Neosho County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20133 · population 15,904 · 571 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 653 records for Neosho County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 405 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (246 records). The deadliest single record is the December 8, 2007 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Neosho, which covers the county: 1 death and 5 injuries. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1969, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on July 15, 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
- 653on 405 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 29 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $41Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 29strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Neosho County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 246 since 1958. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 246 | 167 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7.8M | 11 of 105 |
| Hail | 189 | 107 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | 91 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 52 | 52 | 1999-2026 | 1 | 5 | $873K | 45 of 105 |
| Floods | 50 | 42 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | $19M | 21 of 105 |
| Drought | 31 | 31 | 2011-2023 | 0 | 0 | $131K | 38 of 105 |
| Heavy rain | 29 | 15 | 2014-2024 | 1 | 0 | – | 8 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 29 | 23 | 1954-2009 | 0 | 4 | $11M | 54 of 105 |
| Heat | 14 | 14 | 2006-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 27 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 7 | 7 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $8K | 88 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2007-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 105 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2004-2009 | 0 | 0 | $74K | 26 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 Neosho County had?
NOAA records 29 tornadoes in Neosho County from 1954 to 2009, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 4 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 31 tornadoes whose track touched Neosho County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 29: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-04-21 16:54, as SPC files it | Galesburg | F3 | 5 mi | 0 |
| 2000-04-19 19:30, as SPC files it | Parsons | F3 | 34 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Neosho County (29)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-06-09 | Chanute, Neosho County | EF0 1.63 mi x 65 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-01 | Johnson Airport Ch, Neosho County | EF0 0.73 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-05-01 | Earlton, Neosho County | EF0 0.38 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-11-27 | Erie, Neosho County | F1 6 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2005-09-13 | Thayer, Neosho County | F0 0.5 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-30 | Chanute, Neosho County | F0 0.5 mi x 55 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-04-21 | South Mound, Neosho County | F1 7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2005-04-21 | Galesburg, Neosho County | F3 5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $302K |
| 2003-05-04 | St Paul, Neosho County | F0 4 mi x 110 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2000-06-04 | South Mound, Neosho County | F0 1 mi x 110 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-04-19 | South Mound, Neosho County | F0 4 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $43K |
| 2000-04-19 | Erie, Neosho County | F2 15 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 3 | $3.1M |
| 1988-11-15 | Neosho County | F2 7.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1988-11-15 | Neosho County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-04-07 | Neosho County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-06-03 | Neosho County | F1 7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-05-30 | Neosho County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1982-05-20 | Neosho County | F1 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-11 | Neosho County | F2 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-05-01 | Neosho County | F1 3.6 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1973-03-08 | Neosho County | F2 8.4 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1973-03-08 | Neosho County | F2 12.8 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1964-04-26 | Neosho County | 0 | 0 | $250 step | |
| 1960-05-19 | Neosho County | F1 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1960-04-29 | Neosho County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1959-10-04 | Neosho County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1955-07-23 | Neosho County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1954-05-31 | Neosho County | F2 48.6 mi x 210 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1954-05-31 | Neosho County | F2 48.6 mi x 210 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 Neosho County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the November 30, 2023 heavy rain (1 death).
Heavy rain was occurring according to the nearby airport observation at Chanute Martin Johnson Airport when a car crossed the center line and hit a semi freightliner head-on. Unfortunately the driver of the car died from this car crash near the intersection of Kansas Highway 39 and Brown Road.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1147683)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-13 | Thunderstorm WindJohnson Airport Ch, Neosho County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-08 | Flash FloodSouth Mound, Neosho County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindErie, Neosho County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-30 | HailChanute, Neosho County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-27 | HailSouth Mound, Neosho County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-26 | HailErie, Neosho County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | Thunderstorm WindSt Paul, Neosho County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | HailSt Paul, Neosho County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | HailThayer, Neosho County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | HailSt Paul, Neosho County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | HailErie, Neosho County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-31 | HailErie, Neosho County | 1.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-12-08 | Winter WeatherNeosho County · forecast zone Neosho At 7 pm on the evening of December 8th a car traveling on U.S. 59 was struck head on by a SUV. The accident resulted in 5 injuries and one fatality. The Chanute Tribune contributed to this report. | 1 | 5 | – | |
| 2023-11-30 | Heavy RainJohnson Airport Ch, Neosho County Heavy rain was occurring according to the nearby airport observation at Chanute Martin Johnson Airport when a car crossed the center line and hit a semi freightliner head-on. Unfortunately the driver of the car died from this car crash near the intersection of Kansas Highway 39 and Brown Road. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2000-04-19 | TornadoErie, Neosho County Forming at 1920 CST 6 miles southwest of Erie, the tornado moved northeast around 35 mph passing just south of Erie at 1931 CST. F2 intensity for much of it's track, the tornado injured 3 people on the southern periphery of Erie as it destroyed or heavily damaged 12 homes, several mobile homes, as well as a few trees. ... | F2 15 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 3 | $3.1M |
| 1973-03-08 | TornadoNeosho County | F2 12.8 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-07-01 | Flash FloodChanute, Neosho County | 0 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2000-04-19 | TornadoErie, Neosho County | F2 15 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 3 | $3.1M |
| 1998-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindErie, Neosho County | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | |
| 2005-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindChanute, Neosho County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
| 1993-04-12 | HailShaw, Neosho County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2005-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindErie, Neosho County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $756K |
| 2005-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindSt Paul, Neosho County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $604K |
| 1998-08-09 | HailGalesburg, Neosho County | 4.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $453K |
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: March 8, 1973 (tornado, Neosho County); March 8, 1973 (tornado, Neosho County); May 11, 1973 (tornado, Neosho 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 Neosho 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 25 | 25 | 12 | 33 | 66 | 48 | 34 |
| Hail | 0 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 40 | 67 | 38 | 17 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 21 | 15 | 14 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 20 | 22 | 7 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 14 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 4 | 25 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Neosho County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 29 · Mar 36 · Apr 96 · May 136 · Jun 102 · Jul 64 · Aug 74 · Sep 42 · Oct 16 · Nov 17 · Dec 17 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Neosho County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Neosho County: 17 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (13) and biological (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-07-15 | DR-4800 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2019-05-28 | EM-3412 | Severe Storm | Tornadoes and Flooding |
| 2019-02-25 | DR-4417 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2017-06-16 | DR-4319 | Snowstorm | Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2015-07-20 | DR-4230 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2010-03-09 | DR-1885 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2009-06-25 | DR-1849 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3282 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-07-02 | DR-1711 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3236 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-08-23 | DR-1600 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2003-05-06 | DR-1462 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2002-02-06 | DR-1402 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 2000-05-03 | DR-1327 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1998-11-05 | DR-1258 | Severe Storm | Ks-Flooding 10/31/98 |
| 1986-10-22 | DR-780 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1976-07-13 | DR-514 | Flood | Severe Storms, High Winds & Flooding |
| 1969-07-15 | DR-267 | Tornado | Tornadoes, 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 Neosho County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 50 flood or flash flood records for Neosho County from 1998 to 2026, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Neosho County ranks 1304th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.5 million on 100 claims filed in Neosho County; the most in one year was 42 in 2007. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1982: 3 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 11 · 1990: 4 · 1993: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2007: 42 · 2009: 8 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2019: 17 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 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 Neosho County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Neosho County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $266K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $595K | 23 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $132K | 8.9 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $793K | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $2.4M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $632K | 16 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $289K | 6.7 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $931K | 1.4 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 Neosho 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
- Severe thunderstorm wind in KansasThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, 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 Neosho CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Neosho County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis