Audrain County

Population 24,528 (2025) 692 sq mi

Audrain County has recorded 27 tornadoes since 1950, 44th most of 115 counties in Missouri; the most recent was on April 20, 2025.

Hazard fingerprint for Audrain County Tornado: 51th percentile. Tropical: 0th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 40th percentile. Hail & wind: 29th percentile. Heat: 83th percentile. Cold: 28th percentile. Winter: 38th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths since 195027

At a glance

The record for Audrain County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.

Tornadoes since 1950

27

44th of 115 in Missouri

About as many as the typical Missouri county

Details

Flood insurance claims

60

58th of 115 in Missouri

$656,000 paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

June 12, 1970, 16.0 mile path

Federal disaster declarations

19

Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 2021

Details

Record high

108°F

Reached 2 times, most recently July 30, 1980

Details

Record low

−24°F

Reached 3 times, most recently December 23, 1989

Details

Snowiest season

60.5in

Winter of 1977-78

Costliest event since 1996

$60K

Flash Flood, July 21, 2025

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 2.8 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

June 12, 1970

F3, 16.0 mile path

100 yards wide.

Most recent

Sunday, April 20, 2025

EF1, 0.3 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 3 3 1960s: 4 4 1970s: 2 2 1980s: 2 2 1990s: 4 4 2000s: 7 7 2010s: 3 3 2020s: 2 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 1 F: 0 M: 2 A: 5 M: 1 J: 12 12 J: 2 A: 0 S: 1 O: 0 N: 0 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Audrain County since 1950
Apr 20, 2025EF10.35000
Mar 14, 2025EF16.877000
May 22, 2019EF00.815000
Apr 19, 2016EF02.01500
Jul 20, 2010EF00.64000
Dec 27, 2008EF13.53000
Jan 7, 2008EF00.34000
Jun 22, 2006F03.55000
Jun 22, 2006F00.35000
Jun 22, 2006F11.05000
Jun 22, 2006F00.14000
Mar 12, 2006F06.07500
Apr 8, 1999F110.010000
Jun 14, 1998F04.05000
Sep 22, 1993F212.012000
Jun 15, 1991F00.22300
Jun 8, 1984F11.07700
Jun 8, 1984F00.35000
Jun 11, 1971F00.21700
Jun 12, 1970F316.010000
Dec 8, 1966F20.35000
Jul 9, 1965F11.030000
Jun 7, 1961F00.21000
Jun 11, 1960F14.13300
Dec 4, 1956F211.140000
Apr 5, 1954F10.21000
Apr 5, 1954F10.31700
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Audrain County: 0.
  2. 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

No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 64 days

Heavy smoke on 14 days in 2021, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

22.2 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

18 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 35 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 11 2012: 17 2013: 13 2014: 9 2015: 12 2016: 2 2017: 6 2018: 9 2019: 10 2020: 17 2021: 45 2022: 19 2023: 64 64 2024: 32 2025: 18 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the county’s population centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. 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

60 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $656,000 paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 10 1981: 14 14 1982: 5 1984: 5 1978
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1981: 14 claims

$49,000 paid.

2nd most

1978: 10 claims

$15,000 paid.

3rd most

1982: 5 claims

$20,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
6526545$104,000
6338210$549,000
5$2,476

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood34
  • Flood5
  • Heavy Rain1

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 153 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 24 months.

153

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

71

Months in extreme drought

10%

Share of all months, severe or worse

9

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

July 1954

−6.77, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

24 months

January 1963 to December 1964.

Latest month

September 2026

−0.99, incipient dry spell

Last severe month: June 2024.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 6 1902: 5 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 1 1914: 8 1915: 2 1916: 0 1917: 1 1918: 11 1919: 3 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 2 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 6 1931: 8 1932: 0 1933: 2 1934: 7 1935: 0 1936: 5 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 4 1954: 12 12 1955: 5 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 12 1964: 12 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 2 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 1 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 9 1981: 4 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 2 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 1 2000: 1 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 1 2006: 5 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 6 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 3 2024: 6 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. 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 and landslides

8 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1974; none reached magnitude 4.

