Kansas City, Kansas tornadoes

Checking live National Weather Service warnings for Kansas City...

19confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Kansas City since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: May 19, 2024, EF1.

Join the free alerts waiting list
Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Kansas City

Loading warnings...

The record

At a glance

Total19within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthMay8 of 19
StrongestF4May 4, 2003
Deaths2whole paths, see note
Injuries57whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Kansas City.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

80 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 0Apr: 0May: 8Jun: 8Jul: 1Aug: 2Sep: 0Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 8 of 19 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 1: 1: 03 AM: 1: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 0: 1: 03 PM: 4: 1: 26 PM: 3: 1: 09 PM: 2: 1: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 11960: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 41970: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
3
EF1
9
EF2
3
EF3
1
EF4
3

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

F4, May 4, 2003

2 deaths, 30 injuries Strongest

F4, May 4, 2003

21 mile path Longest path

26.9 miles, F4

May 22, 1952, whole path Widest

500 yards, F4

May 4, 2003
Every tornado

All 19 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
May 19, 2024EF12.63 mi150 yd00
May 19, 2024EF11.63 mi105 yd00
May 4, 2003F421 mi500 yd230
May 11, 2000F14.5 mi350 yd00
Jun 21, 1981F01 mi50 yd00
May 23, 1981F02 mi33 yd00
Aug 22, 1972F10.1 mi17 yd00
Jul 7, 1969F10.1 mi17 yd00
Jun 26, 1969F20.5 mi100 yd00
Jun 26, 1969F310.1 mi100 yd05
Jun 22, 1969F10.3 mi50 yd00
May 15, 1966F22.5 mi10 yd05
Aug 27, 1965F00.1 mi10 yd00
May 7, 1961F426.2 mi50 yd012
Jun 11, 1959F10.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 22, 1958F10.1 mi27 yd00
Jun 21, 1957F19 mi400 yd02
Jun 21, 1952F224.9 mi10 yd00
May 22, 1952F426.9 mi440 yd03
Nearby

Kansas City and its county

Kansas City is in Wyandotte County, where NOAA has recorded 10 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

Coming soon

Free tornado alerts for Kansas City

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. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.