Cooper County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Missouri Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Cooper County is lower than Missouri average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Cooper County is lower than Missouri average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #89
| Cooper County | 0.00 |
| Missouri | 0.70 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Cooper County | 0.0000 |
| Missouri | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #60
| Cooper County | 180.80 |
| Missouri | 214.01 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 13,282 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Cooper County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 3 | Cold: | 49 | Dense Fog: | 34 | Drought: | 38 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,777 | Hail: | 5,768 | Heat: | 90 | Heavy Snow: | 56 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 52 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 43 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,935 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 14 | Winter Storm: | 127 | Winter Weather: | 56 |
| Other: | 240 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Cooper County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Cooper County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Cooper County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 69 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Cooper County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 0.8 | 1992-09-07 | 2 | 38°52'N / 92°55'W | 38°50'N / 92°44'W | 10.20 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cooper |
| 4.3 | 1982-05-14 | 2 | 38°50'N / 92°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cooper | |
| 7.5 | 1973-04-20 | 2 | 38°50'N / 92°57'W | 2.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cooper | |
| 16.9 | 1959-09-27 | 2 | 39°02'N / 92°40'W | 39°03'N / 92°35'W | 4.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Howard |
| 17.1 | 1980-05-12 | 2 | 38°34'N / 92°48'W | 38°44'N / 92°26'W | 22.70 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Moniteau |
| 19.7 | 1990-11-27 | 3 | 38°53'N / 92°27'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Boone | |
| 19.7 | 1967-10-24 | 2 | 38°38'N / 92°34'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Moniteau | |
| 20.1 | 1959-09-27 | 2 | 39°03'N / 92°35'W | 39°04'N / 92°32'W | 2.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Howard |
| 20.3 | 1966-10-14 | 2 | 38°38'N / 92°34'W | 38°38'N / 92°32'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Moniteau | ||
| 20.4 | 1966-10-14 | 2 | 38°33'N / 92°40'W | 38°38'N / 92°34'W | 7.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Moniteau |
| 21.7 | 2006-03-12 | 3 | 39°03'N / 93°12'W | 39°07'N / 92°57'W | 15.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 75K | 0 | Saline |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down 6 miles south of Marshall at 2028 CST. It traveled east-northeast and for a time paralleled another tornado to the north before the first one occluded. Little damage was noted along the track until it neared the Howard county line. The tornado merged with another tornado near the Missouri River and quickly produced F3 damage to a farmstead. The tornado then entered Howard county 4 miles north of Arrow Rock at 2046 CST. | |||||||||||
| 22.2 | 1980-05-12 | 2 | 38°44'N / 92°26'W | 38°44'N / 92°25'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cole | ||
| 22.4 | 1973-04-20 | 2 | 38°42'N / 93°11'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 8 | 2.5M | 0 | Pettis | |
| 22.4 | 1959-09-27 | 2 | 39°04'N / 92°32'W | 39°05'N / 92°30'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Howard | ||
| 24.6 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 39°07'N / 93°05'W | 39°10'N / 93°03'W | 3.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Saline |
| 24.6 | 1999-04-08 | 2 | 39°01'N / 92°27'W | 39°02'N / 92°23'W | 4.00 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | Boone |
| Brief Description: A tornado first formed near Midway and created a 4 mile damage path as it moved northeast across Boone County. Damage first occurred along Locust Grove Road where 1 barn and 2 equipment buildings were destroyed and 3 homes suffered roof and siding damage. Numerous trees were blown down or snapped in two in this area. When the tornado crossed O.B. Brown Road, a mobile home was destroyed as were 7 outbuildings. One home completely lost its roof while another lost half of its roof. Witnessed described the tornado as a swirling mass of rain and debris. | |||||||||||
| 25.1 | 2006-03-12 | 3 | 39°09'N / 92°57'W | 39°16'N / 92°40'W | 20.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 450K | 0 | Howard |
