Jackson County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Kansas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Jackson County is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Jackson County is higher than Kansas average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #13
| Jackson County | 0.05 |
| Kansas | 0.05 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Jackson County | 0.0000 |
| Kansas | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #17
| Jackson County | 281.04 |
| Kansas | 252.53 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 18,337 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Jackson County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 36 | Cold: | 80 | Dense Fog: | 17 | Drought: | 22 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,485 | Hail: | 9,265 | Heat: | 76 | Heavy Snow: | 115 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 76 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 144 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 6,155 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 264 | Winter Weather: | 88 |
| Other: | 513 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Jackson County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Jackson County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Jackson County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 103 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Jackson County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 0.8 | 1979-10-18 | 2 | 39°20'N / 96°01'W | 39°30'N / 95°36'W | 24.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 4.3 | 1978-05-31 | 3 | 39°22'N / 96°02'W | 39°28'N / 95°43'W | 18.10 Miles | 1300 Yards | 3 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Jackson |
| 4.4 | 1982-06-08 | 2 | 39°22'N / 95°58'W | 39°26'N / 95°47'W | 10.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 4.6 | 1962-08-06 | 4 | 39°31'N / 95°47'W | 39°23'N / 95°40'W | 11.00 Miles | 667 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 6.5 | 1961-10-12 | 2 | 39°19'N / 95°47'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Jackson | |
| 11.4 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 39°14'N / 95°52'W | 39°16'N / 95°49'W | 7.00 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Jackson |
| 11.6 | 1984-04-26 | 2 | 39°14'N / 95°43'W | 39°21'N / 95°34'W | 10.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Jackson |
| 12.1 | 2008-06-11 | 2 | 39°30'N / 96°02'W | 39°34'N / 95°53'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Jackson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the second segment of a tornado that initially touched down in Pottawatomie County and then continued northeast into Jackson County before continuing northeast and dissipating in Nemaha County. This is segment 2 of 3. Upon entering Jackson County the tornado did EF1 and EF0 damage primarily to outbuildings, power poles and large trees. As the tornado continued northeast, it moved south of Soldier causing extensive damage to two farmsteads. One residence was blown off of its foundation while another sustained extensive damage to its external walls and roof. All surrounding outbuildings were destroyed. The tornado continued northeast, striking a mobile home just south of the Nemaha County border. The mobile home was destroyed, and the occupant sustained fatal injuries. The tornado then continued northeast into Nemaha County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan. | |||||||||||
| 13.0 | 1968-04-16 | 2 | 39°04'N / 96°10'W | 39°24'N / 95°35'W | 38.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wabaunsee |
| 13.3 | 1967-06-11 | 3 | 39°10'N / 95°40'W | 39°32'N / 95°27'W | 27.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 14.6 | 1960-05-19 | 4 | 39°11'N / 95°57'W | 39°13'N / 95°35'W | 19.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 91 | 2.5M | 0 | Shawnee |
| 15.2 | 2008-06-11 | 2 | 39°27'N / 96°06'W | 39°30'N / 96°02'W | 5.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Pottawatomie |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the first segment of an EF-2 tornado that began in Pottawatomie County, moved northeast into Jackson County and continued northeast into Nemaha County before dissipating. This is segment 1 of 3 for the tornado path. In Pottawatomie County the tornado touched down near a farmstead south of Havensville and compromised some of the external walls of a residence as well as tearing a large portion of the roof off of the residence. Extensive damage was noted to outbuildings and trees near the residence. The tornado continued northeast damaging mainly rural areas of northeastern Pottawatomie County damaging trees and power poles. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan. | |||||||||||
| 16.4 | 1966-05-11 | 3 | 39°10'N / 95°48'W | 39°12'N / 95°37'W | 9.90 Miles | 660 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 16.7 | 1953-06-19 | 2 | 39°36'N / 95°36'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jackson | |||
| 17.2 | 1974-03-08 | 2 | 39°12'N / 95°30'W | 39°25'N / 95°30'W | 14.90 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 17.4 | 1979-10-18 | 2 | 39°30'N / 95°36'W | 39°34'N / 95°25'W | 10.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Atchison |
| 18.0 | 1956-04-02 | 3 | 38°58'N / 95°57'W | 39°21'N / 95°28'W | 37.00 Miles | 790 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Marion |
| 18.1 | 1974-03-08 | 2 | 39°25'N / 95°30'W | 39°40'N / 95°30'W | 17.20 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Atchison |
| 18.4 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 39°06'N / 96°00'W | 39°14'N / 95°52'W | 9.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 18.8 | 1950-05-05 | 3 | 39°37'N / 95°37'W | 39°39'N / 95°34'W | 3.30 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 12 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 18.8 | 1993-05-06 | 2 | 39°28'N / 95°33'W | 39°38'N / 95°26'W | 12.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 50K | Atchison |
| Brief Description: The tornado formed west of Arrington near Highway K116 moved north along the Delware River bottom crossing the river 0.5 miles west of Muscotah, then moved northeast through open country before dissipating five miles west of Huron near the county lake. The Tornado was not on the ground continuously but bounced up and down leaving many areas undamaged. At least four farmsteads sustained significant damage along with many trees and numerous power poles and cable. No injures or deaths were reported. | |||||||||||
| 19.7 | 1984-04-26 | 3 | 39°24'N / 95°26'W | 39°25'N / 95°25'W | 1.00 Mile | 1200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Jefferson |
| 19.8 | 1960-05-19 | 2 | 39°07'N / 95°40'W | 39°09'N / 95°44'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 19.9 | 1962-08-06 | 2 | 39°11'N / 95°34'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jefferson | |||
| 20.0 | 1960-05-19 | 4 | 39°13'N / 95°35'W | 39°14'N / 95°26'W | 7.90 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 20.7 | 1981-07-19 | 2 | 39°08'N / 95°39'W | 0.30 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 9 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee | |
| 21.1 | 1956-04-02 | 3 | 39°21'N / 95°28'W | 39°31'N / 95°20'W | 13.30 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Marion |
| 21.3 | 1962-08-06 | 2 | 39°10'N / 95°33'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jefferson | |||
| 22.0 | 1984-04-26 | 2 | 39°06'N / 95°53'W | 0.60 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee | |
| 22.3 | 1979-10-18 | 2 | 39°15'N / 96°21'W | 39°20'N / 96°01'W | 18.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Pottawatomie |
| 22.5 | 1951-05-31 | 2 | 39°22'N / 95°24'W | 39°24'N / 95°21'W | 3.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 22.6 | 1978-05-31 | 3 | 39°19'N / 96°23'W | 39°22'N / 96°02'W | 18.90 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pottawatomie |
| 22.9 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 39°21'N / 95°25'W | 39°26'N / 95°19'W | 5.00 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Jefferson |
| 22.9 | 1974-03-08 | 2 | 38°58'N / 95°57'W | 39°12'N / 95°30'W | 29.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 23.0 | 1954-03-18 | 2 | 39°40'N / 95°31'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Brown | |||
| 23.7 | 1959-05-04 | 2 | 39°55'N / 95°49'W | 39°35'N / 95°38'W | 24.90 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 24.1 | 1988-11-15 | 2 | 39°03'N / 95°41'W | 39°07'N / 95°36'W | 5.00 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 22 | 2.5M | 0 | Shawnee |
| 24.2 | 1970-11-08 | 2 | 39°05'N / 95°38'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Shawnee | |
| 24.3 | 1993-05-06 | 2 | 39°42'N / 95°44'W | 39°49'N / 95°42'W | 8.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 50K | Brown |
| Brief Description: The tornado began near Highway 75 about eight miles south of Fairview and moved northnortheast damaging about half dozen farmsteads before dissipating southeast of Fairview. The tornado was not on the ground continuously along its path. Debris from the tornado was reported in the sky west of Hiawatha. | |||||||||||
| 25.1 | 1960-05-19 | 4 | 39°09'N / 96°20'W | 39°11'N / 95°57'W | 20.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 12 | 25.0M | 0 | Wabaunsee |
| 25.6 | 1962-05-31 | 2 | 39°42'N / 95°36'W | 39°48'N / 95°36'W | 6.90 Miles | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Brown |
| 26.7 | 1984-04-26 | 3 | 39°25'N / 95°25'W | 39°38'N / 95°13'W | 16.00 Miles | 1200 Yards | 0 | 9 | 25.0M | 0 | Atchison |
| 26.7 | 1967-06-11 | 3 | 39°32'N / 95°27'W | 39°45'N / 95°20'W | 16.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Atchison |
| 27.0 | 1950-05-05 | 3 | 39°39'N / 95°34'W | 39°51'N / 95°31'W | 14.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Brown |
| 27.5 | 1958-06-12 | 2 | 39°02'N / 96°00'W | 39°02'N / 95°55'W | 4.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wabaunsee |
| 27.7 | 1980-05-31 | 2 | 39°03'N / 95°34'W | 2.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee | |
| 28.2 | 1960-05-19 | 3 | 39°14'N / 95°26'W | 39°13'N / 95°13'W | 11.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 28.5 | 1966-06-08 | 5 | 38°55'N / 95°55'W | 39°05'N / 95°35'W | 21.10 Miles | 880 Yards | 16 | 450 | 250.0M | 0 | Shawnee |
| 29.0 | 1993-05-06 | 2 | 39°37'N / 96°08'W | 39°58'N / 95°55'W | 23.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 50K | Nemaha |
| Brief Description: The longest track tornado of the day moved southwest to northeast across Nemaha county miraculously producing no deaths or injuries. However significant damage occurred to about 20 different farms or farmsteads and related business, machinery and buildings. The tornado just missed populated areas and remained generally in fields and farm areas. Excessive rain in the days after the storm hampered cleanup. Property damage from the tornado was estimated at $1.1 million. In some areas the tornado was about 1/2 mile wide while in other areas damage was only about 100 yards wide. At times the tornado had multiple vortices. | |||||||||||
| 29.6 | 1959-05-18 | 3 | 39°49'N / 95°37'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Brown | |
| 29.9 | 2005-06-04 | 2 | 39°46'N / 95°32'W | 39°47'N / 95°27'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 400K | 0 | Brown |
| Brief Description: Three farmsteads or businesses sustained damage with a total of 15 buildings damaged or destroyed. Several cars were rolled and a combine was moved a considerable distance. A salvage yard was near one of the houses damaged by the tornado. A hubcap from the salvage yard had become airborne and was impaled in the sheet rock in the living room of the house. | |||||||||||
| 30.0 | 1959-05-18 | 2 | 39°44'N / 95°25'W | 1.00 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Brown | |
| 30.3 | 1983-05-06 | 3 | 38°54'N / 95°52'W | 39°03'N / 95°35'W | 19.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 1 | 25 | 25.0M | 0 | Shawnee |
| 30.9 | 1958-07-11 | 2 | 39°00'N / 95°34'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Shawnee | |||
| 31.1 | 1962-05-26 | 3 | 38°58'N / 95°42'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Shawnee | |
| 31.8 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 39°26'N / 95°19'W | 39°37'N / 95°07'W | 20.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Atchison |
| 32.7 | 1959-05-18 | 3 | 39°44'N / 95°20'W | 39°39'N / 95°16'W | 6.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Doniphan |
| 33.8 | 1998-06-13 | 2 | 39°54'N / 95°47'W | 39°54'N / 95°47'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.5M | 0 | Nemaha |
| Brief Description: A tornado ripped through downtown Sabetha causing extensive structural damage to buildings in a two block area, as well as downing power lines and several large trees. The tornado's path extended from one-half mile west to one-half mile east of the City Hall building. Eighteen buildings in downtown sustained damage with five buildings including City Hall damaged close to the point of loss. The tornado caused 2 million in damage to City Hall alone as it destroyed half the roof and walls of the building. Away from downtown several homes and vehicles were damaged from fallen trees and limbs on the fringes of the tornado or from strong straight line winds. | |||||||||||
| 34.1 | 1962-07-11 | 2 | 39°02'N / 95°23'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Douglas | |||
| 34.3 | 1958-07-11 | 2 | 38°55'N / 95°51'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Shawnee | |||
| 35.7 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 39°49'N / 95°43'W | 39°59'N / 95°26'W | 18.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Brown |
| 35.9 | 1956-04-02 | 3 | 38°50'N / 95°53'W | 38°58'N / 95°57'W | 9.80 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Marion |
| 36.1 | 2008-05-02 | 2 | 38°58'N / 95°27'W | 38°57'N / 95°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 260K | 0K | Douglas |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado demolished and removed a garage and two-thirds of an unoccupied house from it's foundation just after touching down. Debris from the house and the garage was strewn across a nearby field for approximately 500 yards. A metal outbuilding was destroyed near the end of the tornado path. Between these two points, moderate tree damage was noted. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms developed along a dryline during the late afternoon of May 1st, and sustained as the synoptic cold front dove through the region later that evening. Two tornadoes touched down and caused damage in portions of Osage and Douglas Counties. One residence in Douglas County was almost completely demolished by one of the tornadoes, rated an EF-2. Hail from the size of quarters to the size of golfballs was also reported across portions of northeast and east central Kansas. After 11pm CST, the severe weather threat focus turned to strong winds. Trees were damaged across portions of the warning area, as was property including homes, outbuidings, power poles, and transformers. The Emergency Manager from Osage County reported that property damage estimates were around $100,000. Spotters estimated wind speeds up to 70 mph, and a measured gust of 71 mph was reported by the ASOS at the Lawrence Municipal Airport. | |||||||||||
