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Winter in Riley County, Kansas
84 winter storms and snow events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Winter Storm, Winter Weather, Heavy Snow, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Lake-Effect Snow, Sleet.
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.
Riley County, Kansas, has 84 winter events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 28 different years.
January is the busiest month, with 23 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 39 events against 45 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 7,432 winter events recorded in Kansas; its 13.8 per 100 square miles compares with 9.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to winter storms and snow.
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 | Riley County | Kansas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter events since 1950 | 84 | 7,432 | 287,339 |
| Per 100 square miles | 13.8 | 9.1 | 8.1 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 11.6 | 25.3 | 8.7 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 120 | 2,509 |
| Busiest month | January | January | January |
By year
Seasonality
23Feb
21Mar
8Apr
2May
0Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
10Dec
19
Recorded events
All 84 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jan 2026 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Feb 2025 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2025 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Jan 2024 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2023 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Mar 2022 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 2020 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Dec 2019 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2019 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Nov 2018 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2016 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Nov 2015 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Nov 2015 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2014 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Feb 2013 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Dec 2012 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Mar 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 19 Jan 2011 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Dec 2009 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 2 Apr 2009 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Mar 2009 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Feb 2008 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Dec 2007 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 6 Dec 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | 1 | Forecast zone |
| 1 Dec 2007 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Nov 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Feb 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2007 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 2007 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Dec 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Mar 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 16 Feb 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Jan 2006 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Dec 2005 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 2005 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 2005 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 28 Nov 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Feb 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Jan 2004 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Mar 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 23 Feb 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 15 Jan 2003 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 1 Mar 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 9 Feb 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 29 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 18 Jan 2002 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Jan 2002 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 26 Feb 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 8 Feb 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Dec 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 11 Feb 2000 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Dec 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Feb 1999 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Mar 1998 | Blizzard | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 12 Jan 1998 | Winter Weather | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jan 1998 | Ice Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 24 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 Dec 1997 | Ice Storm | — | $70K | — | 1 | 2 | Forecast zone |
| 9 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 7 Dec 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 10 Apr 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | $40K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 6 Feb 1997 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 22 Oct 1996 | Heavy Snow | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Jan 1996 | Winter Storm | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
Questions and answers
How many winter events has Riley County had?
84 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of winter storms and snow became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded winter event in Riley County?
23 Jan 2026 (Winter Storm). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging winter event recorded in Riley County?
The ice storm of 21 Dec 1997, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $70K; 1 death recorded.
How does Riley County compare with Kansas for winter?
13.8 events per 100 square miles against 9.1 statewide; the county holds 84 of the state's 7,432 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 Winter hub and the county page.