Wildfire in Kansas

Events

92

Deaths

3

Injuries

10

Damage

$73 million

• Wildfire and Dust Storm in Kansas, December 15 to 17, 20211 death · 4 injured · $615,000 · 104 kt wind · 32 eventsDuring the morning to mid-afternoon hours, an intense low pressure system moved away from the Colorado Front Range and across the Central High Plains. This system was responsible for generating two rounds of high winds in Northwest Kansas.
• Wildfire and Damaging Winds in Kansas, December 15 to 16, 20211 death · $1.8 million · 84 kt wind · 16 eventsA historic onslaught of swiftly-moving severe thunderstorms followed by several hours of intense/damaging non-convective winds that stirred up clouds of blowing dust and sparked a few large wildfires unfolded within this six-county North Central Kansas area on this Wednesday…
• Wildfire and Dust Storm in Kansas, December 2, 20221 death · $208,000 · 65 kt wind · 24 eventsIn the latter half of the morning on December 2nd, strong, dry southwesterly winds began picking up dirt and dust in Eastern Colorado and Western Kansas.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Kansas, December 15 to 16, 20211 death · 73 kt wind · 64 eventsA very strong cold front approached the area from the northwest with a strong gradient and low level jet ahead of it out of the southwest to west prior to the frontal passage.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Kansas, April 29, 20111 death · 2 injured · $25,000 · 51 kt wind · 9 eventsStrong low pressure over the western high plains resulted in very strong southerly winds across central and south-central Kansas from the late morning through the afternoon on the 29th. Winds were sustained at around 40 mph at times, with periodic gusts to around 60 mph.
• Wildfire in Kansas, March 22 to 29, 2016$60 million · 2 eventsThe largest wildfire in Kansas recorded history started northwest of Alva, OK but quickly moved into Comanche and Barber counties. By the time it was contained, the fire had consumed nearly 275,000 acres in Kansas (and another 90,000 acres in Oklahoma).
• Tornadoes and Wildfire in Kansas, April 22 to 29, 20221 injured · $347,000 · EF1 · 61 eventsA significant weather system impacted the High Plains throughout the day on April 22nd and into the early morning hours of April 23rd.
• Wildfire and Dust Storm in Kansas, October 11, 2020$1.5 million · 70 kt wind · 22 eventsA strong southeastward cold front produced high wind gusts ranging from 27 to 81 mph. These high winds lasted for various durations of time, ranging from six minutes to one hour and fifty minutes after frontal passage.
• Wildfire in Kansas, March 6 to 7, 2017$3.0 million · 7 eventsA strong low pressure center and tight pressure gradient and eventually a deeply mixed boundary layer produced strong surface winds. Winds also were very strong behind the associated cold front late in the day on the 6th. Winds picked up again on the 7th fanning residual fires.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Kansas, February 17 to 24, 20262 injured · $325,000 · 63 kt wind · 35 eventsStrong mid-upper level trough ejected into the Plains early on February 17 which led to a rapid deepening of a surface cyclone. Strong winds developed behind the cold frontal passage, leading to numerous high wind reports across central and western Kansas.
• Wildfire and Strong Wind in Kansas, March 6, 2017$2.6 million · 3 eventsA tight pressure gradient ahead of a strong storm system produced high winds across portions of Central Kansas during the morning of March 6th, 2017. The highest winds in excess of 50-55 mph occurred across Central Kansas, near Russell, Kansas and Wilson, Kansas.
• Wildfire in Kansas, March 30, 2006$1.1 million · 1 eventA wildfire burned 5,400 acres east of the Hutchinson Airport, near the intersection of 17th Avenue and Obee Road. It was likely started by a lightning strike from thunderstorms early that afternoon. 300-400 people were evacuated from a 21 square-mile area between 3-10 pm.
• Wildfire in Kansas, November 24, 2017$1.0 million · 1 eventA wildfire occurred east of Webster State Park on this Friday afternoon. This fire started on Highway 24 between county roads 11 and 12, and then spread approximately 5 miles to the southeast. The fire was contained by 8 PM, though crews monitored hot spots into the next day.
• Wildfire in Kansas, March 22, 2011$1.0 million · 1 eventA 350-acre grass fire blazed across northwest Kingman County, near 524 NW 20th Avenue. It began when high winds and dry conditions rekindled a controlled burn performed several weeks earlier. There was some damage to a metal outbuilding, and some hay was lost to the fire.
• Wildfire in Kansas, February 24, 19963 injured · $250,000 · 1 eventA fast moving grass/pasture fire consumed 25 square miles of grass and timber in southwest Shawnee county. The fire was fanned by extremely dry conditions and southwest winds at times gusting to around 40 mph.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Kansas, March 6 to 7, 2017$400,000 · 51 kt wind · 2 eventsHigh winds occurred behind a cold front on this Monday afternoon. Northwest winds were sustained between 30 and 40 mph. Wind gusts between 45 and 55 mph were common. The highest gust observed was 59 mph near Lebanon.
• Wildfire and Hail in Kansas, December 15 to 16, 20211 injured · 1.5 in hail · 52 eventsA very strong low pressure system tracked out of the Rockies and marched across the Central Plains into the Upper Mississippi Valley. Further up in the atmosphere, a SW to NE directional mid-level jet was present along with impressive lapse rates.
• Wildfire and Dust Storm in Kansas, April 17 to 18, 20185 injured · 67 kt wind · 19 eventsA strong cold front brought high winds, blowing dust, and a wildfire to Northwest Kansas. The high winds led to some wind damage across the area. In addition, the winds caused widespread blowing dust with zero visibility, which resulted in at least 2 accidents on area roadways.
• Wildfire in Kansas, April 11, 1998$150,000 · 1 eventA small fire quickly got out of control due to strong winds. Over 100 acres of grass burned and two cabins were destroyed in the fire.
• Wildfire in Kansas, November 9, 20101 injured · $100,000 · 1 eventDry conditions combined with winds gusting to 30mph and low relative humidity to allow a wild fire near Galena, Kansas to burn out of control for several hours. The fire burned around 100 acres of off Schermerhorn Road and destroyed a couple of mobile homes.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Kansas, March 29 to 30, 2022$100,000 · 51 kt wind · 2 eventsA strong storm system brought extreme fire weather conditions to north central Kansas during the afternoon and evening hours of March 29th.
• Wildfire in Kansas, January 12, 2014$100,000 · 1 eventA tight pressure gradient caused strong gusty winds across southeast Kansas and resulted in at least one grass fire to rapidly spread and become out of control.
• Wildfire in Kansas, June 26 to 27, 2012$90,000 · 1 eventDowned power lines from gusty wind helped ignite a wildfire that moved across parts of Lane county.
• Wildfire and High Wind in Kansas, March 6, 2017$52,000 · 55 kt wind · 7 eventsHigh winds developed behind a strong cold front most of the day. Wind gusts up to 65 MPH were reported during the day. The strongest wind gust occurred in Goodland and was based on roof damage of a mobile home.
• Wildfire in Kansas, March 12, 2015$50,000 · 1 eventA large grass became out of control and burned down several oil storage tanks.

Wildfire everywhereEvery kind of event in Kansas

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.