Humphreys County
Population 7,001 (2025) 419 sq mi
Humphreys County has recorded 37 tornadoes since 1950, 40th most of 82 counties in Mississippi; the most recent was on March 14, 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 195037
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger20
- Major flood years since 19785
At a glance
The record for Humphreys County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
37
40th of 82 in Mississippi
About as many as the typical Mississippi county
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
13
50th of 82 in Mississippi
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F5
February 21, 1971, 109.2 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1888, 4.6 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.1 years since 1950, 5 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
Friday, March 14, 2025
EF2, 35.8 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Mar 14, 2025 | EF2 | 35.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 2023 | EF4 | 59.2 | 165 | 17 |
| Dec 13, 2022 | EF1 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF1 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 2012 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 2012 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 2012 | EF2 | 4.3 | 4 | 0 |
| Dec 9, 2008 | EF0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F2 | 18.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F1 | 3.5 | 2 | 1 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 6, 2003 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 24, 2001 | F3 | 5.0 | 5 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2001 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1999 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 8, 1999 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 1992 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 9, 1992 | F4 | 20.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1990 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 1 |
| Dec 27, 1988 | F2 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 18, 1986 | F2 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 1980 | F2 | 51.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 20, 1976 | F2 | 29.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 22, 1974 | F2 | 22.4 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1972 | F2 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | 202.1 | 795 | 58 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F5 | 109.2 | 510 | 47 |
| Dec 27, 1968 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1968 | F2 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1961 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1959 | F2 | 31.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1958 | F2 | 58.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 1953 | F2 | 45.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1950 | F2 | 0.1 | 2 | 1 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Humphreys County: 38.
- 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
13 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 20, 1888
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
4.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 69 mph.
Most recent
October 26, 2019
Olga, Post-tropical
32.9 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Olga | 2019 | 32.9 | Post-tropical |
| Katrina | 2005 | 78.7 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 2002 | 61.1 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 96.9 | Tropical storm |
| Edith | 1971 | 81.8 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 15.0 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 19.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 1.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 2.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 29.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 70.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 25.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 7.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 78.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 44.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 45.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 29.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 83.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 4.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 80.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 48.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 9.8 | 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 here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 67 days
Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
15.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
9 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 34 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
343 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $3.9 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1982: 55 claims
$174,000 paid.
2nd most
1983: 47 claims
$224,000 paid.
3rd most
1980: 31 claims
$346,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 39038 | 251 | $2.0 million |
| 39194 | 52 | $1.6 million |
| 39097 | 25 | $137,000 |
| 38754 | 8 | $30,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood21
- 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
Most severe crest
January 27, 1932
Yazoo River at Belzoni, 37.90 ft
3.90 feet above the 34.0 ft flood stage; minor flooding by today’s categories.
| Jan 27, 1932 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 37.90 | +3.90 |
| Feb 28, 1946 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 37.20 | +3.20 |
| Feb 12, 1946 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 37.20 | +3.20 |
| Feb 13, 1949 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 37.00 | +3.00 |
| Mar 28, 1950 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 37.00 | +3.00 |
| Jan 24, 1949 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 37.00 | +3.00 |
| Apr 3, 1950 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.90 | +2.90 |
| Mar 22, 1948 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.90 | +2.90 |
| Apr 1, 1948 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.80 | +2.80 |
| Apr 2, 1945 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.60 | +2.60 |
| Mar 1, 1949 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.40 | +2.40 |
| Apr 11, 1951 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.30 | +2.30 |
| Feb 28, 1951 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.20 | +2.20 |
| Mar 9, 1951 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.20 | +2.20 |
| Feb 28, 1950 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.20 | +2.20 |
| Jan 31, 1946 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.20 | +2.20 |
| Mar 6, 2019 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.16 | +2.16 |
| May 13, 1991 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 36.00 | +2.00 |
| Feb 29, 1948 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.90 | +1.90 |
| Apr 20, 1944 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.80 | +1.80 |
| May 6, 1944 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.80 | +1.80 |
| Apr 1, 1946 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.70 | +1.70 |
| Mar 29, 1973 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.65 | +1.65 |
| Apr 18, 1949 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.60 | +1.60 |
| Feb 22, 2020 | Yazoo River at Belzoni | 35.58 | +1.58 |
River gauges
| Yazoo River at Belzoni | 34.0 | 37.90 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 137 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 11 months.
137
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
20
Months in extreme drought
9%
Share of all months, severe or worse
16
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1925
−5.10, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
11 months
December 2010 to October 2011.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.58, 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.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
6
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; 36.6 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 8, 2019
Magnitude 3.7
8 km WNW of Hollandale, Mississippi; 11.9 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jun 4, 1967 | 4.3 | 20.7 |
| Dec 16, 1931 | 4.6 | 36.6 |
- 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
283 events in the National Weather Service record, 224 of them since 1996.
37
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
75
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
22
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 2, 1997
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 5, 1997
90 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 24, 2023Tornado$13.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
This long track, violent tornado began over northern Issaquena County near Grant Rd, downing multiple trees and damaging two older outbuildings. It tracked northeastward, producing tree damage as it crossed the Steele Bayou Canal before crossing into Sharkey County. At this point, the tornado began to substantially increase in size and intensity. A very high percentage of trees were snapped along the path through a wooded area south of Bear Lake Rd. It was in this wooded area where the first indications of EF3 to EF4 damage were noted, with at least one tree and root ball and several more large tree pieces fully displaced into the downstream field. From this point along the path…
- Nov 24, 2001Tornado$4.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A supercell thunderstorm moved across northern Humphreys County and produced a tornado three miles southwest of Isola. The tornado was rated as an F3 and had a width of about 400 yards as it travelled approximately 5 miles through the town of Isola. The tornado dissipated about one mile northeast of town. This tornado destroyed three houses, six businesses, and one church. Additionally, 20 houses, four businesses, and one church sustained major damage. Minor damage occurred to seven businesses. Several grain silos and a farm headquarters were destroyed southwest of Isola. Five people sustained minor injuries.
- Sep 24, 2005Tornado$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
This strong tornado touched down 4 miles south-southeast of Belzoni on Gunn Bayou Road, in Humphreys county. As the tornado approached Highway 12 and the City of Belzoni, it grew larger and more intense. Before it reached Belzoni, numerous trees and power lines were taken down. The tornado was most intense within an area just east of Belzoni to about 4 miles north of Belzoni. Here the heaviest and most extensive damage occurred. Several homes were significantly damaged, a modular commercial building was totally destroyed, the Belzoni school bus barn was heavily damage, and a number of cars, school buses and farm vehicles had windows blown out. After the tornado moved through the…
- Apr 22, 2008Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Several inches of rain, in a short amount of time, caused significant flooding across Belzoni and northern portions of the county. Many roads were flooded by several feet of water. Additionally, several homes were flooded and a few had to be evacuated.
- May 8, 2011Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Extensive flooding occurred over southern portions of Humphreys County where backwater from the Mississippi River backed up into the Yazoo River. Forty seven homes sustained major damage with 23 sustaining minor damage. Four mobile homes had major damage and 6 had minor damage. Three public roads sustained major damage from the flood waters.
- Aug 29, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Humphreys$500,000
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…
- Jun 15, 2023Hail$400,000
National Weather Service narrative
Hail up to the size of golf balls fell in Isola.
- Dec 23, 1998Ice Storm, Humphreys$350,000
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…
- Oct 16, 2006Flash Flood$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain between four and eight inches fell across all of Humphreys County during the late afternoon and evening hours of October 16th. This heavy rain caused many roads and farm fields to become flooded by several feet of water. High water marks were noted by debris across the landscape.
- Feb 9, 2011Heavy Snow, Humphreys$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy snow, between 2-4 inches fell across the county. Many accident were reported due to the slick roads.
- 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, 33.8 miles from the county’s population 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, 33.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 25, 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.
| Feb 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899-MS |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640-MS |
| May 21, 2025 | Severe Storm | DR-4874-MS |
| Jun 10, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4790-MS |
| Aug 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727-MS |
| Mar 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4697-MS |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| Oct 8, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3548-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| Apr 23, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4429-MS |
| May 11, 2011 | Flood | DR-1983-MS |
| May 4, 2011 | Flood | EM-3320-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1604-MS |
| Dec 7, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1398-MS |
| Feb 23, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1360-MS |
| Jan 25, 1999 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1265-MS |
| May 17, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-906-MS |
| Jan 3, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-888-MS |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3032-MS |
| Apr 4, 1975 | Flood | EM-3010-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.
How this compares
Where Humphreys County stands among 82 counties in Mississippi and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 37 | 40 / 82 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 29 / 82 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 13 | 50 / 82 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 343 | 19 / 82 |
| Flood insurance paid | $3.9 million | 24 / 82 |
| Disaster declarations | 25 | 43 / 82 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 22 | 64 / 82 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 130 | 69 / 82 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 22 | 42 / 82 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $26.0 million | 55 / 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 | 137 | 6 / 82 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 15.4 | 10 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 2 | 3 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Holmes County | 52 | 14 |
| Leflore County | 44 | 11 |
| Sharkey County | 43 | 11 |
| Sunflower County | 34 | 11 |
| Washington County | 32 | 10 |
| Yazoo County | 68 | 13 |
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.