Greene County
Population 309,286 (2025) 675 sq mi
Property owners in Greene County have filed 206 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 30th most of 115 counties in Missouri.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195058
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger2
- Wildfire burn scars since 19841
- Major flood years since 19781
At a glance
The record for Greene County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes
About one every 1.3 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
November 29, 1991
F4, 10.0 mile path
400 yards wide; 2 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
May 4, 2003
7 killed, F3
48 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
EF0, 8.4 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 29, 2025 | EF0 | 8.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2025 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2025 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 2024 | EF0 | 18.7 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 2024 | EF1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 2023 | EF0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 10, 2020 | EF0 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 2019 | EF0 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF0 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 2019 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF2 | 10.3 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 1, 2018 | EF1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 2018 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2017 | EF0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2016 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 13, 2014 | EF0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 21, 2013 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 13, 2012 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 2011 | EF0 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 2011 | EF1 | 10.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF0 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 2009 | EF1 | 3.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 10, 2009 | EF1 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 19, 2008 | EF1 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 8, 2008 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF2 | 6.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF3 | 50.4 | 18 | 3 |
| Jan 7, 2008 | EF2 | 6.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 2007 | EF1 | 2.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 2006 | F0 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 2006 | F3 | 42.0 | 8 | 1 |
| May 4, 2003 | F3 | 49.0 | 48 | 7 |
| Oct 10, 2001 | F1 | 0.5 | 5 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 27, 1995 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1994 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 29, 1991 | F4 | 10.0 | 64 | 2 |
| May 20, 1990 | F2 | 12.0 | 9 | 0 |
| May 22, 1989 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1988 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1988 | F1 | 21.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1984 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 1983 | F1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1983 | F3 | 5.5 | 19 | 1 |
| Apr 29, 1983 | F2 | 1.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Dec 24, 1982 | F2 | 16.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 10, 1975 | F2 | 0.3 | 5 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 1971 | F2 | 48.3 | 22 | 1 |
| Jul 28, 1967 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1967 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1966 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1961 | F1 | 5.6 | 1 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 1956 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1955 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1950 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Greene County: 6.
- 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
2 tropical cyclones passed within 100 miles since 1851, none within 50.
Most recent
September 14, 2008
Ike, Tropical storm
54.3 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
540 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.1% of the land.
Largest
July 19, 2012
Walnut Grove Fire, 540 acres
540 acres inside Greene County.
Most recent
July 19, 2012
Walnut Grove Fire
540 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Walnut Grove | 2012 | 540 | 540 |
- 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: 58 days
Heavy smoke on 11 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
19.6 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
14 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 29 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
206 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $3.4 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2008: 44 claims
$686,000 paid.
2nd most
2000: 22 claims
$394,000 paid.
3rd most
1993: 17 claims
$182,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 65804 | 42 | $362,000 |
| 65802 | 30 | $1.3 million |
| 65810 | 26 | $207,000 |
| 65807 | 25 | $321,000 |
| 65738 | 21 | $49,000 |
| 65809 | 19 | $473,000 |
| 65806 | 11 | $113,000 |
| 65803 | 10 | $30,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood329
- Heavy Rain121
- Flood86
5 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.
River crests
Most severe crest
June 19, 2015
James River (MO) near Springfield, 22.20 ft
10.20 feet above the 12.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
March 24, 2023
James River (MO) near Springfield, 18.71 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| James River (MO) near Springfield | 12.0 | 22.20 ft | 2 |
| Pearson Creek near Springfield | 6.0 | 11.10 ft | 1 |
| South Creek near Springfield . | 5.0 | 9.63 ft | 0 |
| South Fork Dry Sac River near Springfield | 6.0 | 10.19 ft | 0 |
| Wilson Creek at Springfield | 13.0 | 12.70 ft | 0 |
| Wilson Creek near Brookline | 10.0 | 14.97 ft | 0 |
| Wilson Creek near Springfield | 7.0 | 10.16 ft | 0 |
- 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 93 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 20 months.
93
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
45
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
36
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1954
−6.46, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
20 months
June 1953 to January 1955.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.09, severe 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
12 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1987; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
4
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
June 11, 2017
Magnitude 3.6
6 km NNE of Bergman, Arkansas; 49.4 miles away, 3.6 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
June 11, 2017
Magnitude 3.6
6 km NNE of Bergman, Arkansas; 49.4 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
- 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
2,307 events in the National Weather Service record, 2,033 of them since 1996.
373
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
28
Hail, 2 inches or larger
776
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
72
Winter weather events since 1996
13
Heat events since 1996
10
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 28, 2026
4.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
August 8, 2015
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 13 | 4 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Apr 28, 2026Hail$315 million
National Weather Service narrative
A hail swath from a mile to 3 miles wide began southwest of Republic and continued to the northeast across Greene County. Hail from quarters to 4.75 inches in size fell along a path from Republic to northwestern Springfield to Fair Grove as an intensifying left moving supercell moved to the northeast across the County. Along the storms path, numerous homes, vehicles, businesses, equipment, crops, livestock and other structures were damaged by hail before the storm passed into northwestern Webster County. ||As the storm moved across northwestern Springfield, it moved over the Springfield-Branson National Airport where 4 commuter jets, two cargo jets and up to 25 general aviation…
- Jan 12, 2007Ice Storm, Greene$122 million
National Weather Service narrative
The worst natural disaster to ever impact Greene County including the city of Springfield occurred from major ice accumulations associated with this storm. Two inches of freezing rain accumulated on exposed objects causing catastrophic tree and power line damage. Several residents of Springfield and Greene County experienced power outages that lasted over three weeks. Most of the ice accumulations occurred on Friday night January 12th, however, two other episodes of ice accumulations occurred on the 13th and 14th. Damages including debris removal were estimated at 121.69 million.
- May 8, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$15.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Sixty to 90 mph winds caused widespread tree, power pole, and structural damage across much of Greene County. Major roof damage to schools included Willard North Elementary, Fair Grove High School, Ash Grove High School, Bois D' Arc Elementary, and Glendale High School. Four students were injured at Fair Grove High School as debris fell into the school while the roof was peeling off. Portions of the elementary and middle school were completely destroyed, along with some light poles on the baseball field. The Ebenezer fire station and fire trucks sustained major damage. Several billboards west of Springfield along Interstate 44 were destroyed. The Sam's Club on Highway 65 and…
- May 4, 2003Tornado$14.7 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado is a continuation of the Christian County tornado that entered southwestern Greene County and laid down a path of destruction into the city of Battlefield. 100 homes and outbuildings were destroyed while another 150 were damaged causing estimated monetary losses of 14.7 million dollars. The tornado also claimed the life of one local resident and injured 12.Stephanie Allton age 40, was outdoors caring for her pets before taking shelter while the tornado approached. She was then deceased from being struck by a falling oak tree.
- Apr 29, 2025Thunderstorm Wind$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Multiple trees and powerlines were reported down throughout Springfield and portions of western and southern Greene County. Springfield City Utilities reported hundreds of poles and transformers along with miles of line. Tree damage was extensive with an estimated 30,000 cubic yards of tree debris collected.
- Jul 12, 2000Flash Flood$8.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
A north to south band of extremely heavy ran fell in a 6 hour period during the early morning hours of July 12th. Widespread 3 to 6 inch rainfall occurred from just west of Hermitage to Bolivar to Springfield. Isolated rainfall amounts as high as 8 inches were reported in central and southeastern Greene County including the city of Springfield.Most of the serious flood damage occurred in Greene County. Areas along Jordon Creek in Springfield and the James River and it's tributaries in southeast Greene County were the hardest hit. In Springfield, one trailer park was evacuated, 17 apartments, several hotel/motels, and about 35 businesses received damage. Well over 100 homes…
- Dec 26, 2015Flash Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Farm Road 174 and Oakwood Street to Farm Road 174 and Route ZZ was impassable due to high water. Nearly all low water crossings were under water and impassable. Approximately 630 homes and 16 business sustained water damage. Numerous roads, bridges, and culverts across the county sustained damage from the water. There were at least 120 water rescues across the county. There was an estimate of up to 500 problem spots on local roads will need repairs. A local car dealership in Republic was flooded by high water with numerous cars affected. This storm report will contain the damage estimates for the entire county during this event.
