Phillips County, Kansas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20147 · population 4,978 · 886 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 783 records for Phillips County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 474 days; the most frequent are hail reports (328 records). The most damaging was the October 1, 2013 drought ($19.0 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 2004, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires” on May 21, 2025.
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
- 783on 474 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 04 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $154Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 40strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 19latest 2025
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 Phillips County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 328 since 1955. 60% of its hail reports since 1955 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 | 328 | 178 | 1955-2024 | 0 | 0 | $58M | 80 of 105 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 183 | 112 | 1970-2025 | 0 | 3 | $13M | 85 of 105 |
| Winter storms | 95 | 95 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 20 of 105 |
| Drought | 55 | 55 | 2000-2025 | 0 | 0 | $59M | 26 of 105 |
| Tornadoes | 40 | 32 | 1950-2013 | 0 | 1 | $17M | 72 of 105 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 32 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $118K | 37 of 105 |
| Floods | 19 | 18 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4.3M | 77 of 105 |
| Extreme cold | 13 | 13 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $356K | 18 of 105 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 6 | 2003-2018 | 0 | 0 | $190K | 64 of 105 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2001-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 105 |
| Heat | 2 | 2 | 2011-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 61 of 105 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1996-1996 | 0 | 0 | $141K | 71 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 Phillips County had?
NOAA records 40 tornadoes in Phillips County from 1950 to 2013, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 39 tornadoes whose track touched Phillips County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 40: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-10 16:40, as SPC files it | Speed | F4 | 33 mi | 0 |
| 1985-05-10 18:00, as SPC files it | Riverton to Blue HillCrossed KS, NE | F4 | 56 mi | 0 |
| 2011-06-20 13:41, as SPC files it | Almena | EF3 | 8.4 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.
Every tornado record filed for Phillips County (40)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-05-29 | Prairie View, Phillips County | EF1 0.78 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $101K |
| 2012-04-27 | Woodruff, Phillips County | EF0 4.44 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-20 | Long Is, Phillips County | EF1 3.63 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $131K |
| 2011-06-01 | Woodruff, Phillips County | EF0 0.46 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-05-31 | Prairie View, Phillips County | EF0 0.25 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-05-04 | Phillipsburg, Phillips County | EF1 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $107K |
| 2004-05-16 | Logan, Phillips County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2003-06-23 | Agra, Phillips County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-20 | Logan, Phillips County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-04-20 | Phillipsburg, Phillips County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $208K |
| 2000-05-26 | Glade, Phillips County | F0 0.6 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-06-03 | Woodruff, Phillips County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-06-08 | Kirwin Res, Phillips County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-09-11 | Logan, Phillips County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-04-11 | Phillips County | F1 8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-04-23 | Phillips County | F0 0.1 mi x 23 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-07-07 | Phillips County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1985-05-10 | Phillips County | F4 11 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1985-05-10 | Phillips County | F4 28 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1985-03-26 | Phillips County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1984-06-12 | Phillips County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-03-14 | Phillips County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-07-04 | Phillips County | F0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-04-19 | Phillips County | F1 4.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1979-04-19 | Phillips County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1979-04-11 | Phillips County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1978-07-05 | Phillips County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1967-06-07 | Phillips County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1967-05-26 | Phillips County | F1 0.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1965-05-25 | Phillips County | 0 | 0 | $25K step | |
| 1957-05-20 | Phillips County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1955-05-27 | Phillips County | F0 8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1952-06-26 | Phillips County | F2 12 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1950-05-23 | Phillips County | F0 0.2 mi x 250 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 Phillips County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 31, 2024 thunderstorm wind ($1.1 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Wind gusts were estimated to be near 60 MPH. Crop damage was reported from the combination of wind and hail of unknown size.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1193770)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-15 | High WindPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindPhillipsburg, Phillips County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindLong Is, Phillips County | 75 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-08-09 | Thunderstorm WindLong Is, Phillips County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-27 | DroughtPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-19 | BlizzardPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-03-18 | High WindPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-04 | High WindPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-17 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-17 | Winter WeatherPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-14 | Winter WeatherPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-11 | Winter WeatherPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-07-10 | Thunderstorm WindPhillips County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2000-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindLong Is, Phillips County A ferocious severe thunderstorm moved south from Nebraska and battered a section of north-central Kansas with high winds and hail. Phillips and Rooks counties took the brunt of this mid-evening storm as losses in these two counties alone totaled in the millions. The Long Island area of northern Phillips county ... | 87 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3.4M |
| 1985-05-10 | TornadoPhillips County | F4 11 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-10-01 | DroughtPhillips County · forecast zone Phillips | 0 | 0 | $19M | |
| 2000-06-29 | HailLong Is, Phillips County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5.1M |
| 2000-06-29 | HailLogan, Phillips County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $3.7M |
| 2000-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindLong Is, Phillips County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $3.4M |
| 2000-06-29 | HailAgra, Phillips County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.9M |
| 2008-07-26 | HailPrairie View, Phillips County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
| 2015-09-10 | HailSpeed, Phillips County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.5M |
| 1999-05-14 | HailPhillipsburg, Phillips County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
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: May 10, 1985 (tornado, Phillips County); May 10, 1985 (tornado, Phillips 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 Phillips 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 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 72 | 97 | 98 | 36 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 33 | 60 | 48 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 17 | 25 | 33 | 20 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 25 | 28 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 10 | 19 |
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 1955 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 34 · Feb 35 · Mar 33 · Apr 69 · May 160 · Jun 156 · Jul 102 · Aug 75 · Sep 39 · Oct 27 · Nov 16 · Dec 37 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Phillips County
FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Phillips County: 16 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (14) and snowstorm (2).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-21 | DR-4869 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, and Wildfires |
| 2023-10-26 | DR-4747 | 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 |
| 2016-10-20 | DR-4287 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2013-04-26 | DR-4112 | Snowstorm | Snowstorm |
| 2010-08-10 | DR-1932 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
| 2010-03-09 | DR-1885 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms and Snowstorm |
| 2008-07-09 | DR-1776 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| 2008-02-01 | DR-1741 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-12-12 | EM-3282 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2007-05-06 | DR-1699 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2007-01-07 | DR-1675 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2006-01-26 | DR-1626 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3236 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-08-03 | DR-1535 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes |
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 Phillips County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Phillips County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively High | $3.4M | 7.5 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively High | $1.5M | 44 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $232K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $857K | 4.2 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $97K | 12 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.2M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $87K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $58K | once in about 2,180 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Phillips 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 Phillips CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Phillips County's FEMA declarations (CSV)19 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis