Pratt County, Kansas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20151 · population 9,150 · 735 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,104 records for Pratt County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 434 days; the most frequent are hail reports (576 records). The deadliest single record is the May 23, 2008 tornado: 2 deaths and 2 injuries. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1973, 17 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on July 22, 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
1,104on 434 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
310 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$50Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
75strongest EF3
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 Pratt County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 576 since 1956. 57% of its hail reports since 1956 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.

Pratt County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 576 205 1956-2026 0 0 $369K 22 of 105
Severe thunderstorm wind 290 150 1956-2026 0 0 $6.7M 35 of 105
Tornadoes 75 42 1951-2025 3 10 $40M 10 of 105
Winter storms 69 60 1997-2025 0 0 $27K 61 of 105
Heavy rain 35 21 1998-2025 0 0 – 5 of 105
Floods 23 18 1996-2025 0 0 $2.9M 68 of 105
High wind and dust storms 22 20 1996-2026 0 0 $24K 52 of 105
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 6 6 2007-2025 0 0 – 29 of 105
Extreme cold 3 3 2000-2025 0 0 – 71 of 105
Lightning 3 3 1996-2002 0 0 $38K 32 of 105
Drought 2 2 1996-2003 0 0 – 100 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 Pratt County had?

NOAA records 75 tornadoes in Pratt County from 1951 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 3 deaths and 10 injuries recorded in the county. That is 10th 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 76 tornadoes whose track touched Pratt County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 75: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Pratt County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2008-05-23 21:24, as SPC files itSawyer to PrestonEF321.9 mi2
2007-05-04 21:39, as SPC files itMacksvilleEF318.22 mi1
2025-05-18 21:47, as SPC files itPrattEF311.45 mi0
2025-05-18 22:17, as SPC files itUnnamedEF332.65 mi0
2008-05-23 20:16, as SPC files itBelpreEF318.2 mi0
1991-03-26 17:55, as SPC files itPlevnaF326 mi0
1973-09-25 18:35, as SPC files itProtection to HavilandF358 mi0
1965-05-25 18:38, as SPC files itPrattF325.3 mi0
1951-04-30 05:30, as SPC files itPrestonF312.8 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.

Every tornado record filed for Pratt County (75)
The 60 most recent of 75 tornadoes in Pratt County
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-05-18 Natrona, Pratt County EF3 10.95 mi x 250 yd 0 0 –
2025-05-18 Iuka, Pratt County EFU 0.42 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2025-05-18 Cullison, Pratt County EF3 11.45 mi x 500 yd 0 0 –
2019-05-26 Byers, Pratt County EF1 8.66 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2017-05-19 Sawyer, Pratt County EF0 4.09 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2017-05-19 Sawyer, Pratt County EF0 2.22 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2016-05-24 Sawyer, Pratt County EF0 2.3 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2014-05-11 Springvale, Pratt County EF0 4.6 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2013-07-29 Preston, Pratt County EF0 0.01 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2012-04-14 Cairo, Pratt County EF0 2.3 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2012-04-14 Sawyer, Pratt County EF0 2.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2010-05-16 Preston, Pratt County EF0 0.3 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2008-06-05 Preston, Pratt County EF1 1.1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $89K
2008-05-26 Pratt County EF1 2.2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-26 Pratt County EF0 1.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-23 Hopewell, Pratt County EF0 2.7 mi x 125 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-23 Byers, Pratt County EF0 4 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-23 Sawyer, Pratt County EF3 21.9 mi x 1,430 yd 2 2 –
2008-05-23 Hopewell, Pratt County EF2 0.5 mi x 1,056 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-23 Sawyer, Pratt County EF1 9.6 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-23 Sawyer, Pratt County EF0 0.8 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2007-05-05 Iuka, Pratt County EF1 2.22 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2007-05-05 Hopewell, Pratt County EF2 3.5 mi x 600 yd 0 0 –
2007-05-05 Byers, Pratt County EF0 1.45 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2007-05-04 Hopewell, Pratt County EF3 6.12 mi x 2,110 yd 1 1 –
2006-04-01 Natrona, Pratt County F2 4.9 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2006-04-01 Coats, Pratt County F1 5.5 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2005-08-17 Preston, Pratt County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-12 Coats, Pratt County F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2002-05-11 Pratt County F0 1.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2002-05-11 Cullison, Pratt County F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2002-05-07 Pratt County F2 22 mi x 1,800 yd 0 0 $33M
2002-05-07 Cullison, Pratt County F1 7.7 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2002-05-07 Hopewell, Pratt County F0 4 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2002-05-07 Hopewell, Pratt County F2 7.5 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $820K
2001-04-14 Pratt County F2 7.5 mi x 800 yd 0 0 –
2000-07-20 Pratt County F0 1.6 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1999-04-26 Preston, Pratt County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1999-04-26 Cairo, Pratt County F1 6 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $6K
1998-11-09 Byers, Pratt County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1996-05-08 Cullison, Pratt County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1995-05-22 Iuka, Pratt County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1995-05-22 1 S Pratt, Pratt County 0 0 –
1993-05-07 Byers, Pratt County F2 3 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $10K
1993-04-28 To 7 Sw, Pratt County F0 5 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1992-03-17 Pratt County F0 0.5 mi x 3 yd 0 0 –
1992-03-17 Pratt County F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd 0 0 –
1991-04-28 Pratt County F0 0.8 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1991-04-28 Pratt County F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $250K step
1991-04-28 Pratt County F0 1 mi x 17 yd 0 0 –
1991-04-12 Pratt County F0 1.3 mi x 17 yd 0 0 –
1991-04-12 Pratt County F0 2 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1991-03-26 Pratt County F0 9 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1991-03-26 Pratt County F3 1 mi x 220 yd 0 0 –
1991-03-26 Pratt County F1 3 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1982-05-28 Pratt County F0 13 mi x 17 yd 0 0 –
1982-05-28 Pratt County F0 0 0 –
1974-06-10 Pratt County F2 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1965-05-25 Pratt County F3 11.5 mi x 250 yd 0 7 $250K step
1965-05-13 Pratt County 0 0 $3K 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 Pratt County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the July 25, 2025 flash flood ($5,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Pratt County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-04-25 HailSawyer, Pratt County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailPratt County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailPratt County 2.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailPratt Municipal Airport, Pratt County 2.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailPratt Municipal Airport, Pratt County 1.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 Thunderstorm WindIuka, Pratt County 65 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailIuka, Pratt County 1.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-25 HailWaldeck, Pratt County 2.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-14 HailPreston, Pratt County 1.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-15 High WindPratt County · forecast zone Pratt 55 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-10-14 Dense FogPratt County · forecast zone Pratt 0 0 –
2025-09-17 HailPratt 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Pratt County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2008-05-23 TornadoSawyer, Pratt County This 3/4 mile wide tornado produced EF3 damage and unfortunately claimed two lives. A husband and wife were parked on highway 54 approximately 2 1/4 miles east of Cairo. The tornado picked up their car and carried it approximately 1700 feet NNE into a wheat field (they were not discovered until the next morning at ... EF3 21.9 mi x 1,430 yd 2 2 –
2007-05-04 TornadoHopewell, Pratt County This tornado moved across out of southeast Edwards county at 2148 CST and grew into a large tornado of a little more than a mile wide. A male was killed near Hopewell as a basement wall collapsed on him when his home was demolished. Very little of the home was left visible. EF3 6.12 mi x 2,110 yd 1 1 –
1965-05-25 TornadoPratt County F3 11.5 mi x 250 yd 0 7 $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.

The costliest records in Pratt County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2002-05-07 TornadoPratt County F2 22 mi x 1,800 yd 0 0 $33M
1996-08-02 Thunderstorm WindCullison, Pratt County 0 0 $3.8M
2018-10-08 FloodPratt County 0 0 $2.9M
1998-09-27 Thunderstorm WindPratt County 0 0 $1.5M
2002-05-07 TornadoHopewell, Pratt County F2 7.5 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $820K
2013-05-29 Thunderstorm WindByers, Pratt County 70 kt wind 0 0 $190K
1998-09-27 Thunderstorm WindSawyer, Pratt County 0 0 $181K
2015-04-02 Thunderstorm WindPreston, Pratt County 70 kt wind 0 0 $125K

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: May 25, 1965 (tornado, Pratt County); April 30, 1951 (tornado, Pratt County); April 28, 1991 (tornado, Pratt 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 Pratt 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).

Pratt County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail2491014325212630
Severe thunderstorm wind35615426711141
Tornadoes11612182593
Winter storms––––11351112
Heavy rain––––1101410
Floods––––74111

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

What time of year?

57% of its hail reports since 1956 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 20 · Feb 29 · Mar 48 · Apr 145 · May 333 · Jun 215 · Jul 101 · Aug 95 · Sep 73 · Oct 12 · Nov 14 · Dec 19 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Pratt County

FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Pratt County: 16 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (12) and biological (2).

Declarations including Pratt County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2025-07-22DR-4883Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
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
2019-02-25DR-4417Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2018-10-19DR-4403Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2017-02-24DR-4304Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2013-10-22DR-4150Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2013-04-26DR-4112SnowstormSnowstorm
2009-06-24DR-1848Severe StormSevere Winter Storm and Record and Near Record Snow
2008-07-09DR-1776Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes
2008-02-01DR-1741Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2007-12-12EM-3282Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2007-05-06DR-1699Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2005-09-10EM-3236HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-02-08DR-1579Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding
2002-02-06DR-1402Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
1973-09-28DR-403Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & 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 Pratt County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Pratt County from 1996 to 2025, on 18 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Pratt County ranks 2291st of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2,009 on 12 claims filed in Pratt County; the most in one year was 5 in 1978. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 5 · 1980: 1 · 1987: 4 · 1991: 1 · 1997: 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 Pratt County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Pratt County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $16.4 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 Pratt County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
DroughtRelatively High$2.8M55 modeled event-days a year
Cold WaveRelatively High$6.7M2.3 a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$1.7M11 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$208Kabout once a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$2.2Mabout once a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$389Konce in about 343 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Low$494K5.6 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveVery Low$140K6.8 modeled event-days a year

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Pratt County

  1. Reno County 1,630
  2. Pratt County 1,104
  3. Kingman County 941
  4. Barber County 881
  5. Stafford County 808
  6. Kiowa County 744
  7. Edwards County 687

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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