Farmington
Population 19,226 (2025)
93 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Farmington since 1950, 11 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on June 7, 2025.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195093
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger2
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198410
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for St. Francois County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for St. Francois County.
Strongest tornado
EF4
February 28, 2017, 53.5 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1941, 39.1 miles away
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 11 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
February 28, 2017
EF4, 53.5 mile path
1,100 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
May 21, 1957
8 killed, F3
50 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, June 7, 2025
EF0, 1.2 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Jun 7, 2025 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 2025 | EF1 | 4.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2025 | EF0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2025 | EF1 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2025 | EF1 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EF0 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EF1 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EF1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF1 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF2 | 16.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF3 | 18.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF1 | 10.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2021 | EF3 | 16.7 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 31, 2021 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2020 | EF1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 2019 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 28, 2017 | EF4 | 53.5 | 12 | 1 |
| Feb 28, 2017 | EF0 | 4.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2015 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 2015 | EF1 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 29, 2012 | EF2 | 31.9 | 1 | 0 |
| May 25, 2011 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 2011 | EF1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2009 | EF1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 22, 2006 | F2 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 22, 2006 | F2 | 25.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 22, 2006 | F2 | 25.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2006 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2006 | F3 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2006 | F3 | 53.5 | 12 | 2 |
| Mar 11, 2006 | F1 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2006 | F1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2006 | F2 | 35.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 26, 2004 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 2004 | F1 | 0.2 | 7 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 2004 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 27, 2004 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2002 | F1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2002 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 2002 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1998 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1996 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1996 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1994 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1993 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 9, 1984 | F2 | 3.0 | 15 | 1 |
| Nov 9, 1984 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 1982 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 1982 | F1 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 1982 | F2 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1979 | F1 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 1976 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 1974 | F2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1973 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1973 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1973 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1973 | F2 | 14.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1972 | F2 | 26.0 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 1, 1972 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 15, 1971 | F1 | 0.8 | 2 | 0 |
| May 24, 1971 | F2 | 25.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1970 | F1 | 9.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1969 | F3 | 18.1 | 6 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1969 | F4 | 15.1 | 14 | 4 |
| Jun 22, 1969 | F4 | 20.2 | 22 | 2 |
| Apr 3, 1968 | F2 | 12.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1967 | F4 | 27.9 | 52 | 3 |
| Dec 8, 1966 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 8, 1966 | F3 | 1.3 | 2 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1963 | F2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
| May 16, 1963 | F2 | 4.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1963 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F1 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1960 | F2 | 9.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 18, 1957 | F2 | 2.7 | 1 | 1 |
| May 22, 1957 | F1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 1957 | F3 | 22.2 | 50 | 8 |
| Apr 25, 1957 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 18, 1952 | F2 | 18.4 | 1 | 0 |
| Jan 25, 1950 | F2 | 2.3 | 5 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
1 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 25, 1941
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
39.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 40 mph.
Most recent
October 26, 2019
Olga, Post-tropical
87.6 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
10 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
February 20, 2000
Unnamed Fire, 1,555 acres
13.1 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
April 1, 2024
Renault Fire
1,084 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Renault | 2024 | 23.7 | 1,084 |
| Marlow Mountain | 2012 | 22.1 | 614 |
| Unnamed | 2005 | 4.3 | 742 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 23.7 | 1,189 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 22.6 | 1,260 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 19.4 | 675 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 13.1 | 1,555 |
| Unnamed | 1999 | 13.1 | 1,487 |
| Unnamed | 1995 | 21.5 | 691 |
| Unnamed | 1995 | 4.4 | 724 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 63 days
Heavy smoke on 10 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
19.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
14 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 38 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
94 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $2.8 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for St. Francois County, the county that contains Farmington.
Most claims in one year
1993: 13 claims
$181,000 paid.
2nd most
2009: 10 claims
$220,000 paid.
3rd most
2015: 7 claims
$75,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 63628 | 54 | $1.8 million |
| 63601 | 27 | $223,000 |
| 63640 | 9 | $35,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood30
- Flood2
- Heavy Rain2
2 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 112 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 28 months.
The drought index is for St. Francois County, the county that contains Farmington.
112
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
53
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
6
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
March 1954
−6.58, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
28 months
June 1930 to September 1932.
Latest month
September 2026
+0.93, incipient wet spell
Last severe month: December 2012.
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
8 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 5.1 in 1917.
11
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
8
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
1
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
June 7, 2011
Magnitude 3.9
18 km NNW of Potosi, Missouri; 32.9 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Dec 11, 1976 | 4.2 | 42.1 |
| Jul 21, 1967 | 4.0 | 23.7 |
| Oct 20, 1965 | 4.6 | 35.2 |
| Apr 9, 1955 | 4.3 | 46.8 |
| Jun 29, 1947 | 4.2 | 44.4 |
| Nov 23, 1939 | 4.6 | 31.7 |
| Apr 9, 1917 | 5.1 | 25.2 |
| Aug 21, 1905 | 4.6 | 46.8 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
499 events in the National Weather Service record for St. Francois County, 424 of them since 1996.
