Johnston County
Population 10,448 (2025) 643 sq mi
Johnston County has recorded 45 tornadoes since 1950, 61st most of 77 counties in Oklahoma; the most recent was on April 19, 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 195045
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger4
- Wildfire burn scars since 198412
At a glance
The record for Johnston County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
45
61st of 77 in Oklahoma
Fewer than the typical Oklahoma county, which has had 63
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
18,373
42nd of 77 in Oklahoma
12 large fires; the largest was Mill Creek, 2005
DetailsTropical cyclones within 50 mi
3
2nd of 77 in Oklahoma
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F4
April 27, 1966, 10.2 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1900, 49.7 miles away
Federal disaster declarations
21
Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 2024
DetailsTornadoes
About one every 1.7 years since 1950, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 27, 1966
F4, 10.2 mile path
300 yards wide.
Deadliest
March 13, 1953
2 killed, F3
11 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, April 19, 2025
EF1, 12.0 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 19, 2025 | EF1 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2025 | EFU | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2025 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2024 | EFU | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2024 | EF1 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 21, 2022 | EF1 | 7.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 22, 2020 | EF1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 30, 2019 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2018 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 27, 2017 | EFU | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2017 | EFU | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2017 | EFU | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 2017 | EFU | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 2016 | EFU | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 2016 | EF3 | 9.1 | 0 | 1 |
| May 24, 2011 | EF1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 2011 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 2011 | EF1 | 14.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2010 | EF2 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 10, 2010 | EF0 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2005 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2001 | F2 | 19.0 | 4 | 0 |
| May 26, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1995 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1995 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 13, 1993 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 21, 1991 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 21, 1991 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1988 | F1 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1984 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1983 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1970 | F1 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 1966 | F4 | 10.2 | 2 | 0 |
| May 10, 1964 | F0 | 6.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1962 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 5, 1961 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1957 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1956 | F1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1954 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 13, 1953 | F3 | 45.3 | 11 | 2 |
| May 9, 1951 | F2 | 14.8 | 1 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Johnston 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
3 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 10, 1900
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
49.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 48 mph.
Most recent
September 14, 2008
Ike, Tropical storm
97.7 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- 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
18,373 acres burned in 12 large fires since 1984, equal to 4.5% of the land.
Largest
December 27, 2005
Mill Creek Fire, 4,277 acres
4,277 acres inside Johnston County.
Most recent
August 18, 2011
Deadman Springs Fire
2,308 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Deadman Springs | 2011 | 2,307 | 2,308 |
| Wildcat Springs | 2011 | 2 | 2,989 |
| Blue River | 2009 | 1,456 | 1,456 |
| Mcmillen | 2008 | 3,083 | 3,085 |
| Mill Creek | 2005 | 4,277 | 4,277 |
| Unnamed | 2005 | 1,413 | 1,412 |
| Unnamed | 2005 | 2,201 | 2,207 |
| Unnamed | 2005 | 1,320 | 1,318 |
| Harden | 2000 | 230 | 1,948 |
| Unnamed | 1998 | 1,604 | 1,608 |
| Turnpike Mvd | 1996 | 79 | 5,911 |
| Rk Prairie | 1990 | 395 | 3,975 |
- 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
2023: 36 days
Heavy smoke on 9 days in 2020, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
15.0 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
7 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
4 federal flood insurance claims since 1981, with $223,000 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood50
- Flood7
3 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.
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 166 of 1,581 months since 1895 (11%); the longest spell lasted 25 months.
166
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
66
Months in extreme drought
11%
Share of all months, severe or worse
92
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1925
−6.69, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
25 months
February 1910 to February 1912.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.59, moderate drought
Last severe month: September 2022.
- 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
3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.5 in 1997.
3
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
64
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
3
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
September 6, 1997
Magnitude 4.5
6 km N of Tupelo, Oklahoma; 11.6 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
March 1, 2026
Magnitude 3.3
7 km SE of Ratliff City, Oklahoma; 29.8 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Apr 3, 2012 | 4.1 | 33.8 |
| Sep 6, 1997 | 4.5 | 11.6 |
| Jan 18, 1995 | 4.2 | 44.7 |
- 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
736 events in the National Weather Service record, 603 of them since 1996.
144
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
21
Hail, 2 inches or larger
98
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
40
Winter weather events since 1996
92
Heat events since 1996
10
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 26, 1994
4.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
December 30, 2002
90 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
| Dust storms and dust devils | 1 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 8 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- May 10, 2010Tornado$2.6 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado is labeled #N2. The tornado developed about a mile south-southeast of Coleman and moved southeast another mile, eventually traveling just into Atoka county. Several buildings, including a home, sustained major damage. Four other homes sustained at least partial damage. The U Cross Arena and Pavilion was heavily damaged, with part of the roof moved removed, steal beams on the outside of the building knocked down, and a section of the building completely destroyed. The tornado continued across the Atoka county border. ||This tornado moved into Atoka County.
- Apr 11, 2001Tornado$2.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado formed over northern portions of Lake Texoma, then tracked northeastward for 16 miles before crossing into western Atoka County. About 5 miles east of Tishomingo in Johnston County, 2 injuries, both requiring hospital care, occurred when a mobile home was lofted and deposited upside-down about 40 yards from its original location. In addition, a frame home 1 mile east of Milburn was severely damaged when the roof was completely removed. Across the remainder of the damage path in Johnston County, 3 additional mobile homes were destroyed, and 21 other structures, including 1 business and 2 churches, sustained damage.
