Meade County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20119 · population 4,051 · 978 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 858 records for Meade County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 431 days; the most frequent are hail reports (482 records). The most damaging was the April 9, 1994 tornado ($10.0 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1973, 13 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
- 858on 431 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 00 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $19Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 57strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Meade County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 482 since 1958. 60% 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 | 482 | 230 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $437K | 51 of 105 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 170 | 117 | 1958-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | 91 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 78 | 69 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 80 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 57 | 28 | 1952-2019 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 93 of 105 |
| Heavy rain | 23 | 15 | 1997-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 38 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 21 | 18 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $167K | 68 of 105 |
| Floods | 16 | 13 | 1996-2019 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 94 of 105 |
| Drought | 3 | 3 | 1996-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 96 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 89 of 105 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 3 | 2 | 2007-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 69 of 105 |
| Wildfires | 2 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | $125K | 46 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 Meade County had?
NOAA records 57 tornadoes in Meade County from 1952 to 2019, 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 58 tornadoes whose track touched Meade County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 57: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-17 19:37, as SPC files it | Minneola | EF3 | 29.62 mi | 0 |
| 2015-11-16 17:38, as SPC files it | Liberal | EF3 | 51.26 mi | 0 |
| 1973-09-25 17:25, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 5.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Meade County (57)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-05-17 | Fowler Airport, Meade County | EFU 3.33 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-17 | Fowler, Meade County | EF0 1.54 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-17 | Meade State Park, Meade County | EFU 3.86 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-05 | Missler, Meade County | EFU 0.73 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-05 | Missler, Meade County | EFU 0.42 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-05 | Missler, Meade County | EF1 1.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-11-16 | Collano, Meade County | EF1 6.33 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-11-16 | Plains, Meade County | EF2 18.28 mi x 2,000 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-24 | Fowler, Meade County | EF2 10.3 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-24 | Missler, Meade County | EF1 5.4 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-24 | Collano, Meade County | EF0 3.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-24 | Collano, Meade County | EF0 2.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-24 | Plains, Meade County | EF1 6.6 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 0 | $934K |
| 2008-06-18 | Collano, Meade County | EF1 1.37 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $117K |
| 2007-05-01 | Fowler, Meade County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Meade State Park, Meade County | EF0 8.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Fowler, Meade County | EF1 6.27 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $107K |
| 2007-03-28 | Meade County | EF0 1.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Meade County | EF0 1.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-02-23 | Fowler, Meade County | EF1 1.51 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2007-02-23 | Fowler, Meade County | EF0 2.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-10-26 | Meade County | F0 0.4 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-10-19 | Meade County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Meade County | F2 9.2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Fowler, Meade County | F1 0.8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Missler, Meade County | F0 1.8 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Missler, Meade County | F0 1.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Meade State Park, Meade County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Fowler, Meade County | F1 8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-15 | Meade County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $80K |
| 2003-05-15 | Plains, Meade County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $481K |
| 2002-08-12 | Fowler, Meade County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-31 | Meade County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-31 | Meade County | F0 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-04-09 | Plains, Meade County | F2 18 mi x 1,700 yd | 0 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 1982-05-18 | Meade County | F0 4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-05-28 | Meade County | F1 22 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-04-14 | Meade County | F1 21.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-11-19 | Meade County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1973-09-25 | Meade County | F3 5.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-04-26 | Meade County | F1 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-06-06 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-06-06 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-06-06 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1963-06-06 | Meade County | F0 4.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1962-06-10 | Meade County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1958-07-22 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1958-06-21 | Meade County | F2 12.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-06-17 | Meade County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1953-06-24 | Meade County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1952-04-29 | Meade County | F0 | 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 Meade County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 17, 2026 wildfire ($125,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-17 | WildfireMeade County · forecast zone Meade | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-17 | WildfireMeade County · forecast zone Meade | 0 | 0 | $125K | |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindMeade County · forecast zone Meade | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-10 | Thunderstorm WindHobart, Meade County | 58 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-10 | Thunderstorm WindPlains, Meade County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-10 | Thunderstorm WindPlains, Meade County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-03 | Thunderstorm WindMeade County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-16 | Thunderstorm WindMeade County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-08 | Thunderstorm WindMeade County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-08 | HailFowler Airport, Meade County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindMeade State Park, Meade County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-06 | Thunderstorm WindMeade State Park, Meade County | 65 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-04-09 | TornadoPlains, Meade County | F2 18 mi x 1,700 yd | 0 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 1998-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindMissler, Meade County | 0 | 0 | $3.3M | |
| 2019-05-05 | Flash FloodFowler, Meade County | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2015-05-24 | TornadoPlains, Meade County | EF1 6.6 mi x 1,200 yd | 0 | 0 | $934K |
| 2003-05-15 | TornadoPlains, Meade County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $481K |
| 2008-06-18 | TornadoCollano, Meade County | EF1 1.37 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $117K |
| 2007-03-28 | TornadoFowler, Meade County | EF1 6.27 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $107K |
| 1994-04-09 | HailKismet, Meade County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $100K |
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: April 14, 1976 (tornado, Meade 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 Meade 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 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 155 | 181 | 107 | 10 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 44 | 54 | 26 | 28 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 37 | 19 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 0 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 2 | 6 | 13 | 2 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 3 | 11 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
60% of its hail reports since 1958 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 20 · Feb 28 · Mar 46 · Apr 61 · May 204 · Jun 224 · Jul 112 · Aug 70 · Sep 36 · Oct 16 · Nov 18 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Meade County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Meade County: 12 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (9) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4824 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2019-06-20 | DR-4449 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding,Landslides,and Mudslides |
| 2017-02-24 | DR-4304 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2015-07-20 | DR-4230 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2013-10-22 | DR-4150 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, 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 |
| 2003-05-06 | DR-1462 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 1973-05-02 | DR-378 | 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.
How many floods has Meade County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Meade County from 1996 to 2019, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Meade County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 2 claims filed in Meade County; the most in one year was 1 in 1985. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 1 · 1993: 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 Meade County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Meade County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.0 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 | $3.6M | 99 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 124 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $704K | 9.9 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $795K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $49K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $544K | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $313K | 4.7 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | $19K | 9.6 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 Meade 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 Meade CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Meade County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis