Elk County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Kansas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Elk County is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Elk County is lower than Kansas average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #84
| Elk County | 0.00 |
| Kansas | 0.05 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Elk County | 0.0000 |
| Kansas | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #69
| Elk County | 182.77 |
| Kansas | 252.53 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 20,127 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Elk County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 20 | Cold: | 34 | Dense Fog: | 32 | Drought: | 52 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,589 | Hail: | 9,934 | Heat: | 59 | Heavy Snow: | 123 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 56 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 178 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 7,406 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 6 | Winter Storm: | 176 | Winter Weather: | 89 |
| Other: | 373 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Elk County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Elk County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Elk County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 67 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Elk County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 4.4 | 1965-06-03 | 2 | 37°22'N / 96°18'W | 37°39'N / 96°06'W | 22.40 Miles | 87 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Elk |
| 5.9 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°28'N / 96°16'W | 37°36'N / 96°08'W | 11.50 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Elk |
| 5.9 | 1959-06-18 | 2 | 37°32'N / 96°12'W | 2.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Elk | |
| 7.0 | 1960-11-27 | 2 | 37°19'N / 96°28'W | 37°30'N / 96°15'W | 17.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Elk |
| 8.0 | 1991-04-26 | 3 | 37°28'N / 96°25'W | 37°37'N / 96°16'W | 12.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Elk |
| 8.4 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°18'N / 96°28'W | 37°28'N / 96°16'W | 15.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Elk |
| 11.7 | 1991-04-26 | 3 | 37°37'N / 96°16'W | 37°38'N / 96°14'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Greenwood |
| 15.3 | 1972-04-19 | 2 | 37°36'N / 96°02'W | 20.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Greenwood | |
| 16.6 | 1964-11-15 | 2 | 37°39'N / 96°04'W | 0.80 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Greenwood | |
| 17.5 | 1982-03-15 | 2 | 37°40'N / 96°04'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Greenwood | |
| 18.8 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°15'N / 96°32'W | 37°18'N / 96°28'W | 5.10 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 19.4 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°36'N / 96°08'W | 37°47'N / 95°58'W | 15.50 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Greenwood |
| 25.1 | 1991-03-26 | 3 | 37°15'N / 96°45'W | 37°23'N / 96°35'W | 15.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Cowley |
| 25.5 | 1980-10-15 | 3 | 37°20'N / 96°45'W | 37°31'N / 96°40'W | 13.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Cowley |
| 26.1 | 1973-06-04 | 2 | 37°42'N / 95°57'W | 37°44'N / 95°51'W | 5.90 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Greenwood |
| 26.8 | 1991-04-26 | 3 | 37°45'N / 96°05'W | 37°51'N / 95°57'W | 10.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Greenwood |
| 27.4 | 2006-03-30 | 2 | 37°08'N / 95°55'W | 37°21'N / 95°44'W | 16.00 Miles | 125 Yards | 0 | 1 | 1.0M | 0K | Montgomery |
| Brief Description: The tornado produced F2 damage 4 miles north of Wayside, and again 2 miles southwest of Sycamore. Several homes and mobile homes were damaged or destroyed along its 16 mile path. The most concentrated damage occurred roughly 2 to 3 miles southwest of Sycamore in the township of Radical, where several homes and mobile homes sustained damage, some of which was major. Additionally, numerous trailers were overturned at Elk City Lake, along with damage at Elk City Lake State Park. Unfortunately, one man was seriously injured (direct) 3 miles southwest of Sycamore, when his home was hit by the tornado. Average path width ranged from 75 to 125 yards. | |||||||||||
| 28.0 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°47'N / 95°58'W | 37°48'N / 95°57'W | 1.30 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Woodson |
| 30.0 | 1957-05-16 | 2 | 37°14'N / 95°59'W | 37°35'N / 95°25'W | 39.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chautauqua |
| 32.6 | 1981-05-17 | 2 | 36°59'N / 96°14'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Osage | |||
