Jackson County
Population 24,764 (2025) 803 sq mi
Jackson County has recorded 80 tornadoes since 1950, 19th most of 77 counties in Oklahoma; the most recent was on June 18, 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 195080
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger1
- Wildfire burn scars since 19841
At a glance
The record for Jackson County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 6 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
November 7, 2011
EF4, 17.4 mile path
500 yards wide.
Deadliest
May 11, 1982
2 killed, F3
18 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
EFU, 1.0 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Jun 18, 2025 | EFU | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 18, 2024 | EF0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 18, 2024 | EF1 | 3.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 2024 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 2024 | EF2 | 15.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 13, 2021 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 2019 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 2017 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 2017 | EFU | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2015 | EF3 | 40.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 2013 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2012 | EF0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2012 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2012 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 2011 | EF4 | 17.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2003 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2003 | F2 | 9.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2001 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1999 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 1999 | F1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1999 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 1996 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 3, 1995 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1992 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 1986 | F1 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 1986 | F1 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 1985 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 1983 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1983 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F3 | 10.0 | 18 | 2 |
| May 11, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F3 | 4.0 | 41 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F2 | 5.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 15, 1981 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1980 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1980 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 1980 | F2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 20, 1977 | F3 | 10.4 | 3 | 0 |
| May 29, 1976 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1976 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1975 | F1 | 6.2 | 4 | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1975 | F2 | 5.2 | 8 | 2 |
| Apr 26, 1972 | F1 | 12.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1970 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1970 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 1970 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1970 | F2 | 170.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1969 | F2 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1965 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 20, 1962 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1962 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1962 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1962 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1961 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1960 | F3 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 18, 1960 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 1959 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 17, 1958 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 17, 1958 | F2 | 14.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 22, 1957 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1957 | F0 | 8.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1957 | F2 | 43.7 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 2, 1956 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1955 | F1 | 6.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1955 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1955 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1955 | F1 | 16.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1952 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1952 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 1952 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1951 | F1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Jackson County: 4.
- 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
1 tropical cyclone passed within 100 miles since 1851, none within 50.
Most recent
September 10, 1900
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
70.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Unnamed | 1900 | 70.3 | 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
1,266 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.3% of the land.
Largest
March 1, 2017
Salt Fork Fire, 1,269 acres
1,266 acres inside Jackson County.
Most recent
March 1, 2017
Salt Fork Fire
1,269 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Salt Fork | 2017 | 1,266 | 1,269 |
- 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
2021: 35 days
Heavy smoke on 9 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
14.0 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
4 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 18 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
7 federal flood insurance claims since 1983, with $6,518 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 73521 | 5 | $5,164 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood26
- Flood5
- Heavy Rain1
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
May 27, 2019
North Fork of the Red River near Headrick, 21.13 ft
7.13 feet above the 14.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
May 27, 2019
North Fork of the Red River near Headrick, 21.13 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| North Fork of the Red River near Headrick | 14.0 | 21.13 ft | 5 |
- 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 183 of 1,581 months since 1895 (12%); the longest spell lasted 16 months.
183
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
54
Months in extreme drought
12%
Share of all months, severe or worse
145
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 2011
−6.72, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
16 months
June 1952 to September 1953.
Latest month
September 2026
−6.41, 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
12 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1979; 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
April 28, 1998
Magnitude 3.9
9 km NE of Medicine Park, Oklahoma; 35.8 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
October 7, 2007
Magnitude 3.1
10 km NNE of Childress, Texas; 17.2 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
1,465 events in the National Weather Service record, 1,051 of them since 1996.
434
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
87
Hail, 2 inches or larger
344
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
42
Winter weather events since 1996
79
Heat events since 1996
9
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 25, 1999
4.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 18, 1996
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 9 | 0 |
| Dust storms and dust devils | 1 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 5 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Jun 5, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$750 million
National Weather Service narrative
Substantial wind damage was reported in Altus. One hundred and seventy-nine homes sustained some kind of damage, with two destroyed, five with major damage, forty-three with minor damage, and one hundred twenty-nine affected. Seventeen businesses were damaged, with two destroyed, four with major damage, and eight with minor damage. One hundred and seventy power poles and numerous trees were blown down. Sixty percent of the town was without power at one point. Roof damage was reported to several buildings. Part of the roof at Altus Junior High caved in. Several buildings on East Broadway had roofs blown off or collapsed. Highway 62 was closed on the east side of town due to…
- Jun 5, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$6.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous large tree limbs were downed around town. Monetary damages were estimated.
- Jan 28, 2010Ice Storm, Jackson$4.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
At least three quarters of an inch of ice accumulated on elevated surfaces, with localized areas reporting over an inch of accumulation. Most of the trees sustained some sort of damage. Over 200 power poles and associated power lines were downed, including the main power feeder line between Altus and Hollis (Harmon County). Thousands were without power for several days, and several roads were impassable for days due to debris lying on top of them. Monetary damages were estimated.
- Apr 15, 2000Hail$2.6 million
National Weather Service narrative
Baseball size hail (2.75 inches in diameter) caused an estimated 2 million dollars in damage to homes and businesses and 600 thousand dollars to vehicles.
- Dec 27, 2015Ice Storm, Jackson$1.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
Damage estimates reported by local power companies.
