Norton County, Kansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
31
Tornado reports
358
Hail reports
15
Floods since 1996
817
All events
1
Deaths
$40.9M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Norton County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 31 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.
Tornado EF3 Tornado
Storm survey team located a four-mile track of significant damage along and just south of Road S from Road 6 to Road 10. Major damage occurred to a grove of large cottonwood trees. Nearby, a farmstead received damage to outbuildings, utility poles, with the south-facing wall of t…
A strong tornado developed just northeast of Almena and traveled roughly along Highway 383 to the Phillips county line near roads E and 14. (The tornado continued northeast for several miles into Phillips county before dissipating). One residence was completely destroyed, but a m…
Tornado F3 Tornado
A large tornado dropped down just east of the town of Norton and stayed on the ground for approximately 10 miles before finally lifting north-northeast of the town of Almena. This Tornado reached around 3/4 of a mile wide at times and did major (F3) damage to a few farmsteads. To…
The North Fork of the Solomon River was out of its banks causing all of Lenora to be flooded, along with a stretch of Highway 9 coming into town as well as elsewhere in the southern part of the county. Swift water rescues occurred in the southern part of Norton county during the …
Many 2-3 ft. diameter trees were snapped off across town. One pine tree was also uprooted. Three or four houses in town had trees blown on them. One or two vehicles smashed under fallen trees. Part of a roof was torn off one house.
Snowfall totals across the county averaged 2 east and central, 5 in the west. A period of freezing rain occurred before the snow, producing 1 of ice. Damage costs are a preliminary combined estimate for both the Dec 20 and Dec 30 storms.
Hail Hail
A report of 1 inch hail in Norton.
Hail Hail
Spotter estimated penny to nickel size hail.
Drought Drought
Monthly precipitation amounts ranged from about two and three-quarters of an inch to eight inches, highest over southeast portions of the county. These values are about one-half inch below average to five inches above average. Normal June precipitation across the county is about …
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The spotter estimated 60 mph wind gusts.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by a personal weather station.
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by a personal weather station.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured at the Norton Municipal Airport.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured by a personal weather station.
Hail Hail
Occurred along Highway 383 between Keith Sebelius Lake and Clayton.
Drought Drought
Monthly precipitation amounts ranged from about one and one-half inches over northwest portions of the county (two inches below average), to nearly four inches over south-central portions of the county (near and either side of average). Normal monthly precipitation amounts are ar…
Drought Drought
Monthly precipitation amounts ranged from about eight-tenths of an inch over western portions of the county, to one and six-tenths of an inch over central and eastern portions. Precipitation deficits ranged from about three-quarters of an inch to nearly one and one-half inches be…
High Wind High Wind
Norton County likely had a few high wind gusts due to these gusts occurring in surrounding counties.
High Wind High Wind
The Kansas Mesonet site named Norton 4 SW recorded a wind gust of 67 mph. The Norton Airport AWOS (KNRN) recorded a wind gust of 59 and 62 mph. 60 mph wind gusts were also recorded on a Tempest weather station in Norton and WeatherUnderground site located 7 SSE Norton named KKSNO…
Snow, and north winds gusting up to 40 mph in wake of a strong cold front led to icy roads across the county. Snow amounts were generally light with COCORAHS amounts showing around 0.5 inches with the snow ending across Norton county around 6am CT. A single vehicle crash occurred…
A two vehicle crashed occurred on Highway 383 north of Norton during the morning in dense fog. A semi was stopped on the highway, waiting to turn into a road. A driver coming up from behind struck the semi. One driver sustained minor injuries. The crash closed the highway between…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An Ambient Weather site named Thompson reported the wind gust.
Hail Hail
The public relayed golf ball size hail.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reports hail up to 3 inches in diameter. Damage was reported to north facing windows.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
WL-Norton 6.5 south-southeast mesonet report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Public report of 60 MPH winds and blowing dust with visibility near 0.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report from AWN geil lodge.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 16 inch diameter tree was uprooted near the middle of town, and another similar sized tree was uprooted near the visitor center.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snow amounts ranged from four to twelve inches, with the highest amounts in the northeast part of the county. Key impacts: whiteout conditions, road closures.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snow amounts ranged from four to 12 inches, with the highest amounts to the northeast. Key impacts: whiteout conditions, road closures.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
The public reported their chimney cap blew off of their house in the wind. The strongest wind gust reported was 55 mph that was recorded on the Kansas Mesonet site 5 WSW of Norton named Norton 4SW.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
A Facebook report of 5 E Clayton reported 0.5 inches of ice from a combination of freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and riming from freezing fog on a small tree branch was occurring. There was also the mention that several small tree branches were breaking from the ice. Law enforc…
Hail Hail
Dime to quarter sized hail reported with ground turning white from hail coverage.
Hail Hail
Spotter estimated quarter sized hail ongoing at time of the report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet station NRRK1 reported wind gusts of 60-70 mph during this time.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated 60 mph winds were reported at the Norton county Landfill.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Estimated 60 MPH winds from heavy patio furniture being blown around and tree branches being bent horizontal.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
AWOS station KNRN at the Norton Airport reported the wind gust.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Social media report with videos of estimated 60 to 65 mph winds at the Norton landfill.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Social media report of winds around 60 mph or greater in the town of Almena.
Hail Hail
A trained spotter reported pea to penny size hail in the town of Norton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Hail Hail
Ongoing hail was reported to have ranged from dime to half dollar size.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A Weatherlink site named Elk Creek Ranch reported the wind gust.
Hail Hail
Multiple reports of hail ranging from nickel to half dollar in size in the town of Norton.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Spotter estimated 50-60 mph winds along the leading edge of the line of storms.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Reported via Kansas mesonet at 10 meter height above ground.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Reported via Weather Underground mesonet site KKSLENOR7.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 |
| 2023 | 83 | 2 |
| 2022 | 32 | 0 |
| 2021 | 29 | 0 |
| 2020 | 25 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 0 |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 13 | 0 |
| 2016 | 13 | 0 |
| 2015 | 16 | 3 |
| 2014 | 24 | 0 |
| 2013 | 29 | 0 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 49 | 8 |
| 2010 | 20 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 0 |
| 2008 | 22 | 0 |
| 2007 | 28 | 1 |
| 2006 | 29 | 0 |
| 2005 | 28 | 0 |
| 2004 | 30 | 0 |
| 2003 | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | 20 | 0 |
| 2001 | 20 | 0 |
| 2000 | 29 | 2 |
| 1999 | 28 | 1 |
| 1998 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 11 | 1 |
| 1996 | 17 | 1 |
| 1994 | 14 | 0 |
| 1993 | 12 | 2 |
| 1992 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 7 | 4 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 3 | 0 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 |
| 1965 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 1 | 1 |
| 1962 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 5 | 0 |
| 1959 | 2 | 0 |
| 1958 | 2 | 0 |
| 1956 | 2 | 1 |
| 1952 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Norton County, measured to its path.
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