The 1988 tornado that hit Topeka serves as a reminder that tornadoes can indeed impact our area in any month of the year. Although rare, these cold season events are still capable of producing tornadoes that can do damage and cause injury. Staying prepared year round is critical for residents across the plains.
Does Topeka have tornadoes?
June 8th marks the 56th anniversary of one of the most destructive and deadly tornadoes in Kansas history. The massive 1966 Topeka tornado killed 17 people, injured over 500 and caused over $200 million damage; at the time, the highest in America history.
How many tornadoes have hit Topeka KS?
A total of 121 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Topeka, KS.
When was the last time Topeka had a tornado?
The most destructive tornado of this event occurred on the early evening of Wednesday, June 8, 1966, when Topeka, Kansas was struck by an F5 rated tornado.
Tornado outbreak sequence of June 1966.
| A photograph of the F5 Topeka, Kansas tornado. | |
|---|---|
| Fatalities | 18 fatalities, 543 injuries |
| Damage | $250 million (1966 USD) $2,088 million (2021 USD) |
Where do most tornadoes occur in Kansas?
Sherman County has the most tornadoes in Kansas. Between 1950-2020, Sherman County saw 113 occurrences of tornadoes. This was more than any other county in Kansas. The frequency of destructive weather correlates with the geography of the Midwest and the surrounding boundaries.
Is Topeka under a tornado warning?
No weather alerts in effect at this time.
How big was the Topeka tornado?
The Topeka Tornado, which struck around 7 pm on a mild but muggy evening, claimed 16 lives and injured over 500 people. This F5 tornado was a half-mile wide at times and had a path of about 22 miles through the heart of the city.
How many F5 tornadoes are in Kansas?
Since 1950, per SPC statistics, Kansas ranks first in the nation in total number of F5/EF5 tornadoes (7), monstrosities that possess rotational velocities of 261-318 mph.
When was the last F5 tornado in Kansas?
The most destructive tornado in the outbreak occurred on the evening of May 4 in western Kansas, where about 95% of the city of Greensburg in Kiowa County was destroyed by an EF5 tornado, the first of such intensity since the 1999 Bridge Creek–Moore tornado.
What was the deadliest tornado in Kansas?
the Udall tornado
Known as the deadliest tornado in Kansas history, the Udall tornado took the lives of 80 and injured 270. This tornado started below the Kansas border, and worked its way up through Udall, causing extreme disaster as it wrecked almost every home in town.
How big was the tornado that hit Kansas?
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The tornado that damaged more than more than 1,000 buildings in south-central Kansas generated winds up to 165 mph (266 kph) and carved a path of destruction nearly 13 miles (21 kilometers) long.
What category was the Kansas tornado?
EF3
Rated EF3 with sustained winds of 165 mph.
When did Kansas have a tornado?
Those years include: 1963, 1979, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1997 and 2006. Daily Kansas tornado frequency 1950-2009 (above-left).
Where is Tornado Alley in Kansas?
Wondering if you live in Tornado Alley or not? Tornado Alley isn’t an official region, per se. It’s a name that many people, including meteorologists, have used over the years to describe a huge swath of land spanning from northern Texas to Canada, centering around Oklahoma and Kansas.
Is Kansas in Tornado Alley?
States commonly associated with Tornado Alley include Texas, Kansas and Nebraska.
How often are tornadoes in Kansas?
The 63-year average for 1950-2012 for Kansas is 61. The 30-yr average for 1983-2012 is 80. The 10-yr average for 2003-2012 is 112 tornadoes. Replotting the annual data in the above chart into decades gives the image below.
Is Topeka Kansas a good place to live?
Topeka is a city in Kansas with a population of 125,819. Topeka is in Shawnee County and is one of the best places to live in Kansas. Living in Topeka offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Topeka there are a lot of coffee shops and parks.
What is Topeka Kansas known for?
The city is well known for the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which overturned Plessy vs. Ferguson and declared racial segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.
Why is it so hazy in Topeka KS?
Hazy skies have moved into the Topeka area because of wildfires burning in the northwestern portion of the country. According to National Fire Interagency Center, there are 90 fires burning across 12 states. More than 1.8 million acres have been burned.
What is an F5 tornado?
The scale ranks tornadoes from F0 to F5, with F0 being the least intense and F5 being the most intense. F5 tornadoes were estimated to have had maximum winds between 261 mph (420 km/h) and 318 mph (512 km/h).
When was the last tornado in Wichita Kansas?
WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – The April 29 EF-3 tornado that destroyed hundreds of buildings in Andover, first started its path of destruction in Sedgwick County. There, the storm wiped out at least 20 properties and left at least four injured.