Miami
Population 12,893 (2025)
169 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Miami since 1950, 14 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on April 29, 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 1950169
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19843
- Major flood years since 1978, Ottawa County8
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 Ottawa 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 Ottawa County.
Strongest tornado
EF5
May 22, 2011, 21.6 mile path
Federal disaster declarations
34
Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 2024
DetailsTornadoes
About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 14 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
May 22, 2011
EF5, 21.6 mile path
1,600 yards wide; 158 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
EF1, 2.3 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 29, 2025 | EF1 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2025 | EF1 | 8.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 2025 | EF1 | 24.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 30, 2024 | EF1 | 7.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 30, 2024 | EF1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EF1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EF1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EFU | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2024 | EFU | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 2024 | EF1 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 2024 | EF0 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 2024 | EF0 | 24.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2, 2023 | EF1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF1 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF2 | 16.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF3 | 9.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF1 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2019 | EF1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 6.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EFU | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2017 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 6, 2016 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 6, 2016 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2016 | EF1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2016 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2016 | EF0 | 10.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2016 | EF0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2015 | EF1 | 12.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2015 | EF1 | 11.5 | 1 | 0 |
| May 16, 2015 | EF1 | 6.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2015 | EF1 | 4.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2015 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2015 | EF1 | 12.3 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2015 | EF0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 1, 2014 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2014 | EF2 | 11.4 | 37 | 1 |
| May 31, 2013 | EF1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 20, 2013 | EF1 | 9.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 20, 2013 | EF2 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 1, 2012 | EF2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| May 22, 2011 | EF2 | 6.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 2011 | EF5 | 21.6 | 1,150 | 158 |
| May 11, 2011 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 2010 | EF1 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 2010 | EF1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 2009 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 2009 | EF0 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2008 | EF1 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2008 | EF4 | 75.5 | 350 | 21 |
| May 10, 2008 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2008 | EF0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2008 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2008 | EF1 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 6, 2006 | F1 | 11.5 | 12 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 2006 | F1 | 7.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 30, 2005 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 30, 2005 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 30, 2005 | F0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 30, 2005 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 2005 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 4, 2004 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 2004 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F3 | 25.0 | 34 | 5 |
| May 4, 2003 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F1 | 12.0 | 1 | 0 |
| May 4, 2003 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 18, 2002 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 18, 2002 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2001 | F1 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 4, 2000 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 2000 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1999 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1999 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1996 | F0 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1996 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1996 | F1 | 2.5 | 12 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1996 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 8, 1993 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1993 | F0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1991 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1991 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1990 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1988 | F0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1987 | F2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 1986 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 1986 | F1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 1986 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 1984 | F2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 1984 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 1984 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1983 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 26, 1983 | F2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 1982 | F3 | 30.0 | 6 | 1 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F3 | 24.8 | 4 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1975 | F4 | 11.9 | 22 | 3 |
| Apr 24, 1975 | F2 | 5.2 | 3 | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1974 | F2 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 1974 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1974 | F2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 1973 | F3 | 20.8 | 14 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1973 | F1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1973 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1973 | F1 | 28.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 29, 1972 | F2 | 31.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 22, 1971 | F2 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1971 | F0 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1971 | F3 | 13.1 | 60 | 1 |
| May 5, 1971 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1971 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 4, 1971 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1970 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1970 | F2 | 15.4 | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 23, 1969 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 1969 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1969 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 1968 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1968 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1967 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1967 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 25, 1967 | F2 | 2.0 | 6 | 0 |
| Jan 25, 1967 | F2 | 35.8 | 2 | 0 |
| May 11, 1966 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1965 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1965 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1965 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 26, 1964 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1962 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 22, 1961 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 1961 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F3 | 8.9 | 1 | 0 |
| May 7, 1961 | F2 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 1961 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1961 | F2 | 1.9 | 6 | 0 |
| Feb 17, 1961 | F2 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 7, 1960 | F3 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 1960 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1960 | F2 | 6.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1960 | F2 | 36.6 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 1960 | F2 | 3.8 | 2 | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1960 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1960 | F1 | 8.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 27, 1959 | F2 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 27, 1959 | F4 | 20.4 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 3, 1959 | F2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| May 9, 1959 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1959 | F3 | 23.2 | 3 | 0 |
| Nov 17, 1958 | F1 | 3.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 16, 1958 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 16, 1958 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1957 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1957 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 20, 1957 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1956 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1956 | F4 | 41.8 | 59 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 1956 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1955 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1955 | F1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 22, 1954 | F2 | 11.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 1954 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 1954 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 5, 1953 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 9, 1951 | F2 | 2.0 | 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
No tropical storm or hurricane has tracked within 100 miles since records began in 1851.
Wildfire and smoke
3 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
March 23, 1986
Unnamed Fire, 3,424 acres
9.5 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
December 12, 1989
Unnamed Fire
1,521 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Unnamed | 1989 | 13.0 | 1,521 |
| Unnamed | 1986 | 9.5 | 3,424 |
| Resident | 1984 | 12.6 | 1,049 |
- 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: 55 days
Heavy smoke on 11 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
20.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
14 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 30 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
1,161 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $30.6 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Ottawa County, the county that contains Miami.