- May 31, 1999Thunderstorm Wind$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Severe thunderstorms affected much of western Oklahoma and portions of central Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of May 31st, and the early morning of June 1st. Although 7 tornadoes were confirmed across western Oklahoma, all on the 31st, only 2 of them caused damage. The most extensive damage during this severe weather outbreak was caused by straight-line winds and occurred across southern Kiowa and western Comanche Counties during the evening of the 31st. A very large swath of damaging straight-line winds developed on the west side of Tom Steed Lake in southern Kiowa County and expanded in coverage as it moved through all of southern Kiowa County, at times 10 to 15 miles…
- May 3, 1999Hail$800,000
National Weather Service narrative
A record outbreak of tornadoes struck Oklahoma from late afternoon of May 3, 1999, through early morning of May 4, 1999. To date, 58 tornadoes have been recorded across portions of western and central Oklahoma. Additional tornadoes were reported across eastern Oklahoma from late evening of May 3rd through the early morning of May 4th, and are listed under the eastern Oklahoma portion of Storm Data, provided by the National Weather Service Office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. All direct fatalities (40) and all direct injuries (675) occurred in the Norman National Weather Service warning area. The most notable tornado was rated F5 and formed over Grady County near Amber and tracked northeast…
- May 25, 1999Hail$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Severe thunderstorms spawned 6 tornadoes and produced very large hail over portions of western Oklahoma during the evening of the 25th. Fortunately, all of the tornadoes touched down in sparsely populated areas with no known damage. Thus, all were rated F0. The first tornado formed 5 miles north of Madge in Harmon County and was on the ground for only a short period of time. The 2nd tornado was reported by an amateur radio operator 6 miles east of Vinson in Harmon County. The tornado touched down in an open field with no known damage. The 3rd tornado was also witnessed by an amateur radio operator and formed 11 miles west of Mangum in Greer County. The tornado was on the ground…
- May 23, 2024Tornado$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
A large, multiple vortex tornado began just east of the Harmon/Jackson County line approximately 7.5 miles southwest of Duke. This tornado moved slowly southeast, then turned more easterly as it approached County Road N1880. One house west of N1880 Road had most of the shingles and some decking removed. The tornado caused tree damage crossing N1880 Road, then continued east breaking power poles across 1.2 miles as it crossed State Highway 34. East of State Highway 34, a mobile home was blown northeast about 75 yards down a hill, and a metal canopy garage was destroyed. The tornado turned northeast for the next five miles. One home received roof damage, and some farm equipment,…
- Jun 19, 2007Thunderstorm Wind$75,000
National Weather Service narrative
Several tree limbs 6 inches in diameter blown down. Also, several trees 24 inches in diameter and a 50 foot HAM radio antenna were blown down. Two 35,000 bushel grain storage tanks were toppled by the high wind. The event lasted approximately 15 minutes. Monetary damages were estimated.
- 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 Hobart Municipal Airport, 27.9 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1910.
- All-time high
- 117°FJul 19, 1936
- All-time low
- −10°F2 times, most recently Jan 22, 1930
- Warmest night
- 89°FJul 28, 2011
- Coldest day
- 5°FJan 12, 1912
- Wettest day
- 6.20 inJul 5, 2010
- Snowiest day
- 12.0 inDec 6, 1942
- Hottest year
- 2024mean 64.5°F
- Coldest year
- 1979mean 58.5°F
- Wettest year
- 194145.89 in
- Driest year
- 191012.72 in
- Snowiest season
- 17.0 in1923-24
Median first snow
December 28
Earliest: November 9, 1977
Median last snow
February 21
Latest: April 8, 1938
4 of 60 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Hobart Municipal Airport (USW00093986), 1,553 ft elevation, 27.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1910 to October 26, 2026; 99.3% 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 Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, June 14, 2024.
| Jun 14, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4791-OK |
| Feb 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587-OK |
| Feb 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555-OK |
| Dec 21, 2020 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4575-OK |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530-OK |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462-OK |
| Jun 1, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4438-OK |
| Jul 15, 2016 | Flood | DR-4274-OK |
| Feb 10, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4256-OK |
| May 26, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4222-OK |
| Feb 2, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3316-OK |
| Mar 5, 2010 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1883-OK |
| Feb 25, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1876-OK |
| Jan 30, 2010 | Severe Storm | EM-3308-OK |
| Jul 9, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1775-OK |
| Dec 10, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3280-OK |
| Jul 7, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1712-OK |
| Feb 1, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1678-OK |
| Jan 14, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3272-OK |
| Jan 10, 2006 | Fire | DR-1623-OK |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3219-OK |
| Feb 1, 2002 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1401-OK |
| Jun 29, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1384-OK |
| Jan 5, 2001 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1355-OK |
| Nov 27, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1349-OK |
| Feb 27, 1996 | Fire | EM-3118-OK |
| Sep 1, 1995 | Severe Storm | DR-1066-OK |
| Jun 26, 1995 | Tornado | DR-1058-OK |
| Oct 26, 1983 | Flood | DR-693-OK |
| Jun 13, 1973 | Severe Storm | DR-392-OK |
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 Jackson County stands among 77 counties in Oklahoma and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 80 | 19 / 77 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 6 | 24 / 77 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 1,266 | 69 / 77 |
| Flood insurance claims | 7 | 51 / 77 |
| Flood insurance paid | $6,518 | 71 / 77 |
| Disaster declarations | 30 | 49 / 77 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 32 | 52 / 77 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 713 | 15 / 77 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 42 | 51 / 77 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $768 million | 3 / 77 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 5 | 34 / 77 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 183 | 4 / 77 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 14.0 | 71 / 77 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Greer County | 46 | 0 |
| Hardeman County TX | 42 | 0 |
| Harmon County | 36 | 0 |
| Kiowa County | 95 | 1 |
| Tillman County | 91 | 1 |
| Wilbarger County TX | 55 | 0 |
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 USW00093986.
- 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.