- Dec 26, 2000Ice Storm, Johnston$2.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
A major winter storm developed during the evening of the 25th across all of western, central, and southeast Oklahoma, with significant accumulations of snow and ice beginning shortly after 0000 CST on the 26th. Mainly snow fell across northwest Oklahoma with accumulations between 8 and 12 inches reported across northern Beckham, Roger Mills, and southern Ellis Counties. Snow amounts varied widely across the rest of northwest Oklahoma with 4 to 8 inches falling across portions of Dewey and Custer Counties, and only 1 to 2 inches across Woods and Alfalfa Counties, however even in areas where snow amounts were light, significant disruptions in travel and power outages were reported.A…
- Apr 22, 2020Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Extensive damage reported to Milburn School, along with vehicle and home damage between Milburn and Tishimingo.
- Feb 10, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
The conveyor system of a rock plant near Mill Creek was destroyed by thunderstorms winds. The plant was out of service for 2 months while repairs were made. The time of the damage is estimated.
- May 9, 2016Tornado$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
The tornado formed near US-377/OK-99 in northern Johnston County about 4 miles south of Connerville. The tornado damage trees and power poles, and caused roof damage to a home as it crossed Tower Road. Passing Deadman Spring Road, the tornado destroyed a modular home where the fatality occurred. A truck parked at this house was carried 250 yards to the east. The tornado continued moving east-northeast with more tree damage, and light damage to a couple of houses at the edge of the tornado path. Fortunately as the tornado had weakened as it approached the town of Bromide with only light tree damage observed there. ||From about 1.25 miles west of Bromide to where it dissipated just…
- Mar 4, 2025Tornado$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Nida Tornado developed about a mile southwest of Nida where a mobile home and a barn were destroyed. The tornado moved northeast to Nida, then east along State Highway 22 before turning northeast destroying additional barns and outbuildings before dissipating near Prairie Dog Road.
- Apr 19, 2025Tornado$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
This tornado moved across southeastern Johnston County, developing southeast of the Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge near the community of Bee, and moving northeast and then north to south of Coleman. Damage was primarily to trees, but at least two homes had roof damage and a couple of outbuildings were damaged.
- Apr 25, 2005Tornado$125,000
National Weather Service narrative
A southeast moving thunderstorm produced a tornado near Milburn after dark. This tornado, illuminated by lightning, was seen by several people as it moved east-northeast. The tornado destroyed a small chicken coup or barn. A large tree was also snapped landing on a car, severely damaging the vehicle. Ten to fifteen large pecan trees were uprooted and partially debarked. Several of these trees were reported to be over three feet in diameter.
- May 10, 2015Flash Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Several rural roads washed out. Blue River running across highway 48, flooding nearby low lying areas and pastures.
- 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 Sherman, 38.6 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1897.
- All-time high
- 113°FAug 10, 1936
- All-time low
- −3°FFeb 16, 2021
- Warmest night
- 87°F2 times, most recently Aug 1, 1904
- Coldest day
- 9°FFeb 15, 2021
- Wettest day
- 8.40 inAug 28, 1920
- Snowiest day
- 7.0 inJan 16, 1964
- Hottest year
- 1921mean 68.0°F
- Coldest year
- 1983mean 60.7°F
- Wettest year
- 201577.40 in
- Driest year
- 196318.63 in
Station Sherman (USC00418274), 760 ft elevation, 38.6 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1897 to October 22, 2026; 96.7% 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
21 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, April 30, 2024.
| Apr 30, 2024 | Tornado | DR-4776-OK |
| Feb 24, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4587-OK |
| Feb 17, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3555-OK |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4530-OK |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3462-OK |
| Jul 25, 2017 | Tornado | DR-4324-OK |
| May 26, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4222-OK |
| Feb 2, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3316-OK |
| Jan 30, 2010 | Severe Storm | EM-3308-OK |
| May 9, 2008 | Flood | DR-1754-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 |
| Jun 29, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1384-OK |
| Jan 5, 2001 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1355-OK |
| Dec 28, 2000 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3158-OK |
| May 18, 1990 | Severe Storm | DR-866-OK |
| Nov 4, 1981 | Flood | DR-649-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 Johnston County stands among 77 counties in Oklahoma and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 45 | 61 / 77 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 3 | 56 / 77 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 3 | 2 / 77 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 18,373 | 42 / 77 |
| Flood insurance claims | 4 | 61 / 77 |
| Flood insurance paid | $223,000 | 43 / 77 |
| Disaster declarations | 21 | 72 / 77 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 57 | 26 / 77 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 272 | 68 / 77 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 40 | 56 / 77 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $11.0 million | 56 / 77 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 166 | 19 / 77 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 15.0 | 64 / 77 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 3 | 41 / 77 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 3 | 40 / 77 |
Neighbouring counties
| Atoka County | 52 | 2 |
| Bryan County | 39 | 3 |
| Carter County | 66 | 2 |
| Coal County | 31 | 2 |
| Marshall County | 38 | 3 |
| Murray County | 46 | 2 |
| Pontotoc County | 71 | 3 |
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 USC00418274.
- 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.