Greenwood County, Kansas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20073 · population 6,011 · 1,143 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 678 records for Greenwood County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 399 days; the most frequent are hail reports (229 records). The deadliest single record is the April 26, 2009 flood: 1 death. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1965, 23 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on September 11, 2025.

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
678on 399 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
120 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$104Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
47strongest F4
FEMA declarations
25latest 2025

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 Greenwood County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 229 since 1956. 49% of its hail reports since 1956 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.

Greenwood County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 229 130 1956-2026 0 0 $1.4M 105 of 105
Severe thunderstorm wind 208 127 1955-2026 0 0 $1.9M 97 of 105
Winter storms 55 55 1998-2026 0 2 $47M 103 of 105
Floods 53 43 1998-2025 1 0 $1.2M 50 of 105
Tornadoes 47 36 1951-2026 0 18 $51M 84 of 105
Drought 42 42 2011-2023 0 0 $1.4M 51 of 105
Heavy rain 19 11 2015-2024 0 0 – 57 of 105
Heat 12 12 2006-2021 0 0 – 52 of 105
High wind and dust storms 6 6 2009-2026 0 0 $21K 101 of 105
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 4 3 2006-2014 0 0 – 61 of 105
Extreme cold 2 2 2007-2021 0 0 – 103 of 105
Lightning 1 1 2017-2017 0 0 $36K 79 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 Greenwood County had?

NOAA records 47 tornadoes in Greenwood County from 1951 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 18 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 50 tornadoes whose track touched Greenwood County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 47: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people, 0 of them in Greenwood County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Greenwood County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1956-04-02 21:30, as SPC files itVirgilCrossed KS, OKF4108.3 mi2
1991-04-26 18:26, as SPC files itSeveryF314 mi1
2018-06-26 18:18, as SPC files itEurekaEF39.15 mi0
2016-07-07 20:10, as SPC files itUnnamedEF34.19 mi0
1991-04-26 19:35, as SPC files itVirgilF315 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.

Every tornado record filed for Greenwood County (47)
Every tornado recorded in Greenwood County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-05-31 Madison, Greenwood County EFU 0.13 mi x 15 yd 0 0 –
2024-04-16 Quincy, Greenwood County EF2 2.7 mi x 116 yd 0 0 –
2024-04-16 Eureka, Greenwood County EF1 7.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2022-06-15 Madison, Greenwood County EF0 0.42 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-29 Reece, Greenwood County EF1 0.03 mi x 60 yd 0 0 –
2019-04-17 Eureka Airport, Greenwood County EFU 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2018-06-26 Eureka, Greenwood County EF3 9.15 mi x 500 yd 0 8 $16M
2016-07-07 Eureka Airport, Greenwood County EF2 3.59 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $4.7M
2016-07-07 Teterville, Greenwood County EF3 4.19 mi x 1,144 yd 0 0 $135K
2014-05-10 Severy, Greenwood County EF0 0.08 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2012-03-28 Madison, Greenwood County EF0 0.26 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2012-03-28 Madison, Greenwood County EF0 0.25 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2010-09-15 Severy, Greenwood County EF0 0.62 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2010-09-15 Severy, Greenwood County EF0 0.44 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2009-06-15 Hamilton, Greenwood County EF0 0.74 mi x 55 yd 0 0 –
2007-05-10 Eureka, Greenwood County EF0 1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2005-06-04 Severy, Greenwood County F0 0.5 mi x 110 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-08 Hamilton, Greenwood County F1 3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $120K
2003-05-08 Piedmont, Greenwood County F0 2 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $32K
1997-05-25 Neal, Greenwood County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1991-04-26 Greenwood County F3 10 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1991-04-26 Greenwood County F3 2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1990-06-08 Greenwood County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1986-04-07 Greenwood County F2 8.6 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1986-04-07 Greenwood County F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $250K step
1984-04-26 Greenwood County F1 15 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1983-05-27 Greenwood County F0 0.2 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $25K step
1982-03-15 Greenwood County F2 1 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1978-09-17 Greenwood County F0 2 mi x 7 yd 0 0 $25K step
1978-05-11 Greenwood County F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 $25K step
1978-05-11 Greenwood County F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 $250 step
1974-05-30 Greenwood County F2 20.4 mi x 167 yd 0 1 –
1973-06-04 Greenwood County F2 5.9 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $250K step
1972-04-19 Greenwood County F2 20 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1968-06-10 Greenwood County F2 1.5 mi x 50 yd 0 3 $250K step
1966-05-11 Greenwood County F0 0 0 –
1964-11-15 Greenwood County F2 0.8 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $25K step
1962-07-06 Greenwood County F0 0 0 –
1961-03-26 Greenwood County 0 0 –
1961-03-26 Greenwood County 0 0 –
1961-03-26 Greenwood County F2 2 mi x 440 yd 0 1 $250K step
1961-03-26 Greenwood County 0 0 –
1958-06-14 Greenwood County F0 21 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1957-05-20 Greenwood County 0 0 –
1957-05-16 Greenwood County F1 13.5 mi x 440 yd 0 0 –
1956-04-02 Greenwood County F4 15.5 mi x 880 yd 0 5 $250K step
1951-06-22 Greenwood County 0 0 $250 step

