Tornadoes in Shawnee County
The Storm Prediction Center records 63 tornadoes whose paths touched Shawnee County, Kansas between 1951 and 2024. They killed 24 people and injured 807. The busiest month is May, with 21 tornadoes. The strongest was an F5 on 8 June 1966. The most recent was on 19 May 2024.
- 63tornadoes
- 24deaths
- 807injuries
- 1,158per 10,000 sq mi of land
A tornado that crossed several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
How strong were the tornadoes in Shawnee County?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 26 | 41% |
| F1 / EF1 | 13 | 21% |
| F2 / EF2 | 14 | 22% |
| F3 / EF3 | 5 | 8% |
| F4 / EF4 | 3 | 5% |
| F5 / EF5 | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown rating | 1 | 2% |
Shawnee County tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 8 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 6 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 3 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 6 |
| Apr | 10 |
| May | 21 |
| Jun | 13 |
| Jul | 7 |
| Aug | 1 |
| Sep | 2 |
| Oct | 1 |
| Nov | 2 |
| Dec | 0 |
Records for Shawnee County
- Deadliest and Strongest: Topeka, Kansas tornado8 June 1966, F5, 16 deaths, 450 injuries, 21.1 miles long
- Longest path: Kansas tornado2 April 1956, F3, 4 injuries, 127 miles long
- Most recent: Kansas tornado19 May 2024, EF0, 0.1 miles long
Notable tornadoes in Shawnee County
- Topeka, Kansas tornado8 June 1966, F5, 16 deaths, 450 injuries, 21.1 miles long
- Emporia, Kansas tornado8 June 1974, F4, 6 deaths, 177 injuries, 37.5 miles long
- Rossville, Kansas tornado19 May 1960, F4, 1 death, 92 injuries, 27.5 miles long
- Topeka, Kansas tornado6 May 1983, F3, 1 death, 25 injuries, 19 miles long
- Wamego, Kansas tornado19 May 1960, F4, 12 injuries, 20.6 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.