| Brief Description: Tornado crossed from Saline county into Howard county...8 miles southwest of Glasgow at 2046 CST. F2 damage was noted to several farmsteads to the northwest of Fayette before the tornado dissipated at 2102 CST...2 miles east of Armstrong. | |||||||||||
| 25.2 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 38°37'N / 93°17'W | 38°40'N / 93°07'W | 11.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Pettis |
| Brief Description: F2 tornado touched down 6.5 miles east of Green Ridge at 1612 CST and moved northeast. The tornado caused the death of one woman...when the trailer she was fleeing was blown on top of her. Another 6 people were injured as well. Numerous homes suffered varying degrees of damage. The tornado lifted one mile southwest of Smithton at 1625 CST. F39MH | |||||||||||
| 25.3 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 39°10'N / 93°03'W | 39°11'N / 92°59'W | 3.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Saline |
| 25.8 | 1952-08-21 | 2 | 38°41'N / 93°16'W | 38°42'N / 93°14'W | 1.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 13 | 25.0M | 0 | Pettis |
| 25.9 | 1956-12-04 | 2 | 39°07'N / 93°08'W | 39°10'N / 93°05'W | 4.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Saline |
| 26.7 | 1998-11-10 | 3 | 38°57'N / 92°20'W | 38°57'N / 92°20'W | 2.00 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 16 | 6.0M | 0 | Boone |
| Brief Description: Close to 50 homes or businesses were destroyed or suffered major damage from an early morning tornado that hit on the southeast side of Columbia. Miraculously, only 16 people were injured, most minor cuts and bruises, by the the multiple-vortex tornado which reached F3 intensity. The tornado first touched down in the South Ridge Subdivision where at least 20 homes were virtually destroyed. On Lakespur Court, 5 homes here suffered considerable roof and wall damage as the tornado quickly reached F2 strength. The tornado moved north-northeast and crossed Churchill Street. The upper half of a two-story house in this area was completely destroyed. As the tornado continued northeast, it briefly reached F3 intensity at the corner of Saratoga and Lupine Drives. A ranch home in this area was completely levelled. Other nearby homes in this area sustained severe roof and wall damage. Large trees that were downed fell in a definite convergent pattern. The tornado tracked northeast across Balmoral and Caliente Courts and Hialeah Drive. About 15 homes in this area sustained major damage. Several homes in this area were speared by 2 by 4 boards driven by the wind. Severe roof damage was also noted on several homes on Solano Court. The tornado caused significant damage to seven large homes on Le Mesa Drive. It was noted in this area that the walls of two homes were drawn in toward the center axis of the tornado. The tornado crossed Highway 63 and caused at least $400,000 in damage in the Concorde Office and Industrial Plaza. Metal roofs and walls and loading dock doors were blown away on several buildings. At one warehouse, the damage tripped the sprinkler system which then flooded the inside of the building. | |||||||||||
| 26.9 | 1980-05-12 | 3 | 38°40'N / 93°25'W | 38°44'N / 93°08'W | 15.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 23 | 25.0M | 0 | Pettis |
| 27.3 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 38°26'N / 92°50'W | 38°28'N / 92°47'W | 3.60 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Morgan |
| 27.6 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 39°05'N / 93°20'W | 39°07'N / 93°05'W | 13.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Saline |
| 27.9 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 38°57'N / 93°23'W | 39°08'N / 93°09'W | 17.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 6 | 3.0M | 0 | Saline |
| Brief Description: Tornado crossed into Saline county from Pettis county at 2009 CST. The tornado crossed over Interstate 70 at mile marker 71 at 2012 CST. Six people seeking shelter under a highway overpass were injured. Their cars were crushed when a semi was blown over on top of them. The tornado produced F2 damage just northeast of I-70 where several houses lost their roofs and a church was destroyed. The tornado continued northeast over rural areas and dissipated 3 miles east of Marshall at 2035 CST. | |||||||||||
| 28.0 | 1956-12-04 | 2 | 39°10'N / 93°05'W | 39°14'N / 93°03'W | 4.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Saline |
| 28.2 | 1980-05-12 | 2 | 38°44'N / 92°25'W | 38°52'N / 92°10'W | 16.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Boone |
| 29.2 | 1977-05-04 | 3 | 38°38'N / 93°24'W | 38°43'N / 93°13'W | 11.20 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 24 | 25.0M | 0 | Pettis |
| 30.0 | 1990-06-07 | 2 | 38°27'N / 92°35'W | 0.50 Mile | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Moniteau | |