- Apr 15, 2023Hail$4.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Tennis ball sized hail was reported in the western portion of Greene County stretching from northern sections of Republic into west Springfield and northward into Willard. More than 100 homes and dozens of cars suffered damage. This entry will include damages for all entries for Greene County for this event.
- Apr 30, 2019Tornado$3.9 million
National Weather Service narrative
This is the continuation of the EF-2 supercell tornado that touched down and tracked from two miles north of Ozark, Missouri to five miles northwest of Rogersville, Missouri. The tornado was on the ground for approximately 20 minutes along its 10.3 mile total track with maximum wind speeds estimated at 134 mph. The tornado crossed out of Christian County along East County Line Road just west of South Farm Road 203 and tracked northeast to five miles northwest of Rogersville before lifting in a forested area just east of the intersection of S Lloyd Drive and East Missouri Route AD in eastern Greene County. As the tornado tracked for eight miles across southwestern Greene County it…
- Jul 30, 2023Thunderstorm Wind$2.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous trees and power lines were downed by high winds across the Springfield Metro. At lease 40 homes had trees on the roof causing shingle, gutter, vent, soffit and siding damage. Weather heads were pulled out or damaged on several homes. several fences were damages or destroyed by falling limbs and trees. At lease a dozen outbuilding were damages with one a total loss. In excess of a dozen vehicles were damaged by falling limbs and trees. As many 4 light poles were bent or down along with many power poles and lines. Around 15,500 homes were without power.
- 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 Springfield, 5.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1940.
- All-time high
- 113°FJul 14, 1954
- All-time low
- −17°FFeb 9, 1979
- Warmest night
- 80°F2 times, most recently Aug 22, 2023
- Coldest day
- −1°FDec 24, 1983
- Wettest day
- 6.27 inNov 24, 1987
- Snowiest day
- 15.7 inMar 16, 1970
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 59.7°F
- Coldest year
- 1979mean 53.6°F
- Wettest year
- 199063.19 in
- Driest year
- 195325.21 in
- Snowiest season
- 43.6 in1969-70
Median first snow
December 5
Earliest: October 29, 1993
Median last snow
March 12
Latest: May 3, 2013
0 of 85 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Springfield (USW00013995), 1,375 ft elevation, 5.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1940 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% 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
27 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding, June 30, 2026.
| Jun 30, 2026 | Severe Storm | DR-4924-MO |
| Jun 9, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4876-MO |
| Sep 21, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4741-MO |
| Mar 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4490-MO |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3482-MO |
| Jul 9, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4451-MO |
| Jun 2, 2017 | Flood | DR-4317-MO |
| Jan 21, 2016 | Flood | DR-4250-MO |
| Jan 2, 2016 | Flood | EM-3374-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 |
| Jun 25, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1773-MO |
| Mar 19, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1749-MO |
| Mar 12, 2008 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1748-MO |
| Dec 12, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3281-MO |
| Sep 21, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1728-MO |
| Jan 15, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1676-MO |
| Dec 29, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1673-MO |
| Mar 16, 2006 | Severe Storm | DR-1631-MO |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3232-MO |
| May 6, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1463-MO |
| May 6, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1412-MO |
| Jul 9, 1993 | Flood | DR-995-MO |
| May 24, 1990 | Flood | DR-867-MO |
| Sep 24, 1976 | Drought | EM-3017-MO |
| Jun 10, 1974 | Flood | DR-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 Greene County stands among 115 counties in Missouri and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 58 | 1 / 115 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 10 / 115 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 540 | 38 / 115 |
| Flood insurance claims | 206 | 30 / 115 |
| Flood insurance paid | $3.4 million | 40 / 115 |
| Disaster declarations | 27 | 28 / 115 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 536 | 1 / 115 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 1,325 | 1 / 115 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 72 | 14 / 115 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $535 million | 4 / 115 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 3 | 51 / 115 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 93 | 100 / 115 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 19.6 | 98 / 115 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Christian County | 44 | 1 |
| Dade County | 27 | 0 |
| Dallas County | 19 | 0 |
| Lawrence County | 30 | 0 |
| Polk County | 38 | 0 |
| Webster County | 38 | 1 |
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 USW00013995.
- 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.