Wyandotte County, Kansas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 20209 · population 169,235 · 152 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 559 records for Wyandotte County, Kansas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 364 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (196 records). The deadliest single record is the May 4, 2003 tornado: 2 deaths, 30 injuries and $24.9 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1969, 24 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on December 19, 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
559on 364 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
378 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$116Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
11strongest F4
FEMA declarations
26latest 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 Wyandotte County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 196 since 1956. 57% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. 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.

Wyandotte County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 196 126 1956-2025 0 0 $1.5M 1 of 105
Hail 188 117 1955-2026 0 0 $820K 1 of 105
Floods 53 42 1996-2025 0 0 $8.0M 1 of 105
Winter storms 51 51 1996-2026 0 31 $6.2M 1 of 105
Drought 21 21 2012-2025 0 0 – 1 of 105
Heat 19 19 1999-2023 1 0 – 1 of 105
Tornadoes 11 9 1958-2008 2 47 $99M 9 of 105
Extreme cold 10 10 1997-2025 0 0 – 1 of 105
High wind and dust storms 5 5 1996-2021 0 0 – 41 of 105
Heavy rain 4 4 2003-2009 0 0 – 7 of 105
Lightning 1 1 2007-2007 0 0 $7K 22 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 Wyandotte County had?

NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Wyandotte County from 1958 to 2008, the strongest rated F4, with 2 deaths and 47 injuries recorded in the county. That is 9th 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Wyandotte County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Wyandotte County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2003-05-04 15:18, as SPC files itKansasCrossed KS, MOF421 mi2
1961-05-07 15:15, as SPC files itKansasCrossed KS, MOF426.2 mi0
1952-05-22 17:10, as SPC files itKansasF426.9 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Kansas.

Every tornado record filed for Wyandotte County (11)
Every tornado recorded in Wyandotte County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2008-09-12 Bonner Spgs, Wyandotte County EF0 0.24 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2006-04-15 Bonner Spgs, Wyandotte County F0 1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-04 Bonner Spgs, Wyandotte County F4 15 mi x 500 yd 2 30 $25M
1966-05-15 Wyandotte County F2 2.5 mi x 33 yd 0 5 $25K step
1965-08-27 Wyandotte County F0 0 0 –
1961-05-07 Wyandotte County F4 1.3 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1961-05-07 Wyandotte County F4 2.7 mi x 150 yd 0 12 $2.5M step
1961-05-07 Wyandotte County F4 1.3 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1960-04-15 Wyandotte County 0 0 $30 step
1959-06-11 Wyandotte County F1 0 0 –
1958-06-22 Wyandotte County F1 0.1 mi x 27 yd 0 0 –

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 Wyandotte County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the February 15, 2010 winter weather (31 injuries).

A snow squall reduced visibilities to near zero on I-70. A 40 car pileup was reported near Bonner Springs around 1:30 pm with minor injuries (indirect).
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 216371)
The 12 most recent records kept for Wyandotte County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-04-15 HailKansas City, Wyandotte County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-15 HailTurner, Wyandotte County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-15 HailMorris, Wyandotte County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-10 HailNearman, Wyandotte County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-10 HailPiper, Wyandotte County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-10 HailMuncie, Wyandotte County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-10 HailPiper, Wyandotte County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-10 HailWolcott, Wyandotte County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-03-10 HailPomeroy, Wyandotte County 3.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Heavy SnowWyandotte County · forecast zone Wyandotte 0 0 –
2025-11-01 DroughtWyandotte County · forecast zone Wyandotte 0 0 –
2025-10-14 DroughtWyandotte County · forecast zone Wyandotte 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 Wyandotte County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2003-05-04 TornadoBonner Spgs, Wyandotte County Tornado touched down just north-northwest of the Kansas Speedway around 318 pm CST. This tornado initially produced F0 to F1 damage, but produced F3 damage to 2 homes, just south of Parallel Parkway near I-435. The tornado grew to a width to near 500 yards in Kansas City, Kansas, where some marginal F4 damage was ... F4 15 mi x 500 yd 2 30 $25M
2005-07-21 HeatWyandotte County · forecast zone Wyandotte Oppressive heat and humidity was observed across the area from July 21st to July 25th. Afternoon heat indices ranged from 105 to 110 degrees. A 78 year old female from Bonner Springs in Wyandotte county died from heat related causes on July 23rd. 1 0 –
2010-02-15 Winter WeatherWyandotte County · forecast zone Wyandotte A snow squall reduced visibilities to near zero on I-70. A 40 car pileup was reported near Bonner Springs around 1:30 pm with minor injuries (indirect). 0 31 –
1961-05-07 TornadoWyandotte County F4 2.7 mi x 150 yd 0 12 $2.5M step
1966-05-15 TornadoWyandotte County F2 2.5 mi x 33 yd 0 5 $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.

The costliest records in Wyandotte County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2003-05-04 TornadoBonner Spgs, Wyandotte County F4 15 mi x 500 yd 2 30 $25M
2002-01-30 Ice StormWyandotte County · forecast zone Wyandotte 0 0 $5.7M
1999-06-28 Flash FloodCountywide, Wyandotte County 0 0 $1.8M
2004-08-27 Flash FloodBonner Spgs, Wyandotte County 0 0 $1.6M
2004-08-27 Flash FloodKansas City, Wyandotte County 0 0 $781K
2006-03-12 HailBonner Spgs, Wyandotte County 2.25 in hail 0 0 $220K
2008-07-02 HailMorris, Wyandotte County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $685

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 7, 1961 (tornado, Wyandotte County); May 7, 1961 (tornado, Wyandotte County); May 7, 1961 (tornado, Wyandotte 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 Wyandotte 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).

Wyandotte County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind914132116292668
Hail417161718483632
Floods––––1428101
Winter storms––––620214
Drought––––00129
Heat––––11431

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 severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 20 · Feb 29 · Mar 59 · Apr 52 · May 103 · Jun 107 · Jul 85 · Aug 41 · Sep 19 · Oct 18 · Nov 11 · Dec 15 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Wyandotte County

FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Wyandotte County: 22 major disasters, 4 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (16) and flood (5).

Declarations including Wyandotte County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2025-12-19DR-4897Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2024-08-20DR-4811Severe StormSevere Storm, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2023-10-26DR-4747Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2022-02-17DR-4640Severe StormSevere Storms and Straight Line Winds
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
2017-11-07DR-4347Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2011-09-23DR-4035FloodFlooding
2011-06-25EM-3324FloodFlooding
2010-03-09DR-1885Severe StormSevere Winter Storms and Snowstorm
2007-12-12EM-3282Severe StormSevere Winter Storms
2006-04-13DR-1638Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight Line Winds
2005-09-10EM-3236HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2005-02-08DR-1579Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Heavy Rains, and Flooding
2004-09-30DR-1562Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2004-08-03DR-1535Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and Tornadoes
2003-05-06DR-1462Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2002-02-06DR-1402Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
1998-11-05DR-1258Severe StormKs-Flooding 10/31/98
1998-10-14DR-1254Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes
1993-07-22DR-1000FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1977-09-20DR-539FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1973-09-28DR-403Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1973-05-02DR-378FloodSevere Storms & Flooding
1969-07-15DR-267TornadoTornadoes, 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 Wyandotte County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 53 flood or flash flood records for Wyandotte County from 1996 to 2025, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Wyandotte County ranks 573rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $10.8 million on 434 claims filed in Wyandotte County; the most in one year was 74 in 1998. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 20 · 1980: 5 · 1981: 7 · 1982: 25 · 1983: 13 · 1984: 12 · 1985: 8 · 1986: 19 · 1987: 1 · 1988: 3 · 1989: 1 · 1990: 9 · 1992: 2 · 1993: 59 · 1995: 15 · 1996: 15 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 74 · 1999: 38 · 2001: 5 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 43 · 2005: 1 · 2007: 11 · 2008: 4 · 2009: 2 · 2010: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2021: 1 · 2025: 15 · 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 Wyandotte County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wyandotte County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $68.5 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 Wyandotte County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Strong WindVery High$5.8M6.9 a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherVery High$1.1M11 a year (modeled)
Ice StormVery High$1.5Mabout once a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively High$8.0M15 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively High$15Monce in about 9 years (modeled)
HailRelatively High$3.3M9.1 a year (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively High$10M2.3 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively High$887K50 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 Wyandotte County

  1. Jackson County, MO 1,806
  2. Johnson County 1,514
  3. Clay County, MO 1,119
  4. Leavenworth County 923
  5. Platte County, MO 847
  6. Wyandotte County 559

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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