Lawrence, KS Tornado History — 165 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lawrence, KS had?
Lawrence has had 165 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 18 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lawrence?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lawrence was an EF1 on May 19, 2024.
When is tornado season in Lawrence?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lawrence, with 58 on record. April through June account for 103 of the 165 tornadoes on record near Lawrence.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lawrence
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 32 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lawrence since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Early Monday April 27... 2026... a supercell thunderstorm moving across southern Leavenworth County Kansas resulted in a brief... EF 1 tornado at 3:31 AM CDT. The torna (EAX)
At 4:20 PM CDT on Sunday April 26... 2026... an EF 1 tornado developed within a severe line of thunderstorms in northwest Miami County Kansas. This tornado began near t (EAX)
observed moving east. (TOP)
Within 25 miles of Lawrence. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
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.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Lawrence
68 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lawrence since 1950, across 9 events. 965 injuries have been reported across all events. 1957 was the deadliest year on record near Lawrence.
The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which caused 44 fatalities along a 69.4-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lawrence
What the record shows near Lawrence
The 1960s were the busiest decade near Lawrence, with 34 of the 165 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Lawrence record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lawrence, 117 reached EF0 or EF1 and 46 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lawrence is rated EF5, of which 2 are logged. A further 2 near Lawrence are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Lawrence has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 32 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 7, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.