Washington County
Population 40,446 (2025) 724 sq mi
Property owners in Washington County have filed 1,955 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 6th most of 82 counties in Mississippi.
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 195032
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger22
- Major flood years since 197810
At a glance
The record for Washington County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
32
47th of 82 in Mississippi
About as many as the typical Mississippi county
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
10
69th 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, 0.0 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.4 years since 1950, 4 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.
Most recent
Saturday, January 11, 2020
EF2, 17.7 mile path
6 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jan 11, 2020 | EF2 | 17.7 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2017 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2013 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2009 | EF1 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 |
| May 2, 2008 | EF0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2006 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 28, 2005 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 24, 2005 | F2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 24, 2001 | F4 | 30.3 | 48 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 2001 | F2 | 37.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 1999 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 9, 1992 | F4 | 20.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1991 | F1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 17, 1980 | F2 | 51.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 17, 1978 | F4 | 3.6 | 3 | 0 |
| Feb 17, 1976 | F2 | 6.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 22, 1974 | F2 | 22.4 | 3 | 0 |
| Dec 4, 1973 | F2 | 12.5 | 6 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1972 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 21, 1971 | F5 | 109.2 | 510 | 47 |
| Jun 4, 1970 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 19, 1969 | F2 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 10, 1966 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1966 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1965 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 19, 1964 | F2 | 11.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1957 | F1 | 11.9 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 1953 | F2 | 234.7 | 22 | 2 |
| Feb 20, 1953 | F2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Washington County: 1.
- 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
10 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 20, 1888
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
0.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 69 mph.
Most recent
August 27, 2020
Laura, Tropical storm
84.6 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Laura | 2020 | 84.6 | Tropical storm |
| Olga | 2019 | 52.7 | Post-tropical |
| Katrina | 2005 | 98.0 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 2002 | 79.3 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 85.0 | Tropical storm |
| Edith | 1971 | 99.7 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 35.5 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 3.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 92.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 16.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 16.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 90.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 1.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 97.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 27.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 97.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 13.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 66.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 2.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 97.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 66.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 98.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 28.6 | 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 4 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
16.5 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
1,955 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $37.0 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2008: 421 claims
$9.2 million paid.
2nd most
2016: 197 claims
$4.0 million paid.
3rd most
1991: 176 claims
$1.0 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 38703 | 1,017 | $20.8 million |
| 38701 | 673 | $11.2 million |
| 38756 | 87 | $1.1 million |
| 77 | $649,000 | |
| 38702 | 34 | $1.5 million |
| 38748 | 30 | $249,000 |
| 38704 | 10 | $60,000 |
| 38722 | 8 | $197,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood59
- Flood6
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 118 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.
118
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
21
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
14
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
July 1925
−5.25, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
17 months
July 2010 to November 2011.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.44, 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.
1
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; 42.4 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
January 8, 2019
Magnitude 3.7
8 km WNW of Hollandale, Mississippi; inside the county.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jun 4, 1967 | 4.3 | 4.6 |
| Dec 16, 1931 | 4.6 | 42.4 |
- 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
627 events in the National Weather Service record, 475 of them since 1996.
100
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
7
Hail, 2 inches or larger
190
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
30
Winter weather events since 1996
7
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 1, 1974
3.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 19, 2019
90 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 3 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Sep 3, 2008Flash Flood$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
During the late afternoon and evening of the 3rd, a heavy band of storms developed across the region and produced 5 to 9 inches of rainfall in 3 to 5 hours. This additional rainfall made the total across Washington County between 7 and 11 inches for the entire 3 day event. This extreme rainfall flooded numerous roads, many which were closed or even washed out. Some 250 to 270 structures were flooded with flood damage ranging from minor to major. Flood damage was widespread and significant for this area.||Agriculture was hard hit as well. Farmland was flooded and entire crops were lost or significantly damaged. Any crops that were salvaged produced low yields.
- May 5, 2011Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Flooding along the Mississippi River caused extensive flooding of low lying farmland and urban areas around the river. All of the flood waters were within the mainline levee. Sixty one homes were destroyed, 18 sustained major damage and 63 sustained minor damage. One mobile home and 1 business were destroyed, with 19 businesses sustaining minor damage. Twenty four roads had major damage, and 3 public buildings were destroyed.
- Nov 24, 2001Tornado$3.5 million
- Mar 9, 1997Flood, Washington$1.4 million
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 23, 1998Ice Storm, Washington$1.2 million
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…
- May 15, 2008Flash Flood$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rain fell across the southern and southeast portion of Washington County during the early morning hours of the 15th. This area received 3 to 5 inches of rain as slow moving storms tracked across the area. Many roads were flooded along with 7 homes taking in water.
- Sep 24, 2005Tornado$680,000
National Weather Service narrative
This strong tornado touched down a few miles southeast of Downtown Greenville on Dodd Road. The tornado tracked 2 miles to the northwest, crossed Highway 82 and dissipated at the Delta Village mobile home park. Ten mobile homes were significantly damaged or destroyed, 15 sheds were destroyed and 3 more were damaged. One barn was destroyed along with 2 carports heavily damaged. One business had its roof blown off and a nearby tower was blown over. Additionally, numerous power poles and power lines were taken down along the path.
- Aug 29, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Washington$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 14, 2023Hail$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Hail up to the size of golf balls fell in a swath across the Wayside, Arcola, and Darlove areas.
- Jun 11, 2023Hail$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Hail up to the size of hen eggs fell in Arcola.
- 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, 29.7 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, 29.7 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
30 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 |
| Mar 26, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4697-MS |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| Mar 12, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4478-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 |
| Sep 22, 2008 | Hurricane | DR-1794-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| May 8, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1753-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 |
| Jun 13, 1997 | Flood | DR-1178-MS |
| Feb 18, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1009-MS |
| Mar 20, 1992 | Tornado | DR-939-MS |
| May 17, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-906-MS |
| Mar 5, 1991 | Flood | DR-895-MS |
| Jun 1, 1983 | Severe Storm | DR-683-MS |
| Apr 24, 1978 | Tornado | EM-3063-MS |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3032-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 Washington County stands among 82 counties in Mississippi and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 32 | 47 / 82 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 4 | 41 / 82 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 10 | 69 / 82 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 1,955 | 6 / 82 |
| Flood insurance paid | $37.0 million | 5 / 82 |
| Disaster declarations | 30 | 21 / 82 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 65 | 15 / 82 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 333 | 24 / 82 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 30 | 17 / 82 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $35.4 million | 48 / 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 | 118 | 15 / 82 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 16.5 | 5 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 2 | 3 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 1 | 7 / 82 |
Neighbouring counties
| Bolivar County | 57 | 10 |
| Chicot County AR | 43 | 8 |
| Humphreys County | 37 | 13 |
| Issaquena County | 25 | 12 |
| Sharkey County | 43 | 11 |
| Sunflower County | 34 | 11 |
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.