Mitchell County, KS Environment & Hazard Risk
Very Low natural hazard risk, led by hail. 579 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $10.29M
- Very Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 579
- Most often hail
- Flood insurance policies
- 6
- 0.1% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 0
- Since 1851
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Very Low
Score 29.8 of 100
Social vulnerability
Relatively Low
Score 31.2 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively High
Score 71.2 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $2.88B · Agriculture value exposed: $163M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $10.09M
Risk by hazard
- HailRelatively High$3.67M/yr expected annual loss, about 8.4 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Moderate$439K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- Strong windRelatively Moderate$1.3M/yr expected annual loss, about 5.1 events a year
- DroughtRelatively Moderate$558K/yr expected annual loss, about 19 events a year
- Winter weatherRelatively Moderate$99.2K/yr expected annual loss, about 11 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Low$923K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- WildfireVery Low$18.84K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 3,677 years
- Heat waveVery Low$159K/yr expected annual loss, about 7.9 events a year
- LightningRelatively Low$105K/yr expected annual loss, about 46 events a year
- Cold waveVery Low$279K/yr expected annual loss, about 3.1 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$20.59K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1,934 years
- LandslideVery Low$17/yr expected annual loss, about once every 9 years
Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, hurricane, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 6 of 4,179 (0.1%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 0
- Flood claims since 1978
- 16
- Claims paid since 1978
- $154K
Flood claims paid per year
- Late spring storms$5,057 · 1 claim
- Midwest Flooding$3,329 · 2 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 579 events, 1 death, $94.67M in damage
- Hail211
- Thunderstorm Wind122
- Drought44
- Winter Storm43
- High Wind33
- Winter Weather30
- Heavy Rain29
- Tornado18
- Flash Flood15
- Blizzard7 · 1 death
Events per year
50 tornadoes on record (EF0 4, EF1 2, EF2 3, F0 13, F1 11, F2 10, F3 2, F4 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Drought09/01/2000
Mitchell
$10M damage
What happened
As the 2000 growing season came to a close, north-central Kansas continued in the grip of a year-long drought. Beginning in the fall of 1999, the combination of the above normal temperatures and significantly lower than normal rainfall had produced lower crop yields, placed stress on livestock and literally "dried up" pastures. The short moisture profile last fall caused the germination of the spring wheat crop to be poor, and very little snowfall during the winter only compounded the problem. Increased moisture in the spring was offset by very dry conditions from late June through September and searing temperatures. Several communities recorded 20 days in August of temperatures over 100 degrees. Again this fall, farmers will find the soil moisture very limited and face the reality of another poor yield next year should significant rains not fall.
- Blizzard11/25/2018
Mitchell
1 death
What happened
Snowfall amounts across the area ranged from 4 to 8 inches. There was one fatality. A woman had attempted to go to work on Sunday, but due to dangerous conditions, turned back to go home. She was reported missing when she didn't report for work on Monday, and her abandoned car was found in a ditch along Highway 24 near Glen Elder State Park. Her body was found on Tuesday in a field near Waconda Lake, about 3 miles from her car.
- Drought12/01/2002
Mitchell
$10M damage
What happened
The prolonged drought across north-central Kansas occasionally was classified into the severe category this year. Most dry land crops were hard hit and there was some decreased yield with irrigated crops.
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind10/02/2014
Beloit, Mitchell County
$5.75M damage
What happened
Wind speeds at this stage of the storm were estimated at 60 mph. At 635 am CDT, law enforcement reported that windows were broken from wind-driven hail on the south side of homes about 3 to 8 miles south of Beloit. These homes were located approximately from near Road L to Road P, just east of Highway 14. At 640 am CDT, a trained spotter reported golf ball size hail along with estimated 60 mph wind gusts, 5 miles south of Beloit.
- Hail1.75" hail10/02/2014
Beloit, Mitchell County
$5.75M damage
What happened
At 635 am CDT, law enforcement reported that windows were broken from wind-driven hail on the south side of homes about 3 to 8 miles south of Beloit. These homes were located approximately from near Road L to Road P, just east of Highway 14. At 640 am CDT, a trained spotter reported golf ball size hail along with estimated 60 mph wind gusts, 5 miles south of Beloit.
- Hail1.75" hail10/02/2014
Asherville, Mitchell County
$5.75M damage
What happened
At 640 am CDT, law enforcement reported that there were fields with destroyed crops due to the combination of golf ball size hail and strong wind. These fields were on both the north and south sides of Highway 24 from Roads 350 to 380. At 651 am CDT, Law enforcement reported that golf ball size hail was covering Highway 24. A semi-truck slid off the road and overturned at the intersection of Highway 24 and Road 380 due to the copious amount of hail on the road.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- High Wind52 kt wind03/15/2026
Mitchell
- Hail1" hail08/19/2025
Glen Elder Res, Mitchell County
- Thunderstorm Wind58 kt wind08/10/2025
Beloit Arpt, Mitchell County
- Hail1" hail05/19/2025
Scottsville, Mitchell County
- Hail1.5" hail05/19/2025
Beloit, Mitchell County
$500K damage
- Hail2" hail05/19/2025
Beloit Arpt, Mitchell County
$1.5M damage
- Blizzard03/19/2025
Mitchell
- High Wind59 kt wind03/19/2025
Mitchell
Drinking water
9 community water systems serve about 7,799 people. Violations since 2021.
5 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 3 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- Beloit, City ofServes 3,407 · Surface water · Local government19 health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
- Mitchell Co Rwd 3Serves 2,048 · Purchased surface water · Local government21 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
- Mitchell Co Rwd 2Serves 873 · Surface water · Local government12 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
- Cawker City, City ofServes 447 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+2 monitoring or reporting
- Glen Elder, City ofServes 359 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+6 monitoring or reporting
- Mitchell Co Rwd 1Serves 345 · Purchased surface water · Local government14 health violations
- Tipton, City ofServes 188 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations
- Simpson, City ofServes 81 · Groundwater · Local government13 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at Beloit, 6.9 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 92°F in Jul and winter lows bottom out near 17°F in Jan. About 29.1 inches of rain falls in a typical year, with 15.6 inches of snow.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 40°F | 17°F | 0.68 in | 4.0 in |
| Feb | 44°F | 21°F | 0.82 in | 3.7 in |
| Mar | 56°F | 30°F | 1.45 in | 1.7 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 41°F | 2.60 in | 0.7 in |
| May | 75°F | 52°F | 4.39 in | - |
| Jun | 87°F | 63°F | 3.77 in | - |
| Jul | 92°F | 68°F | 4.84 in | - |
| Aug | 89°F | 66°F | 3.58 in | - |
| Sep | 82°F | 57°F | 2.72 in | - |
| Oct | 69°F | 43°F | 1.98 in | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 54°F | 30°F | 1.21 in | 1.3 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 20°F | 1.04 in | 3.9 in |
| Year | 54°F average | 29.1 in | 15.6 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 2 toxic release facilities in Mitchell County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Agco Corp - Beloit Location44.5 lbs released, Beloit
- Hubbard Feeds Inc Beloit KS0 lbs released, Beloit
Total: 44.5 lbs in 2024, 44 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk12 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Mitchell County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Mitchell County very low for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $10.29M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hail (relatively high), ice storm (relatively moderate), strong wind (relatively moderate).
- What storms are most common in Mitchell County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 579 storm events affecting Mitchell County, most often hail (211), thunderstorm wind (122), drought (44).
- How many tornadoes have hit Mitchell County?
- 50 tornadoes have been recorded in Mitchell County since 1950, including 3 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Mitchell County have flood insurance?
- 6 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Mitchell County, covering about 0.1% of homes. The program has paid $154K on 16 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Mitchell County?
- At Beloit, average highs reach 92°F in Jul and lows fall to 17°F in Jan, with 29.1 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.