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Wichita, KS Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in Wichita is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Wichita is much higher than Kansas average and is much higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake IndexVolcano IndexTornado IndexOther Weather Extremes EventsVolcanos NearbyHistorical Earthquake EventsHistorical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #593

Wichita, KS
0.00
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

Wichita, KS
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, #18

Wichita, KS
363.11
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 6,338 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Wichita, KS were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:7Cold:13Dense Fog:2Drought:6
Dust Storm:0Flood:317Hail:3,477Heat:12Heavy Snow:29
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:7Landslide:0Strong Wind:40
Thunderstorm Winds:2,269Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:0Winter Storm:43Winter Weather:27
Other:89 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Wichita, KS.

Historical Earthquake Events

No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Wichita, KS.

No historical earthquake events found in or near Wichita, KS.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 96 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Wichita, KS.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
0.71954-10-04237°41'N / 97°20'W0025K0Sedgwick
2.41992-09-05237°42'N / 97°20'W37°42'N / 97°16'W3.00 Miles200 Yards0125.0M0Sedgwick
3.61965-05-13337°29'N / 97°20'W37°55'N / 97°29'W31.00 Miles100 Yards010250K0Sedgwick
3.71965-09-03337°39'N / 97°18'W0272.5M0Sedgwick
4.91973-10-11237°39'N / 97°25'W0.70 Mile200 Yards015250K0Sedgwick
5.01958-06-07337°39'N / 97°16'W5.00 Miles1760 Yards0125K0Sedgwick
5.31958-06-11237°46'N / 97°20'W06250K0Sedgwick
5.41984-04-29237°43'N / 97°15'W2.00 Miles20 Yards00250K0Sedgwick
5.81953-06-21237°45'N / 97°16'W030K0Sedgwick
6.81999-05-03437°29'N / 97°22'W37°42'N / 97°20'W14.00 Miles880 Yards6150140.0M0Sedgwick
 Brief Description: The same tornado that initially touched down 4 miles north of Wellington in Central Sumner County, SKYWARN reports indicate the tornado crossed the Sumner/Sedgwick County line at 1930, 1 mile west of Peck. Moving northeast at 30 kts, the tornado hit Haysville at 1935, destroying a subdivision just southwest of the South Seneca-South 87th Street intersection where the first 2 fatalities occurred in a mobile home park when a woman and her grandson were killed while running for shelter. (A 6th fatality resulted when an elderly man died from his injuries at a Wichita hospital on May 23rd.) The tornado then moved north along South Seneca Avenue, entering the Haysville Central Business District at 1938. The 3rd fatality occurred at this point when an elderly man was killed in a mobile home at South 75th Street. At the South Seneca/South 71st Street intersection, most of the businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. Damage summary for Haysville (damaged or destroyed): 150 homes, 27 businesses, 3 churches, 1 library, 4 historic buildings and 1 lodge. The tornado entered South Wichita at 1943 when it crossed South 55th Street. The tornado then veered slightly toward the northwest. At South 47th Street it reassumed a northeast track. Crossing MacArthur Avenue, the tornado leveled the Lakeshore and Pacesetter mobile home parks located just northeast of the South Seneca/MacArthur intersection where the 4th and 5th fatalities occurred, one at each mobile home park. At 1945, the tornado crossed the East Harry Street interchange on I-135 and continued to move northeast, lifting in the College Hill District in Northeast Wichita. Along this entire track, the tornado left a path of destruction 14 miles long and 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide. Damage summary for Sedgwick County: 8,480 buildings (all types) damaged or destroyed. Of these, 2,456 were at least 50% destroyed and 1,109 totally destroyed. M27MH, F43OU, M1OU, M83MH, M68MH, M78MH
7.51991-04-26537°28'N / 97°29'W37°42'N / 97°09'W24.00 Miles440 Yards475250.0M0Sedgwick
9.81991-05-16337°30'N / 97°27'W37°36'N / 97°12'W20.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Sedgwick
10.01964-04-03237°33'N / 97°18'W000K0Sedgwick
10.81960-04-28337°42'N / 97°35'W37°46'N / 97°29'W7.10 Miles440 Yards0625K0Sedgwick
11.01954-09-09237°49'N / 97°28'W000K0Sedgwick
11.61958-06-11237°43'N / 97°08'W040K0Butler
12.61973-05-26337°43'N / 97°36'W37°45'N / 97°32'W4.30 Miles400 Yards01250K0Sedgwick
13.51969-06-23437°39'N / 97°39'W37°36'N / 97°30'W8.70 Miles700 Yards06250K0Sedgwick
15.01963-05-25237°34'N / 97°07'W020K0Butler
16.01960-04-16237°36'N / 97°08'W37°40'N / 96°59'W9.30 Miles33 Yards013K0Butler
16.41960-11-27237°25'N / 97°15'W37°40'N / 96°58'W23.20 Miles77 Yards02250K0Sumner
16.51956-07-01237°49'N / 97°36'W0025K0Sedgwick
17.31965-05-13337°24'N / 97°18'W37°29'N / 97°20'W5.90 Miles100 Yards00250K0Sumner
18.22004-06-12337°28'N / 97°14'W37°26'N / 97°11'W4.00 Miles75 Yards02500K75KSumner
 Brief Description: The tornado started moving NE before becoming influenced by the outflow of the storm and darted back to the SE. The tornado ripped the roof off one home and blew out two walls and a roof of another. However, the tornado took dead aim on one home about 3.5 miles SE of Mulvane and completely removed it from it's foundation. Two inhabitants were under the staircase in the basement and escaped with only minor injuries.
19.71965-09-20237°37'N / 97°16'W38°12'N / 96°57'W43.80 Miles33 Yards0025K0Sedgwick
19.81991-04-26537°42'N / 97°09'W37°54'N / 96°52'W22.00 Miles700 Yards13150250.0M0Butler
21.11965-05-13337°55'N / 97°29'W38°01'N / 97°32'W7.20 Miles100 Yards00250K0Harvey
21.51987-07-05237°31'N / 97°01'W0.20 Mile50 Yards00250K0Butler
22.51956-07-21238°01'N / 97°21'W000K0Harvey
23.51962-05-24338°00'N / 97°31'W38°03'N / 97°20'W10.40 Miles33 Yards00250K0Reno
23.71961-07-13238°02'N / 97°22'W000K0Harvey
24.51955-05-25537°23'N / 97°07'W37°27'N / 97°00'W7.80 Miles33 Yards000K0Cowley
24.71958-06-10437°51'N / 97°01'W37°50'N / 96°51'W9.00 Miles300 Yards1552.5M0Butler
24.81963-07-12238°03'N / 97°19'W010K0Harvey
25.11955-05-25537°21'N / 97°09'W37°23'N / 97°07'W2.30 Miles1320 Yards75270250K0Cowley
25.52004-05-29337°23'N / 97°36'W37°22'N / 97°34'W2.50 Miles500 Yards001.0M0Sumner
 Brief Description: Considerable damage to two homesteads; the first being a sturdy brick home. All exterior walls ripped from the home, only leaving only the interior. Home owner ran down the stairs as the tornado hit and avoided injury. Further southeast, a modular home was completely removed from above a viewout basement. It was here that an amazing survival occurred. The homeowner sought refuge in a safe room in the basement and was unharmed, despite the fact a propane tank landed in the basement and began to leak. Breathing became difficult as fumes permeated the saferoom. At the same time, the saferoom began to flood, however the rising water levels dissipated the fumes. In addition, a semi-truck was thrown approximately 100 feet.
26.32004-05-29337°22'N / 97°38'W37°24'N / 97°37'W2.50 Miles600 Yards0117.8M100KSumner
 Brief Description: The following were destroyed: 15 farm dwellings and service buildings, 25 pieces of farm machinery and equipment, many miles of transmission line, with most of wheat a total loss. (This portion of narrative courtesy of USDA Flash Situation Report.) In addition, major damage to several homes along highway 49. One modular was completely removed from over a viewout basement. A teenage boy sought refuge under the staircase in the basement only to watch a car thrown overhead. He escaped unharmed. However, one woman wasn't so fortunate; the resident of a mobile home that was completely destroyed. The only recognizable parts were the steel girders that ran along the base of the home. She had sought refuge in the bathroom and was holding on to the commode. She was thrown several feet from the homestead and received several injuries. Fortunately, none were serious.
