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Liberal, KS Tornado History — 99 Tornadoes Since 1950

Kansas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Liberal, KS had?

Liberal has had 99 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Liberal?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Liberal was an Unrated on June 27, 2023.

When is tornado season in Liberal?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Liberal, with 36 on record. April through June account for 73 of the 99 tornadoes on record near Liberal.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
99
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
7
7.1% of total
Peak Month
June
36 on record
Per Year Avg
1.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Liberal

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 19 total, averaging 0.9 per year over this window.

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 13
1970s 6
1980s 7
1990s 23
2000s 27
2010s 8
2020s 4

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 51
EF1 25
EF2 13
EF3 6
EF4 1
Unrated 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 3
Apr 6
May 31
Jun 36
Jul 9
Aug 8
Sep 3
Oct 0
Nov 1
Dec 1

Have any tornadoes near Liberal been fatal?

No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Liberal from any of the 99 tornadoes since 1950, though 18 injuries have been reported, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.

Notable Tornadoes Near Liberal

Costliest Tornado
F4 on May 5, 1993 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF3 on November 16, 2015 — 2,000 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on April 14, 1976 — 73.2 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on June 27, 2023.

What the record shows near Liberal

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Liberal, with 27 of the 99 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 4 so far. The Liberal record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Liberal, 76 reached EF0 or EF1 and 20 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Liberal is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 3 near Liberal are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Liberal has averaged 0.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 19 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 3, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Liberal, KS had?
Since 1950, 99 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Liberal. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
When is tornado season in Liberal?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Liberal, with 36 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 Liberal been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Liberal, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado 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 Liberal?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Liberal was an Unrated on June 27, 2023.
How do I get tornado warnings for Liberal?
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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