Phelps County, Missouri
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
35
Tornado reports
203
Hail reports
119
Floods since 1996
678
All events
3
Deaths
$26.7M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Phelps County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 35 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
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.
A NWS survey team determined that an EF-3 tornado occurred north of Rolla. The heaviest damage occurred between state Highway E and County Road 8040. Two single wide mobile homes were completely destroyed with debris thrown upstream while the frames were detached. Two fatalities …
Tornado EF3 Tornado
A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-3 tornado tracked into northeast Phelps County. The tornado impacted areas on the northern edge of Jerome destroying one home and several oubuildings.
A major winter storm produced heavy snow and blizzard conditions at times across southwest Missouri. Heavy snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches were observed. Significant accumulations of sleet preceded the snow with accumulations up to 3 inches. Freezing rain accumulated up to on…
An EF-2 tornado moved through Phelps County, including the city of Rolla. The tornado started in the Mark Twain National Forest approximately 7 miles southeast of Newburg, MO with damage diminishing to the north of Dillion, MO. The tornado caused an intermittent path of damaged a…
Of the $1 million in damages to roads and bridges across the county, the worst damages were located along the Big Piney near Buelah, followed by the Newburg and Duke areas. Additionally, four homes suffered major damages.
Highway J was closed due to high water at the Spring Creek Arm of the Big Piney River. Numerous roads and bridges were damaged. Approximately 8 homes were destroyed and 22 homed suffered moderate damaged from flood water. This storm report will contain the damage estimates for th…
Significant tree and power line damage occurred from ice accumulations of one and a half inches.
A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that a tornado tracked across a section of northeast Phelps County, and through the community of St. James. Several structures were heavily damaged including a Walmart distribution center, the Manchester Packing Plant, and the St. …
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was over the roadway at County Road 2020 and Old Highway 66.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water was over the roadway at State Highway V and Industrial Park Drive in Rolla.
Hail Hail
Hail up to quarters in size were reported.
Hail Hail
Hail up to quarters in size was reported.
Hail Hail
Hail up to half dollars in size were reported.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
County Road 5120 was closed at a low water crossing.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was down on the road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was down blocking the road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was reported down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was reported down and blocking a road in town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was uprooted and fell on Highway Y blocking traffic.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds snapped off a few limbs southwest of Saint James.
Flood Flood
Highway 63 was closed due to flooding just north of Highway 72 underneath a railroad bridge in Rolla.
Flood Flood
State Highway H was closed due to flooding near Black Oak Creek.
Drought Drought
Despite below the monthly average rainfall, enough rain fell which allowed drought conditions to improve with only Moderate (D1) drought to Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions remaining in the county at the end of the month. Impacts across the region were largely limited to farm and s…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall began to push into the County during the late evening hours of January 23 as the first round of snow that would continue into January 25th. Moderate to heavy snowfall then occurred during through the day January 24 and into midday January 25th. Between 5-8 inches of snow…
Drought Drought
Below the monthly average rainfall occurred, despite a significant snow event, which produced little changed in drought conditions through the month leaving Severe (D2) drought and Moderate (D1) drought conditions in the county by the end of the month. Impacts across the region w…
Drought Drought
Drought improved for portions of the county during the month thanks to limited beneficial rainfall during the month drought. Portions of the County did remain impacted by Moderate (D1) to Abnormally Dry (D0) drought conditions at the end of the month. Impacts were noted in surfac…
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought developed across the northern portions of the county during the month. Conditions through the month saw some improvement after a record dry August. Limited rainfall occurred during the month of September to allow for some improvement by the end of the month. B…
Flood Flood
State Highway CC was closed due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding occurred near Winchester Drive and Newcastle Drive. Water was over the road and impassable.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway 68, just south of State Highway JJ had water over the roadway.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Street flooding was reported on the east side of Rolla from heavy rainfall.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree was down on Highway 8.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A state official reported a power line down on Eastwood Street in Rolla.
Flood Flood
Route CC at a low water area and County Road 7060 were closed due to high water.
Flood Flood
Route J at Big Piney Creek was flooded and impassable.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of half dollars fell south of Rolla.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
Following a review of satellite and radar imagery, the NWS determined an EF-1 tornado touched down in Phelps County. This tornado was within a larger path of the parent storm that produced additional tornadoes between Diggins, MO through Rolla. This tornado started six miles west…
High Wind High Wind
Non thunderstorm winds downed a large tree in Rolla.
High Wind High Wind
Non thunderstorm winds downed several large trees. Gutters were damaged off of homes near Northwye.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
An arctic airmass slid into the Ozarks during the overnight hours of February 19-20, bringing extreme cold and wind chills in the -10 to -30 degree range across most of the region.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Light snowfall began to push into Phelps County during the morning hours of February 18 before more moderate to heavy snowfall occurred during the afternoon and evening. Between 6 to 6.5 inches of snow was reported across Phelps County, causing some schools to close.
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
An arctic airmass slid into the Ozarks during the overnight hours of January 20-21 bringing extreme cold and windchills in the -5 to -15 degree range across most of the region.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Precipitation started as a light snow during the evening of January 9 with the snow then continuing overnight into the afternoon hours of January 10. Snow amounts between 3 and 4 inches fell across the county. A public report of a measured storm total of 4 inches of snow was rece…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A band of light rain and drizzle lifted into southwest Missouri before turning into freezing drizzle and mixed wintry precipitation between January 4 and January 6. Between 2.0 and 5.4 inches of snowfall was measured over a two-day period across Phelps County. Additionally, 0.63 …
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-28 located 7.6 miles south-southeast of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 9.03 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-17 located 8.2 miles south-southeast of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.57 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-37 located 8.1 miles south-southeast of Rolla measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.42 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The CoCoRaHS station MO-PH-20 located 1.2 miles southeast of St. James measured a 2-day rainfall total of 8.42 inches.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 17 | 0 |
| 2025 | 20 | 2 |
| 2024 | 47 | 2 |
| 2023 | 26 | 0 |
| 2022 | 40 | 2 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | 11 | 0 |
| 2019 | 26 | 4 |
| 2018 | 19 | 0 |
| 2017 | 9 | 0 |
| 2016 | 16 | 0 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 |
| 2014 | 12 | 0 |
| 2013 | 24 | 0 |
| 2012 | 29 | 2 |
| 2011 | 26 | 0 |
| 2010 | 17 | 2 |
| 2009 | 22 | 0 |
| 2008 | 48 | 2 |
| 2007 | 18 | 1 |
| 2006 | 24 | 2 |
| 2005 | 10 | 0 |
| 2004 | 12 | 0 |
| 2003 | 23 | 2 |
| 2002 | 22 | 0 |
| 2001 | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 | 13 | 0 |
| 1999 | 11 | 3 |
| 1998 | 12 | 0 |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 | 12 | 0 |
| 1995 | 9 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1988 | 2 | 0 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1983 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | 8 | 2 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 3 | 1 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1966 | 3 | 3 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 2 | 0 |
| 1960 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 3 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Phelps County, measured to its path.
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