Greenwood
Population 13,429 (2025)
86 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Greenwood since 1950, 11 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on May 18, 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 195086
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger16
- Major flood years since 1978, Leflore County3
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 Leflore 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 Leflore County.
Strongest tornado
F5
February 21, 1971, 109.2 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1888, 26.1 miles away
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 11 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
February 21, 1971
F5, 109.2 mile path
500 yards wide; 47 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
February 21, 1971
58 killed, F4
795 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Sunday, May 18, 2025
EF1, 14.4 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| May 18, 2025 | EF1 | 14.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2025 | EF1 | 14.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2025 | EF1 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 2025 | EF2 | 24.2 | 3 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 2025 | EF2 | 35.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 2023 | EF3 | 29.4 | 5 | 3 |
| Mar 24, 2023 | EF4 | 59.2 | 165 | 17 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | EF0 | 5.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 13, 2022 | EF1 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF1 | 11.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 2022 | EF0 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 2022 | EF1 | 7.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2021 | EF2 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF1 | 27.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2011 | EF2 | 11.8 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 2010 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2008 | EF1 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 22, 2007 | EF1 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2007 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2007 | EF1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F2 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F2 | 18.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2005 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2005 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2005 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 7, 2004 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 2004 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 26, 2001 | F1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2001 | F3 | 22.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 3, 2000 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1999 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 1999 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F2 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 1998 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 10, 1998 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1997 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1997 | F3 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1996 | F1 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 18, 1995 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 1991 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1991 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1991 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1990 | F3 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1990 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dec 21, 1990 | F2 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 1988 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 27, 1988 | F2 | 18.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 19, 1988 | F2 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 1986 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1984 | F2 | 36.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1983 | F2 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1983 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 1980 | F2 | 51.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 29, 1974 | F2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1974 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 28, 1974 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 24, 1973 | F3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 20, 1973 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 20, 1973 | F3 | 11.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1972 | F3 | 12.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | 202.1 | 795 | 58 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F5 | 109.2 | 510 | 47 |
| Feb 4, 1971 | F1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1970 | F2 | 16.9 | 4 | 0 |
| Dec 27, 1968 | F2 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 27, 1968 | F2 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 1968 | F2 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1967 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 26, 1967 | F2 | 0.3 | 7 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1959 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1957 | F3 | 31.2 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F2 | 124.9 | 6 | 0 |
| Feb 20, 1953 | F1 | 16.5 | 0 | 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
8 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 20, 1888
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
26.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 67 mph.
Most recent
October 26, 2019
Olga, Post-tropical
33.0 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Olga | 2019 | 33.0 | Post-tropical |
| Katrina | 2005 | 78.4 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 9.6 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 23.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 5.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 7.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 63.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 57.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 2.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 87.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 73.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 35.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 67.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 81.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 26.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 64.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 68.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 11.5 | Tropical storm |
- 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
No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 62 days
Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
7 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 37 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
443 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $4.4 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Leflore County, the county that contains Greenwood.
Most claims in one year
1983: 174 claims
$931,000 paid.
2nd most
1991: 45 claims
$432,000 paid.
3rd most
2021: 41 claims
$1.5 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 38930 | 352 | $3.8 million |
| 38941 | 30 | $341,000 |
| 38945 | 14 | $95,000 |
| 38954 | 12 | $33,000 |
| 38935 | 11 | $62,000 |
| 6 | $18,000 | |
| 38946 | 6 | $3,349 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood38
- Flood1
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.
River crests
River gauges in Leflore County, the county that contains Greenwood.
Most severe crest
February 18, 1948
Yalobusha River at Whaley, 27.79 ft
6.79 feet above the 21.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
June 12, 2021
Yalobusha River at Whaley, 25.15 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Yalobusha River at Whaley | 21.0 | 27.79 ft | 4 |
| Yazoo River at Greenwood | 35.0 | 40.10 ft | 2 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 142 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 16 months.
The drought index is for Leflore County, the county that contains Greenwood.
142
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
28
Months in extreme drought
9%
Share of all months, severe or worse
16
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
September 2026
−6.20, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
16 months
August 2010 to November 2011.
Latest month
September 2026
−6.20, extreme drought
- 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
2 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.6 in 1931.
4
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
2
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
December 16, 1931
Magnitude 4.6
South of Charleston, Mississippi; 20.7 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 8, 2019
Magnitude 3.7
8 km WNW of Hollandale, Mississippi; 47.7 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jun 4, 1967 | 4.3 | 36.8 |
| Dec 16, 1931 | 4.6 | 20.7 |
- 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
494 events in the National Weather Service record for Leflore County, 356 of them since 1996.
68
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
144
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
25
Winter weather events since 1996
6
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 27, 1958
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
July 22, 2002
98 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Dec 23, 1998Ice Storm, Leflore$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A crippling ice storm struck the three state region of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi at one of the worst times, just before Christmas. Much of the fall and early winter season of late 1998 had been very mild for southerners. But on Tuesday December 22nd, a strong surge of shallow Arctic air drove southward and spelled a quick end to the unseasonable warmth and helped set the stage for one of winter's nasty tricks. A moist southwest flow above the cold air brought several upper level disturbances. This combination of cold air and moisture held together for several days and brought periods of freezing rain and sleet to the three state region, beginning tuesday night and not…
- Feb 24, 2001Tornado$2.2 million
- Apr 7, 2006Hail$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Significant hail damaged occurred along the path of this third supercell thunderstorm to effect Leflore County during the afternoon and evening of April 7th. This storm moved along the exact path of supercell one, but was stronger and produced much more damage. A swath of hail from quarter to golf ball size occurred across the entire width of the county and a few larger stones, to hen egg size, occurred as the storm neared the Greenwood-Leflore County Airport. In addition to the large hail, a few locations received some wind damage and one brief tornado occurred.
- Sep 24, 2005Tornado$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado touched down just north-northwest of Cruger, in Holmes county, on the extreme southern end of Mosquito Lake and tracked northwest for 9 miles across southern Leflore county. As the tornado tracked northwest toward the Phillipstown Community, hundreds of trees were snapped and uprooted across Mosquito Lake. Between Phillipstown and Quito was where the most significant damage occurred. Two homes and a church were significantly damaged and hunting lodge was totally destroyed with its contents and debris scattered half a mile along the path. A steel framed cotton gin was nearly destroyed in Quito with nearly all of the roof gone and many walls taken down. A seed warehouse…
- Jun 10, 2021Flash Flood$1.1 million
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous roads were flooded in and north of the Greenwood area, including portions of US Highway 82 and MS Highway 7. About 50 homes were flooded in Greenwood and around the surrounding area including several along MS Highway 7 and several in the Yalobusha mobile home park. About 15 homes were flooded in Itta Bena. Stranded motorists and residents had to be rescued from flooded roads and neighborhoods.
- Aug 29, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Leflore$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Katrina will likely go down as the worst and costliest natural disaster in United States history. The amount of destruction, the cost of damaged property/agriculture and the large loss of life across the affected region has been overwhelming. Catastrophic damage was widespread across a large portion of the Gulf Coast region. The devastation was not only confined to the coastal region, widespread and significant damage occurred well inland up to the Hattiesburg area and northward past Interstate 20. This hurricane has changed life as we know it across the Gulf Coast region which will take many years to return to normal.Hurricane Katrina was a very large and powerful storm…
- Feb 24, 2011Thunderstorm Wind$700,000
National Weather Service narrative
A swath of thunderstorm wind damage occurred from Itta Bena to Greenwood. At Itta Bena, several large trees as well as power lines were blown down. A couple of homes were damage. One home sustained roof damage and the other some window damage. The roof was completely blown off of a large church and a grain bin was torn down. Trees were blown down around Greenwood and a large fence was blow down at the Industrial park.
- Jan 1, 2010Cold/Wind Chill, Leflore$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
There had been reports of wells freezing up at residential homes around the county. Water breaks were reported on residential water lines in Greenwood.
- Jul 23, 2014Flash Flood$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
Significant flooding occurred in and around Greenwood. Roughly 80 to 90 percent of the roads in town were flooded. Several homes were flooded along with several cars stalled. One car was submerged on Main Street with the driver having to be rescued.
- Jun 19, 2007Thunderstorm Wind$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
After an active severe weather day on June 18th, the atmosphere quickly recovered and was able to support additional severe weather which began in the late evening and persisted through the overnight hours. Severe weather during the overnight hours in June is quite rare but does occur on occasion. One of the overnight storms actually produced a rare June tornado! This overnight severe weather was likely a sign and just a taste of what was to come during the day on June 19th. As the overnight/early morning complex of storms shifted east, conditions were set just right for additional storms to redevelop to the west by late morning. The atmosphere recovered once more and became quite…
- 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 Greenwood Leflore Airport, 6.4 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 106°F2 times, most recently Aug 15, 2007
- All-time low
- −4°FFeb 3, 1951
- Warmest night
- 81°F3 times, most recently Jul 8, 2024
- Coldest day
- 12°FJan 10, 1962
- Wettest day
- 8.07 inSep 20, 1958
- Snowiest day
- 6.0 inMar 22, 1968
- Hottest year
- 2023mean 67.8°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 60.0°F
- Wettest year
- 198979.97 in
- Driest year
- 196532.31 in
- Snowiest season
- 8.7 in1950-51
Median first snow
January 17
Earliest: November 24, 1950
Median last snow
January 29
Latest: April 2, 1987
29 of 50 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Greenwood Leflore Airport (USW00013978), 140 ft elevation, 6.4 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 98.7% 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
25 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, February 6, 2026.
Declarations for Leflore County.
| Feb 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899-MS |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640-MS |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4874-MS |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| Apr 23, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4538-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| Apr 23, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4429-MS |
| Mar 25, 2016 | Flood | DR-4268-MS |
| Apr 29, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1972-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1604-MS |
| Feb 23, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1360-MS |
| Jan 25, 1999 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1265-MS |
| Feb 18, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1009-MS |
| May 17, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-906-MS |
| Mar 5, 1991 | Flood | DR-895-MS |
| Jan 3, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-888-MS |
| Apr 26, 1984 | Tornado | DR-703-MS |
| Jun 1, 1983 | Severe Storm | DR-683-MS |
| Apr 16, 1979 | Severe Storm | DR-577-MS |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3032-MS |
| Mar 27, 1973 | Severe Storm | DR-368-MS |
| Feb 22, 1971 | Tornado | DR-302-MS |
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 USW00013978.
- 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.