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storm spotters
Barton County ranks second for tornadoes
rozel kevin milch1
Kevin Milch was three miles east-southeast of the Rozel tornado in Pawnee County when he shot this photo in May 2013. The Dodge City weather service rated the tornado EF4, the areas strongest since the 2007 Greensburg tornado. Five farms were damaged. The tornado intensity was rated as high as EF4 based on measured winds of 165 to 185 mph by a Doppler on Wheels system from Boulder, Colo. The maximum damage width was 1,100 yards. - photo by Courtesy photo Kevin Milch
So far, Barton County and Kansas has been fortunate. Reports of severe weather have been minimal in 2015.But if the past decade is a guide, Barton County will be targeted for severe weather more often than virtually every county in Kansas. Since 1950, Barton County ranks second for tornado reports behind Sherman County, which features an abundance of weak twisters.Chance Hayes, chief meteorologist for Wichita’s National Weather Service, said Barton County has averaged 5.4 tornado warnings per year over the past 10 years.