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 Greenwood County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 3, 2020 thunderstorm wind ($23,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

Emergency manager reported multiple trees down and wind damage to outbuildings 5 to 6 miles south of Hamilton. Sheriffs deputy estimated winds of 75 mph.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 880800)
The 12 most recent records kept for Greenwood County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindEureka Airport, Greenwood County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindMadison, Greenwood County 54 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-31 TornadoMadison, Greenwood County EFU 0.13 mi x 15 yd 0 0 –
2026-05-31 HailHilltop, Greenwood County 1.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-30 HailFall River, Greenwood County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-30 HailFall River, Greenwood County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-26 HailMadison, Greenwood County 2.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-26 HailMadison, Greenwood County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-23 HailMadison, Greenwood County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-15 High WindGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood 51 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-10 Thunderstorm WindHilltop, Greenwood County 78 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-01-23 Winter StormGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Greenwood County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2009-04-26 FloodHilltop, Greenwood County Heavy rainfall from numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon, evening and overnight hours on the 26th produced widespread flooding across much of Greenwood county. Numerous roads remained submerged and consequently closed through early on the 28th from the high water. Sadly, a 20 year old Yates Center man died ... 1 0 –
2018-06-26 TornadoEureka, Greenwood County A large circulation around tree top level moved into the southwest side of town causing minimal damage initially to trees and one business, before descending fully to the ground, as it moved northeast across town. The tornado fully came down to the ground, on the northeast side of town, intensifying, and causing ... EF3 9.15 mi x 500 yd 0 8 $16M
1956-04-02 TornadoGreenwood County F4 15.5 mi x 880 yd 0 5 $250K step
1968-06-10 TornadoGreenwood County F2 1.5 mi x 50 yd 0 3 $250K step
2008-12-09 Winter WeatherGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood One to three inches of snowfall caused a total of ten accidents across portions of the county. Two of the accidents were injury accidents when the vehicles they were driving overturned on slick highways. 0 2 $41K
1974-05-30 TornadoGreenwood County F2 20.4 mi x 167 yd 0 1 –
1961-03-26 TornadoGreenwood County F2 2 mi x 440 yd 0 1 $250K step

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.

The costliest records in Greenwood County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2002-01-30 Ice StormGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood 0 0 $41M
2018-06-26 TornadoEureka, Greenwood County EF3 9.15 mi x 500 yd 0 8 $16M
2016-07-07 TornadoEureka Airport, Greenwood County EF2 3.59 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $4.7M
2009-03-27 Winter StormGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood 0 0 $2.8M
2011-07-01 DroughtGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood 0 0 $1.3M
2012-03-28 HailMadison, Greenwood County 3.00 in hail 0 0 $1.3M
1994-04-09 Thunderstorm WindEureka, Greenwood County 0 0 $995K
1998-11-01 FloodGreenwood County · forecast zone Greenwood 0 0 $905K

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: March 15, 1982 (tornado, Greenwood County); April 26, 1991 (tornado, Greenwood County); April 26, 1991 (tornado, Greenwood 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 Greenwood 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).

Greenwood County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail3231452596927
Severe thunderstorm wind1401330487537
Winter storms––––2221615
Floods––––120275
Tornadoes58654595
Drought––––002517

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

49% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 21 · Feb 22 · Mar 54 · Apr 105 · May 168 · Jun 115 · Jul 63 · Aug 48 · Sep 32 · Oct 19 · Nov 14 · Dec 17 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Greenwood County

FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Greenwood County: 21 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (18) and flood (3).

Declarations including Greenwood County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2025-09-11DR-4891Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2024-07-15DR-4800Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2020-03-29DR-4504BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3481BiologicalCovid-19
2019-06-20DR-4449Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,and Mudslides
2019-05-28EM-3412Severe StormTornadoes and Flooding
2019-02-25DR-4417Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2016-10-20DR-4287Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2015-07-20DR-4230Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2013-10-22DR-4150Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2010-08-10DR-1932Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2010-03-09DR-1885Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Snowstorm
2009-06-25DR-1849Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2009-06-24DR-1848Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow
2008-10-31DR-1808Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2007-12-12EM-3282Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2007-07-02DR-1711Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2005-09-10EM-3236HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-02-08DR-1579Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding
2002-02-06DR-1402Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
1998-11-05DR-1258Severe StormKs-Flooding 10/31/98
1976-07-13DR-514FloodSevere Storms, High Winds & Flooding
1973-09-28DR-403Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1973-05-02DR-378FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1965-06-23DR-201FloodFlooding

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.

How many floods has Greenwood County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 53 flood or flash flood records for Greenwood County from 1998 to 2025, on 43 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Greenwood County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $18,000 on 6 claims filed in Greenwood County; the most in one year was 2 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1982: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Greenwood County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Greenwood County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.5 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Greenwood County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively High$1.3Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.7Monce in about 205 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$489K8.5 a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$80K11 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Low$538K6.4 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$102K42 modeled event-days a year
Heat WaveRelatively Low$269K14 modeled event-days a year
LightningRelatively Low$151K52 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 Greenwood County

  1. Butler County 2,021
  2. Lyon County 1,047
  3. Greenwood County 678
  4. Coffey County 657
  5. Wilson County 544
  6. Chase County 497
  7. Elk County 462
  8. Woodson County 368

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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