Kearny County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20093 · population 3,977 · 871 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 829 records for Kearny County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 409 days; the most frequent are hail reports (440 records). The most damaging was the October 21, 2008 thunderstorm wind ($4.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1965, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on September 24, 2024.
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
- 829on 409 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $12Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 45strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 2024
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 Kearny County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 440 since 1956. 54% 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 440 | 200 | 1956-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 53 of 105 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 177 | 119 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 2 | $6.2M | 78 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 69 | 62 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 79 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 45 | 28 | 1951-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4.6M | 83 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 40 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 39 of 105 |
| Heavy rain | 27 | 19 | 2004-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 105 |
| Floods | 14 | 12 | 1997-2023 | 0 | 0 | $277K | 93 of 105 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 9 | 8 | 2007-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 26 of 105 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 1996-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 92 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 105 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 2 | 2018-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 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 Kearny County had?
NOAA records 45 tornadoes in Kearny County from 1951 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 0 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 46 tornadoes whose track touched Kearny County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 45: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Kearny County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967-06-23 20:00, as SPC files it | Garden | F3 | 35.6 mi | 1 |
| 1951-05-20 19:00, as SPC files it | Lakin to Holcomb | F3 | 12.8 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Kearny County (45)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-03 | Lake Mc Kinney, Kearny County | EF0 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-05-21 | Lakin, Kearny County | EFU 1.76 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-22 | Lake Mc Kinney, Kearny County | EF1 1 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-22 | Lake Mc Kinney, Kearny County | EF0 4.8 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-22 | Deerfield, Kearny County | EF1 2.82 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-06 | Deerfield, Kearny County | EF0 0.34 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-06 | Deerfield, Kearny County | EF0 0.6 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-06 | Lake Mc Kinney, Kearny County | EF0 0.51 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-06-03 | Lake Mc Kinney, Kearny County | EF0 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-06-04 | Lakin, Kearny County | EF0 2.85 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-29 | Lakin, Kearny County | EF0 0.12 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-29 | Lakin, Kearny County | EF0 0.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-29 | Lakin, Kearny County | EF0 0.28 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-04-22 | Lakin White Airport, Kearny County | EF0 2.72 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-04-22 | Lake Mc Kinney, Kearny County | EF0 2.61 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-04-22 | Lakin White Airport, Kearny County | EF0 4.9 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-04-22 | Lakin, Kearny County | EF1 9.4 mi x 1,760 yd | 0 | 0 | $244K |
| 2005-06-03 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 1.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-05-11 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 1.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-04-10 | Deerfield, Kearny County | F1 5.1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| 1999-06-22 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-22 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-22 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-15 | Kearny County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $136K |
| 1995-05-15 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-09-07 | Deerfield, Kearny County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-06-22 | Lydia, Kearny County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-09-18 | Lakin, Kearny County | F0 8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-05-22 | Deerfield, Kearny County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-05-10 | Kearny County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-08-02 | Kearny County | F0 10.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-04-15 | Kearny County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1969-10-04 | Kearny County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-06-23 | Kearny County | F3 15.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1966-05-11 | Kearny County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-06-03 | Kearny County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-06-03 | Kearny County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-06-03 | Kearny County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-06-03 | Kearny County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1965-06-03 | Kearny County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1964-05-10 | Kearny County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1962-07-04 | Kearny County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1954-06-10 | Kearny County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1951-05-20 | Kearny County | F3 12.8 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1951-05-20 | Kearny County | F2 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Kearny County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 22, 2010 tornado ($244,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
This tornado was a mile wide at it's maximum size as witnessed by storm chasers and storm spotters. It did minimal damage to pivot sprinklers and barns as this was a very sparsely populated area.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 244454)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-22 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-03 | Dense FogKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-16 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-16 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-16 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-16 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-16 | High WindKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-09 | Heavy SnowKearny County · forecast zone Kearny | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-10-21 | Thunderstorm WindLakin, Kearny County Thunderstorm winds were estimated to be from 90 to 100 mph. A mobile home was destroyed and another was heavily damaged. Two occupants of the destroyed trailer were injured, on seriously. There were also 16 pivot irrigation sprinklers overturned in a 4 mile radius of this location. In addition, 20 power poles were ... | 83 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $4.9M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-10-21 | Thunderstorm WindLakin, Kearny County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $4.9M |
| 1993-08-01 | Thunderstorm WindDeerfield, Kearny County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1993-09-18 | HailLakin, Kearny County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1997-08-06 | Flash FloodLakin, Kearny County | 0 | 0 | $276K | |
| 2010-04-22 | TornadoLakin, Kearny County | EF1 9.4 mi x 1,760 yd | 0 | 0 | $244K |
| 1995-05-15 | TornadoKearny County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $136K |
| 2009-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindLakin White Airport, Kearny County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $124K |
| 1993-09-18 | Thunderstorm WindLakin, Kearny County | 0 | 0 | $102K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 20, 1951 (tornado, Kearny 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 Kearny 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 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 109 | 176 | 113 | 28 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 34 | 55 | 45 | 30 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 9 | 32 | 16 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 15 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 6 | 10 | 21 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 12 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
54% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 21 · Mar 22 · Apr 64 · May 167 · Jun 220 · Jul 114 · Aug 81 · Sep 55 · Oct 14 · Nov 17 · Dec 20 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Kearny County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Kearny County: 8 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4824 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2023-10-26 | DR-4747 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2022-02-17 | DR-4640 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Straight Line Winds |
| 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 |
| 2009-06-24 | DR-1848 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3282 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-01-07 | DR-1675 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3236 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1965-06-23 | DR-201 | Flood | Flooding |
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 Kearny County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 14 flood or flash flood records for Kearny County from 1997 to 2023, on 12 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Kearny County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Kearny County; the most in one year was 1 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2004: 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 Kearny County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Kearny 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively High | $3.0M | 90 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $718K | 8.3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $56K | 9.8 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $450K | 3.3 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $285K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $22K | once in about 3,007 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $346K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Very Low | $80K | 43 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 Kearny 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 Kearny CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Kearny County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis