Tornadoes Near Lawrence, KS
209 tornadoes have been recorded within 30 miles of Lawrence, KS since 1950, 24 of them rated F3 or stronger. The closest came within 0.6 miles. Every track below is drawn from the National Weather Service damage survey record.
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Track data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, covering every confirmed US tornado from 1950 onward. For the events with a full damage survey, see the storm archive.
Has a tornado ever hit Lawrence?
Yes. 209 tornadoes have been recorded within 30 miles of Lawrence, KS since 1950. The closest passed within 0.6 miles on June 19, 1981, rated F3.
What was the strongest tornado near Lawrence?
The strongest on record nearby was the F5 of June 8, 1966, which came within 18.8 miles and carved a track 21.1 miles long. 24 of the 209 tornadoes recorded near Lawrence were rated F3 or stronger.
What is the deadliest tornado near Lawrence?
The deadliest nearby was the F5 of May 20, 1957, which killed 44 people and passed within 23.3 miles. Across the whole 30 mile radius, recorded tornadoes have killed 84 and injured 984 since 1950.
When is tornado season in Lawrence?
The record does not describe a season so much as a pattern: the 1960s were the most active decade near Lawrence, KS, with 44 tornadoes recorded. Counts have risen across the country over time partly because detection and reporting improved, not only because more tornadoes occurred, so older decades are undercounted rather than genuinely quiet.
Tornadoes Near Lawrence by Decade
Nearby Towns
Counts cover a 30 mile radius around the centre of Lawrence, KS and come from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. This is a historical record and not a warning service.