Jefferson County
Population 6,825 (2025) 520 sq mi
23 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Jefferson County since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1909 (Category 1).
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 195028
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger48
At a glance
The record for Jefferson County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
23
28th of 82 in Mississippi
2 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsTornadoes since 1950
28
51st of 82 in Mississippi
Fewer than the typical Mississippi county, which has had 36
DetailsStrongest tornado
F4
January 23, 1969, 117.8 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 1
Hurricane (unnamed), 1909, 18.6 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.7 years since 1950, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
January 23, 1969
F4, 117.8 mile path
200 yards wide; 32 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, December 28, 2024
EF1, 11.1 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 11.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 9.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | EF1 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2021 | EF1 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2019 | EF1 | 8.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2017 | EF1 | 14.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF0 | 3.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 21, 2012 | EF1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 9, 2008 | EF1 | 10.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 8, 2008 | EF0 | 4.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2006 | F2 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | F2 | 5.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | F2 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 26, 2005 | F1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 26, 2005 | F1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 26, 2005 | F1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 23, 2004 | F3 | 18.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 1999 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 23, 1997 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1987 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1986 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 1976 | F3 | 31.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 23, 1969 | F4 | 117.8 | 241 | 32 |
| Feb 14, 1966 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1953 | F2 | 96.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 1, 1950 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Jefferson 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
23 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 2 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 21, 1909
Unnamed storm, Category 1
18.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 83 mph.
Most recent
August 30, 2021
Ida, Tropical storm
0.0 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Ida | 2021 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Claudette | 2021 | 84.7 | Tropical storm |
| Zeta | 2020 | 99.6 | Category 1 |
| Delta | 2020 | 27.5 | Tropical storm |
| Olga | 2019 | 41.8 | Post-tropical |
| Isaac | 2012 | 43.2 | Tropical storm |
| Lee | 2011 | 75.4 | Post-tropical |
| Gustav | 2008 | 89.3 | Tropical storm |
| Katrina | 2005 | 74.2 | Category 1 |
| Bill | 2003 | 69.6 | Tropical storm |
| Lili | 2002 | 43.5 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 2002 | 54.1 | Tropical storm |
| Allison | 2001 | 97.7 | Subtropical storm |
| Juan | 1985 | 100.0 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 5.0 | Tropical storm |
| Danny | 1985 | 38.8 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1979 | 38.3 | Tropical storm |
| Edith | 1971 | 18.7 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 51.2 | Category 1 |
| Betsy | 1965 | 42.0 | Tropical storm |
| Hilda | 1964 | 70.3 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 67.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1955 | 90.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 16.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1948 | 84.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 77.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 94.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 72.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 98.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 1.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 52.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 59.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 51.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 54.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 18.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 92.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 39.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 67.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1890 | 15.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 31.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 33.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 24.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 74.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1869 | 97.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 82.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 3.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 23.3 | 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: 51 days
Heavy smoke on 2 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
11.5 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
5 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 26 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
67 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $852,000 paid.
Most claims in one year
2011: 13 claims
$454,000 paid.
2nd most
1997: 11 claims
$71,000 paid.
3rd most
1995: 8 claims
$19,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 39096 | 42 | $668,000 |
| 39069 | 22 | $156,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood16
- 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 73 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 10 months.
73
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
16
Months in extreme drought
5%
Share of all months, severe or worse
13
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
November 1924
−4.73, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
10 months
January 2000 to October 2000.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.97, 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
No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the county in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.
Severe weather and other events
318 events in the National Weather Service record, 271 of them since 1996.
41
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
105
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
16
Winter weather events since 1996
4
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
January 23, 1969
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
March 26, 2005
81 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Aug 29, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Jefferson$20.0 million
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…
- Sep 2, 2008Flash Flood$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
After a few rounds of moderate rains from Hurricane Gustav, a persistent band of heavy storms moved into western Jefferson County and produced flash flooding across the area. This round of heavy rain added a quick 3 to 6 inches to an area that had received 4 to 6 from previous rains. Many roads were under water along with a few washed out.||The heavy rain also caused crop damage as many crops were water logged or were damaged by flooded farm land.
- Sep 25, 2005Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Early Sunday morning several bands of thunderstorms developed across Southwest, West-central and Central Mississippi. These bands repeatedly moved over the same locations for a few hours and produced locally heavy rainfall. Most locations received 3 to 5 inches of rain in a few hour period. The heaviest rains fell within a corridor that was generally aligned along the Big Black River. This corridor received nearly 7 to 10 inches of rain over a few hour period. The worst flooding occurred in Warren and Yazoo counties. Here, many roads were washed out or flooded by several feet of water. Many homes in these areas had some amount of water inside them. The rest of the affected areas…
- Feb 11, 2010Heavy Snow, Jefferson$400,000
National Weather Service narrative
Up to 6 inches of snow fell in Jefferson County. Some roads were covered with snow, and some bridges were iced over. There were numerous reports of power outages.
- Nov 23, 2004Tornado$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado touched down just west of the Natchez Trace, 8 miles west of Fayette and tracked northeast for 18 miles across Jefferson county. Between the Natchez Trace and highway 553 the tornado was in its early stages and produced F0 damage by downing several trees. Between highway 553 and US Highway 61 this tornado began to intensify and downed or snapped hundreds of trees. One mobile home and two sheds sustained minor damage as they were located on the northern edge of the circulation. As it approached US Highway 61, it moved through an open field and was at its widest point, 600 yards. Here a string of seven power poles were snapped and a large tractor shed was destroyed. The…
- Sep 1, 2008Tropical Storm, Jefferson$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tropical storm force winds occurred across Jefferson County as the outer edges of Hurricane Gustav moved across southern Louisiana. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Tree damage was widespread across the county as wind gusts peaked between 40 and 50 mph for several hours. Sustained winds were around 35 mph.
- Sep 25, 2005Tornado$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
This strong tornado touched down in the Red Lick Community, of Jefferson county, and tracked northeast into Claiborne county. Extensive tree damage occurred along the path with hundreds of trees uprooted and snapped. One mobile home was destroyed and a framed house had most of the roof torn off and an outside wall blown out. One injury occurred as the mobile home was rolled over and destroyed.
- Jun 8, 2011Thunderstorm Wind$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
Power lines were blown down on Main Street, Oak Street, and Church Street. The roof of the 911 Center and Library were blown off. Power outages were reported in the city of Fayette.
- Apr 30, 2017Tornado$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado touched down just south of Highway 28. A few trees were downed and snapped in this area. As it continued northeast through a rural area, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted. It then crossed McBride Road and Pap Goza Road, uprooting and snapping many large trees. It also snapped a power pole and caused extensive roof damage to a few chicken houses. It continued northeast into Claiborne County, crossing Hudson Road and Beech Grove Road. The tornado ended near Northeast Smith Road, snapping a couple of trees before lifting. A tornado debris signature was also noted on radar during this event. The total length of the tornado path was 14.46 miles and the maximum wind…
- Sep 2, 2008Flash Flood$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
Locally heavy rainfall from persistent rain band produced 3 to 6 inches of rain and caused many county roads to flood across a large portion of eastern Jefferson County.
- 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 Natchez, 18.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1892.
- All-time high
- 105°F5 times, most recently Aug 9, 1935
- All-time low
- 4°F2 times, most recently Jan 27, 1940
- Warmest night
- 87°FJul 9, 1995
- Coldest day
- 20°F2 times, most recently Dec 23, 1989
- Wettest day
- 10.51 inMay 1, 1954
- Snowiest day
- 9.5 inJan 23, 1940
- Hottest year
- 1911mean 69.8°F
- Coldest year
- 2014mean 62.3°F
- Wettest year
- 191984.67 in
- Driest year
- 192434.24 in
- Snowiest season
- 9.5 in1939-40
Median first snow
January 18
Earliest: December 8, 2017
Median last snow
January 23
Latest: March 22, 1968
66 of 82 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Natchez (USC00226177), 195 ft elevation, 18.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1892 to October 27, 2026; 94.0% 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
26 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 |
| Aug 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727-MS |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| May 4, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4598-MS |
| Oct 8, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3548-MS |
| Sep 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3544-MS |
| Aug 23, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3539-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| May 22, 2017 | Severe Storm | DR-4314-MS |
| Aug 29, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4081-MS |
| May 11, 2011 | Flood | DR-1983-MS |
| May 4, 2011 | Flood | EM-3320-MS |
| Sep 22, 2008 | Hurricane | DR-1794-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1604-MS |
| Sep 15, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1550-MS |
| Apr 24, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1459-MS |
| Jun 1, 1983 | Severe Storm | DR-683-MS |
| Apr 16, 1979 | Severe Storm | DR-577-MS |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3032-MS |
| Apr 18, 1974 | Flood | DR-430-MS |
| Mar 27, 1973 | Severe Storm | DR-368-MS |
| Sep 25, 1965 | Hurricane | DR-210-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 Jefferson County stands among 82 counties in Mississippi and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 28 | 51 / 82 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 3 | 53 / 82 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 23 | 28 / 82 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 2 | 29 / 82 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 67 | 44 / 82 |
| Flood insurance paid | $852,000 | 47 / 82 |
| Disaster declarations | 26 | 37 / 82 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 19 | 72 / 82 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 190 | 55 / 82 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 16 | 57 / 82 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $29.4 million | 51 / 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 | 73 | 80 / 82 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 11.5 | 50 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Adams County | 20 | 26 |
| Claiborne County | 43 | 21 |
| Copiah County | 61 | 24 |
| Franklin County | 21 | 29 |
| Lincoln County | 61 | 29 |
| Tensas Parish LA | 29 | 21 |
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 USC00226177.
- 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.