Lane County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20101 · population 1,571 · 717 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 612 records for Lane County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 344 days; the most frequent are hail reports (299 records). The most damaging was the May 9, 1996 hail ($4.9 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1993, 9 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms and Straight-Line Winds” on May 25, 2022.
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
- 612on 344 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $6.1Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 45strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 2022
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 Lane County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 299 since 1962. 52% of its hail reports since 1962 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 | 299 | 153 | 1962-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | 72 of 105 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 120 | 87 | 1969-2025 | 0 | 1 | $704K | 90 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 84 | 70 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 34 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 45 | 27 | 1953-2024 | 0 | 2 | $439K | 66 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 34 | 27 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5K | 34 of 105 |
| Heavy rain | 12 | 11 | 2006-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 of 105 |
| Floods | 7 | 7 | 1996-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 101 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 105 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 1996-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 84 of 105 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2012-2021 | 0 | 0 | $116K | 3 of 105 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2000-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 76 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 Lane County had?
NOAA records 45 tornadoes in Lane County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 2 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 Lane 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 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-04-30 16:00, as SPC files it | Utica | F3 | 13.1 mi | 0 |
| 1972-04-30 17:20, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 1 mi | 0 |
| 1962-06-16 19:05, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 34.6 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Lane County (45)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-01 | Pendennis, Lane County | EFU 0.88 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-05-04 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 0.01 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-07-05 | Amy, Lane County | EF0 0.33 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-27 | Dighton, Lane County | EF0 1.88 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-27 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 1.34 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-24 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 1.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-24 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-24 | Pendennis, Lane County | EF0 0.1 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-24 | Healy, Lane County | EF0 0.1 mi x 15 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-24 | Healy, Lane County | EF0 0.8 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-05-24 | Healy, Lane County | EF0 1.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-11-16 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 3.22 mi x 950 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-27 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 1.44 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-27 | Amy, Lane County | EF0 1.43 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-27 | Dighton Airport, Lane County | EF0 0.83 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-27 | Dighton Airport, Lane County | EF0 1.49 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-27 | Amy, Lane County | EF0 0.28 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-08-13 | Healy, Lane County | EF0 0.04 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-10-07 | Healy, Lane County | EF1 2.36 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-04-22 | Healy, Lane County | EF0 3.7 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-07-31 | Pendennis, Lane County | EF0 0.69 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-06-20 | Shields, Lane County | EF0 4.19 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-25 | Healy, Lane County | EF1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-23 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 1.8 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-23 | Shields, Lane County | EF0 1.28 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-23 | Shields, Lane County | EF1 4.4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-23 | Healy, Lane County | EF0 1.73 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-23 | Dighton, Lane County | EF0 3.2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-23 | Dighton Airport, Lane County | EF1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $89K |
| 2008-05-23 | Dighton Airport, Lane County | EF1 8.1 mi x 1,220 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-22 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 1.45 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-22 | Alamota, Lane County | EF0 5.42 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-05-16 | Shields, Lane County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 1991-05-15 | Lane County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1990-06-15 | Lane County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-07-07 | Lane County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-08-13 | Lane County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1976-04-23 | Lane County | F1 14.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1972-04-30 | Lane County | F3 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $3K step |
| 1972-04-30 | Lane County | F3 13.1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-05-17 | Lane County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1969-07-09 | Lane County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1965-05-25 | Lane County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-09-02 | Lane County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1953-04-09 | Lane County | F1 0.4 mi x 70 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 Lane County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 4, 2025 high wind ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | High WindLane County · forecast zone Lane | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindLane County · forecast zone Lane | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-09 | Heavy SnowLane County · forecast zone Lane | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-09 | Heavy SnowLane County · forecast zone Lane | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-08-10 | Thunderstorm WindDighton, Lane County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindDighton, Lane County | 67 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindDighton, Lane County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindDighton, Lane County | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindAmy, Lane County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindShields, Lane County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-19 | Thunderstorm WindDighton, Lane County | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-14 | High WindLane County · forecast zone Lane | 63 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-04-30 | TornadoLane County | F3 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 2 | $3K step |
| 2020-08-01 | Thunderstorm WindDighton Airport, Lane County A building was heavily damaged from an apparent microburst. Blowing gravel broke out the windows of a vehicle and injured the occupant of the vehicle. There were also power poles blown down in this location. | 70 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-05-09 | HailDighton, Lane County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $4.9M |
| 1996-07-07 | Thunderstorm WindHealy, Lane County | 0 | 0 | $564K | |
| 2008-10-21 | Thunderstorm WindDighton, Lane County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $117K |
| 2008-05-23 | TornadoDighton Airport, Lane County | EF1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $89K |
| 2004-05-16 | TornadoShields, Lane County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2004-06-15 | Thunderstorm WindPendennis, Lane County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1998-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindAmy, Lane County | 0 | 0 | $5K | |
| 2025-03-04 | High WindLane County · forecast zone Lane | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 30, 1972 (tornado, Lane County); July 7, 1987 (tornado, Lane County); May 15, 1991 (tornado, Lane 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 Lane 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 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 71 | 132 | 66 | 14 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 40 | 31 | 15 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 35 | 19 | 18 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 18 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 11 | 8 | 11 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
52% of its hail reports since 1962 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 27 · Feb 20 · Mar 30 · Apr 66 · May 158 · Jun 97 · Jul 77 · Aug 62 · Sep 33 · Oct 10 · Nov 9 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lane County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Lane County: 8 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (5) and snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-05-25 | DR-4654 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storms and Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| 2013-10-22 | DR-4150 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3236 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1993-07-22 | DR-1000 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Lane County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lane County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.1 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 Moderate | $918K | 73 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $679K | 9.9 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $36K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $18K | once in about 2,493 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $395K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $249K | 3.7 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | $175K | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $11K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Lane 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 Lane CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lane County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis