Olathe, Kansas tornadoes

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31confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Olathe since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: May 19, 2024, EF1.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(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 Olathe

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The record

At a glance

Total31within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthMay12 of 31
StrongestF5May 20, 1957
Deaths44whole paths, see note
Injuries214whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

120 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 2Apr: 5May: 12Jun: 6Jul: 2Aug: 1Sep: 3Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 12 of 31 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 2: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 2: 012 PM: 0: 0: 03 PM: 3: 5: 36 PM: 4: 5: 29 PM: 2: 2: 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

30 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 3: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 3: 1: 1: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 2: 1: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 01980: 0: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 3: 02010: 0: 2: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 02020: 0: 1: 1: 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
16
EF1
9
EF2
3
EF3
2
EF5
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

F5, May 20, 1957

44 deaths, 207 injuries Strongest

F5, May 20, 1957

69.4 mile path Longest path

69.4 miles, F5

May 20, 1957, whole path Widest

440 yards, F5

May 20, 1957
Every tornado

All 31 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
May 19, 2024EF11.63 mi105 yd00
May 19, 2024EF10.88 mi75 yd00
Jun 8, 2022EF114.36 mi125 yd00
Mar 15, 2021EF01.36 mi50 yd00
May 2, 2018EF14.72 mi25 yd00
Jul 6, 2015EF00.23 mi30 yd00
May 6, 2012EF00.09 mi25 yd00
May 6, 2012EF00.05 mi25 yd00
May 25, 2011EF00.05 mi40 yd00
May 25, 2011EF00.05 mi40 yd00
Sep 12, 2008EF00.11 mi25 yd00
Sep 12, 2008EF00.11 mi25 yd00
Sep 12, 2008EF00.03 mi25 yd00
Jun 8, 1990F00.1 mi10 yd00
May 15, 1982F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 20, 1981F00.2 mi17 yd00
May 4, 1977F27.8 mi70 yd00
May 4, 1977F331.6 mi300 yd01
Mar 13, 1973F04.6 mi33 yd00
Aug 22, 1972F10.1 mi17 yd00
Apr 30, 1972F20.1 mi233 yd00
Apr 19, 1966F37.7 mi150 yd04
Jul 9, 1965F10.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 26, 1964F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 26, 1964F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Olathe and its county

Olathe is in Johnson County, where NOAA has recorded 49 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

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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.