Tornadoes most often occur in Kansas during the spring months.  But they can, and do, strike year round.

That’s the reminder from National Weather Service Meteorologist Jeff Hutton of Dodge City.  He was in Hays Wednesday night for the annual NWS Severe Weather and Spotter presentation along with Ellis County Emergency Mangement.

Hutton says the last year’s tornado season started early in Kansas–February 28. The season’s sole fatality occurred in Harveyville that day.

The day with the most tornadoes in Kansas was April 14.  There were 43 tornadoes; 12 of those were in Rush County.

The final tornado of the season was September 17 in Shawnee County.

50 tornado-related injuries were reported in 2012.

In Ellis County since 1950, the National Weather service has recorded 53 tornadoes with only 6 injuries and no deaths.