Most claims in one year
2007: 286 claims
$13.3 million paid.
2nd most
1994: 187 claims
$3.1 million paid.
3rd most
1993: 139 claims
$2.4 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 74354 | 1,107 | $29.5 million |
| 74370 | 16 | $148,000 |
| 74355 | 11 | $314,000 |
| 74363 | 7 | $129,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood122
- Flash Flood49
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 Ottawa County, the county that contains Miami.
Most severe crest
September 26, 1993
Spring River near Quapaw, 46.15 ft
26.15 feet above the 20.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
June 29, 2026
Neosho River near Commerce, 20.07 ft
Moderate flooding.
| Sep 26, 1993 | Spring River near Quapaw | 46.15 | +26.15 |
| May 19, 1943 | Spring River near Quapaw | 43.40 | +23.40 |
| Dec 1, 1895 | Spring River near Quapaw | 43.00 | +23.00 |
| Dec 29, 2015 | Spring River near Quapaw | 39.77 | +19.77 |
| Jul 16, 1951 | Neosho River near Commerce | 34.03 | +19.03 |
| May 1, 2017 | Spring River near Quapaw | 34.57 | +14.57 |
| Apr 12, 1994 | Spring River near Quapaw | 34.43 | +14.43 |
| Jul 5, 2007 | Neosho River near Commerce | 29.25 | +14.25 |
| Jun 13, 2007 | Spring River near Quapaw | 34.03 | +14.03 |
| May 23, 2019 | Spring River near Quapaw | 33.96 | +13.96 |
| Feb 24, 1985 | Spring River near Quapaw | 33.59 | +13.59 |
| Oct 2, 1986 | Spring River near Quapaw | 33.11 | +13.11 |
| Jul 4, 1976 | Spring River near Quapaw | 32.94 | +12.94 |
| May 7, 2022 | Spring River near Quapaw | 31.98 | +11.98 |
| Oct 6, 1986 | Neosho River near Commerce | 26.23 | +11.23 |
| Apr 13, 1994 | Neosho River near Commerce | 25.66 | +10.66 |
| May 24, 2019 | Neosho River near Commerce | 25.53 | +10.53 |
| Mar 12, 1974 | Spring River near Quapaw | 30.24 | +10.24 |
| Jun 23, 1948 | Spring River near Quapaw | 30.20 | +10.20 |
| May 20, 1943 | Neosho River near Commerce | 25.12 | +10.12 |
| Mar 13, 1935 | Spring River near Quapaw | 30.00 | +10.00 |
| May 29, 2019 | Neosho River near Commerce | 24.43 | +9.43 |
| Jul 28, 1948 | Neosho River near Commerce | 24.43 | +9.43 |
| Sep 27, 1993 | Neosho River near Commerce | 24.09 | +9.09 |
| Jun 11, 1995 | Spring River near Quapaw | 29.98 | +9.98 |
River gauges
| Neosho River near Commerce | 15.0 | 34.03 ft | 9 |
| Spring River near Quapaw | 20.0 | 46.15 ft | 15 |
- 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 88 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 20 months.
The drought index is for Ottawa County, the county that contains Miami.
88
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
38
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
41
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1954
−5.64, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
20 months
June 1953 to January 1955.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.57, moderate drought
Last severe month: March 2026.
- 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
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 2010; none reached magnitude 4.
1
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
September 30, 2014
Magnitude 3.0
9 km SSW of Galesburg, Kansas; 44.8 miles away, 5.7 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
September 30, 2014
Magnitude 3.0
9 km SSW of Galesburg, Kansas; 44.8 miles away.
- 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
797 events in the National Weather Service record for Ottawa County, 674 of them since 1996.
137
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
18
Hail, 2 inches or larger
166
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
45
Winter weather events since 1996
39
Heat events since 1996
0
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 4, 2003
4.25 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 28, 1996
107 mph
Costliest events since 1996
- Dec 8, 2007Ice Storm, Ottawa$50.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
One to two inches of ice accumulated on trees, power lines and other exposed surfaces.
- Jul 1, 2007Flood$20.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Neosho River near Commerce rose above its flood stage of 15 feet at 4:15 am CDT on June 29. The river crested at 29.25 feet at midnight CDT July 5. The river fell below its flood stage at 2:15 am CDT on July 9.||The flooding reached the major category and was near record levels. Disastrous flooding occurred in nearby Miami. Approximately 2500 residents were evacuated and 574 structures were inundated with water. Some buildings had up to 3 feet of water in them and approximately 148 homes and businesses were damaged to the degree that they were not given permission to renovate. All highways except for one and approximately 40 streets in Miami were closed due to high water…
- May 10, 2008Tornado$15.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado developed at 1620 cst in northeastern Craig County and continued into Ottawa County. The tornado moved rapidly eastward toward the town of Picher where it destroyed about 200 homes, killed six people, and injured another 150 people at about 540 pm. Damage in and around Picher was rated EF-4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. ||The tornado began moving more southeasterly near Picher and struck the north side of Quapaw. While this tornado was beginning to weaken east of Quapaw, the supercell produced another tornado a few miles east-northeast of Quapaw that merged with this tornado just east of I-44. After the merger of the two tornadoes, a single tornadic circulation…
- Apr 27, 2014Tornado$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado damaged or destroyed about 50 homes and businesses in and around Quapaw, destroyed several metal-framed buildings, destroyed barns and outbuildings, blew over several vehicles, snapped or uprooted numerous trees, and blew down numerous power poles. At least twelve people were injured in Quapaw from the tornado and one fatality occurred when a brick wall fell onto a vehicle that was parked along side it. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 115 to 125 mph. The tornado continued into Cherokee County, Kansas, where it destroyed homes and businesses in Baxter Springs and injured about two dozen people there.
