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Wind in Elk County, Kansas
91 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
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.
Elk County, Kansas, has 91 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 36 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 24 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 41 events against 43 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.3% of the 29,502 wind events recorded in Kansas; its 14.1 per 100 square miles compares with 36.1 statewide.
76 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 3 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Kansas
| Measure | Elk County | Kansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 91 | 29,502 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 14.1 | 36.1 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 372.8 | 100.5 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 26 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
5Apr
12May
12Jun
24Jul
22Aug
7Sep
4Oct
3Nov
0Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 91 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2025 | High Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 30 Oct 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2023 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $100 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $180K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Dec 2008 | High Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $27K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Oct 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Mar 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Mar 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1965 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1956 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Elk County had?
91 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Elk County?
30 Jul 2025 (Thunderstorm Wind, 64 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Elk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 8 May 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $180K.
How does Elk County compare with Kansas for wind?
14.1 events per 100 square miles against 36.1 statewide; the county holds 91 of the state's 29,502 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 Wind hub and the county page.