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Derby, KS Tornado History — 177 Tornadoes Since 1950

Kansas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Derby, KS had?

Derby has had 177 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 15 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Derby?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Derby was an Unrated on April 30, 2024.

When is tornado season in Derby?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Derby, with 58 on record. April through June account for 131 of the 177 tornadoes on record near Derby.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
177
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
15
8.5% of total
Peak Month
May
58 on record
Per Year Avg
2.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Derby

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 35 total, averaging 1.8 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 0
2024 1
2023 0
2022 1
2021 1
2020 0
2019 4
2018 1
2017 0
2016 1
2015 1
2014 0
2013 5
2012 6
2011 1
2010 7
2009 5
2008 1
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Derby since December 29, 2025

These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary April 24, 2026
6 NE Valley Center, Sedgwick County, KS
[Landspout] (ICT)
Preliminary March 6, 2026
2 NNW Mayfield, Sumner County, KS
New developing tornado. (ICT)

Within 25 miles of Derby. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 32
1960s 20
1970s 13
1980s 22
1990s 40
2000s 21
2010s 26
2020s 3

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 107
EF1 35
EF2 18
EF3 12
EF4 2
EF5 1
Unrated 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 2
Apr 37
May 58
Jun 36
Jul 16
Aug 8
Sep 14
Oct 4
Nov 2
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Derby

23 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Derby since 1950, across 2 events. 508 injuries have been reported across all events. 1991 was the deadliest year on record near Derby.

The deadliest single event was an F5 on April 26, 1991, which caused 17 fatalities along a 46.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Derby

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on April 26, 1991 — 17 fatalities, 46.0 mi path, 440 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on April 14, 2012 — $500.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF3 on April 14, 2012 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on May 13, 1965 — 62.5 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on April 30, 2024.

What the record shows near Derby

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Derby, with 40 of the 177 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 3 so far. The Derby record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Derby, 142 reached EF0 or EF1 and 33 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Derby is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 2 near Derby are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Derby has averaged 1.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 35 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 7, and 7 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Derby, KS had?
Since 1950, 177 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Derby. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Derby?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Derby was an F5 on April 26, 1991, which caused 17 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Derby?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Derby, with 58 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Derby been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Derby, there have been 1 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Derby?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Derby was an Unrated on April 30, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Derby?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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