Montgomery County, Kansas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20125 · population 31,479 · 644 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 927 records for Montgomery County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 475 days; the most frequent are hail reports (328 records). The deadliest single record is the August 14, 2018 flash flood: 2 deaths. 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, Flooding,Landslides,and Mudslides” on June 20, 2019.

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
927on 475 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
1019 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$144Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
37strongest F3
FEMA declarations
15latest 2020

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 Montgomery County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 328 since 1960. 59% of its hail reports since 1960 fell in April and May. 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.

Montgomery County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 328 160 1960-2026 0 0 $8.9M 38 of 105
Severe thunderstorm wind 322 181 1956-2026 0 2 $5.4M 14 of 105
Floods 87 61 1998-2026 4 0 $116M 13 of 105
Winter storms 49 48 1999-2026 2 14 $887K 74 of 105
Drought 45 45 2011-2026 0 0 $787K 11 of 105
Tornadoes 37 28 1954-2026 1 3 $11M 42 of 105
Heavy rain 23 11 1998-2024 0 0 – 32 of 105
Heat 15 15 2006-2021 1 0 – 31 of 105
High wind and dust storms 9 9 1996-2026 0 0 $195K 85 of 105
Lightning 6 6 2002-2019 1 0 $259K 13 of 105
Extreme cold 4 4 2007-2021 1 0 – 54 of 105
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 2006-2024 0 0 – 53 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 Montgomery County had?

NOAA records 37 tornadoes in Montgomery County from 1954 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 42nd of 105 Kansas counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 36 tornadoes whose track touched Montgomery County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 37: 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.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Montgomery County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1982-03-15 18:15, as SPC files itTyroF36 mi1
2000-04-19 19:30, as SPC files itParsonsF334 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.

Every tornado record filed for Montgomery County (37)
Every tornado recorded in Montgomery County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-04-26 Elk City Lake, Montgomery County EF2 4.59 mi x 400 yd 0 1 –
2026-04-26 Elk City Lake, Montgomery County EF1 5.03 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2024-04-27 Independence, Montgomery County EFU 0.01 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2018-08-14 Elk City, Montgomery County EF0 0.27 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2015-04-07 Cherryvale, Montgomery County EF0 0.03 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2013-05-31 Independence, Montgomery County EF0 0.42 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2013-05-20 Dearing, Montgomery County EF0 0.54 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2006-03-30 Havana, Montgomery County F2 16 mi x 125 yd 0 1 $1.5M
2005-11-27 Cherryvale, Montgomery County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2005-06-04 Independence, Montgomery County F0 0.5 mi x 110 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-08 Coffeyville, Montgomery County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-08 Dearing, Montgomery County F0 2 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2003-04-19 Coffeyville, Montgomery County F0 2 mi x 110 yd 0 0 –
2003-04-19 Coffeyville, Montgomery County F0 1 mi x 110 yd 0 0 –
2000-06-04 Elk City Lake, Montgomery County F0 1 mi x 110 yd 0 0 $17K
2000-04-19 Havana, Montgomery County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2000-04-19 Havana, Montgomery County F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2000-04-19 Cherryvale, Montgomery County F1 1 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $171K
1991-04-26 Montgomery County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1991-04-26 Montgomery County F2 6 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1990-05-14 Montgomery County F1 7 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1990-05-14 Montgomery County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1984-04-29 Montgomery County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $250 step
1984-04-26 Montgomery County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $250 step
1982-05-20 Montgomery County F0 0 0 $25K step
1982-03-15 Montgomery County F1 0 0 $25K step
1982-03-15 Montgomery County F3 6 mi x 300 yd 1 1 $2.5M step
1981-05-23 Montgomery County F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1981-05-23 Montgomery County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1977-05-17 Montgomery County F1 3.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1965-05-08 Montgomery County 0 0 $3K step
1961-05-07 Montgomery County 0 0 –
1959-05-09 Montgomery County F1 7.8 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
1955-05-11 Montgomery County F0 0 0 –
1954-05-01 Montgomery County F2 5.6 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1954-04-29 Montgomery County F0 0.8 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1954-03-24 Montgomery County F1 2 mi x 440 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 Montgomery County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 26, 2026 tornado (1 injury).

This tornado began SSW of Sycamore and tracked ENE along 5800 Rd causing EF2 damage to two houses east of the Verdigris River and north of Rd 5800. One occupant of one of the homes was unfortunately injured.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1335555)
The 12 most recent records kept for Montgomery County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-26 Flash FloodCaney, Montgomery County 0 0 –
2026-06-25 Thunderstorm WindCherryvale, Montgomery County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindIndepdence Airport, Montgomery County 61 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindIndependence, Montgomery County 61 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindCoffeyville Airport, Montgomery County 69 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindIndepdence Airport, Montgomery County 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindIndependence, Montgomery County 59 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 Thunderstorm WindElk City, Montgomery County 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-11 HailCherryvale, Montgomery County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-28 HailCoffeyville, Montgomery County 0.88 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-28 HailCoffeyville, Montgomery County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-26 TornadoElk City Lake, Montgomery County EF2 4.59 mi x 400 yd 0 1 –

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 Montgomery County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-08-14 Flash FloodElk City Lake, Montgomery County Torrential rains within a bowl shaped landscape produced catastrophic flooding of Racket Creek. Rainfall amounts up to 8.5 inches fell in an isolated area in which the creek ran between a pair of elevated regions causing significant and rapid rises of the creek. Water was estimated to be approximately 4 feet above ... 2 0 –
2011-01-09 Winter WeatherMontgomery County · forecast zone Montgomery Two to four inches of snowfall fell across the area during the first significant snowfall of the season. Numerous accidents occurred with the newly fallen snow, with one such accident leading to a fatality north of Independence. A 63 year old female was killed when her vehicle lost control and collided with a car ... 1 2 $26K
1982-03-15 TornadoMontgomery County F3 6 mi x 300 yd 1 1 $2.5M step
2019-09-28 LightningElk City Lake, Montgomery County A participant in the Flat Rock Ultra Trail race was struck by lightning less than one quarter of a mile away from the finish line. 1 0 –
2012-04-29 FloodElk City Lake, Montgomery County Very heavy rains moved across the county causing significant travel problems due to hydroplaning and flooding of low lying areas. Creeks and streams had risen to the top of their banks and some ponding of water on the roads was noted. Unfortunately, an individual hydroplaned off of the roadway and into a creek. Their ... 1 0 –
2011-02-01 Cold/Wind ChillMontgomery County · forecast zone Montgomery Extreme cold temperatures moved across the county during the overnight hours of February 2nd and early on February 3rd. Wind chill readings dropped as low as minus 20 degees during the evening of February 2nd, with the low temperatures falling to minus 8 degrees in Coffeyville, Kansas and minus 7 in Independence, ... 1 0 –
2009-12-24 Winter StormMontgomery County · forecast zone Montgomery A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain during the mid to late morning hours on the 24th changed to all snow during the afternoon hours, and continued into the early morning hours on the 25th. The sleet and snow was heavy at times. Sleet accumulations ranged from 1 to 2 inches, with snow accumulations ranging from ... 1 0 $21K
2007-07-01 Flash FloodCoffeyville, Montgomery County Extremely heavy rainfall from the end of June into early July caused flash flooding throughout Montgomery County. The hardest hit areas were Independence and Coffeyville. The flash flooding combined with the ensuing record river flooding along the Verdigris River led to at least 500 homes being destroyed with another ... 1 0 $116M

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 Montgomery County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2007-07-01 Flash FloodCoffeyville, Montgomery County 1 0 $116M
2012-02-28 HailCherryvale, Montgomery County 3.00 in hail 0 0 $6.4M
1998-06-08 HailIndependence, Montgomery County 1.50 in hail 0 0 $1.8M
1998-06-08 Thunderstorm WindIndependence, Montgomery County 0 0 $1.8M
2006-03-30 TornadoHavana, Montgomery County F2 16 mi x 125 yd 0 1 $1.5M
1999-04-22 Thunderstorm WindCoffeyville, Montgomery County 0 0 $886K
2016-04-26 Thunderstorm WindCoffeyville, Montgomery County 70 kt wind 0 0 $615K
2007-05-07 Flash FloodIndependence, Montgomery County 0 0 $498K

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, Montgomery County, 1 killed).

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 Montgomery 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).

Montgomery County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail06519571089538
Severe thunderstorm wind69818348010463
Floods––––329478
Winter storms––––1231411
Drought––––002025
Tornadoes521741143

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

What time of year?

59% of its hail reports since 1960 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 22 · Feb 40 · Mar 64 · Apr 175 · May 228 · Jun 120 · Jul 66 · Aug 104 · Sep 49 · Oct 22 · Nov 18 · Dec 19 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Montgomery County

FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Montgomery County: 11 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (8) and flood (3).

Declarations including Montgomery County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
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
2013-10-22DR-4150Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2010-03-09DR-1885Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Snowstorm
2009-06-25DR-1849Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2008-07-09DR-1776Severe 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
2002-02-06DR-1402Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
1986-10-22DR-780FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1976-07-13DR-514FloodSevere Storms, High Winds & Flooding
1973-05-02DR-378FloodSevere 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 Montgomery County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 87 flood or flash flood records for Montgomery County from 1998 to 2026, on 61 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Montgomery County ranks 728th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.7 million on 311 claims filed in Montgomery County; the most in one year was 90 in 2007. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 11 · 1979: 1 · 1984: 5 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 10 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 37 · 1990: 2 · 1992: 38 · 1993: 31 · 1994: 14 · 1995: 2 · 1998: 3 · 1999: 3 · 2002: 2 · 2007: 90 · 2008: 11 · 2009: 3 · 2010: 2 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 6 · 2013: 4 · 2014: 11 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 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 Montgomery County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Montgomery County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.3 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 Montgomery County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively High$469Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$5.5Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$5.1M1.4 a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$235K8.4 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.3M5.8 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$1.4M17 modeled event-days a year
LightningRelatively Moderate$509K54 a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$565K7.1 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 Montgomery County

  1. Montgomery County 927
  2. Washington County, OK 840
  3. Labette County 712
  4. Neosho County 653
  5. Nowata County, OK 649
  6. Chautauqua County 591
  7. Wilson County 544
  8. Elk County 462

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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