26.31962-05-24338°02'N / 97°40'W38°00'N / 97°31'W8.40 Miles33 Yards00250K0Harvey
26.91965-06-04337°50'N / 97°50'W37°54'N / 97°44'W6.90 Miles880 Yards02250K0Reno
27.31990-03-13537°56'N / 97°43'W38°10'N / 97°23'W26.00 Miles1320 Yards15925.0M0Harvey
28.31960-10-29237°49'N / 96°51'W2.00 Miles100 Yards0125K0Butler
28.81960-04-16237°48'N / 96°50'W010K0Butler
29.41965-05-13337°08'N / 97°18'W37°24'N / 97°18'W18.40 Miles100 Yards00250K0Sumner
29.51970-03-02238°03'N / 97°16'W38°10'N / 97°11'W9.10 Miles360 Yards002.5M0Harvey
30.11955-04-27238°02'N / 97°41'W2.00 Miles33 Yards0025K0Harvey
30.51955-05-25537°27'N / 97°00'W37°27'N / 96°45'W13.60 Miles33 Yards000K0Cowley
30.61990-03-13537°46'N / 98°01'W37°56'N / 97°43'W21.00 Miles1320 Yards0125.0M0Reno
31.22004-08-27237°16'N / 97°24'W37°13'N / 97°24'W3.00 Miles110 Yards00250K0Sumner
 Brief Description: At intersection of E. 40th St. S and Highway 81, 2 miles south of Wellington, two homes were damaged around 1830 CST. The first, a 2-story brick structure, was unroofed and had one wall collapsed. (F2 rating assigned to this property.) Tree damage also occurred on & around the property. The 2nd, neighboring home, of wood frame construction, was located 30 feet distant, and sustained minor roof damag. (F0 rating assigned to this property.) In addition, four power poles were snapped to near the ground as were, of course, their associated power lines.
33.21990-03-13538°09'N / 97°26'W38°11'N / 97°25'W2.00 Miles1320 Yards0025.0M0Harvey
33.21974-05-13238°09'N / 97°49'W38°10'N / 97°09'W36.20 Miles100 Yards020K0Harvey
33.51990-03-13538°10'N / 97°23'W38°11'N / 97°22'W1.00 Mile1320 Yards0025.0M0Mcpherson
34.01952-06-19237°11'N / 97°25'W37°13'N / 97°22'W3.30 Miles60 Yards0025K0Sumner
34.51953-05-10237°00'N / 97°36'W37°23'N / 97°07'W37.50 Miles33 Yards0025K0Sumner
35.21990-03-13538°11'N / 97°25'W38°13'N / 97°20'W4.00 Miles1320 Yards0025.0M0Mcpherson
36.02010-05-10237°30'N / 97°59'W37°31'N / 97°56'W3.00 Miles700 Yards00125K0KKingman
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down and caused some damage to a barn and some trees limbs were partially torn off. As the tornado continued to move to the northeast more significant damage occurred. A house was damaged with the roof being torn off of a house with 2 exterior walls being blown out (EF2 damage). Two garages were also destroyed and a riding lawnmower was removed from the garage and moved 100 yards downstream. Three people took shelter from the tornado in the basement and were unharmed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening hours of May 10th, 2010, ahead of an approaching dry line and warm front. This dynamic environment coupled with an unstable airmass led to the development of thunderstorms to the west and south of Wichita, Kansas with tornado producing supercells moving across portions of South Central Kansas. Two supercells in particular produced significant damage across portions of Kingman, Sedgwick and Cowley counties with some of the damage classified as EF-2 damage by survey teams.
36.11971-05-31238°12'N / 97°15'W38°12'N / 97°08'W6.20 Miles200 Yards00250K0Marion
36.51955-05-25537°00'N / 97°15'W37°21'N / 97°09'W24.70 Miles660 Yards53250K0Sumner
36.71990-03-13338°08'N / 97°42'W38°10'N / 97°40'W3.00 Miles17 Yards00250K0Harvey
37.11990-06-07237°47'N / 97°57'W37°52'N / 98°03'W7.00 Miles100 Yards002.5M0Reno
37.21990-03-13338°09'N / 97°44'W38°08'N / 97°42'W5.00 Miles200 Yards00250K0Reno
37.71990-03-13338°10'N / 97°40'W38°14'N / 97°31'W10.00 Miles400 Yards002.5M0Mcpherson
37.71997-05-25237°08'N / 97°30'W37°10'N / 97°23'W8.00 Miles1700 Yards001.9M0KSumner
 Brief Description: TWO (2) FARMSTEADS WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED THAT INCLUDED A 90-YEAR OLD BARN, 2 HOMES, 3 MACHINE SHEDS, A GARAGE AND THE MACHINERY THAT IT HOUSED AS WELL AS NUMEROUS CROPS. A CO-OP LOST A LARGE GRAIN BIN. TREE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE THAT INCLUDED LARGE TREES THAT WERE COMPLETELY UPROOTED.
37.81974-05-13238°10'N / 97°09'W38°12'N / 96°56'W11.90 Miles100 Yards000K0Marion
38.51974-05-13237°57'N / 98°04'W38°09'N / 97°42'W24.20 Miles100 Yards022.5M0Reno
38.91991-04-26437°04'N / 97°09'W37°21'N / 96°48'W25.00 Miles500 Yards1025.0M0Cowley
39.31980-10-15337°20'N / 96°45'W37°31'N / 96°40'W13.30 Miles150 Yards042.5M0Cowley
39.51965-03-16437°07'N / 97°10'W37°15'N / 96°51'W19.70 Miles300 Yards03250K0Cowley
39.61971-06-13238°10'N / 97°45'W0.50 Mile300 Yards0125K0Mcpherson
40.21974-05-13238°06'N / 97°51'W38°09'N / 97°49'W3.60 Miles100 Yards000K0Reno
40.21974-05-13238°09'N / 97°42'W38°22'N / 97°19'W25.60 Miles100 Yards002.5M0Mcpherson
41.31991-03-26337°05'N / 97°09'W37°10'N / 97°03'W7.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Cowley
41.41954-08-05238°03'N / 97°57'W000K0Reno
41.61964-04-22238°17'N / 97°29'W003K0Mcpherson
41.91970-03-02238°10'N / 97°11'W38°22'N / 97°01'W16.40 Miles33 Yards002.5M0Ellsworth
43.21973-03-13237°00'N / 96°58'W37°27'N / 96°40'W35.10 Miles50 Yards002.5M0Cowley
43.31990-03-13337°00'N / 97°43'W37°14'N / 97°36'W18.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Sumner
43.51990-03-13538°13'N / 97°20'W38°25'N / 97°10'W16.00 Miles1320 Yards1025.0M0Marion
43.91991-03-26437°58'N / 98°03'W38°09'N / 97°57'W13.00 Miles300 Yards0525.0M0Reno
44.01965-03-16437°00'N / 97°19'W37°07'N / 97°10'W11.50 Miles300 Yards02250K0Sumner
44.41991-04-26237°56'N / 96°43'W38°06'N / 96°34'W15.00 Miles100 Yards04250K0Butler
44.41954-08-05238°10'N / 97°07'W38°23'N / 96°53'W19.60 Miles33 Yards000K0Marion
44.91954-05-01238°05'N / 98°00'W0.30 Mile300 Yards003K0Reno
45.01959-05-17238°04'N / 98°01'W2.00 Miles400 Yards000K0Harper
45.01991-03-26337°00'N / 97°23'W37°05'N / 97°09'W16.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Sumner
45.11991-03-26337°15'N / 96°45'W37°23'N / 96°35'W15.00 Miles200 Yards062.5M0Cowley
46.01955-05-25537°00'N / 97°15'W37°03'N / 97°24'W8.80 Miles500 Yards00250K0Sumner
46.01981-05-17237°04'N / 97°03'W0.50 Mile100 Yards002.5M0Cowley
46.12004-05-12437°15'N / 97°59'W37°15'N / 97°58'W1.20 Miles500 Yards01275K75KHarper
 Brief Description: Large destructive tornado completely demolished a two story farm house and 5 other barns associated with the homestead. Five cars were also dismantled as the engines were spread across the shaven wheat fields. Very few automobile body parts could be located.
46.42004-05-29237°11'N / 98°00'W37°14'N / 97°52'W8.00 Miles500 Yards00175K200KHarper
 Brief Description: The tornado mainly moved over open country damaging wheat fields that were ready to be harvested, however, one home completely lost it's roof and most of the belongings inside.
46.52004-05-12237°14'N / 97°59'W37°14'N / 97°57'W2.00 Miles300 Yards00140K0Harper
 Brief Description: Large tornado moved over open country before hitting a farmstead and shearing off the roof of a veterinarians clinic and the top floor of a two story home.
46.71950-05-18338°07'N / 96°49'W38°20'N / 96°49'W14.90 Miles100 Yards02250K0Chase
46.82004-05-12237°16'N / 98°01'W37°16'N / 98°00'W1.00 Mile100 Yards00100K0Harper
 Brief Description: Tornado moved NNE on the outskirts of Harper. The tornado sheared off the top portion of a two story home and sending debris for several hundred yards.
47.91968-04-21237°24'N / 98°24'W37°42'N / 98°00'W30.10 Miles33 Yards00250K0Kingman
49.52010-05-10336°57'N / 97°27'W37°00'N / 97°20'W7.00 Miles1500 Yards010K0KKay
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the Kay County portion of tornado #A2. The tornado crossed into Kay County from Grant County and continued to produce significant damage. One home was destroyed and another significantly damaged between the Grant County line and U.S. Highway 177. After the tornado crossed US-177, an anchored mobile home was destroyed and blown to the east, and a tri-level home was destroyed with the top floor blown about 50 yards northeast into some trees, and the ground floor pivoted and was displaced to the northwest exposing the basement where one minor injury occurred. The tornado continued to produce significant tree damage as it moved east-northeast, and blew semi trucks over along Interstate 35 at the Kansas state line. This tornado crossed into Sumner County Kansas. See documentation from the NWS Wichita KS for additional information. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant outbreak of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes affected a large part of northern, central, and southern Oklahoma. Tornadoes were most numerous across central and southern Oklahoma, with significant damage occurring over many areas. Severe thunderstorms erupted by mid afternoon across northern and western Oklahoma. Given the potent combination of ingredients in place, storms began to produce tornadoes quickly after initiation. Storm motions of 50 to 60 mph were common. During the mid afternoon hours, severe weather was confined to northern Oklahoma. It was there a long track supercell storm produced tornadoes near the Kansas border - including one rated EF3 - from near Wakita to north of Braman. The capping inversion that had delayed thunderstorm development into central Oklahoma weakened, allowing for explosive supercell development along the dry line along and west of the Interstate 35 corridor. Rapid development and intensification was common with the late afternoon storms, with storms becoming tornadic within a very short time after initiation. This round of storms would directly impact a large part of the Oklahoma City metro area at rush hour, and posed a significant threat to the area. The first tornado in this area occurred in Canadian County. During the next several hours, tornadoes were clustered around the metro area, and at times there were multiple significant damaging tornadoes occurring simultaneously. Several of the tornadoes had long tracks. Damage from the tornadoes was substantial, with numerous structures, vehicles, trees and power poles/lines significantly damaged or destroyed. One of the more intense tornadoes moved across Lake Thunderbird east of Norman destroying numerous boats. More storms developed across southwest and south central Oklahoma, and also quickly became tornadic. By 9 pm, 35 tornadoes had been reported. While the loss of three lives was tragic, the casualties could have been much higher given the storm's fast motions, their intensity, the time of day and the areas impacted. While exact monetary damage figures were not available, it is estimated that losses were in excess of $595 million. At least 450 sustained injuries, most of them minor. Unfortunately three people lost their lives. Note: The large number of injuries and tornadoes made it difficult to associate injuries with specific tornadoes. Injury numbers were included when we had confidence in the numbers. Note: The complex nature of storm evolutions and interactions made the job of classifying tornadoes difficult. This represents our best scientific assessment based on ground and aerial surveys, data from multiple radars, photographic and video evidence and anecdotal information.
49.61960-11-27238°23'N / 97°35'W003K0Mcpherson
49.81950-06-08438°20'N / 97°55'W38°20'N / 97°36'W17.10 Miles700 Yards15250K0Mcpherson


* 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.


 
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