Polk County, Missouri
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
38
Tornado reports
306
Hail reports
222
Floods since 1996
987
All events
1
Deaths
$60.4M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Polk County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 38 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 56 year old man was swept off of Highway H by flash flooding of the Pomme De Terre River. Nearly all low water crossings across the county were flooded and several suffered damage. Several county roads sustained damaged from flood water. This storm report will contain the damag…
A widespread flood event occurred in Polk County during the early morning hours of June 9th. Between 4 and 6 inches of rainfall fell in Polk County which caused the Pomme De Terre River and its tributaries to rapidly increase. There was damage to over 450 miles of gravel roads in…
Hail ranging from baseball to softball in size fell to the northwest, north and east of Bolivar. 200 homes at an average of $32,000 suffered damages to siding, roofs and windows, and 350 cars were damaged, many totaled.
Baseball sized hail was reported in town. Emergency management reported 170 houses suffered damaged along with numerous cars. This entry includes all damages reported in Polk County during this event.
Drought conditions improved across Morgan County by the end of November. The US Drought Monitor indicated that moderate (D1) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts …
Golf ball to tennis ball sized hail and 50 mph winds were reported in Bolivar. Approximately 150 homes suffered severe damage to roofs, siding and windows. An equal number of cars suffered significant damage, with most 2014 model year and older totaled by insurance companies. Thi…
A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that an EF-1 tornado touched down approximately two miles northwest of Brighton, and tracked north across southern Polk County. The tornado lifted approximately two miles east southeast of Bolivar. The tornado damaged or destroyed …
Seventy to 90 mph winds caused massive damage across much of Polk County. The central and southern sections of the county was impacted the greatest. Hundreds of outbuildings were either heavily damaged or destroyed. The communities of Bolivar and Pleasant Hope experienced damage …
The remnants of Tropical Storm Erin caused serious flooding across southern and central Polk County. Numerous secondary roads were washed out along with many low water crossings. Specific locations that were flooded include a bridge on Highway W near its intersection with Highway…
Flood Flood
MODOT closed Highway H near the 260th block due to water over the roadway.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of quarters fell in Pleasant Hope.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed trees on H highway and several other county roads just north of Pleasant Hope.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway Y was closed due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway W was closed due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway 215 was closed east of Pleasant Hope due to water over the roadway.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Route C and P are closed at Lindley Creek due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway HH closed north of Route 64 due to water over the roadway.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Photo of water flowing over South 223 Rd over Jordan Creek due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water and debris were over road on State Highway HH from 64 to AC.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Hail Hail
Hail up to the size of baseballs was reported in a rural portion of Polk County near the town of Flemington. Some homes, outbuildings and vehicles suffered damage.
Hail Hail
Hail up to ping pong balls in size were reported.
Hail Hail
Hail up to quarters in size were reported.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of hen eggs was reported along the lake. Several vacation cabins had minor roof damage with minor damage to a few vehicles noted as well.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of golf balls was reported with only minor damage to a few vehicles and roofs of homes.
Flood Flood
Missouri Route 83 at Ables Branch was closed due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway CC was closed at a low water area due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway P was closed at Lindley Creek due to flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway D was closed due to flooding at a low water area.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway H at Ingalls Creek was flooded and impassable.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway Y was closed at Steinshouer Creek due to flooding.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed a power pole in Humansville.
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 4-6 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…
Winter Weather Winter Weather
One inch of snowfall was measured in portions of Polk County. County dispatch reported multiple slide off accidents in the county due to the light snow.
Drought Drought
Despite well below the monthly average rainfall little changed with drought conditions through the month leaving Severe (D2) drought conditions in the county by the end of the month. Impacts across the region were largely limited to larger scale agriculture. However, farm and sto…
Drought Drought
Though below the monthly average, timely rain fell across the region through the month. Despite the rains, little to no drought improvements occurred the the Severe (D2) drought conditions in the county by the end of the month. Impacts across the region were largely limited to la…
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) drought developed across western and southeastern portions of the county during the month. Conditions worsened through the month after limited rainfall during the month. The remainder of the county was impacted by Severe (D2) to Moderate (D1) drought conditions at th…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed large tree limbs and took shingles off a building.
Hail Hail
Hail up to the size of quarters was reported near Aldrich.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) drought developed across southeastern and eastern portions of the county during the month. Conditions worsened through the month after a record dry August and continued limited rainfall during the month of September. The remainder of the county was impacted by Moderat…
Hail Hail
Report of quarter size hail.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Route V was closed due to flooding.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total rainfall amount of 6.34 inches from May 23 through May 27.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was reported down blocking the road in town.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
State Highway V was closed at Weaubleau Creek with a foot or more of water. A water rescue was performed successfully with no injuries reported.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 | 0 |
| 2025 | 23 | 0 |
| 2024 | 52 | 1 |
| 2023 | 43 | 0 |
| 2022 | 27 | 0 |
| 2021 | 38 | 2 |
| 2020 | 24 | 1 |
| 2019 | 33 | 2 |
| 2018 | 29 | 2 |
| 2017 | 28 | 1 |
| 2016 | 14 | 0 |
| 2015 | 55 | 3 |
| 2014 | 19 | 0 |
| 2013 | 30 | 0 |
| 2012 | 39 | 2 |
| 2011 | 42 | 2 |
| 2010 | 26 | 2 |
| 2009 | 28 | 1 |
| 2008 | 57 | 1 |
| 2007 | 32 | 1 |
| 2006 | 26 | 1 |
| 2005 | 29 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 0 |
| 2003 | 33 | 3 |
| 2002 | 35 | 1 |
| 2001 | 25 | 0 |
| 2000 | 17 | 1 |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 | 15 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 23 | 2 |
| 1995 | 13 | 0 |
| 1994 | 11 | 2 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 8 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 1 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 |
| 1971 | 1 | 1 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Polk County, measured to its path.
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