53
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
6
Direct injuries
$15.5M
Property damage
Tornado in Rooks County, Kansas: 53 recorded events between 1951 and 2019. The strongest on record measured F4. That places the county #337 nationally and #25 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Tornado in Rooks County, Kansas: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for tornado in Rooks County is the 2000s, when 22 of the county's 53 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Rooks County archive, tornado makes up 9.6% of all recorded severe weather across 7 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #337 for this hazard and #25 within Kansas, putting it in the 88.5 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
May is the peak month for tornado in Rooks County with 23 recorded events, while Jan is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Tornado tracks
Paths crossing this county
| Date | Scale | Path length | Max width | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-05-10 | EF4 | 33.0 mi | 1,000 yd | Touched down here |
| 1991-04-11 | EF3 | 6.0 mi | 400 yd | Touched down here |
| 1985-05-10 | EF3 | 30.0 mi | 300 yd | Touched down here |
| 1969-06-24 | EF3 | 47.0 mi | 700 yd | Crossed in |
| 1968-05-13 | EF3 | 140.4 mi | 320 yd | Crossed in |
| 2016-05-08 | EF2 | 6.9 mi | 440 yd | Crossed in |
| 2001-04-10 | EF2 | 40.1 mi | 400 yd | Crossed in |
| 1973-03-13 | EF2 | 1.0 mi | 50 yd | Touched down here |
| 1972-07-27 | EF2 | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | Touched down here |
| 1961-08-12 | EF2 | 21.6 mi | 300 yd | Crossed in |
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 1992 | F1 | 0 | 2 | $2.5M | |
| Apr 11, 2001 | PLAINVILLE | F0 | 0 | 1 | $100K |
| Apr 12, 1991 | F3 | 0 | 1 | $2.5M | |
| Jul 28, 1972 | F2 | 0 | 1 | $25K | |
| May 13, 1968 | F3 | 0 | 1 | $25K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2019 | WEBSTER RES | EF0 | $0 |
| Oct 1, 2017 | WEBSTER | EF0 | $0 |
| May 9, 2016 | CODELL | EF1 | $15K |
| May 9, 2016 | CODELL | EF2 | $2K |
| Jun 14, 2014 | WEBSTER | EF1 | $10K |
| May 30, 2008 | ZURICH | EF0 | $5K |
| May 30, 2008 | ZURICH | EF0 | $5K |
| May 29, 2008 | WOODSTON | EF1 | $60K |
| May 29, 2008 | PALCO | EF1 | $75K |
| May 24, 2008 | PLAINVILLE ARPK | EF1 | $100K |
Other hazards here
More from Rooks County
- Hail 317
- Thunderstorm Wind 141
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
This tornado touched down southwest of Palco and tracked east for 2 miles. Along its path, the tornado damaged four farms. The damage was primarily confined to outbuildings, garages, and trees. The most significant damage was a wood framed metal building, which was completely destroyed and rated as EF 1 with wind speeds to 105 mph.
A supercell storm produced a brief tornado in the town of Woodston. Eye witness accounts suggest this tornado skipped through town on its short path. The most significant damage was done to a brick building and a house along Main Street. This damage was rated as EF 1 with winds speeds of 85 to 90 mph.
This tornado, the second to affect Rooks County on this day, touched down approximately 4 miles south of Codell, moved northeast and lifted appoximately 2 miles southeast of Codell. Damage along its path was confined to trees, fencing and several power poles. The maximum wind speed was estimated to be 110 MPH.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many tornado events are on record in Rooks County, Kansas?
53 tornado events are recorded in Rooks County between 1951 and 2019, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest tornado recorded in Rooks County?
The strongest tornado on record in Rooks County measured F4.
Where does the tornado data for Rooks County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Tornado in Rooks County, Kansas.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/kansas/rooks-county/tornado/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.