| 30.6 | 1973-04-20 | 2 | 38°32'N / 93°13'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 31.2 | 1990-11-27 | 3 | 38°57'N / 92°20'W | 39°05'N / 92°13'W | 12.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25.0M | 0 | Boone |
| 32.4 | 1980-05-12 | 2 | 39°07'N / 93°29'W | 39°14'N / 93°00'W | 27.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Saline |
| 32.9 | 1961-03-05 | 2 | 38°23'N / 92°40'W | 38°23'N / 92°40'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan | ||
| 33.8 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 38°56'N / 93°27'W | 38°55'N / 93°25'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Pettis |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down at 2007CST...5 miles west-northwest of Houstonia and moved into Saline county 3 miles west-northwest of Houstonia at 2009 CST. Tornado was over rural areas with no significant damage noted. | |||||||||||
| 34.0 | 1999-04-08 | 2 | 39°03'N / 92°21'W | 39°07'N / 92°10'W | 10.00 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Boone |
| Brief Description: The supercell that spawned the tornado near Midway created another tornado that first caused damage near Hinton. A couple of farm equipment buildings and a garage were destroyed. Near Hallsville, one home lost its roof and an equipment building was destroyed. 3 grain bins were destroyed with one landing about 3/4 mile from its original location. To the southeast of Hallsville 3 homes suffered roof damage, 1 barn, 2 equipment buildings and a grain bin were destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 34.4 | 1966-10-14 | 2 | 38°21'N / 92°39'W | 38°23'N / 92°37'W | 2.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Miller |
| 34.8 | 1973-05-26 | 2 | 38°49'N / 92°10'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Boone | |
| 35.7 | 1961-07-22 | 2 | 38°58'N / 93°30'W | 38°58'N / 93°25'W | 4.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Saline |
| 36.1 | 1973-04-20 | 3 | 38°18'N / 93°17'W | 38°34'N / 93°10'W | 19.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Benton |
| 36.3 | 1961-03-05 | 2 | 38°16'N / 92°46'W | 38°23'N / 92°40'W | 9.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan |
| 36.6 | 1980-05-12 | 2 | 38°52'N / 92°10'W | 38°54'N / 92°06'W | 3.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Callaway |
| 37.2 | 1982-03-15 | 2 | 38°18'N / 92°59'W | 38°20'N / 92°54'W | 5.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan |
| 38.4 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 38°43'N / 93°31'W | 38°44'N / 93°30'W | 0.80 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Pettis |
| Brief Description: F2 tornado crossed from Johnson county into Pettis county at 2057 CST and quickly dissipated. No significant damage was observed as the tornado moved over rural areas. | |||||||||||
| 38.9 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 38°17'N / 92°51'W | 38°17'N / 92°51'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 5 | 850K | 0 | Morgan |
| Brief Description: A tornado initially touched down southwest of Gravois Mills and tracked through the city. 20 homes were destroyed while another 10 were damaged. This tornado was spawned from the same cyclic supercell that produced tornadoes back in Hickory, Polk, Dade, and Barton counties. | |||||||||||
| 39.2 | 1986-10-03 | 2 | 38°22'N / 92°25'W | 38°24'N / 92°22'W | 3.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cole |
| 39.6 | 2006-03-12 | 3 | 39°19'N / 92°29'W | 39°20'N / 92°20'W | 10.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 4 | 26 | 5.0M | 0 | Randolph |
| Brief Description: Deadly tornado touched down at 2118 CST 2 miles east of Higbee. The tornado traveled northeast and attained F3 strength near the Monroe/Randolph county line. The tornado killed 4 people just to the east and southeast of Renick and there were 26 injuries. 13 of the injuries occurred when a bus transporting college students was overturned. Three businesses were destroyed as well as 30 residences. Thirty other dwelling places had minor to moderate damage. The tornado exited Randolph county into Monroe county at 2133 CST...8 miles southeast of Moberly. M60MH, F57MH, F84PH, M85PH | |||||||||||
| 39.6 | 1986-10-03 | 2 | 38°20'N / 92°28'W | 38°22'N / 92°25'W | 6.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Miller |
| 39.7 | 1973-04-20 | 3 | 38°27'N / 93°28'W | 38°34'N / 93°21'W | 10.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton |
| 41.3 | 1965-09-20 | 2 | 39°03'N / 93°34'W | 39°12'N / 93°25'W | 13.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lafayette |
| 41.4 | 1958-06-13 | 2 | 38°59'N / 93°36'W | 38°57'N / 93°32'W | 4.10 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lafayette |
| 41.6 | 2003-05-09 | 2 | 39°10'N / 93°29'W | 39°09'N / 93°28'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Saline |
