Smith County, Kansas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
42
Tornado reports
271
Hail reports
16
Floods since 1996
710
All events
1
Deaths
$22.5M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Smith County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 41 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.
This tornado affected two counties in north central Kansas, touching down north of Lebanon in Smith County and lifting north of Esbon in Jewell County. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be near 140 MPH, with a maximum path width of 1580 yards. Along its path, this tornado c…
Storm total snowfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches combined with strong winds of 25 to 30 mph and periodic gusts approaching 45 mph brought reduced visibilities, occasional white out conditions and hazardous travel to the county. On Monday morning, a woman was killed in a one ve…
High Wind High Wind
Sustained speeds near 40 MPH and wind gusts exceeding 50 MPH were common throughout the day. Peak measured wind gusts included the following: 61 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located near Harlan; 60 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located two miles west-southwest of Leban…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located eight miles north of Bellaire.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 60 MPH was measured by the Smith Center Airport AWOS.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The NWS Cooperative Observer located in Lebanon estimated wind gusts of 50 to 60 MPH, resulting in several downed tree limbs across town.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Strong thunderstorms dropped as much as 4 to 6 inches of heavy rain across the area. Rural roads in the area were affected by running water, as were a portion of Highway 78/128 near the border of Webster County, NE and Jewell County, KS and a portion of Highway 281 in Smith Count…
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged anywhere from 3 to 7 inches. The highest reported totals included 7.0 inches from Lebanon and 3.1 inches from Smith Center. 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 65 MPH, measured by a mesonet station located eight miles north of Bellaire.
High Wind High Wind
The peak measured wind gust was 68 MPH, recorded by the Smith Center Airport AWOS.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 5 inch range, with the highest reported total of 4.7 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Lebanon.
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
A few of the coldest wind chills of the event were recorded across the county, including -38 degrees by the Smith Center Airport AWOS.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snowfall totals across the county were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range, with the highest reported total of 3.5 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Lebanon.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Storm total snow amounts generally in the 3 to 6 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
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delayed video from social media showing power pole damage in the area as well as damage to a grain bin.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 62 MPH was measured by the Smith Center Airport AWOS. Social media reports noted tree damage across town, and that about 20 percent of the town lost power.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A wind gust of 61 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located eight miles north of Bellaire.
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Hail Hail
Drought Drought
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts of 79 MPH and 68 MPH were measured by the Smith Center Airport AWOS. Law enforcement reported tree damage across town as well as damage to a local store sign.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wind gusts estimated to be near 70 MPH resulted in the destruction of a new outbuilding as well as tree damage in the general area.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A tornado moved across rural areas of northern Smith County north of Athol. This tornado damaged some trees near its starting point and turned over a small mobile building along its way north. The tornado passed near a local limestone quarry. The path was based on a combination o…
High Wind High Wind
Frequent gusts of 50 to 60 MPH occurred based on surrounding area observations.
High Wind High Wind
A wind gust of 58 MPH was measured by a mesonet station located eight miles north of Bellaire.
Drought Drought
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Measured and estimated snowfall totals ranged from 1 to 4 inches.
High Wind High Wind
Marginally-severe wake low wind gusts developed along the backside of a departing stratiform precipitation shield, marked by a roughly 6 millibar pressure drop in one hour at Smith Center Municipal Airport. These north-northeast winds gusted at least 50 MPH during this time, and …
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
The Smith Center Airport AWOS recorded wind chills of -35 at 9:15 AM on January 13th and -30 at 7:15 AM on January 14th.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Snow amounts of 2 to 5 inches fell across the county. Measured amounts include 4.8 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer located in Lebanon and 4.0 inches from a CoCoRaHS observer in Smith Center.
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall amounts ranged from 5 to 9 inches across the county. Highest totals included 8.5 inches, reported by NWS Cooperative Observer located in Lebanon, and 7.0 inches, reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located in Smith Center.
Blizzard Blizzard
Snowfall amounts ranged from 5 to 9 inches across the county. Highest totals included 8.5 inches, reported by NWS Cooperative Observer located in Lebanon, and 7.0 inches, reported by the NWS Cooperative Observer located in Smith Center.
Drought Drought
Winter Storm Winter Storm
Snowfall amounts of mainly 2-5 inches blanketed the county. A few reported totals included: 5.0 inches from the NWS Cooperative Observer in Lebanon and 3-4 inches in the Smith Center area.
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Drought Drought
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 | 12 | 0 |
| 2024 | 27 | 1 |
| 2023 | 26 | 0 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 |
| 2021 | 17 | 0 |
| 2020 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 17 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 |
| 2016 | 12 | 1 |
| 2015 | 20 | 1 |
| 2014 | 27 | 0 |
| 2013 | 33 | 3 |
| 2012 | 20 | 0 |
| 2011 | 29 | 0 |
| 2010 | 12 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 |
| 2008 | 23 | 1 |
| 2007 | 31 | 1 |
| 2006 | 18 | 0 |
| 2005 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004 | 13 | 0 |
| 2003 | 12 | 2 |
| 2002 | 25 | 2 |
| 2001 | 19 | 3 |
| 2000 | 12 | 0 |
| 1999 | 24 | 1 |
| 1998 | 16 | 1 |
| 1997 | 13 | 0 |
| 1996 | 14 | 0 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 21 | 0 |
| 1993 | 13 | 4 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 |
| 1991 | 16 | 1 |
| 1990 | 14 | 3 |
| 1989 | 5 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 6 | 0 |
| 1986 | 15 | 1 |
| 1985 | 6 | 1 |
| 1984 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 8 | 3 |
| 1980 | 2 | 0 |
| 1978 | 5 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 6 | 0 |
| 1973 | 6 | 3 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 3 | 1 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 4 | 2 |
| 1963 | 2 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |
| 1957 | 2 | 2 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 3 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Smith County, measured to its path.
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