Chickasaw County
Population 16,730 (2025) 502 sq mi
Chickasaw County has recorded 30 tornadoes since 1950, 49th most of 82 counties in Mississippi; 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 since 195030
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger18
- Wildfire burn scars since 19845
At a glance
The record for Chickasaw County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
30
49th of 82 in Mississippi
About as many as the typical Mississippi county
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
11
59th of 82 in Mississippi
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
8,621
12th of 82 in Mississippi
5 large fires; the largest was Witchdce W, 2006
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF3
April 27, 2011, 58.7 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm Frederic, 1979, 35.5 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.5 years since 1950, 4 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 27, 2011
EF3, 58.7 mile path
1,800 yards wide.
Deadliest
April 27, 2011
4 killed, EF3
25 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, June 7, 2025
EF1, 3.9 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Jun 7, 2025 | EF1 | 3.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2025 | EF1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2025 | EF1 | 8.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2023 | EF1 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 2023 | EF3 | 36.6 | 55 | 2 |
| May 2, 2021 | EF0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 2021 | EF0 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 2021 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 2014 | EF1 | 1.3 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 51.5 | 25 | 4 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 58.7 | 25 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 2009 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 7, 2004 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 2003 | F2 | 27.5 | 6 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2002 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1994 | F1 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F1 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F1 | 9.0 | 0 | 2 |
| May 5, 1991 | F1 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 22, 1988 | F1 | 11.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 22, 1988 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 22, 1988 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 19, 1988 | F3 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 12, 1982 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1975 | F2 | 16.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1969 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1957 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 20, 1953 | F1 | 21.3 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Chickasaw County: 3.
- 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
11 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 13, 1979
Frederic, Tropical storm
35.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 55 mph.
Most recent
October 29, 2020
Zeta, Tropical storm
99.2 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Zeta | 2020 | 99.2 | Tropical storm |
| Olga | 2019 | 28.1 | Post-tropical |
| Katrina | 2005 | 3.4 | Tropical storm |
| Frederic | 1979 | 35.5 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 50.3 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 30.1 | Tropical storm |
| Baker | 1950 | 15.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 17.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 60.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 23.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 25.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 87.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 69.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 25.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 21.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 69.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1855 | 61.1 | 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
8,621 acres burned in 5 large fires since 1984, equal to 2.7% of the land.
Largest
March 3, 2006
Witchdce W Fire, 2,844 acres
2,845 acres inside Chickasaw County.
Most recent
February 27, 2007
Trace Unit West 2 Fire
1,173 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Trace Unit West 2 | 2007 | 1,172 | 1,173 |
| Witchdance East | 2007 | 2,285 | 2,286 |
| Trace Unit 2 | 2006 | 1,529 | 1,528 |
| Witchdce W | 2006 | 2,845 | 2,844 |
| Trace West | 2005 | 787 | 787 |
- 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 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
13.1 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
10 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 41 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
3 federal flood insurance claims since 1994, with $8,170 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood13
- Flood3
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 19 months.
112
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
21
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
29
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1943
−5.18, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
19 months
July 1942 to January 1944.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.70, 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
13 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1975; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
6
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
November 4, 1977
Magnitude 3.4
12 km E of Bruce, Mississippi; 6.4 miles away, 1.2 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
May 10, 2008
Magnitude 3.1
1 km SSE of Sherman, Mississippi; 20.2 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
433 events in the National Weather Service record, 376 of them since 1996.
30
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
98
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
25
Winter weather events since 1996
107
Heat events since 1996
7
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 27, 2011
3.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
March 15, 2025
96 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Apr 27, 2011Tornado$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A strong tornado crossed into Chickasaw County from Calhoun County and continued to move northeast. The Anchor community was the hardest hit area where one death occurred. An additional two deaths occurred east of Houston. In total, seventy-four homes were destroyed with an additional ninety-two sustaining major damage. A total of twenty-five mobile homes were destroyed with and an additional fifteen sustaining major damage. Numerous other homes and mobile homes sustained minor damage. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down in the area. A total of twenty-five injuries occurred from the tornado. The tornado continued northeast and crossed into Monroe County.
- May 7, 2003Tornado$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The tornado touched down near Houston and tracked east-southeast and eventually crossed in Monroe County. Forty structures were damaged or destroyed.
- Apr 27, 2011Tornado$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
An EF-3 tornado moved northeast out of Clay County, Mississippi into Chickasaw County just south of Trebloc. The tornado weakened to an EF-1 as it moved into Chickasaw County. One home was destroyed which resulted in two injuries. Several other homes sustained minor damage from fallen trees. A barn was damaged and trees were uprooted near Highway 8 and Highway 47. Numerous trees were knocked down along the path. The tornado continued northeast into Monroe County, Mississippi.
