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Lenexa, KS Tornado History — 148 Tornadoes Since 1950

Kansas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Lenexa, KS had?

Lenexa has had 148 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 14 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Lenexa?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lenexa was an EF0 on June 3, 2025.

When is tornado season in Lenexa?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lenexa, with 54 on record. April through June account for 110 of the 148 tornadoes on record near Lenexa.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
148
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
14
9.5% of total
Peak Month
May
54 on record
Per Year Avg
1.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Lenexa

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 47 total, averaging 2.4 per year over this window.

2026 0+6 prelim
2025 2
2024 4
2023 0
2022 3
2021 2
2020 1
2019 2
2018 5
2017 2
2016 0
2015 6
2014 1
2013 0
2012 4
2011 4
2010 0
2009 1
2008 10
2007 0

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Lenexa since December 29, 2025

These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 June 14, 2026
1 SSW Avondale, Clay County, MO
During the evening of Saturday June 13... 2026 a line of damaging thunderstorms moved across the Kansas City Metropolitan Area. At 8:33 PM CDT... a tornado formed on th (EAX)
Preliminary April 27, 2026
1 NW Bucyrus, Johnson County, KS
The same storm that resulted in a short lived EF 0 Tornado just northeast of Spring Hill... resulted in a second tornado... this one an EF 1 Tornado just along the John (EAX)
Preliminary EF1° April 27, 2026
2 NNE Reno, Leavenworth County, KS
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)
Preliminary April 17, 2026
Belton, Cass County, MO
Public report of a tornado touch down. (EAX)
Preliminary April 14, 2026
1 WSW Hillsdale, Miami County, KS
*** 1 INJ *** Shortly before 820 PM CDT on Monday April 13th... 2026... a supercell thunderstorm... that had previously resulted in an EF- 2 tornado in Ottawa... KS... (EAX)
Preliminary EF0° March 7, 2026
2 ESE Lake Quivira, Johnson County, KS
NWS Damage Survey found evidence of a 7.9 mile long EF-0 tornado that began in Shawnee... crossing the state line into Missouri... and ending shortly before reaching We (EAX)

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

What storm spotters reported near Lenexa

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Lenexa and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 3, 2025 and the most recent on June 3, 2025. It is already counted in the Lenexa totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

June 3, 2025
2 E Independence, Jackson County, MO
Storm survey team has noted damage consistent with a tornado. More information to come. (EAX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 19
1960s 29
1970s 11
1980s 17
1990s 11
2000s 25
2010s 24
2020s 12

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 71
EF1 40
EF2 23
EF3 7
EF4 6
EF5 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 10
Apr 18
May 54
Jun 38
Jul 10
Aug 2
Sep 13
Oct 0
Nov 3
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Lenexa

49 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Lenexa since 1950, across 5 events. 363 injuries have been reported across all events. 1957 was the deadliest year on record near Lenexa.

The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which caused 44 fatalities along a 69.4-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Lenexa

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on May 20, 1957 — 44 fatalities, 69.4 mi path, 440 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on June 19, 1981 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF4 on May 28, 2019 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F5 on May 20, 1957 — 69.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 3, 2025.

What the record shows near Lenexa

The 1960s were the busiest decade near Lenexa, with 29 of the 148 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Lenexa record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Lenexa, 111 reached EF0 or EF1 and 37 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lenexa is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Lenexa has averaged 2.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 47 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 10, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Lenexa, KS had?
Since 1950, 148 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Lenexa. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Lenexa?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Lenexa was an F5 on May 20, 1957, which caused 44 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Lenexa?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lenexa, with 54 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 Lenexa been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Lenexa, there have been 1 EF5 and 6 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 Lenexa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lenexa was an EF0 on June 3, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Lenexa?
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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