Decatur County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20039 · population 2,755 · 894 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 813 records for Decatur County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 484 days; the most frequent are hail reports (357 records). The most damaging was the December 29, 2006 winter storm ($4.0 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 2004, 10 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on September 1, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 813on 484 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 07 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $40Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 46strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Decatur County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 357 since 1958. 57% of its hail reports since 1958 fell in May and June. The rank column places the county among Kansas's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 357 | 203 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 59 of 105 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 189 | 118 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 1 | $1.4M | 82 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 62 | 52 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $99K | 20 of 105 |
| Drought | 61 | 61 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 60 | 58 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | 88 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 46 | 32 | 1952-2022 | 0 | 5 | $33M | 73 of 105 |
| Floods | 17 | 15 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 83 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 12 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 105 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 1 | $50K | 36 of 105 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 3 | 1998-2001 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 105 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2005-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 105 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 105 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Decatur County had?
NOAA records 46 tornadoes in Decatur County from 1952 to 2022, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 51 tornadoes whose track touched Decatur County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 46: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-06-14 14:30, as SPC files it | Jennings | F3 | 17.2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Decatur County (46)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-06-04 | Oberlin, Decatur County | EFU 3.32 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-05-17 | Lyle, Decatur County | EFU 1.84 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-23 | Leoville, Decatur County | EF1 0.93 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-26 | Cedar Bluffs, Decatur County | EFU 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-09 | Oberlin, Decatur County | EF1 11.74 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2011-06-20 | Norcatur, Decatur County | EF0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-20 | Norcatur, Decatur County | EF0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-22 | Dresden, Decatur County | EF1 26 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.1M |
| 2008-05-22 | Oberlin, Decatur County | EF1 12.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2008-05-22 | Leoville, Decatur County | EF1 14.5 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $343K |
| 2007-03-28 | Jennings, Decatur County | EF0 8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2005-06-09 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 0.8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 1.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-04 | Jennings, Decatur County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-06-04 | Dresden, Decatur County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-06-19 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2000-10-31 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F1 4 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-10-31 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 2.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-04-14 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $905 |
| 1998-04-14 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-04-14 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F1 7.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 1998-04-14 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F1 1.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1996-08-10 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-15 | Jennings, Decatur County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-15 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-06-06 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-22 | Oberlin, Decatur County | F1 4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-03-28 | To 0.75, Decatur County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-09-06 | Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-09-06 | Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-09-06 | Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-05-18 | Decatur County | F1 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-06-12 | Decatur County | F2 15 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1983-06-12 | Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1983-05-05 | Decatur County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-06-24 | Decatur County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1972-09-05 | Decatur County | F2 2.3 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1972-09-05 | Decatur County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1970-06-14 | Decatur County | F3 10.6 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 5 | $2.5M step |
| 1965-07-18 | Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $3K step | |
| 1965-06-05 | Decatur County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1962-05-17 | Decatur County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1960-06-10 | Decatur County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1958-07-04 | Decatur County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1953-05-27 | Decatur County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1952-07-06 | Decatur County | F1 11.9 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Decatur County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the August 7, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-16 | Thunderstorm WindOberlin Municipal Airport, Decatur County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | DroughtDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-16 | High WindDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-28 | Winter WeatherDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-18 | High WindDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-17 | High WindDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-19 | HailJennings, Decatur County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-16 | Thunderstorm WindOberlin Municipal Airport, Decatur County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-06-14 | TornadoDecatur County | F3 10.6 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 5 | $2.5M step |
| 2004-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindCedar Bluffs, Decatur County Small building destroyed and boy was struck in the head by flying 2x4 board. Boy sent to hospital. | 69 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1997-08-18 | LightningDresden, Decatur County A 42 year old man was slightly injured by lightning while loading equipment on his truck. | 0 | 1 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-12-29 | Winter StormDecatur County · forecast zone Decatur | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | |
| 2008-05-22 | TornadoDresden, Decatur County | EF1 26 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.1M |
| 2008-05-22 | TornadoOberlin, Decatur County | EF1 12.5 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 1993-08-18 | HailOberlin, Decatur County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1999-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindLeoville, Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $531K | |
| 1997-08-21 | Thunderstorm WindDresden, Decatur County | 0 | 0 | $460K | |
| 2007-03-28 | TornadoJennings, Decatur County | EF0 8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2024-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindNorcatur, Decatur County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $56K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 14, 1970 (tornado, Decatur County); June 12, 1983 (tornado, Decatur County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Decatur County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 2 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 84 | 110 | 63 | 66 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 54 | 35 | 58 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 10 | 20 | 28 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 6 | 24 z | 31 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 25 | 19 | 10 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 4 |
Drought in the 2010s: 24 records against 6 in the decade before, 24 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Decatur County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
57% of its hail reports since 1958 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 26 · Feb 23 · Mar 34 · Apr 58 · May 160 · Jun 209 · Jul 102 · Aug 82 · Sep 48 · Oct 26 · Nov 13 · Dec 32 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Decatur County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Decatur County: 9 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | DR-4943 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4504 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3481 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-06-16 | DR-4319 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-08-10 | DR-1932 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2010-03-09 | DR-1885 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2008-07-09 | DR-1776 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3282 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-01-07 | DR-1675 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2006-01-26 | DR-1626 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3236 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1535 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Decatur County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Decatur County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.7 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $2.0M | 8.3 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $793K | 88 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $835K | 4.5 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $65K | 13 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $63K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $470K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $16K | once in about 4,145 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $179K | 5.2 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Decatur County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in KansasEvery Kansas tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in KansasThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Kansas recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Decatur CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Decatur County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis