Republic County, Kansas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20157 · population 4,674 · 717 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 776 records for Republic County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 418 days; the most frequent are hail reports (355 records). The most damaging was the June 22, 2003 flash flood ($6.7 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1967, 15 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Straight Line Winds” on February 17, 2022.

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
776on 418 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
023 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$35Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
70strongest EF3
FEMA declarations
17latest 2022

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 Republic County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 355 since 1959. 48% of its hail reports since 1959 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.

Republic County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 355 171 1959-2026 0 0 $582K 47 of 105
Severe thunderstorm wind 195 128 1956-2026 0 10 $2.7M 51 of 105
Tornadoes 70 34 1950-2022 0 3 $24M 31 of 105
Winter storms 66 65 1996-2026 0 9 $275K 46 of 105
Floods 25 22 1996-2020 0 0 $7.1M 60 of 105
Heat 15 15 1999-2012 0 0 – 36 of 105
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 13 12 1998-2011 0 1 $23K 13 of 105
High wind and dust storms 12 12 1996-2009 0 0 $96K 77 of 105
Drought 10 10 1999-2012 0 0 – 72 of 105
Extreme cold 10 10 1996-2022 0 0 – 25 of 105
Lightning 3 3 1998-2000 0 0 $47K 30 of 105
Heavy rain 2 2 2005-2006 0 0 $76K 74 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 Republic County had?

NOAA records 70 tornadoes in Republic County from 1950 to 2022, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 31st 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 72 tornadoes whose track touched Republic County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 70: 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.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Republic County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1957-05-20 14:50, as SPC files itMorrowvilleF444.6 mi0
2015-05-06 18:14, as SPC files itMundenEF31.87 mi0
2008-05-29 20:30, as SPC files itScandiaCrossed KS, NEEF355.22 mi0
1986-09-18 19:15, as SPC files itHardyCrossed KS, NEF37 mi0
1953-05-09 21:10, as SPC files itCourtland to RepublicF313.5 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.

Every tornado record filed for Republic County (70)
The 60 most recent of 70 tornadoes in Republic County
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2022-06-07 Narka, Republic County EF1 3.06 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2018-05-29 Belleville, Republic County EF0 0.3 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2018-05-01 New Tabor, Republic County EF0 5.29 mi x 125 yd 0 0 –
2016-04-24 Belleville, Republic County EF1 12.25 mi x 150 yd 0 2 –
2015-05-06 Norway, Republic County EF1 2.38 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-06 Narka, Republic County EF0 0.01 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-06 New Tabor, Republic County EF3 1.87 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-06 Kackley, Republic County EF2 25.17 mi x 800 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-06 Courtland, Republic County EF0 3.15 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-06 Courtland, Republic County EF1 2.13 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-06 Warwick, Republic County EF1 0.84 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2014-06-01 Talmo, Republic County EF0 0.01 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2014-06-01 Courtland, Republic County EF0 0.09 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2012-02-28 Belleville Airport, Republic County EF0 6.12 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2008-05-29 Courtland, Republic County EF3 29.51 mi x 1,320 yd 0 0 $1.4M
2004-05-29 Narka, Republic County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Narka, Republic County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Munden, Republic County F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $8K
2004-05-29 Belleville, Republic County F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $78K
2004-05-29 Munden, Republic County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Munden, Republic County F0 1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Norway, Republic County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Norway, Republic County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Scandia, Republic County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Scandia, Republic County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-29 Norway, Republic County F1 3.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $5.2M
2004-05-24 Agenda, Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-24 Cuba, Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-24 Narka, Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-24 Belleville, Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-24 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-24 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-24 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-22 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-22 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-05-22 Republic County F2 2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $141K
2004-05-22 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $14K
2003-06-22 Munden, Republic County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $8K
2003-06-22 Republic County F2 4 mi x 450 yd 0 0 $128K
2003-06-22 Republic County F1 2 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $96K
2003-06-22 Courtland, Republic County F1 3 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $201K
2003-06-22 Courtland, Republic County F0 1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $32K
2003-06-22 Courtland, Republic County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $80K
2001-06-13 Narka, Republic County F0 5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $75K
2001-06-13 Munden, Republic County F1 8 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $200K
2001-05-08 Rydal, Republic County F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2001-04-11 Belleville, Republic County F1 10 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $33K
2001-04-11 Courtland, Republic County F1 14 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $100K
1998-06-13 Belleville, Republic County F0 0.2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
1992-06-15 Republic County F0 0.5 mi x 23 yd 0 0 $3K step
1990-03-13 Republic County F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1990-03-13 Republic County F2 15 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1990-03-13 Republic County F1 6 mi x 550 yd 0 0 $250K step
1986-09-18 Republic County F3 1 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1986-04-13 Republic County F0 1 mi x 27 yd 0 0 $250K step
1983-09-28 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-06-19 Republic County F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-06-19 Republic County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $25K step
1976-04-14 Republic County F2 17 mi x 330 yd 0 1 $250K step
1974-04-19 Republic County F1 13.9 mi x 17 yd 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 Republic County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 24, 2016 tornado (2 injuries).

Survey revealed that the initial tornado touchdown occurred around 650pm CDT just north of Belleville. The tornado then moved northeast and produced sporadic damage in rural areas of Republic County. It did hit the small town of Munden where several homes were damaged and a mobile home was destroyed. Another farmstead was also damaged northeast of Munden. The end of the tornado occurred south of Narka where some light tree damage was documented.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 622205)
The 12 most recent records kept for Republic County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-13 HailBelleville Airport, Republic County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-06-13 HailBelleville, Republic County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-06-13 HailWarwick, Republic County 1.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-16 Thunderstorm WindBelleville, Republic County 61 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-16 HailBelleville, Republic County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-16 HailNew Tabor, Republic County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-16 Thunderstorm WindBelleville, Republic County 61 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-16 HailNarka, Republic County 1.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-16 HailAgenda, Republic County 2.75 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-11 HailTalmo, Republic County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-11 HailTalmo, Republic County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-11 HailRepublic 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 Republic County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2010-05-06 Thunderstorm WindCourtland, Republic County Numerous trees were blown down. Powers lines were blown down in town. A total for 4 buildings on the north edge of town were blown down. 61 kt wind 0 10 –
1998-03-07 BlizzardRepublic County · forecast zone Republic A snowstorm accompanied by blizzard conditions dumped 6 or more inches of snow northwest of the Kansas Turnpike. A swath of 10 or more inches fell along and north of a line from Holton in Jackson County to Belleville in Republic County. Sabetha reported the most snow with 18 inches. Other higher amounts included ... 0 9 $272K
2016-04-24 TornadoBelleville, Republic County Survey revealed that the initial tornado touchdown occurred around 650pm CDT just north of Belleville. The tornado then moved northeast and produced sporadic damage in rural areas of Republic County. It did hit the small town of Munden where several homes were damaged and a mobile home was destroyed. Another farmstead ... EF1 12.25 mi x 150 yd 0 2 –
2004-05-27 Dense FogRepublic County · forecast zone Republic Dense fog resulted in two vehicle accidents in the Belleville area. Two vehicles collided at a road intersection when the driver of one of the vehicles apparently did not see a stop sign. Both vehicles suffered damage. The second accident occurred shortly after the first accident and near the same location when one ... 0 1 $23K
1976-04-14 TornadoRepublic County F2 17 mi x 330 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.

The costliest records in Republic County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2003-06-22 Flash FloodRepublic County 0 0 $6.7M
2004-05-29 TornadoNorway, Republic County F1 3.5 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $5.2M
1998-06-13 Thunderstorm WindBelleville, Republic County 0 0 $1.4M
1998-03-07 BlizzardRepublic County · forecast zone Republic 0 9 $272K
2003-06-22 TornadoCourtland, Republic County F1 3 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $201K
2001-06-13 TornadoMunden, Republic County F1 8 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $200K
1996-05-22 HailBelleville, Republic County 2.75 in hail 0 0 $188K
2004-05-22 TornadoRepublic County F2 2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $141K

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: September 18, 1986 (tornado, Republic County); March 13, 1990 (tornado, Republic 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 Republic 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).

Republic County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail27847421646025
Severe thunderstorm wind2721921585927
Tornadoes6443534131
Winter storms––––114276
Floods––––11671
Heat––––1860

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

What time of year?

48% of its hail reports since 1959 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 24 · Feb 27 · Mar 20 · Apr 97 · May 170 · Jun 163 · Jul 89 · Aug 89 · Sep 49 · Oct 16 · Nov 9 · Dec 23 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Republic County

FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Republic County: 14 major disasters, 3 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and biological (2).

Declarations including Republic County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2022-02-17DR-4640Severe StormSevere Storms and Straight Line Winds
2020-03-29DR-4504BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3481BiologicalCovid-19
2015-07-20DR-4230Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2013-10-22DR-4150Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2011-07-29DR-4010Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2010-08-10DR-1932Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2010-03-09DR-1885Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Snowstorm
2009-12-23DR-1868Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
2008-07-09DR-1776Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes
2008-02-01DR-1741Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2007-12-12EM-3282Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2005-09-10EM-3236HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
1993-07-22DR-1000FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1973-09-28DR-403Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1973-05-02DR-378FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1967-07-18DR-229TornadoTornadoes, 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 Republic County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 25 flood or flash flood records for Republic County from 1996 to 2020, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Republic County ranks 2400th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $127,000 on 9 claims filed in Republic County; the most in one year was 4 in 2003. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

2003: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 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 Republic County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Republic County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.3 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 Republic County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively High$630Kabout once a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$2.0M8.1 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.1M4.9 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$161K11 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$61K11 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$930Kabout once a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Low$90K46 a year (modeled)
WildfireVery Low$30Konce in about 4,054 years (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Republic County

  1. Cloud County 903
  2. Thayer County, NE 802
  3. Republic County 776
  4. Jewell County 748
  5. Washington County 748
  6. Jefferson County, NE 711
  7. Nuckolls County, NE 605

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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