| 36.5 | 1962-05-28 | 2 | 38°50'N / 95°54'W | 38°56'N / 95°47'W | 0.90 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Osage |
| 36.7 | 1974-06-08 | 4 | 38°52'N / 95°54'W | 38°54'N / 95°52'W | 1.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Shawnee |
| 37.0 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 39°53'N / 95°28'W | 0.20 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Brown | |
| 38.0 | 1960-05-19 | 3 | 39°13'N / 95°13'W | 39°19'N / 95°00'W | 13.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Jefferson |
| 38.0 | 1965-04-10 | 3 | 39°25'N / 95°07'W | 39°28'N / 95°03'W | 4.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Leavenworth |
| 38.1 | 1964-04-12 | 3 | 38°45'N / 95°29'W | 39°12'N / 95°14'W | 33.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Douglas |
| 38.4 | 1955-05-26 | 2 | 38°38'N / 95°47'W | 39°19'N / 94°55'W | 66.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Osage |
| 38.4 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 38°44'N / 96°15'W | 39°06'N / 96°00'W | 28.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Wabaunsee |
| 39.1 | 1963-04-28 | 2 | 39°48'N / 96°19'W | 39°52'N / 96°15'W | 5.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Marshall |
| 39.2 | 1963-04-28 | 2 | 39°52'N / 96°15'W | 40°00'N / 95°55'W | 19.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Marshall |
| 39.5 | 1961-05-07 | 2 | 39°58'N / 95°37'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Brown | |||
| 40.3 | 1984-04-26 | 3 | 39°38'N / 95°13'W | 39°48'N / 95°05'W | 15.00 Miles | 1200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Doniphan |
| 41.1 | 1971-05-18 | 2 | 39°21'N / 95°06'W | 39°24'N / 94°57'W | 8.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Leavenworth |
| 41.5 | 1978-05-23 | 2 | 38°49'N / 95°43'W | 38°49'N / 95°38'W | 4.10 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Osage |
| 41.6 | 1965-06-21 | 2 | 39°16'N / 96°33'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Pottawatomie | |||
| 42.2 | 1974-03-07 | 2 | 38°48'N / 96°26'W | 38°58'N / 95°57'W | 28.30 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Wabaunsee |
| 42.9 | 2003-05-08 | 2 | 38°58'N / 95°14'W | 38°58'N / 95°14'W | 0.70 Mile | 250 Yards | 0 | 6 | 6.4M | 0 | Douglas |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down in the southwest part of Lawrence and did considerable damage to the area. An apartment complex suffered major damage as did several other homes and residences in the area. Six people were injured and treated at a Lawrence hospital. Severe weather erupted over a large part of the area during the afternoon and evening hours of the 8th. Numerous reports of large hail and a few reports of strong winds were received. In addition 12 tornadoes were reported (discussed separately), some doing considerable damage. Four funnel clouds were also sighted. May 8, 2003, was estimated to be the most significant and widespread tornado outbreak in northeast Kansas since April 26, 1991. All meteorological severe weather forecast parameters came together over northeast Kansas on the afternoon of May 8 to produce an SPC "high risk" area of potential severe weather. The possibility of strong, long-lived destructive tornadoes was highlighted for nearly 24 hours in advance in nearly every NWS statement and product. The significant and widespread tornado outbreak in the nearby Kansas City area just four days before increased public weather awareness and concern, and together with timely watches, statements and warnings, helped prevent tornado related deaths and minimized storm injuries. | |||||||||||
| 43.3 | 1952-05-22 | 4 | 38°59'N / 95°13'W | 39°00'N / 95°10'W | 2.70 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Douglas |
| 43.5 | 1951-06-08 | 2 | 38°53'N / 95°21'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Douglas | |||
| 43.6 | 1958-11-17 | 2 | 39°11'N / 95°02'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Leavenworth | |||
| 44.0 | 1974-06-08 | 4 | 38°42'N / 95°58'W | 38°52'N / 95°54'W | 11.90 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Osage |
| 44.1 | 1966-06-08 | 4 | 39°10'N / 95°11'W | 39°16'N / 94°50'W | 19.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Leavenworth |
| 44.2 | 1962-05-27 | 2 | 39°14'N / 95°00'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Leavenworth | |||
| 44.2 | 1965-04-10 | 3 | 39°29'N / 95°00'W | 39°32'N / 94°57'W | 4.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 9 | 250K | 0 | Platte |
| 45.3 | 1954-03-18 | 2 | 38°47'N / 95°33'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Osage | |||
| 45.4 | 1981-06-19 | 3 | 38°58'N / 95°16'W | 38°55'N / 95°08'W | 7.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 33 | 25.0M | 0 | Douglas |
| 46.0 | 1966-06-08 | 2 | 39°14'N / 95°02'W | 39°16'N / 94°53'W | 8.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Leavenworth |
| 46.2 | 1964-04-12 | 3 | 39°14'N / 95°01'W | 39°18'N / 94°53'W | 8.40 Miles | 440 Yards | 1 | 22 | 2.5M | 0 | Leavenworth |
| 46.3 | 1959-05-02 | 2 | 39°51'N / 96°39'W | 39°37'N / 96°28'W | 18.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Marshall |
| 46.9 | 1990-03-13 | 2 | 38°56'N / 96°29'W | 39°01'N / 96°27'W | 10.00 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Wabaunsee |
| 47.8 | 1957-06-11 | 2 | 38°52'N / 95°14'W | 38°54'N / 95°12'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Douglas |
| 48.0 | 1952-05-22 | 4 | 39°02'N / 95°10'W | 39°02'N / 94°55'W | 13.30 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Leavenworth |
| 48.1 | 2008-06-11 | 4 | 39°07'N / 96°42'W | 39°12'N / 96°34'W | 9.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Riley |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down to the southwest of Manahattan on a farm, and first destroyed a large machine shed, and threw a grain cart into an adjacent field. The tornado tracked to the northeast and destroyed several homes that were in the process of being built. Then, the tornado entered the Miller Ranch area of Manhattan, where the EF-4 damage was observed. Fifteen well built homes were completely destroyed. Nearby in the Amherst residential area, approximately thirty homes were damaged. A local newspaper reported that 45 residences in Manhattan were destroyed, 142 were damaged, and 637 were affected by the tornado. Ninety three apartments or duplexes, twenty mobile homes, and ten total businesses were impacted. Thereafter, the windows at the Little Apple Honda/Toyota car dealership were blown out, and several cars on the lots were tossed. A nearby hardware store and several self-storage units were demolished. Other nearby businesses were also damaged. The Lee Elementary School was then damaged. The tornado continued toward the Kansas State University campus. There, the roof was blown off a fraternity house, windows were blown out of buildings, the USDA Wind Erosion Labratory roof was damaged, and debris from damage to the southwest was blown across the campus. Summer classes at the University were shuffled around to find appropriate, undamaged buildings to hold summer students. New student orientation was also going on the week the tornado struck. It was reported that $20 million dollars in damage was done to the KSU campus alone. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan. | |||||||||||
| 48.8 | 1954-03-18 | 2 | 38°45'N / 96°07'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wabaunsee | |||
| 49.0 | 2003-05-04 | 2 | 39°01'N / 95°04'W | 39°06'N / 94°56'W | 6.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 2 | 4.0M | 0 | Leavenworth |
| Brief Description: Tornado on the ground 2 miles northwest of Linwood at County Road 25 and Interstate 70. Reported by emergency management and ham radio operator. Video shows the tornado crossed the Kansas Turnpike east of the Eastern Toll Booth, and then proceeded northeast to where it lifted 2 miles south of Basehor. Total track length was 6 miles, with a width approaching 250 yards at times. Maxium intensity rating was F2, with most damage noted to homes near and just northeast of the intersection of 166th and Kansas Road. A dry line moved into eastern Kansas and initiated severe thunderstorm development the afternoon of May 4th. Several of the thunderstorms became tornadic in Miami, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties. The strongest tornado reached F4 intensity in Kansas City Kansas before moving into Missouri. This tornado killed an 82 year old man and injured 30 others. Wyandotte county also had $15.5 million dollars in damage, with 69 buildings destroyed, and 390 suffering damage. Leavenworth county had 9 homes destroyed, 8 with major damage and 17 with minor damage. Damage estimates for Leavenworth county are around $4 million dollars. This was the most significant tornado outbreak in the Kansas City Metropolitan areas, since the Pleasant Hill tornado outbreak of 1977. A 46 year old woman died from injuries received with this tornado on October 10th, 2003. | |||||||||||
| 49.0 | 1956-06-18 | 2 | 39°15'N / 94°54'W | 0.80 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Leavenworth | |
| 49.5 | 1981-04-03 | 2 | 39°47'N / 95°00'W | 1.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Doniphan | |
| 49.6 | 1980-05-31 | 2 | 38°58'N / 95°06'W | 38°58'N / 95°02'W | 3.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Douglas |
| 49.6 | 1969-07-09 | 2 | 38°57'N / 95°06'W | 38°58'N / 95°03'W | 2.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Douglas |
| 49.8 | 1967-01-24 | 2 | 39°36'N / 94°56'W | 39°41'N / 94°53'W | 6.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Buchanan |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.