Topeka, Kansas tornadoes

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36confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Topeka since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 30, 2024, EFU.

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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 Topeka

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The record

At a glance

Total36within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.5average since 1950
Peak monthMay14 of 36
StrongestF5Jun 8, 1966
Deaths17whole paths, see note
Injuries520whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

140 Jan: 0Feb: 0Mar: 4Apr: 5May: 14Jun: 6Jul: 3Aug: 1Sep: 0Oct: 1Nov: 2Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 14 of 36 tornadoes.

By time of day

80 12 AM: 1: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 0: 19 AM: 0: 0: 012 PM: 0: 1: 13 PM: 2: 4: 86 PM: 4: 8: 39 PM: 2: 0: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 5:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

20 1950: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 1: 1: 01960: 2: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 0: 01970: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 11980: 1: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 01990: 1: 2: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02000: 1: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02010: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 1: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 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
15
EF1
8
EF2
7
EF3
4
EF5
1
Unknown
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, June 8, 1966

16 deaths, 450 injuries Strongest

F5, June 8, 1966

21.1 mile path Longest path

127 miles, F3

April 2, 1956, whole path Widest

880 yards, F5

June 8, 1966
Every tornado

All 36 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 30, 2024EFU0.11 mi25 yd00
Mar 6, 2017EF05.21 mi50 yd00
May 26, 2016EF01.81 mi50 yd00
Apr 26, 2016EF00.01 mi20 yd00
Jun 29, 2014EF01.63 mi30 yd00
May 21, 2011EF02.03 mi50 yd00
May 21, 2011EF01.2 mi150 yd00
Jun 12, 2008EF00.3 mi25 yd00
Aug 23, 2004F00.3 mi50 yd00
May 24, 2004F11.2 mi75 yd00
May 11, 2000F01 mi40 yd00
Oct 4, 1998F11 mi30 yd00
Jul 9, 1993F00.1 mi23 yd00
May 6, 1993F00.3 mi30 yd00
Apr 26, 1991F111 mi20 yd04
Mar 1, 1991F02 mi10 yd00
Mar 12, 1990F15 mi100 yd01
Nov 15, 1988F25 mi70 yd022
May 6, 1983F319 mi150 yd125
Jul 19, 1981F20.3 mi150 yd09
May 31, 1980F22 mi220 yd00
Apr 11, 1979F14.1 mi30 yd01
May 5, 1977F11.9 mi30 yd00
Nov 8, 1970F21 mi300 yd00
Jun 11, 1967F343.9 mi10 yd00
Nearby

Topeka and its county

Topeka is in Shawnee County, where NOAA has recorded 59 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.