Kansas city
Tornadoes in Wichita
Wichita anchors the most tornado-dense metro corridor in Kansas — Udall, Andover, and Haysville have all taken violent hits within 25 miles of downtown. Here is Wichita's tornado history and what residents should know.
The local risk
- South-central Kansas is the statistical bullseye of classic Tornado Alley.
- The 1955 Udall F5 (80 dead) struck 25 miles southeast — still the deadliest in Kansas history.
- Andover, on the eastern edge of the metro, was hit by an F5 in 1991 and an EF3 in 2022.
- The 1999 Haysville-Wichita F4 tracked through the southern metro, killing 6.
- Peak months: April-June, with May the historical maximum.
Notable events
- May 25, 1955 Udall F5 — 80 dead. Deadliest Kansas tornado, 25 miles from downtown.
- April 26, 1991 Andover F5 — 17 dead, Golden Spur Mobile Home Park destroyed.
- May 3, 1999 Haysville-Wichita F4 — 6 dead in the southern metro, same outbreak as Bridge Creek-Moore.
- April 29, 2022 Andover EF3 — 1,000+ buildings damaged, zero deaths — a warning-system success.
- Annual metro-area touchdowns — Sedgwick County averages multiple tornado warnings each season.
How warnings reach you here
- The local NWS office issues tornado watches and warnings for the metro.
- Wireless Emergency Alerts push warnings to every phone in the polygon — no signup needed.
- Outdoor sirens cover most of the metro but are designed for people outdoors.
- NOAA Weather Radio with SAME county programming is the most reliable overnight alert.
- Local TV meteorologists provide wall-to-wall coverage during outbreaks.
Preparedness for this area
- A basement or certified safe room is the standard here — Sedgwick County has active shelter registration with 911.
- NOAA Weather Radio with SAME set to Sedgwick (and Butler if east side).
- Mobile home residents: the Udall, Andover 1991, and Haysville deaths were concentrated in mobile homes — pre-arrange a sturdier shelter.
- The 2022 Andover EF3 killed nobody because people sheltered on warning — that is the model.
- Know that May evening storms can cycle for hours; stay weather-aware until the watch expires.
Check your personal odds
Use our [tornado risk calculator](/tornado-risk-calculator/) to estimate your annual, 10-year, and lifetime odds of death, injury, or property damage — adjusted for your home type and shelter access.