Dade County, MO Environment & Hazard Risk
Very Low natural hazard risk, led by ice storm. 479 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $6.59M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 479
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- Since 1851
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Very Low
Score 23.3 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively High
Score 63.0 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Low
Score 20.4 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $2.51B · Agriculture value exposed: $90.36M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $8.39M
Risk by hazard
- Ice stormRelatively Moderate$259K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
- DroughtRelatively Moderate$583K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$587K/yr expected annual loss, about 15 events a year
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$519K/yr expected annual loss, about 6.0 events a year
- Cold waveRelatively Low$671K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.3 events a year
- HailRelatively Low$186K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.5 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$883K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- Winter weatherRelatively Low$40.31K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$138K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 624 years
- WildfireVery Low$18.62K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,048 years
- HurricaneVery Low$6,131/yr expected annual loss, about once every 117 years
- LightningVery Low$62.93K/yr expected annual loss, about 56 events a year
- LandslideVery Low$73/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 20
Storm history
Since 1996: 479 events, 2 deaths, $30.18M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind138
- Hail130
- Flash Flood49 · 1 death
- Drought34
- Winter Storm26
- Tornado18
- Heavy Rain16
- Flood16
- Winter Weather13
- Heat9 · 1 death
Events per year
29 tornadoes on record (EF0 9, EF1 5, F0 6, F1 5, F2 2, F3 2).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Flash Flood05/05/2022
South Greenfield, Dade County
1 death, $10K damage
What happened
A vehicle with two occupants was swept off a low water crossing on County Road 143 at Limestone Creek. One occupant was able to make it to safety but the second, a 65 year old male, drowned.
- Heat07/17/2001
Dade
1 death
What happened
During the middle of July a large area of high pressure began to build over the Central United States. It held together through the last week of July with a brief period of cloud cover and shower activity around the 26, 27 and 28 of the month. Temperatures rose into the 90's with a few 100's in southeast Kansas and portions of southwest and west central Missouri. The high temperatures combined with increased humidity levels to produce very high heat indices of 100 to 110 degrees for several consecutive days. By the 23th of the month, 23 heat related illnesses were received from the Department of Health, and one related death in Dade County on the 21th.
- Frost/Freeze04/08/2007
Dade
$9.72M damage
What happened
Unusually warm conditions during the month of March caused early season growth in vegetation across the Missouri Ozarks. Hay along with the wheat crop had began to mature. During the nights of April 7th through the 9th, temperatures dropped into the upper teens to mid 20s, causing a hard freeze on matured vegetation. The wheat crop suffered approximately 90% damage. Hay crops along with fescue seed also sustained major damage. Total crop losses for 34 counties across the southwestern quadrant of Missouri were estimated at $147,905,541.
- Drought10/01/2023
Dade
$3.5M damage
What happened
Rainfall through the month allowed for improvement across the county though Moderate (D1) Drought conditions continued across the region through the end of October. The US Drought Monitor indicated that the county remained in Moderate (D1) Drought with the southwestern corner having improved to Abnormally (D0) dry. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops. Crop loss estimates notated in this month encompass losses from continued drought since July 2023.
- Drought12/01/2022
Dade
$3.5M damage
What happened
Drought conditions improved across Dade County by the end of December. The US Drought Monitor indicated that moderate (D1) drought conditions remained at the end of the month after several rainfall events helped ease drought conditions below severe (D2) drought levels. Impacts across the region were primarily felt in larger scale agriculture with farm and stock ponds low but improved. Dry conditions caused grasses to dry and significantly impact hay production causing losses in hay cutting. Many farmers saw impacts to row crops such as soy beans, corn and other specialty crops. Estimated monetary crop losses included in this months report are for drought conditions through December 31st, 2022.
- Flash Flood08/20/2007
Pennsboro, Dade County
$2.3M damage
What happened
The remnants of Tropical Storm Erin caused flash flooding across central and southern sections of Dade County. Locations that flooded include sections of Highway 39 near Pennsboro and north of Greenfield, a section of County Road NN near the Dade and Lawrence county line, a section of Highway 97 south of Lockwood, several sections of Highway K between Pennsboro and Everton, a section of Highway 160 near its intersection with Highway 245, a section of Highway O just east of its intersection with Highway 160, and a section of Highway U east of its intersection with Highway 245.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Hail1.75" hail04/27/2026
Neola, Dade County
$125K damage
- Hail1.75" hail04/27/2026
Circola, Dade County
$25K damage
- Hail1" hail04/27/2026
Crisp, Dade County
- Hail2" hail04/27/2026
Greenfield, Dade County
$100K damage
- Flood04/18/2026
Arcola, Dade County
- Flash Flood04/16/2026
Arcola, Dade County
- Drought03/01/2026
Dade
- Drought02/01/2026
Dade
Drinking water
7 community water systems serve about 12,528 people. Violations since 2021.
1 system had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 4 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Barton Dade Cedar Jasp Countycons Pwsd 1Serves 9,523 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Greenfield PwsServes 1,400 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Lockwood PwsServes 890 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Everton PwsServes 352 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- Dadeville PwsServes 218 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations
- South Greenfield PwsServes 100 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+4 monitoring or reporting
- Arcola PwsServes 45 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+6 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Lockwood, 6.1 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 90°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 22°F in Jan. About 47.3 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 12.8 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 43°F | 22°F | 2.20 in | 3.7 in |
| Feb | 48°F | 26°F | 2.19 in | 3.1 in |
| Mar | 58°F | 35°F | 3.60 in | 2.3 in |
| Apr | 68°F | 44°F | 5.10 in | - |
| May | 76°F | 54°F | 6.24 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 5.44 in | - |
| Jul | 90°F | 68°F | 4.47 in | - |
| Aug | 89°F | 66°F | 3.72 in | - |
| Sep | 81°F | 57°F | 4.66 in | - |
| Oct | 70°F | 46°F | 3.63 in | - |
| Nov | 57°F | 35°F | 3.36 in | 0.4 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 26°F | 2.64 in | 3.2 in |
| Year | 56°F average | 47.3 in | 12.8 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 0 toxic release facilities in Dade County
No Superfund sites or toxic release facilities in Dade County in our data.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk3 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Dade County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Dade County very low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $6.59M a year. The highest-rated hazards are ice storm (relatively moderate), drought (relatively moderate), heat wave (relatively low).
- What storms are most common in Dade County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 479 storm events affecting Dade County, most often thunderstorm wind (138), hail (130), flash flood (49).
- How many tornadoes have hit Dade County?
- 29 tornadoes have been recorded in Dade County since 1950, including 2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- What is the weather like in Dade County?
- At Lockwood, average highs reach 90°F in Jul and lows fall to 22°F in Jan, with 47.3 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.