Barton County, Kansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1950 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
105
Tornado reports
534
Hail reports
62
Floods since 1996
1,298
All events
2
Deaths
$121.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Barton County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 105 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Initial touchdown occurred 1 mile southwest of Hoisington. The tornado rapidly achieved F3 intensity as it entered the west side of town. Moving northeast around 20 mph, the tornado intensified to F4 within 2-3 minutes. While crossing northwest Hoisington, the tornado inflicted a…
Tornado F4 Tornado
This long track tornado moved in from Pawnee County. Law Enforcement reported the tornado just south of the county line near Pawnee Rock and then followed it as it moved to the NE. The tornado moved through the west side of Pawnee Rock causing sporadic EF1 and isolated EF2 damage…
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
Extensive damage throughout Great Bend! Ten buildings sustained major roof or structural damage. One such casualty was the Travelodge, where the roof was peeled and twisted off part of the motel resulting in water damage to an unspecified number of upstairs guest rooms. In a few …
The oppressive heat and humidity killed an estimated 500 to 600 cattle in feedlots across Barton County. A Great Bend facility alone lost over 400 cattle. Monetary loss estimates include cattle deaths along with the 40 to 70 pounds of average weight loss most heads of cattle incu…
One to two inches of ice accumulated across Barton County during the ice storm. This resulted in approximately 500 downed power poles and 2000 downed lines. Damage to the electrical infrastructure is estimated at $9.8 million. There was also widespread damage to trees but the cos…
The tornado damaged large trees at several locations along its path. Two barns were destroyed and several outbuildings were also severely damaged. Five 100,000 bushel grain bins were also destroyed with two of them flung onto the local Dillon's grocery store causing damage to tha…
Flash flooding was reported throughout the county. Highway 96 9 miles west of Great Bend was closed as water started flowing over the road. An observer in the area reported 3.22 inches of rain in just 3 hours. Highway 56 in Pawnee Rock was closed due to flood water. In Hoisington…
The baseball-sized hail caused widespread damage to approximately 8,000 residences, 400 businesses and 2,500 vehicles. Damage included smashed windows, roofs, siding and air conditioners. Among the vehicles damaged were those of the Barton County Sheriff's Department in which nea…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delayed report of a semi blown over on US-156 east of Great Bend. The time was estimated via radar. Report received by the Great Bend Post Digital News.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured at the Great Bend Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured at a personal weather station.
Hail Hail
Ping pong ball to tennis ball sized hail was reported in Albert.
Hail Hail
Photo received via social media.
Hail Hail
Photo received via social media.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust at Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust on a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust on a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be around 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gust from thunderstorm outflow at Great Bend Municipal Airport.
Drought Drought
The southern third of the county entered the month in extreme drought (D3) with much improvement by June 16th to the moderate drought (D1) except the far southern corners which eventually improved for a removal of severe drought (D2) by the 23rd. In this time period, southern por…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were around 50 to 60 mph with pea size hail falling.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Report received via mPing.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Tornado EFU Tornado
A brief landspout tornado was reported by an off duty NWS employee.
Drought Drought
The entire county entered the month in severe drought (D2) status. There was a degradation to the extreme drought (D3) category starting on the 5th in southern portions of the county which continued through the rest of the month. Rounds of thunderstorms in the middle of the month…
Drought Drought
Severe drought (D2) was expanded into Barton County in the middle of the month with just the far southwest corner initially being placed in it on the 14th while most of the county stayed in moderate drought (D1). The severe drought spread to the rest of the county after the 21st.…
Hail Hail
High Wind High Wind
The peak wind gusts at the AWOS site near Great Bend Municipal Airport were 59 mph at 1:10 PM CDT and 60 mph at 4:27 PM CDT. Additionally, the site recorded sustained winds in excess of 40 mph between 10 AM CDT and 6 PM CDT.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Based on surrounding reports and reports across the county, around 5 to 7 inches of snow fell across Barton County. The highest total was five miles southeast of Albert where 6.8 inches of snow fell across the event.
High Wind High Wind
The 65-mph wind gust was measured via a personal weather station. In addition, a semi was blown over on Highway 156, two miles east of Claflin.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There was an estimated wind gusts of 70 mph along with reported power poles and large tree limbs down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Reports of several downed power lines and a transformer also down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated wind gusts around 60 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated wind gusts around 60 mph along with nickel sized hail.
Hail Hail
Nickel sized hail was reported along with 60 mph winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 67 mph wind gusts was measured from a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There was an estimated 65 mph wind gust reported.
Blizzard Blizzard
The county emergency manager reported power outages across the county along with near whiteout conditions around 8AM CDT. Additionally, Kansas State Highway 4 was closed at Hoisington and points westward due to conditions. At least sustained 35 mph winds were present at Great Ben…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 1 |
| 2025 | 15 | 0 |
| 2024 | 33 | 1 |
| 2023 | 61 | 0 |
| 2022 | 33 | 0 |
| 2021 | 27 | 2 |
| 2020 | 21 | 0 |
| 2019 | 70 | 3 |
| 2018 | 39 | 1 |
| 2017 | 43 | 5 |
| 2016 | 18 | 1 |
| 2015 | 34 | 0 |
| 2014 | 49 | 0 |
| 2013 | 28 | 1 |
| 2012 | 31 | 1 |
| 2011 | 54 | 4 |
| 2010 | 49 | 3 |
| 2009 | 30 | 2 |
| 2008 | 59 | 10 |
| 2007 | 66 | 10 |
| 2006 | 44 | 0 |
| 2005 | 27 | 4 |
| 2004 | 41 | 5 |
| 2003 | 11 | 0 |
| 2002 | 39 | 4 |
| 2001 | 53 | 4 |
| 2000 | 22 | 1 |
| 1999 | 17 | 1 |
| 1998 | 37 | 2 |
| 1997 | 12 | 3 |
| 1996 | 29 | 0 |
| 1995 | 16 | 0 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 5 | 2 |
| 1992 | 13 | 0 |
| 1991 | 11 | 4 |
| 1990 | 14 | 2 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 1 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 |
| 1980 | 5 | 1 |
| 1979 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 2 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 1 |
| 1975 | 5 | 1 |
| 1974 | 5 | 1 |
| 1973 | 3 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1969 | 3 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 5 | 1 |
| 1965 | 4 | 0 |
| 1964 | 9 | 6 |
| 1963 | 2 | 2 |
| 1962 | 4 | 2 |
| 1961 | 3 | 0 |
| 1960 | 4 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 6 | 1 |
| 1956 | 8 | 5 |
| 1955 | 3 | 2 |
| 1950 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Barton County, measured to its path.
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