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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Independence, KS

Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.

No tropical storm or hurricane has passed within 75 miles of Independence, Kansas since records began in 1851. Since 1950, 93 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
0

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
0

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
93

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
5

3 deaths in all

Tornadoes within 25 miles of Independence

By decade

  • 2020s9
  • 2010s16
  • 2000s24(1 EF3+)
  • 1990s8
  • 1980s18(2 EF3+)
  • 1970s5(2 EF3+)
  • 1960s5
  • 1950s8
Strongest tornadoes near Independence, Kansas
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Mar 15, 1982F321 mi30 mi1 / 6
Mar 15, 1982F310 mi6 mi1 / 1
Apr 19, 2000F310 mi34 mi0 / 0
Mar 18, 1979F321 mi7.9 mi0 / 0
May 26, 1973F320 mi0.3 mi0 / 3
Apr 26, 1991F221 mi6 mi1 / 10
Apr 26, 2024EF223 mi8.47 mi0 / 0
Mar 30, 2006F25 mi16 mi0 / 1
Apr 19, 2003F218 mi20 mi0 / 3
Apr 26, 1991F211 mi6 mi0 / 0
Nov 15, 1988F221 mi7.5 mi0 / 0
Mar 15, 1982F225 mi0.1 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 93, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

How to read this page

A storm is listed when the centre of its track passed within 75 miles of Independence while it was at least a tropical storm, which is the reach of damaging wind and rain for a typical hurricane. Being on the list does not mean the city took a direct hit; the "closest" column says how near the centre came. Tornadoes are counted when any part of the path came within 25 miles.

Tornado records before the 1990s are thinner, because weak tornadoes in open country often went unreported before Doppler radar and mobile phones. A rise in the decade counts is mostly better reporting, not a change in the weather.

Tracks come from the National Hurricane Center's HURDAT2 database, tornadoes from the Storm Prediction Center's database. Both are the official federal records and both are revised as old storms are re-analysed.

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