0

Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973

3

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

July 31, 2005

Magnitude 3.3

Missouri; 40.8 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

July 31, 2005

Magnitude 3.3

Missouri; 40.8 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 1 1 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 1 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 1 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.
  1. 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
  2. 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.

Mapped landslides

4

Landslides mapped, probable or better

0

With a recorded date

1

Source inventory

Mapped by MO DNR (4).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

468 events in the National Weather Service record, 369 of them since 1996.

70

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

7

Hail, 2 inches or larger

112

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

53

Winter weather events since 1996

49

Heat events since 1996

5

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

July 19, 1956

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

July 2, 1992

97 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning300Aug 26, 2006

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Jul 21, 2025Flash Flood$60,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rain caused numerous roads to become impassable in Audrain County. These include Highway 54 in Farber, two unnamed roads north of Laddonia, many roads in Laddonia proper, Highway BB just west of Highway W near Middletown, and Highway J at Highway B north of Rush Hill. A water rescue was completed on Highway 54 between Farber and Bassinger Corner. Another vehicle was stuck in water in front of the POET Biorefinery. A third vehicle was stuck in water on Highway 19 in Martinsburg.

  2. Apr 20, 2025Tornado$60,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A brief tornado tracked south to north just west of Highway MM in north-central Audrain County, destroying a couple of outbuildings and rolling two smaller grain bins. Debris was generally thrown northward and strewn widely, likely due to a downburst immediately following the tornado. The tornado was rated EF-1 with a path length of 0.32 miles and a maximum path width of 50 yards.

  3. Jun 25, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    One direct fatality occurred 5 miles north of Martinsburg when an old, dilapidated barn on Highway 54 collapsed on an individual seeking shelter from the thunderstorm. Large trees and tree limbs were blown down in Vandalia, Laddonia, and Mexico. Siding was also blown off a church south of Mexico Airport (MYJ), power poles were knocked down by tree limbs in Vandalia, and a roof was blown off a trailer in Laddonia. Other communities in the storm's path are Scott's Corner, Rush Hill, and Martinsburg.

  4. Jun 17, 2022Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Widespread wind damage between Mexico and Laddonia with numerous trees, tree limbs, as well as power lines blown down. In Mexico, a house sustained moderate roof damage from a fallen tree. Just southwest of Laddonia, a large tree was blown down onto Highway KK, blocking both lanes. Also, several signs were blown down in Mexico.

  5. Mar 14, 2025Tornado$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    In Madison County, the tornado mostly caused tree damage. The only structural damage was to a residence and an outbuilding on Highway C. From there, the tornado continued northeast before dissipating between the St. Francois River and Madison 418 at approximately 10:57 PM. In Madison County the tornado was rated EF-1 with a path length of 6.75 miles and a maximum path width of 770 yards.

  6. Jul 25, 2008Flash Flood$31,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Between 4 and 5 inches of rain fell in a short amount of time on already saturated soils causing flash flooding. Numerous roads were flooded including Highway 54 in various places between Vandalia and Mexico.

  7. Jul 9, 2021Thunderstorm Wind$12,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Widespread wind damage between Laddonia, Rush Hill and Mexico. One tree was blown down onto Route KK just west of Highway 19. Another tree was blown down onto Route B at 6th Street in Rush Hill. A two foot diameter tree was blown over onto Central Street in Mexico. Also, numerous tree limbs, power lines and power poles were blown over.

  8. Aug 12, 2021Thunderstorm Wind$10,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous tree limbs around Mexico and areas to the south and southeast of town.

  9. May 25, 1996Thunderstorm Wind$5,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Skywarn spotters reported trees and power lines down near the Pike County line.

  10. Feb 29, 2000Thunderstorm Wind$5,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Thunderstorm wind gusts destroyed a couple of outbuildings and downed trees.

  1. 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 Vandalia, 19.3 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1911.

