Manhattan, KS Tornado History — 108 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Manhattan, KS had?
Manhattan has had 108 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Manhattan?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Manhattan was an EF0 on May 19, 2025.
When is tornado season in Manhattan?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Manhattan, with 31 on record. April through June account for 66 of the 108 tornadoes on record near Manhattan.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Manhattan
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 36 total, averaging 1.8 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Manhattan 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
NWS survey determined EF-2 tornado. Approximate times from 5:13 to 5:23 PM. (TOP)
NWS employee confirmed a brief tornado just north of Wakefield. (TOP)
Within 25 miles of Manhattan. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Manhattan
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Manhattan and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on April 28, 2025 and the most recent on April 28, 2025. It is already counted in the Manhattan totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Storm chaser videos showed what was originally a gustnado feature becoming connected to the updraft on the leading edge of the gust front as it moved through Belvue. Th (TOP)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Manhattan
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Manhattan since 1950, across 3 events. 90 injuries have been reported across all events. 1978 was the deadliest year on record near Manhattan.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on May 31, 1978, which caused 3 fatalities along a 37.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Manhattan
What the record shows near Manhattan
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Manhattan, with 23 of the 108 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 13 so far. The Manhattan record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Manhattan, 83 reached EF0 or EF1 and 17 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Manhattan is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 8 near Manhattan are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Manhattan has averaged 1.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 36 in total. 2017 was the busiest of them with 8, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.