Official: Tornado Activity in Kansas in July Was Unusually High

The high number of tornadoes seen in Kansas in July was unusual, according to a state official.

Eight tornadoes touched down in the state in July, The Wichita Eagle reported. Three twisters occurred in Greenwood County on July 7, including and EF-2. An EF-3 tornado also hit the county earlier in the month.

One tornado touched down about four miles east of Syracuse in Hamilton County on July 15, but it didn’t do enough damage to warrant a damage survey by the National Weather Service. Jeff Hutton with the Dodge City branch of the weather service said that it was officially recorded as an EF-1.

The EF-2 and EF-3 tornadoes in Greenwood County and the one near Syracuse “were definitely stronger than you usually see in July,” Hutton added.

He said the EF-2 tornado was particularly unusual because it happened at night. According to Hutton, the unusual weather activity in July serves as a reminder.

People tend to believe that tornadoes only happen in the spring, Hutton said. “It can happen at any time if it sets up just right.”