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Tornado in Lyon County, Kansas
50 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 50 tornado events in Lyon County, Kansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 28 years.
May is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 4,965 tornado events recorded in Kansas; its 5.9 per 100 square miles compares with 6.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 7 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 8 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 12 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kansas
| Measure | Lyon County | Kansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 50 | 4,965 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.9 | 6.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 15.6 | 16.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 7 | 238 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
4Apr
9May
20Jun
12Jul
1Aug
2Sep
0Oct
1Nov
1Dec
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 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2026 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2011 | Tornado | EF3 | $2.3M | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 12 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2000 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | — | 17 | County |
| 18 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | 6 | 177 | County |
| 13 Apr 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Oct 1971 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1964 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1964 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1964 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1964 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1964 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1964 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1962 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1959 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1958 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1958 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1957 | Tornado | — | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1954 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1954 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1954 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lyon County had?
50 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 Lyon County?
18 May 2026 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lyon County?
The tornado of 8 Jun 1974, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 6 deaths recorded.
How does Lyon County compare with Kansas for tornado?
5.9 events per 100 square miles against 6.1 statewide; the county holds 50 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.