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Tornado in Elk County, Kansas
31 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 31 tornado events in Elk County, Kansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 4,965 tornado events recorded in Kansas; its 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 6.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 10 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kansas
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 4,965 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 6.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 127.0 | 16.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 238 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
11May
7Jun
6Jul
0Aug
0Sep
3Oct
1Nov
3Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 31 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 26 Apr 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1968 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1965 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1959 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 1958 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1957 | Tornado | — | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1957 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1957 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1957 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1957 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 6 | County |
| 2 Apr 1956 | Tornado | F4 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Elk County had?
31 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Elk County?
27 Apr 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Elk County?
The tornado of 2 Apr 1956, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 1 death recorded.
How does Elk County compare with Kansas for tornado?
4.8 events per 100 square miles against 6.1 statewide; the county holds 31 of the state's 4,965 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.