- Jun 7, 2025Tornado$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
A weak tornado touched down in northwestern Chickasaw County, MS, off County Road 2. Sporadic tree damage was noted as the tornado tracked southeastward to a farm with several outbuildings and a barn with structural damage. The most significant damage occurred at a large barn at HWY 32W and CR 3, where major sections of the metal roof were uplifted and lofted several hundred yards into the field next to it. A couple of empty grain bins sustained minor damage, and several vehicles and farm equipment had windows blown out due to flying debris. The tornado followed HWY 32W toward CR 6 and snapped more large tree branches, as well as lofting a small carport. As the tornado continued…
- Apr 14, 2007Thunderstorm Wind$110,000
National Weather Service narrative
Straight line winds knocked down many trees and power lines in and around Houston causing widespread power outages. At least six homes sustained roof damage along with two commercial buildings. Significant damage occurred to two churches as well.
- Jun 9, 2021Flash Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain resulted in flash flooding across Chickasaw County. Ten roads were flooded.
- Jul 1, 2020Flash Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Slow-moving thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary across West Tennessee, near the Tennessee River, and Northeast Mississippi during the early morning hours on July 1, 2020. Some locations picked up more than 6 inches of rain. Meanwhile, a mesoscale convective system that developed over Southeast Nebraska and Northwest Missouri earlier in the day raced southeast and moved through the Mid-South during the afternoon and early evening hours with more heavy rain and isolated wind damage.
- Jun 12, 2014Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
This weak tornado uprooted and snapped off several trees along its path. Two houses suffered considerable damage from fallen trees. One person received a minor injury. In addition, near the touchdown point, several roof panels were blown off a poultry building. Peak wind was estimated at 90 to 95 mph.
- Dec 7, 2004Tornado$75,000
National Weather Service narrative
The tornado touched down just northeast of Houlka and moved northeast. Four homes were heavily damaged. A mother and her child were trapped in one of the homes but were not injured. One other home suffered some shingle damage. Numerous trees were also blown down.
- Feb 9, 2001Thunderstorm Wind$60,000
National Weather Service narrative
A restaurant lost part of its roof. One businesses had some windows blown out. A metal building had its sides blown out and the roof torn off. Three homes had roof damage. One carport was blown away. One trailer was overturned. Several large trees were knocked down on top of some houses and cars.
- 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 Tupelo Regional Airport, 24.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1962.
- All-time high
- 107°FAug 15, 2007
- All-time low
- −12°FJan 30, 1966
- Warmest night
- 80°F3 times, most recently Jul 3, 2024
- Coldest day
- 10°FDec 22, 1989
- Wettest day
- 7.89 inMay 26, 1991
- Snowiest day
- 8.0 inMar 22, 1968
- Hottest year
- 2023mean 65.9°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 59.2°F
- Wettest year
- 199181.05 in
- Driest year
- 198130.98 in
- Snowiest season
- 11.0 in1967-68
Median first snow
January 9
Earliest: November 14, 1969
Median last snow
February 9
Latest: April 2, 1987
13 of 49 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Tupelo Regional Airport (USW00093862), 340 ft elevation, 24.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1962 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% 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
23 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, February 6, 2026.
| Feb 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899-MS |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640-MS |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| Apr 16, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4536-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| Mar 12, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4478-MS |
| Dec 6, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4470-MS |
| Apr 23, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4429-MS |
| Jan 4, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4248-MS |
| Apr 29, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1972-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1604-MS |
| Jul 10, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1594-MS |
| May 23, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1470-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 |
| Nov 25, 1992 | Tornado | DR-968-MS |
| May 17, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-906-MS |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3032-MS |
| Mar 27, 1973 | Severe Storm | DR-368-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.
How this compares
Where Chickasaw County stands among 82 counties in Mississippi and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 30 | 49 / 82 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 4 | 41 / 82 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 11 | 59 / 82 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 8,621 | 12 / 82 |
| Flood insurance claims | 3 | 76 / 82 |
| Flood insurance paid | $8,170 | 78 / 82 |
| Disaster declarations | 23 | 54 / 82 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 16 | 74 / 82 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 173 | 57 / 82 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 25 | 27 / 82 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $5.2 million | 76 / 82 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 112 | 23 / 82 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 13.1 | 31 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Calhoun County | 25 | 12 |
| Clay County | 19 | 13 |
| Lee County | 43 | 11 |
| Monroe County | 49 | 12 |
| Pontotoc County | 27 | 12 |
| Webster County | 17 | 14 |
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 USW00093862.
- 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.