| Brief Description: Tornado entered Saline county from Lafayette county and promptly dissipated in open country. | |||||||||||
| 42.7 | 1968-05-15 | 2 | 38°56'N / 93°38'W | 39°00'N / 93°33'W | 5.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Johnson |
| 42.9 | 1977-05-04 | 4 | 39°23'N / 93°11'W | 39°26'N / 93°07'W | 4.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chariton |
| 43.4 | 1973-04-20 | 3 | 38°25'N / 93°24'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Pettis | |
| 44.0 | 1954-05-28 | 2 | 38°12'N / 92°49'W | 38°13'N / 92°47'W | 2.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Morgan |
| 44.4 | 2003-05-09 | 2 | 39°05'N / 93°37'W | 39°08'N / 93°31'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Lafayette |
| Brief Description: Tornado reported near Corder and tracked northeast into Saline county. destoyed a machine shed, house with grain bins damaged along with a dairy barn. | |||||||||||
| 44.4 | 1973-04-19 | 4 | 38°32'N / 93°32'W | 10.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Henry | |
| 44.5 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 38°36'N / 93°40'W | 38°42'N / 93°32'W | 12.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.0M | 0 | Johnson |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down at 2040 CST 2 miles northeast of Leeton...producing F0 damage along PP Highway. As it moved northeast...additional F0 to F1 damage was noted to a farmstead along SE 650th Road. The most intense F2 damage was noted along Y Highway just east of Highway 23...where several homes suffered F2 damage. The tornado crossed into Pettis county at 2057 CST...1.5 miles southeast of Whiteman Air Force Base. | |||||||||||
| 44.6 | 1954-05-28 | 2 | 38°15'N / 93°08'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Benton | |
| 45.0 | 1956-12-04 | 2 | 39°07'N / 92°10'W | 39°13'N / 92°00'W | 11.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Boone |
| 45.1 | 2006-03-13 | 2 | 38°46'N / 92°04'W | 38°51'N / 91°53'W | 13.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | Callaway |
| Brief Description: A tornado initially formed at approximately 12:30 am CST along County Road 337 about 2 miles northeast of Guthrie. Light tree damaged occurred in this area. The tornado traveled northeast and moderately damaged a home just north of County Road 328 approximately 1.5 miles west of US Highway 54. The home was moved approximately 25 feet off the foundation. Extensive tree damage occurred to the southwest and northeast of this location. Two people were injured at this location and were hospitalized for several days. Another home just to the east suffered roof damage. The damage width in this area was about 100 yards wide and was rated as F2 intensity. The tornado damaged a barn along US Highway 54 approximately 2 miles southwest of Fulton. Debris from the barn was thrown into the highway median. The track continued to the northeast and damaged trees along Highway NN, and damaged outbuildings along Highway C approximately 1.5 miles south of Fulton. The damage in this area was rated as F0 intensity. The tornado track continued northeast crossing Highways O and UU causing tree damage. The tornado dissipated approximately 3 miles east of Fulton along highway JJ. The damage in this area was rated as F0 intensity. The complete tornado track was approximately 13 miles long. | |||||||||||
| 45.8 | 1973-05-01 | 2 | 39°06'N / 93°36'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lafayette | |
| 45.8 | 1968-05-15 | 2 | 38°55'N / 93°41'W | 38°56'N / 93°38'W | 1.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Johnson |
| 46.3 | 1954-05-28 | 2 | 38°09'N / 92°52'W | 38°12'N / 92°49'W | 4.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Camden |
| 49.2 | 1973-04-20 | 2 | 39°19'N / 93°30'W | 5.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carroll | |
| 49.2 | 2006-03-12 | 2 | 39°22'N / 92°19'W | 39°27'N / 92°11'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Monroe |
| Brief Description: The tornado that hit Randolph County continued northeast into Monroe County southwest of Middle Grove. The tornado moved through rural areas damaging farm structures and trees. The tornado continued northeast causing tree damage to near Madison. Two miles south of Madison a mobile home was destroyed and a two story home was damaged. The damage was rated F2 at this location. The tornado destroyed another mobile home 2 miles southeast of Madison before dissipating. As this tornado dissipated, another formed just to the southeast. | |||||||||||
| 49.2 | 1968-05-15 | 2 | 38°53'N / 93°46'W | 38°55'N / 93°41'W | 4.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Johnson |
| 49.3 | 1966-05-23 | 2 | 38°47'N / 91°54'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Callaway | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.