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Tornado in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County, Kansas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
May is the busiest month, with 14 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 14 events against 11 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 4.3 per 100 square miles compares with 6.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 18 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 6 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Kansas
| Measure | Ottawa County | Kansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 31 | 4,965 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.3 | 6.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 53.1 | 16.9 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 238 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
3May
14Jun
6Jul
2Aug
0Sep
5Oct
1Nov
0Dec
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2018 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2016 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | 3 | County |
| 6 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2013 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2007 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 5 May 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | $5K | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 25 Sep 1973 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 9 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 1966 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1959 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1955 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Ottawa 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 Ottawa County?
2 May 2018 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Ottawa County?
The tornado of 25 Sep 1973, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Ottawa County compare with Kansas for tornado?
4.3 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.