All-time high
108°F2 times, most recently Jul 30, 1980
All-time low
−24°F3 times, most recently Dec 23, 1989
Warmest night
88°FJun 27, 1914
Coldest day
−8°FDec 22, 1989
Wettest day
5.58 inJul 10, 1991
Snowiest day
17.0 inFeb 2, 2011
Hottest year
2012mean 57.1°F
Coldest year
2014mean 50.2°F
Wettest year
200859.11 in
Driest year
201221.89 in
Snowiest season
60.5 in1977-78
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Vandalia 32°F 36° 19° 1.9 Jan 41° 22° 2.0 Feb 53° 32° 3.2 Mar 64° 42° 4.0 Apr 74° 53° 4.7 May 83° 63° 5.0 Jun 86° 67° 4.3 Jul 85° 65° 3.3 Aug 80° 57° 2.9 Sep 67° 45° 3.1 Oct 53° 33° 2.4 Nov 41° 24° 2.0 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 23 1977: 15 1978: 6 1979: 19 1980: 50 50 1981: 3 1982: 3 1988: 33 1989: 8 1990: 10 1991: 5 1993: 1 1994: 3 1997: 5 1998: 5 1999: 11 2003: 8 2004: 0 2005: 17 2006: 9 2007: 13 2008: 1 2009: 1 2010: 6 2011: 16 2012: 31 2013: 4 2014: 0 2016: 2 2017: 3 2018: 2 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 4 2022: 7 2023: 9 2024: 5 2025: 0 1976199120072018
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 6.4.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 28.5 in 1977: 60.5 in 60.5 1978: 37.0 in 1979: 32.5 in 1980: 7.5 in 1981: 30.0 in 1982: 5.5 in 1987: 29.2 in 1988: 15.3 in 1989: 10.0 in 1990: 12.0 in 1991: 16.3 in 1995: 9.1 in 1997: 22.4 in 1998: 15.1 in 1999: 10.8 in 2000: 13.8 in 2001: 9.9 in 2002: 11.0 in 2003: 8.1 in 2004: 12.7 in 2005: 13.2 in 2006: 21.2 in 2007: 16.9 in 2008: 9.1 in 2009: 17.4 in 2014: 22.0 in 2016: 4.0 in 2017: 4.3 in 2018: 34.0 in 2019: 21.0 in 2020: 15.0 in 2021: 24.1 in 2022: 4.0 in 2023: 7.7 in 2024: 16.8 in 2025: 17.0 in 1976199020042019
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

December 8

Earliest: October 31, 2019

Median last snow

March 11

Latest: April 14, 1980

0 of 62 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Vandalia (USC00238577), 764 ft elevation, 19.3 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1911 to October 27, 2026; 93.4% 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

19 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, September 1, 2021.

Federal disaster declarations
Sep 1, 2021Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4612-MO
Mar 26, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4490-MO
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3482-MO
Jan 2, 2016FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingEmergencyEM-3374-MO
Aug 7, 2015Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4238-MO
Mar 23, 2011Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and SnowstormMajor disasterDR-1961-MO
Feb 3, 2011Severe StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3317-MO
Jan 30, 2009Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3303-MO
Nov 13, 2008Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and A TornadoMajor disasterDR-1809-MO
Jun 25, 2008Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1773-MO
Mar 19, 2008Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1749-MO
Dec 27, 2007Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormsMajor disasterDR-1736-MO
Dec 12, 2007Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormsEmergencyEM-3281-MO
Sep 10, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3232-MO
May 6, 2003Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1463-MO
Feb 6, 2002Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice StormMajor disasterDR-1403-MO
Jul 9, 1993FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-995-MO
Sep 24, 1976DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3017-MO
Jun 10, 1974FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-439-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.

How this compares

Where Audrain County stands among 115 counties in Missouri and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19502744 / 1151,140 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger168 / 1151,281 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi0——
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi0——
Wildfire acres since 19840——
Flood insurance claims6058 / 1151,549 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$656,00063 / 1151,667 / 3,143
Disaster declarations19108 / 1151,704 / 3,143
Flood events since 19964081 / 1151,725 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199619977 / 1151,974 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19965344 / 1151,880 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$338,000113 / 1153,057 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage0——
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 189515313 / 115871 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years22.249 / 115853 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Boone County3400195
Callaway County4000316
Monroe County260012
Montgomery County2500126
Pike County2400938
Ralls County130051
Randolph County11003

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 USC00238577.
  • 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.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • 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.