into Butler County.
Hail Hail
Several spotters reported hail with a storm tracking eastward through Butler County. One estimated quarter size hail west of Poplar Bluff, another shared a picture of hail measured to ping pong ball size from Poplar Bluff, while another spotter reported hail measured to half-doll…
Hail Hail
Hail estimated to quarter size fell south of Wappapello.
Hail Hail
Hail estimated to quarter size fell east of Naylor as a storm cell moved into Butler County.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Drought Drought
Dense Fog Dense Fog
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Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Drought Drought
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Dense Fog Dense Fog
Drought Drought
Hail Hail
Hail measured to quarter size was reported south of Qulin in extreme southeast Butler County. Time estimated from radar.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 21 | 0 |
| 2025 | 36 | 3 |
| 2024 | 37 | 2 |
| 2023 | 31 | 0 |
| 2022 | 35 | 1 |
| 2021 | 29 | 1 |
| 2020 | 41 | 1 |
| 2019 | 40 | 0 |
| 2018 | 43 | 1 |
| 2017 | 37 | 3 |
| 2016 | 28 | 0 |
| 2015 | 33 | 0 |
| 2014 | 32 | 2 |
| 2013 | 28 | 4 |
| 2012 | 42 | 2 |
| 2011 | 60 | 3 |
| 2010 | 34 | 2 |
| 2009 | 37 | 0 |
| 2008 | 40 | 2 |
| 2007 | 38 | 0 |
| 2006 | 35 | 1 |
| 2005 | 19 | 0 |
| 2004 | 17 | 0 |
| 2003 | 24 | 0 |
| 2002 | 24 | 2 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 21 | 1 |
| 1998 | 24 | 0 |
| 1997 | 20 | 1 |
| 1996 | 20 | 2 |
| 1995 | 3 | 1 |
| 1994 | 7 | 1 |
| 1993 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 6 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 1 |
| 1980 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 2 |
| 1975 | 6 | 1 |
| 1974 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 8 | 3 |
| 1972 | 5 | 0 |
| 1971 | 5 | 0 |
| 1970 | 4 | 2 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 2 | 0 |
| 1964 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Butler County, measured to its path.
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