Cherokee storm history
Storm events recorded in Cherokee, Kansas between 1950 and 2025.
841
Total events
45
Tornadoes
251
Hail
156
Floods
5
Deaths
$42.5M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
A survey team determined an EF2 tornado struck the town of Baxter Springs, Kansas. The tornado started near Quapaw, Oklahoma and crossed the state line into Kansas then moved through the town of Baxter Springs producing a 150 yard wide swath of damage from southwest to northeast …
A National Weather Service storm survey revealed that damaging winds impacted nearly all of Cherokee County. Widespread damage occurred in the form of downed power poles, uprooted trees, damaged structures, and damaged crops. More specifically, there were several structures that …
Ice accumulations of up to two inches were observed over much of Cherokee County. The cities of Colubus, Baxter Springs, and Riverton were hit the hardest. Nearly 100% of the county lost power for several days, as widespread tree and power line damage occurred. The Sheriff Depart…
Another stationary band of heavy rain occurred on the night of June 11th and the morning of June 12th. In response, significant flooding occurred in all areas of the county. The Spring and Neosho rivers remained flooded, causing damage to homes and several road systems.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of quarters fell near Riverton.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of ping pong balls fell just northwest of Riverton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of trees and tree limbs down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of a 62mph measured wind gust in Cherokee County.
Hail Hail
A CoCoRAHS report of half dollar sized hail 3.6 miles north of Columbus, Kansas.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Eight inch tree limbs were downed near Galena, Kansas.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree branches and a tree was snapped off of Bagdad road south of Galena.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Significant street flooding occurred in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Approximately 8 inches of water was over the roads.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total rainfall amount of 2.25 inches from May 23 through May 27.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total rainfall amount of 2.99 inches from May 23 through May 27.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total rainfall amount of 2.40 inches from May 23 through May 27.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Storm total rainfall amount of 3.09 inches from May 23 through May 27.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple large trees were down over Northwest Belleview Rd.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell down onto a house and a truck. Additionally, multiple powerlines and trees were down around town.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
The Mesonet Station EW0910 in Oswego measured 2.71 inches of storm total rainfall.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple large tree limbs were reported down in town. No significant damage was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple power poles and lines were reported down north of town.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Strong straight line winds downed multiple trees and damaged of destroyed several outbuildings near Messer Road and 110th Street. Debris was spread across a large area.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
A NWS survey determined that an EF 1 tornado touched down near Empire Lake north of Galena, KS and tracked to the northeast before crossing into Missouri at the intersection of SE Turkey Creek Road and North State Line Avenue. Along its path in Cherokee County the tornado damaged…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several buildings had roof damage in Baxter Springs along with numerous trees down. An 85 mph wind gust was measured at the fire station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were uprooted and several roofs were taken off homes and a business in Galena, Kansas.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
An arctic airmass slid into southeast Kansas during the overnight hours of February 19-20, bringing extreme cold and wind chills in the -10 to -30 degree range across most of the region.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Light freezing drizzle began during the evening of February 11 before stratiform precipitation changed to snow during the early morning of February 12. Up to 2 inches of snow was reported in Cherokee County near Columbus.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Precipitation started as a light snow during the evening of January 9 with the snow then continuing overnight into the afternoon hours of January 10. Snow amounts between 3 and 4 inches fell across the county. A public report of a measured storm total of 3.5 inches of snow was re…
Drought Drought
A period of significant rains fell across the region early in the month with 3 to 5 inches of rainfall measured at some locations. This allowed for drought improvements to Moderate (D1) Drought by the end of the month despite little or no rain fall through the last three weeks of…
Drought Drought
Little or no rain fall through the first 29 days of the month which allowed Extreme (D3) Drought to develop across the County. Impacts across the region occurred over larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw impacts with ground water levels falling. Crop and vegetation …
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of quarters fell a few miles southeast of the town of Cherokee along the Cherokee and Crawford county line.
Drought Drought
Limited periods of rainfall through the month allowed Severe (D2) Drought to develop across the County. Impacts across the region occurred over larger scale agriculture. Farm and stock ponds saw impacts with ground water levels falling. Crop and vegetation growth showed signs of …
Hail Hail
Golf ball sized hail was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several metal buildings and barns were reported damaged or destroyed across the southwestern portion of Cherokee County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Portions of a metal roof was reported to be blown off of a metal building.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A barn was reported to be blown down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency Management measured 80mph winds.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A CoCoRaHS station in Columbus measured a 24-hour rainfall total of 4.89 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A Mesonet station in Galena measured a 24-hour rainfall total of 3.46 inches.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
A Mesonet station in Riverton measured a 24-hour rainfall total of 3.25 inches.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of trees down in the road.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Emergency Management reported flooded roads in Baxter Springs.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Mping report of flooded roadways.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A NWS Survey team confirmed that an intermittent EF-0 tornado with maximum winds of 80 mph caused damage to multiple barns and numerous uprooted or snapped trees. This is an extension of a tornado out of Ottawa County, OK that occurred on the night of May 6.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 1 |
| 2024 | 25 | 2 |
| 2023 | 17 | 0 |
| 2022 | 16 | 0 |
| 2021 | 14 | 0 |
| 2020 | 34 | 0 |
| 2019 | 41 | 3 |
| 2018 | 14 | 0 |
| 2017 | 24 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 35 | 1 |
| 2014 | 25 | 1 |
| 2013 | 33 | 0 |
| 2012 | 40 | 0 |
| 2011 | 47 | 0 |
| 2010 | 37 | 1 |
| 2009 | 45 | 0 |
| 2008 | 48 | 1 |
| 2007 | 35 | 1 |
| 2006 | 24 | 2 |
| 2005 | 22 | 3 |
| 2004 | 7 | 1 |
| 2003 | 25 | 1 |
| 2002 | 16 | 2 |
| 2001 | 14 | 0 |
| 2000 | 17 | 0 |
| 1999 | 14 | 1 |
| 1998 | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 | 7 | 0 |
| 1996 | 10 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7 | 0 |
| 1989 | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 5 | 2 |
| 1985 | 5 | 0 |
| 1984 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 6 | 3 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 3 | 1 |
| 1975 | 3 | 0 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 2 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 4 | 2 |
| 1970 | 4 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1963 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 5 | 4 |
| 1960 | 4 | 1 |
| 1959 | 5 | 2 |
| 1957 | 3 | 1 |
| 1956 | 3 | 2 |
| 1955 | 2 | 1 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |