Rooks County, Kansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1951 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
53
Tornado reports
317
Hail reports
23
Floods since 1996
755
All events
0
Deaths
$28.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Rooks County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 53 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.
The local newspaper reported that the combination of wind and hail that pummeled the area broke numerous home and vehicle windows, damaged siding and roofs, ruined gardens and stripped trees of leaves.
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day. The peak measured wind gust was 58 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located near Woodston.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts of 66 MPH and 62 MPH were measured by a mesonet station located six miles north of Plainville.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by the Rooks County Airport AWOS.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 64 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located six miles south of Palco.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located one mile south-southwest of Stockton.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged anywhere from 3 to 7 inches. The highest reported totals included 4.1 inches from four miles west-northwest of Plainville and 4.0 inches from Palco. This snow, combined with the strong northerly winds, resulted in widespread white-out conditions.
High Wind High Wind
Wind gusts anywhere from 55 to near 70 MPH were common across the area. The peak measured wind gust for the county was 63 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located six miles north of Plainville.
High Wind High Wind
Peak wind gusts were based to be near 60 MPH, based on surrounding area observations.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 5 inch range, with the highest reported total of 4.0 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located four miles west-northwest of Plainville.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 1 to 3 inch range, with the highest reported total of 2.5 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located 4 miles west-northwest of Plainville.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Storm total snow amounts generally in the 4 to 10 inch range, combined with northerly winds gusting around 35 MPH, resulted in near-zero visibility and hazardous conditions across the county.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 65 MPH. Power outages were reported in the area.
Hail Hail
Quarter to ping pong ball size hail was reported.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail up to the size of golf balls was reported in the area.
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 83 MPH was measured by a Kansas State Mesonet station located six miles north of Plainville.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located four miles north-northeast of Webster State Park.
High Wind High Wind
Peak measured wind gusts included 67 MPH, 62 MPH and 58 MPH by a mesonet station located four miles north-northeast of Webster State Park, as well as 59 MPH by a mesonet station located four miles north of Damar.
High Wind High Wind
A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located in Plainville, and gusts of 62 MPH and 58 MPH were measured by a mesonet located four miles north-northeast of Webster State Park. Law enforcement reported damage to power poles in the Stockton area.
Drought Drought
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Measured and estimated snowfall totals ranged from 1 to 5 inches.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The Stockton Airport AWOS recorded a wind chill of -31 at 12:19 PM on January 13th.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow amounts of a trace to 2 inches fell across the county. Measured amounts include 1.9 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located four miles west-northwest of Plainville and 1.0 inch from the NWS Cooperative Observer located at Webster Dam.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 10 inches across the county. Highest totals included 9.3 inches, reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located 4 miles west-northwest of Plainville, and 8.0 inches, reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located at Webster Dam.
Drought Drought
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall amounts of mainly 2-4 inches blanketed the county. A few reported totals included: 3.1 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer four miles west-northwest of Plainville and 2.8 inches from a CoCoRaHS observer 10 miles west-northwest of Stockton.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located five miles northwest of Natoma.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 59 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located eight miles north-northeast of Codell.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 14 | 0 |
| 2024 | 23 | 0 |
| 2023 | 44 | 0 |
| 2022 | 31 | 0 |
| 2021 | 25 | 0 |
| 2020 | 16 | 0 |
| 2019 | 31 | 1 |
| 2018 | 18 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 1 |
| 2016 | 18 | 2 |
| 2015 | 16 | 0 |
| 2014 | 23 | 1 |
| 2013 | 32 | 0 |
| 2012 | 30 | 0 |
| 2011 | 25 | 0 |
| 2010 | 32 | 0 |
| 2009 | 9 | 0 |
| 2008 | 52 | 8 |
| 2007 | 17 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 24 | 5 |
| 2004 | 19 | 1 |
| 2003 | 12 | 0 |
| 2002 | 16 | 1 |
| 2001 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000 | 11 | 1 |
| 1999 | 23 | 1 |
| 1998 | 6 | 0 |
| 1997 | 16 | 0 |
| 1996 | 18 | 0 |
| 1995 | 6 | 2 |
| 1994 | 6 | 0 |
| 1993 | 8 | 0 |
| 1992 | 13 | 3 |
| 1991 | 7 | 2 |
| 1990 | 12 | 1 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1986 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 7 | 2 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 2 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 |
| 1972 | 4 | 3 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 1 | 1 |
| 1964 | 5 | 2 |
| 1962 | 3 | 0 |
| 1961 | 5 | 3 |
| 1959 | 3 | 1 |
| 1958 | 2 | 0 |
| 1951 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Rooks County, measured to its path.
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