| 32.9 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°00'N / 96°49'W | 37°15'N / 96°32'W | 23.20 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Cowley |
| 34.1 | 1954-05-01 | 2 | 37°13'N / 95°40'W | 37°18'N / 95°41'W | 5.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 34.4 | 1974-05-30 | 2 | 38°04'N / 96°29'W | 37°49'N / 96°17'W | 20.40 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Greenwood |
| 34.6 | 1955-05-25 | 5 | 37°27'N / 97°00'W | 37°27'N / 96°45'W | 13.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cowley |
| 34.8 | 1991-04-26 | 3 | 37°51'N / 95°57'W | 37°57'N / 95°56'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Woodson |
| 35.2 | 1973-03-13 | 2 | 37°00'N / 96°58'W | 37°27'N / 96°40'W | 35.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cowley |
| 36.3 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 37°48'N / 95°57'W | 38°02'N / 95°54'W | 16.30 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Woodson |
| 37.6 | 1982-03-15 | 3 | 37°01'N / 95°51'W | 37°04'N / 95°45'W | 6.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Montgomery |
| 38.3 | 1973-05-26 | 3 | 36°58'N / 95°55'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 3K | 0 | Washington | |
| 38.8 | 1961-03-26 | 2 | 38°01'N / 96°18'W | 2.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Greenwood | |
| 38.9 | 1986-04-07 | 2 | 37°57'N / 95°56'W | 37°53'N / 95°44'W | 14.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Woodson |
| 39.7 | 1986-04-07 | 2 | 38°03'N / 96°05'W | 37°57'N / 95°56'W | 8.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Greenwood |
| 39.7 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 37°16'N / 95°33'W | 37°22'N / 95°32'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 40.0 | 1960-04-16 | 2 | 37°48'N / 96°50'W | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Butler | |||
| 41.4 | 1960-10-29 | 2 | 37°49'N / 96°51'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Butler | |
| 41.5 | 2003-05-08 | 3 | 37°48'N / 95°57'W | 38°00'N / 95°31'W | 22.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 261K | Woodson |
| Brief Description: Damage summary: Toronto: Outbuildings destroyed. 1N Toronto: Trees & limbs downed. 1W Batesville: Large trees uprooted and sheared off, sheet metal in trees, old wood shed destroyed. 1N Batesville: Oil tank 12-15 feet high toppled (leaked profusely), power pole blown over. 2NE Batesville: House destroyed, 2 vehicles heavily damaged, pair of 2-3 foot diameter trees stripped 4 feet off ground. 3-4NE Batesville: Cattle barn & garage destroyed, windows blown out of house, large pick-up truck rolled onto side. 1N Yates Center: House & barn destroyed on Highway 75, horse trailer flipped over, large trees uprooted or snapped off at bases, broke or toppled 70 grave markers at the cemetery. 1NW Yates Center: Two-story house and 3 barns destroyed, trees completely shreaded. Yates Center: Five homes destroyed and 30 damaged. Two of the three injuries occurred at one residence with both requiring transport to a hospital. Forty-five miles of fence damaged. Stored hay contaminated by embedding of wiring and nails. Estimated crop losses: Corn: 300 acres. Wheat: 100 acres. Pasture: 1312 acres. Hay: 655 acres. Of the estimated $2.5 million damage, $1.506 million inflicted upon farming facilities. Farming facility damage breakdown: Dwellings and Service Buildings: $900,000; Structures: $6,000; Machinery & equipment: $600,000. USDA Flash Situation Report contributed greatly to this narrative. This tornado would cross just barely into extreme Northwest Allen County. | |||||||||||
| 42.1 | 1981-05-23 | 2 | 36°56'N / 95°53'W | 36°57'N / 95°47'W | 5.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Washington |
| 42.3 | 1979-03-18 | 3 | 36°54'N / 95°56'W | 36°55'N / 95°52'W | 3.80 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Washington |
| 42.5 | 1982-03-15 | 2 | 37°47'N / 95°51'W | 37°58'N / 95°30'W | 24.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Woodson |
| 42.5 | 1987-07-05 | 2 | 37°31'N / 97°01'W | 0.20 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Butler | |
| 42.7 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 36°53'N / 95°56'W | 36°56'N / 95°50'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 10 | 250K | 0 | Washington |
| 42.9 | 1980-04-07 | 2 | 36°52'N / 96°00'W | 1.50 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Osage | |
| 43.1 | 2003-04-19 | 2 | 36°51'N / 96°00'W | 36°56'N / 95°49'W | 12.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 3 | 1.7M | 0 | Washington |