91
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
12
Hail, 2 inches or larger
148
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
44
Winter weather events since 1996
57
Heat events since 1996
4
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 8, 2015
3.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
July 31, 2026
81 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 3 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Dec 1, 2006Winter Storm, St. Francois$895,000
National Weather Service narrative
A major winter storm hit Central, Northeast, East Central and parts of Southeast Missouri from November 30 through Dcember 1. Over a foot of snow fell across parts of Central Missouri while a major ice storm hit parts of East Central and Southeast Missouri, including the St. Louis area. Ice accumulations of 1 inch or more downed trees and power lines resulting in at least 300,000 electric customers losing service for up to a week. Downed limbs and trees damaged homes and automobiles across the area as well. Many rural schools were closed for several days due to slick roads and power outages. The National Guard was called out to several counties to assist with debris removal and…
- Nov 30, 2006Winter Storm, St. Francois$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
A major winter storm hit Central, Northeast, East Central and parts of Southeast Missouri from November 30 through Dcember 1. Over a foot of snow fell across parts of Central Missouri while a major ice storm hit parts of East Central and Southeast Missouri, including the St. Louis area. Ice accumulations of 1 inch or more downed trees and power lines resulting in at least 300,000 electric customers losing service for up to a week. Downed limbs and trees damaged homes and automobiles across the area as well. Many rural schools were closed for several days due to slick roads and power outages. The National Guard was called out to several counties to assist with debris removal and…
- May 11, 2004Thunderstorm Wind$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
A sudden severe thunderstorms downed trees, billboards, power lines, traffic lights and damaged vehicles across the northwest part of Farmington. Fourteen new cars and trucks were damaged at an automobile dealership by the storm. Residents reported broken windows, damaged roofs, and siding.
- Dec 28, 2015Flash Flood$275,000
National Weather Service narrative
Between 4 and 6 inches of rain fell over St. Francois County in a 48 hour period. The heaviest rain fell in the early morning hours of December 28th causing flash flooding. Numerous roads were flooded including Highway 221 over the St. Francis River and Route F from Old Jackson Road to Wolf Creek Bridge. Around 10 structures were damaged by the flash flooding. Damage was estimated around $275,000.
- Jul 12, 2023Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread wind damage in Desloge, Park Hills and Leadington areas. Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. One tree was blown down onto a house briefly trapping 5 occupants in the home. No one was injured. Otherwise, the home will need extensive repairs before family can return to it.
- Apr 4, 2025Flash Flood$60,000
National Weather Service narrative
Multiple water rescues were reported in St. Francois County, one in Blackwell and another in an unnamed location in northern St. Francois County. Near Libertyville, an estimated 3 feet of water was running swiftly across Highway DD into a small lake across the street. The lake was reportedly spilling onto the road.
- May 19, 2022Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread wind damage occurred across St. Francois County. In Iron Mountain, a large tree was snapped. On Highway M, about a mile southwest of Frankclay, a large was blown over onto the highway. In Park Hills and Bonne Terre, large trees were blown over onto houses causing moderate roof damage. Otherwise, numerous tree limbs as well as several large trees and power poles were blown down in Farmington, Desloge and Leadwood. No injuries were reported.
- May 6, 2003Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Amateur radio spotters reported numerous trees and power lines down. Some cars were damaged by downed trees.
- Jul 8, 2022Thunderstorm Wind$40,000
National Weather Service narrative
Thunderstorm winds caused widespread damage in and around French Village. Several garages were damaged and numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down.
- May 19, 2025Tornado$30,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado touched down in Iron Mountain causing tree damage and minor roof damage before moving northeast. From there, the tornado moved northeast causing similar damage on Highway N and severely damaging a home's roof on Lake Avalon Road. The tornado dissipated shortly after.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Potosi 4 Sw, 23.9 miles from the city centre, with records from 1893.
- All-time high
- 112°FJul 23, 1901
- All-time low
- −28°FFeb 13, 1899
- Warmest night
- 80°FJul 12, 2011
- Coldest day
- −6°FDec 25, 1983
- Wettest day
- 5.58 inAug 13, 1950
- Snowiest day
- 10.8 inJan 3, 1996
- Hottest year
- 2012mean 58.2°F
- Coldest year
- 1898mean 50.5°F
- Wettest year
- 189861.61 in
- Driest year
- 190126.19 in
Station Potosi 4 Sw (USC00236826), 1,175 ft elevation, 23.9 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 28, 2026; 90.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
21 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, June 30, 2026.
Declarations for St. Francois County.
| Jun 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924-MO |
| Mar 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490-MO |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482-MO |
| Jan 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250-MO |
| Jan 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374-MO |
| May 9, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1980-MO |
| Feb 3, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3317-MO |
| Jun 19, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1847-MO |
| Jan 30, 2009 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3303-MO |
| Mar 19, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1749-MO |
| Dec 12, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3281-MO |
| Dec 29, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1673-MO |
| Apr 5, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1635-MO |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3232-MO |
| May 6, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1463-MO |
| May 6, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1412-MO |
| May 12, 2000 | Flood | DR-1328-MO |
| Jun 2, 1995 | Severe Storm | DR-1054-MO |
| Dec 1, 1993 | Severe Storm | DR-1006-MO |
| Jul 9, 1993 | Flood | DR-995-MO |
| Sep 24, 1976 | Drought | EM-3017-MO |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00236826.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.