- May 20, 2013Tornado$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado snapped or uprooted numerous trees and damaged numerous homes. It moved east-northeast for several miles but turned more easterly after crossing the Neosho River. The most significant damage occurred as the tornado crossed Highway 137, where a metal building and several homes were severely damaged. Many hardwood trees were also snapped above the ground in that area. Based on this damage, maximum estimated wind in the tornado was 115 to 125 mph.
- May 4, 2003Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Baseball sized hail caused significant damage to about 160 cars at an automobile dealership. Cars and house roofs near the dealership also likely sustained damage.
- Nov 29, 2006Winter Storm, Ottawa$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The roof of a boat manufacturing plant collapsed, destroying 40 boats.
- Apr 25, 1999Flood, Ottawa$700,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Neosho River at Commerce rose above its flood stage of 15 feet at noon CDT on April 25. The river crested at 20.2 feet at 100 AM CDT on April 28 before falling back below flood stage at 200 PM CDT on April 30.Flash flooding along Tar Creek combined with mainstem river flooding along the Neosho River resulted in major damage to 14 homes, with 75 homes suffering minor damage. OK Hwy 125 near the Miami Fairgrounds was closed.
- Jan 12, 2007Winter Storm, Ottawa$324,000
National Weather Service narrative
An arctic cold front moved into northeastern Oklahoma during the late evening hours of the 11th and had finally passed through the southeastern portion of the state by the evening of the 12th. A strong upper level low pressure system moved into the southern Rockies and several disturbances translated across the Southern Plains bringing periods of heavy sleet and freezing rain to the region. The initial precipitation began around daybreak on the 12th and the final round occurred on the 14th. |A devastating swath of one to three inch ice amounts fell in an estimated 60 to 80 mile wide band from roughly Atoka to McAlester to Muskogee to Grove. An estimated 120,000 electric customers…
- May 4, 2003Tornado$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
An F1 tornado occurred in central Ottawa county from south of Narcissa to northeast of Fairland. No injuries or fatalities occurred; however, significant damage was observed. Two mobile homes were destroyed and several other homes, barns and outbuildings were damaged. The tornado ended when another supercell thunderstorm moving northeast out of Delaware county collided with it. The storm reorganized and later produced the Pierce City, Missouri tornado.
- 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 Joplin Regional Airport, 27.6 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 115°FJul 14, 1954
- All-time low
- −15°F3 times, most recently Feb 16, 2021
- Warmest night
- 85°F2 times, most recently Jul 17, 1954
- Coldest day
- −1°FDec 24, 1983
- Wettest day
- 7.12 inSep 30, 1986
- Snowiest day
- 20.0 inMar 16, 1970
- Hottest year
- 2012mean 61.5°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 54.9°F
- Wettest year
- 198565.25 in
- Driest year
- 196318.35 in
Station Joplin Regional Airport (USW00013987), 972 ft elevation, 27.6 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 2026; 99.8% 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
34 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, April 30, 2024.
Declarations for Ottawa County.
| Apr 30, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4776-OK |
| Feb 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587-OK |
| Feb 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555-OK |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530-OK |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462-OK |
| Jul 12, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4453-OK |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4438-OK |
| May 26, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4315-OK |
| Feb 10, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4256-OK |
| May 26, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4222-OK |
| May 20, 2013 | Tornado | DR-4117-OK |
| Jun 6, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1989-OK |
| May 13, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1985-OK |
| Feb 2, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3316-OK |
| Mar 5, 2010 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1883-OK |
| Feb 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1876-OK |
| Jan 30, 2010 | Severe Storm | EM-3308-OK |
| Jul 9, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1775-OK |
| May 14, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1756-OK |
| May 9, 2008 | Flood | DR-1754-OK |
| Dec 18, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1735-OK |
| Dec 10, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3280-OK |
| Jul 7, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1712-OK |
| Feb 1, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1678-OK |
| Jan 14, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3272-OK |
| Jan 10, 2006 | Fire | DR-1623-OK |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3219-OK |
| Jan 5, 2001 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1355-OK |
| May 4, 1999 | Tornado | DR-1272-OK |
| Jun 26, 1995 | Tornado | DR-1058-OK |
| Apr 21, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1024-OK |
| Oct 14, 1986 | Flood | DR-778-OK |
| Jun 10, 1974 | Flood | DR-441-OK |
| Mar 22, 1974 | Flood | DR-419-OK |
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 USW00013987.
- 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.