| Brief Description: A tornado entered Washington county 5 miles northwest of Dewey and passed between Dewey and Copan before entering Nowata county 1 mile north of Wann or 6.8 miles east northeast of Copan. The tornado produced F2 damage and a half mile wide damage path at its peak. 41 homes, two businesses and 40 barns and sheds were damaged. 16 of the homes were severely damaged including two mobile homes which were completely destroyed. Three people were treated at an emergency room of a hospital in Bartlesville due to injuries received during the tornado. Two of those people were inhabitants of one of the moble homes that was destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 43.6 | 1979-03-18 | 3 | 36°55'N / 95°52'W | 36°55'N / 95°48'W | 4.10 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Nowata |
| 43.6 | 1991-04-26 | 4 | 37°04'N / 97°09'W | 37°21'N / 96°48'W | 25.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Cowley |
| 44.4 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 37°56'N / 96°43'W | 38°06'N / 96°34'W | 15.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Butler |
| 44.5 | 1954-04-26 | 2 | 38°04'N / 95°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lyon | |
| 44.7 | 1955-05-25 | 5 | 37°23'N / 97°07'W | 37°27'N / 97°00'W | 7.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cowley |
| 44.8 | 1974-05-30 | 2 | 38°05'N / 96°30'W | 38°04'N / 96°29'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Butler | ||
| 45.2 | 1981-05-23 | 2 | 36°57'N / 95°47'W | 36°59'N / 95°37'W | 9.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0K | 0 | Nowata |
| 45.2 | 1968-06-10 | 2 | 38°06'N / 96°06'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Greenwood | |
| 46.0 | 1965-03-16 | 4 | 37°07'N / 97°10'W | 37°15'N / 96°51'W | 19.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Cowley |
| 46.1 | 1958-06-10 | 4 | 37°51'N / 97°01'W | 37°50'N / 96°51'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 15 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Butler |
| 46.2 | 1960-04-16 | 2 | 37°36'N / 97°08'W | 37°40'N / 96°59'W | 9.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 3K | 0 | Butler |
| 46.4 | 1956-04-02 | 4 | 38°02'N / 95°54'W | 38°06'N / 95°53'W | 4.50 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Coffey |
| 46.4 | 1981-05-23 | 2 | 36°57'N / 95°42'W | 36°59'N / 95°38'W | 4.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Nowata |
| 46.5 | 1961-03-26 | 2 | 36°45'N / 96°00'W | 37°00'N / 95°38'W | 26.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Washington |
| 47.3 | 1973-05-11 | 2 | 37°36'N / 95°24'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Neosho | |||
| 47.7 | 1960-11-27 | 2 | 37°25'N / 97°15'W | 37°40'N / 96°58'W | 23.20 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Sumner |
| 47.7 | 1988-11-15 | 2 | 37°24'N / 95°26'W | 37°29'N / 95°19'W | 7.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Neosho |
| 47.7 | 1974-05-30 | 2 | 38°08'N / 96°34'W | 38°05'N / 96°30'W | 4.70 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chase |
| 48.0 | 1991-04-26 | 5 | 37°42'N / 97°09'W | 37°54'N / 96°52'W | 22.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 13 | 150 | 250.0M | 0 | Butler |
| 48.4 | 1963-05-25 | 2 | 37°34'N / 97°07'W | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Butler | |||
| 48.6 | 2000-04-19 | 3 | 37°15'N / 95°33'W | 37°24'N / 95°12'W | 21.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 27 | 71.0M | 0 | Labette |
| Brief Description: The same tornado that formed 3 miles south of Cherryvale at 1930 CST in eastern Montgomery County, the tornado entered western Labette County at 1934 CST, 10 miles southwest of Dennis. Moving northeast around 35 mph, the tornado passed 4 miles south of Dennis at 1940 CST. At 1945 CST, the tornado entered southwest Parsons where it inflicted major damage to a law enforcement center, a movie theater, and a carnival. In all, 750 buildings were damaged of which 633 were homes. Of the homes, 53 were destroyed, 112 sustained major damage and 468 received minor damage. Of the 117 commercial buildings that sustained damage, 20 were destroyed, 28 received major damage, and 69 received minor damage. Total damage estimate: $40 million. A total of 27 people were injured, most were minor. Though inflicting F3 damage when it hit Parsons, the tornado possessed F1 intensity for most of it's track. This same tornado would continue moving northeast, clipping southeast Neosho County. Area newspapers contributed to this report. | |||||||||||
| 48.7 | 1982-03-15 | 2 | 36°49'N / 95°51'W | 36°55'N / 95°40'W | 12.00 Miles | 177 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Nowata |
| 49.1 | 1955-05-25 | 5 | 37°21'N / 97°09'W | 37°23'N / 97°07'W | 2.30 Miles | 1320 Yards | 75 | 270 | 250K | 0 | Cowley |
| 49.2 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 38°06'N / 96°34'W | 38°10'N / 96°29'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Chase |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.