Cherokee County, Kansas tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Cherokee County...

45confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1953). Most recent: April 20, 2025, EF1. 2026 so far: 1 preliminary report preliminary

Join the free alerts waiting list
Recent warnings

Recent warnings in Cherokee County

Loading warnings...

Map

Every tornado path in the county

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
Use two fingers to move the map
(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

The record

At a glance

Total451950 to 2025
Per year0.6average since 1950
Peak monthMay16 of 45
StrongestF4Apr 3, 1956
Deaths7whole paths, see note
Injuries151whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Cherokee County.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

160 Jan: 0Feb: 2Mar: 3Apr: 11May: 16Jun: 6Jul: 2Aug: 0Sep: 2Oct: 0Nov: 1Dec: 2JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 16 of 45 tornadoes.

By time of day

60 12 AM: 2: 1: 23 AM: 0: 0: 26 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 2: 1: 13 PM: 3: 6: 36 PM: 5: 5: 59 PM: 2: 4: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 1: 2: 1: 0: 21960: 1: 4: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 2: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 3: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 12000: 0: 0: 2: 1: 1: 3: 2: 1: 1: 02010: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 32020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 119501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones. This year so far: 1 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0
19
EF1
16
EF2
6
EF3
3
EF4
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F3, May 4, 2003

5 deaths, 34 injuries Strongest

F4, April 3, 1956

41.8 mile path Longest path

41.8 miles, F4

April 3, 1956, whole path Widest

1,100 yards, EF1

May 22, 2019
Every tornado

All 45 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 20, 2025EF124.07 mi250 yd00
May 6, 2024EF02.67 mi50 yd00
May 6, 2024EF024.09 mi1,100 yd00
May 22, 2019EF39.22 mi440 yd00
May 22, 2019EF17.32 mi1,100 yd00
May 20, 2019EF12.19 mi440 yd00
Apr 2, 2015EF02.48 mi100 yd00
Apr 27, 2014EF211.37 mi325 yd137
Jul 12, 2010EF12.82 mi60 yd00
May 10, 2008EF02.05 mi150 yd00
Jun 10, 2007EF00.1 mi50 yd00
Apr 6, 2006F15 mi250 yd00
Apr 6, 2006F111.5 mi40 yd012
Jun 30, 2005F06 mi25 yd00
Jun 30, 2005F03 mi25 yd00
Apr 21, 2005F00.1 mi20 yd00
Jun 12, 2004F00.1 mi25 yd00
May 4, 2003F325 mi880 yd534
Dec 18, 2002F00.5 mi20 yd00
Dec 18, 2002F00.5 mi20 yd00
Apr 3, 1999F10.1 mi100 yd00
Apr 7, 1986F10.5 mi50 yd00
Apr 7, 1986F00.1 mi50 yd00
Apr 2, 1982F10.2 mi17 yd00
Mar 15, 1982F00.1 mi10 yd00
This year

2026 preliminary reports not yet confirmed

Report dateLocationRating
Apr 26, 2026HallowellNot yet rated

Preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center. One tornado can be reported more than once, and NOAA confirms the final record months later.

Nearby

Nearby counties

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Cherokee County

We are building free email alerts for tornado warnings. Join the waiting list and we will email you once when they are ready. Until then, please rely on the National Weather Service and your phone's emergency alerts.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 12, 2026.