Cherokee County, Kansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
46
Tornado reports
259
Hail reports
165
Floods since 1996
874
All events
5
Deaths
$44.0M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Cherokee County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 46 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.
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 determined that an EF1 Tornado with estimated wind speeds of 105 mph touched down near the northeast portion of Hallowell before tracking 4.37 miles to the east. The tornado uprooted or snapped several trees, overturned several empty railca…
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.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
There were reports of flooding between Columbus and Crestline, including Highway 160 and state highways along with numerous secondary roads.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Several roadways had several inches of flowing water over them in Scammon.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Roughly 10 inches of water over the road on Highway 160 and NE40th road. A water rescue is taking place at this location involving a semi.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Street flooding was reported in Galena, Kansas.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of quarters fell south of Pittsburg, Kansas.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Powerlines were down in Scammon due to thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Cherokee County has a lot of reports of trees down throughout the county due to thunderstorm winds.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm winds downed a maple tree in yard. The tree blocked 4th street between Cleveland and Washington Street.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of quarters fell in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of half dollars fell in Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Video from social media shows substantial road inundation, up to knee level, and water rescues on 10th street near Tar Creek.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Multiple roads in town were reported flooded and impassable.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power poles were reported broken with downed power lines and power outages.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple large trees were reported down with a few having fallen on homes causing minor to moderate damage to roofs and guttering.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Several reports of significant street flooding were reported.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail along with 60 mph winds were reported.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Hail Hail
Hail to the size of ping pong balls, 40 mph winds and heavy rainfall were reported.
Hail Hail
Quarter sized hail was reported.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large tree was reported down closing the road.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees and power lines were reported down.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several power lines were reported down.
Drought Drought
Slightly above the monthly average rainfall fell during the moth. This allowed drought conditions to improve with only Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions remaining in the southern portions of the county at the end of the month. Impacts across the region were largely limited to farm a…
Thunderstorm winds caused the side of a house to blow in and collapse. There was one injury.
Drought Drought
Below the monthly average rainfall occurred which produced increasingly dry conditions with drought remaining Severe (D2) drought to Moderate (D1) across the county by the end of the month. Impacts across the region were largely limited to farm and stock ponds, stream and river l…
Drought Drought
Below the monthly average rainfall occurred which produced increasingly dry conditions with drought expanding leaving Severe (D2) drought and Moderate (D1) drought conditions in the county by the end of the month. Impacts across the region were largely limited to farm and stock p…
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall began to push into the County during the late evening hours of January 23 as the first round of snow that would continue into January 25th. Moderate to heavy snowfall then occurred during through the day January 24 and into midday January 25th. Between 5-7 inches of snow…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A flag pole at the Courthouse was bent over by strong winds. A personal weather station 6 miles NNW of the Courthouse recorded a wind gust of 57 mph.
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.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 | 1 |
| 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 | 11 | 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 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Cherokee County, measured to its path.
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