Issaquena County
Population 1,263 (2025) 413 sq mi
Issaquena County has recorded 25 tornadoes since 1950, 60th most of 82 counties in Mississippi; the most recent was on March 15, 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 195025
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger27
At a glance
The record for Issaquena County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
25
60th of 82 in Mississippi
Fewer than the typical Mississippi county, which has had 36
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
12
54th 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 Camille, 1969, 40.5 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 3 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
Saturday, March 15, 2025
EF2, 19.5 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Mar 15, 2025 | EF2 | 19.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 17.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 2023 | EF4 | 59.2 | 165 | 17 |
| Dec 13, 2022 | EF2 | 10.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2021 | EF1 | 30.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2013 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF0 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2011 | EF2 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 29, 2010 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 2010 | EF4 | 149.0 | 146 | 10 |
| Nov 18, 2003 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 6, 2003 | F0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 27, 1994 | F1 | 7.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Nov 19, 1988 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1977 | F2 | 5.2 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 20, 1976 | F2 | 29.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | 202.1 | 795 | 58 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F5 | 109.2 | 510 | 47 |
| Apr 20, 1959 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1958 | F2 | 12.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1958 | F2 | 58.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 26, 1958 | F2 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 3, 1953 | F3 | 18.8 | 20 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1953 | F2 | 234.7 | 22 | 2 |
| Jan 22, 1953 | F2 | 45.2 | 1 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Issaquena County: 0.
- 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
12 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 18, 1969
Camille, Tropical storm
40.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 71 mph.
Most recent
August 27, 2020
Laura, Tropical storm
94.1 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Laura | 2020 | 94.1 | Tropical storm |
| Olga | 2019 | 48.8 | Post-tropical |
| Isaac | 2012 | 81.1 | Tropical storm |
| Katrina | 2005 | 90.1 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 2002 | 59.8 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 57.7 | Tropical storm |
| Edith | 1971 | 66.9 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 40.5 | Tropical storm |
| Betsy | 1965 | 46.3 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 18.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 4.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 4.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 66.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 94.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 89.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 36.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 82.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 18.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 75.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 94.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 99.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 88.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 48.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 18.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 76.8 | 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 3 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
15.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
8 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
127 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $2.0 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2019: 19 claims
$395,000 paid.
2nd most
1983: 16 claims
$66,000 paid.
3rd most
2011: 14 claims
$571,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 39177 | 49 | $611,000 |
| 39113 | 34 | $690,000 |
| 39159 | 14 | $138,000 |
| 39180 | 10 | $243,000 |
| 8 | $29,000 | |
| 39183 | 6 | $253,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood8
- Flood2
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 105 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 18 months.
105
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
14
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
18
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1925
−5.06, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
18 months
June 2010 to November 2011.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.55, moderate drought
Last severe month: April 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
1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.3 in 1967.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
5
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
1
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
June 4, 1967
Magnitude 4.3
7 km SW of Shaw, Mississippi; 37.9 miles away, 3.7 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 8, 2019
Magnitude 3.7
8 km WNW of Hollandale, Mississippi; 13.2 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jun 4, 1967 | 4.3 | 37.9 |
- 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
229 events in the National Weather Service record, 180 of them since 1996.
31
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
2
Hail, 2 inches or larger
48
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
21
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 17, 2022
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 4, 2008
86 mph
Costliest events since 1996
- May 6, 2011Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flooding along the Mississippi River caused extensive flooding of low lying farmland around the river. All of the flood waters were within the mainline levee. Flooding also occurred over portions of the county near the Delta National Forest where backwater from the Yazoo River was located. Twelve homes were destroyed and 12 homes sustained major damage. Two mobile homes were destroyed, and 15 mobile homes as well as 2 businesses sustained major damage. Seven roads had major damage due to the flood waters.
- Mar 9, 1997Flood, Issaquena$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Mississippi River when above flood stage around the 9th of March and crested between the 21st and 26th. Considerable damage occurred on the Mississippi side of the river. The following is a summary of property damage for each county. Bolivar County - at total of 68 homes and mobile homes were damaged. Claiborne county a total of 5 homes and mobile homes were damaged. Issaquena county a total of 23 homes and mobile homes were damaged. Jefferson county at total of 9 home and mobile homes were damaged. Warren county a total of 177 homes and mobile homes were damaged. Washington county a total of 68 homes and mobile homes were damaged. Adams county had no damage to dwellings.…
- Dec 22, 1998Ice Storm, Issaquena$300,000
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 six and ten inches fell across all of Issaquena 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.
- May 15, 2008Flash Flood$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rainfall, between 5 and 7 inches, fell across most of northern Issaquena County. A few homes were flooded in the county along with numerous county roads under water. Many farm fields were partially under water which caused damage to the young crops.
- Feb 24, 2011Tornado$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
The tornado started at Grace, where it downed a few large trees and caused minor roof damage to several homes. The tornado continued into Sharkey County, and just after crossing Dry Bend Road it destroyed a metal outbuilding, scattering tin and other debris a mile downstream. Part of the roof of another larger metal building was taken off at the same location, along with a couple of trees snapped. From here the tornado mainly passed through open fields for a couple of miles, although trees could be seen down along some tree lines. As the tornado approached US Highway 61, it turned more east-northeastward and downed more trees and rolled some equipment at a farm shop. As it crossed…
- Aug 29, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Issaquena$200,000
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…
- Feb 3, 2011Ice Storm, Issaquena$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
A quarter inch of ice accumulated across the county with nearly all bridges iced over. Several accidents were reported.
- Feb 9, 2011Heavy Snow, Issaquena$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy snow, between 2-3 inches fell across the county. Many accident were reported due to the slick roads.
- Apr 4, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A couple of homes sustained shingle damage, several trees were uprooted, and a camper was overturned around Valley Park.
- 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 Portland, 37.7 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1909.
- All-time high
- 110°FAug 17, 1909
- All-time low
- −4°FJan 19, 1930
- Warmest night
- 87°FJul 9, 1998
- Coldest day
- 14°FJan 16, 2024
- Wettest day
- 10.08 inMar 10, 2016
- Snowiest day
- 12.5 inDec 22, 1929
- Hottest year
- 1921mean 68.0°F
- Coldest year
- 2014mean 60.6°F
- Wettest year
- 201985.75 in
- Driest year
- 201030.08 in
- Snowiest season
- 21.5 in1929-30
Median first snow
January 18
Earliest: November 22, 1929
Median last snow
February 2
Latest: March 22, 1968
51 of 100 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Portland (USC00035866), 128 ft elevation, 37.7 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1909 to October 27, 2026; 94.4% 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
27 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 |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| Oct 8, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3548-MS |
| Apr 23, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4538-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| Apr 23, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4429-MS |
| Mar 25, 2016 | Flood | DR-4268-MS |
| May 11, 2011 | Flood | DR-1983-MS |
| May 4, 2011 | Flood | EM-3320-MS |
| Apr 29, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1906-MS |
| Sep 22, 2008 | Hurricane | DR-1794-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1604-MS |
| Apr 24, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1459-MS |
| Jan 25, 1999 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1265-MS |
| May 17, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-906-MS |
| Jun 1, 1983 | Severe Storm | DR-683-MS |
| Apr 16, 1979 | Severe Storm | DR-577-MS |
| Apr 14, 1979 | Severe Storm | EM-3077-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 Issaquena County stands among 82 counties in Mississippi and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 25 | 60 / 82 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 29 / 82 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 12 | 54 / 82 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 127 | 35 / 82 |
| Flood insurance paid | $2.0 million | 33 / 82 |
| Disaster declarations | 27 | 28 / 82 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 10 | 79 / 82 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 108 | 77 / 82 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 21 | 44 / 82 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $5.1 million | 77 / 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 | 105 | 32 / 82 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 15.3 | 11 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 1 | 16 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Chicot County AR | 43 | 8 |
| East Carroll Parish LA | 34 | 11 |
| Sharkey County | 43 | 11 |
| Warren County | 68 | 16 |
| 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 USC00035866.
- 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.