Kansas Tornado & Hail Guide
Kansas (KS)
Active Alerts
- Tornado Watch — Brown, KS; Clay, KS; Cloud, KS; Dickinson, KS; Douglas, KS; Franklin, KS; Geary, KS; Jackson, KS; Jefferson, KS; Lyon, KS; Marshall, KS; Morris, KS; Nemaha, KS; Osage, KS; Ottawa, KS; Pottawatomie, KS; Republic, KS; Riley, KS; Shawnee, KS; Wabaunsee, KS; Washington, KS
- Tornado Watch — Atchison, KS; Doniphan, KS; Johnson, KS; Leavenworth, KS; Miami, KS; Wyandotte, KS; Buchanan, MO; Cass, MO; Clay, MO; Clinton, MO; Jackson, MO; Platte, MO
- Tornado Watch — Chase, KS; Ellsworth, KS; Lincoln, KS; McPherson, KS; Marion, KS; Rice, KS; Saline, KS
Kansas averages approximately 96 tornadoes per year, placing it among the top five states by total tornado count. The flat, open terrain of central and western Kansas — combined with the frequent collision of warm Gulf moisture and dry Rocky Mountain air — creates near-ideal conditions for supercell thunderstorms and violent tornadoes.
Kansas Tornado Season
Peak tornado season in Kansas runs from April through June, with May typically the most active month. Central Kansas — including the areas around Wichita, Salina, and the Flint Hills — sees the highest frequency. Western Kansas experiences fewer tornadoes but can see the large, long-track events that define “Tornado Alley.”
Kansas Hail Season
Kansas experiences significant hail every spring and early summer, with golf-ball-sized and larger hail common in major supercell events. The Wichita metro area has been struck by large damaging hail multiple times, with significant insured losses. Hail season generally runs March through August.
Historical Significant Events
- 1955 Udall tornado (F5): 80 fatalities; devastated the small town of Udall in Cowley County.
- 1966 Topeka tornado (F5): 16 fatalities; struck the state capital and caused significant damage to Washburn University.
- 2012 Reno County EF3: Part of a significant April outbreak across south-central Kansas.
- 2016 Chapman/Salina EF2: Crossed Interstate 70 and struck the Chapman area.
- 2024 Barnard EF4: A violent tornado struck north-central Kansas with significant damage.
Regional NWS Offices for Kansas
| Region | WFO | Website |
|——–|—–|———|
| South-central Kansas (Wichita) | NWS Wichita | weather.gov/ict |
| Northeast Kansas (Topeka/Kansas City) | NWS Kansas City/Pleasant Hill | weather.gov/eax |
| Northwest Kansas (Dodge City) | NWS Dodge City | weather.gov/ddc |
*FindTheTornado.com does not perform inspections, repairs, or insurance work. Data from NOAA NCEI and NWS.*