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Ellis County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in Ellis County is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Ellis County is about the same as Kansas average and is much higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake IndexVolcano IndexTornado IndexOther Weather Extremes EventsVolcanos NearbyHistorical Earthquake EventsHistorical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #28

Ellis County
0.03
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

Ellis 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, #30

Ellis County
253.16
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 16,263 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Ellis County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:29Cold:27Dense Fog:0Drought:19
Dust Storm:1Flood:469Hail:10,145Heat:14Heavy Snow:83
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:29Landslide:0Strong Wind:163
Thunderstorm Winds:4,693Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:2Winter Storm:145Winter Weather:51
Other:393 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Ellis County.

Historical Earthquake Events

No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Ellis County.

No historical earthquake events found in or near Ellis County.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 77 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Ellis County.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
2.31972-08-02238°53'N / 99°20'W0.20 Mile150 Yards00250K0Ellis
4.11964-08-31338°48'N / 99°19'W38°55'N / 99°16'W8.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Ellis
5.41998-10-16338°47'N / 99°34'W39°01'N / 99°16'W23.00 Miles1300 Yards011.2M0Ellis
 Brief Description: Tornado that began in eastern Trego county, steadily moved northeast before dissipating north of Hays. The tornado hit several farms in rural Ellis county and slammed into sparsely populated Yocemento. After leaving Yocemento, the tornado tore through a feedyard and on across other parts of rural Ellis county. Fortunately, the tornado stayed just west and north of populated Hays where a high school football game was in progress. The tornado damaged or destroyed 10 homes, a grain elevator, many outbuildings, a tractor and a feedlot. During the weaker moments of the tornado, it moved a 14,000 pound tractor 30 yards. One modular constructed home on a concrete slab was completely destroyed with the remains carried 1/2 of a mile. A steel I-beam from a concrete building travelled several hundred yards, eventually crashing into a grain elevator. Three empty anhydrous ammonia tanks were moved causing a leak of a benign amount of vapour. An injury occurred to a male driving a tractor-trailer rig on Interstate 70.
5.81972-04-30238°55'N / 99°23'W39°04'N / 99°20'W10.50 Miles127 Yards0025K0Ellis
6.71990-04-25338°47'N / 99°33'W39°07'N / 99°19'W23.00 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Ellis
7.71980-10-16338°49'N / 99°15'W00250K0Ellis
9.01972-05-22238°56'N / 99°29'W0.50 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
10.01954-10-11338°56'N / 99°13'W38°56'N / 99°03'W8.60 Miles33 Yards0025K0Ellis
10.42001-04-10238°56'N / 99°35'W39°07'N / 99°19'W19.00 Miles300 Yards00150K0Ellis
 Brief Description: A tornado moved in from Trego county at 2209 and moved into Rooks county at 2238. It took out 50 power poles in Ellis county and damaged 13 farms. Roofs were removed on several homes and there was extensive damage done to several outbuildings and trailers. Two semis were overturned on I-70 west of Ellis causing several minor injuries. Reports of the infamous "roar" were noted in the Ellis community.
13.01972-05-22239°00'N / 99°32'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
13.01972-05-22239°00'N / 99°32'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
13.01972-05-22239°00'N / 99°32'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
13.01974-06-05239°00'N / 99°42'W39°00'N / 99°22'W17.70 Miles70 Yards00250K0Trego
13.51972-05-22238°56'N / 99°34'W2.00 Miles250 Yards0025K0Ellis
14.81960-05-24238°47'N / 99°06'W0.30 Mile100 Yards000K0Ellis
15.82002-05-05339°03'N / 99°37'W39°07'N / 99°25'W12.80 Miles880 Yards0000Ellis
 Brief Description: This tornado entered Ellis county from Trego county at 440 PM and continued a a northeast and easterly track. It did speed up at the end of it's life and as is typical, decreased in size. Another tornado was video taped just north and west of this tornado (during the same time), but was just across the county line. A brick building (that was very sturdy) was destroyed and strewn for hundreds of yards into a field. "Huge" cottonwood trees were either uprooted or snapped off at about five feet. A 250 gallon oil tank was moved 1.5 miles and was found lodged into a grove of trees.
16.21964-08-31238°55'N / 99°01'W000K0Russell
18.22002-05-05239°03'N / 99°38'W39°03'N / 99°35'W2.20 Miles350 Yards0000Trego
 Brief Description: The tornado that developed 3.5 miles north and 5.5 miles east of Ogallah (north of Riga) moved slowly northeast reaching a width of 350 yards before crossing into Ellis county at 440 PM. A shed was destroyed near the starting point of the tornado. Along it's path, 1200 pound bales of hay were pushed into a group of trees with a few of the bales stripped to the core. Power poles were downed, tin sheets were wrapped around trees and a stick was impaled into a post.
18.32008-05-23238°51'N / 99°40'W38°58'N / 99°39'W8.00 Miles250 Yards000K0KTrego
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved over a sparsely populated area but did EF2 damage to trees. It moved northwest towards the end of it's life cycle. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
18.41985-05-10338°56'N / 99°38'W39°06'N / 99°38'W10.00 Miles300 Yards00250K0Trego
19.41968-05-13339°08'N / 99°20'W39°13'N / 99°02'W16.90 Miles320 Yards0125K0Rooks
19.52008-05-23238°45'N / 99°41'W38°53'N / 99°38'W9.00 Miles1760 Yards000K0KTrego
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This 1.0 mile wide tornado moved over a sparsely populated area (including vegetation) but did EF2 damage to trees, power poles and a house. A large outbuilding was completely destroyed. Oil tanks ruptured and there were several head of cattle killed. Also a combine was rolled. Since this tornado moved north along a road, there was 2.4 miles of power poles taken down. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
20.71990-04-25338°41'N / 99°42'W38°47'N / 99°33'W10.00 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Trego
22.11973-03-13239°14'N / 99°17'W1.00 Mile50 Yards00250K0Rooks
22.71970-06-15239°08'N / 99°38'W1.50 Miles200 Yards0025K0Graham
23.21972-07-27239°15'N / 99°18'W0.50 Mile100 Yards0125K0Rooks
25.81959-05-28238°37'N / 99°39'W38°39'N / 99°37'W2.30 Miles100 Yards0025K0Ness
26.31951-06-21238°32'N / 99°19'W000K0Rush
26.41974-08-30238°44'N / 98°55'W38°46'N / 98°50'W4.70 Miles67 Yards0025K0Russell
26.71951-07-07239°15'N / 99°34'W003K0Rooks
28.21990-04-25338°37'N / 99°44'W38°41'N / 99°42'W4.00 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Ness
28.31985-05-10339°11'N / 99°31'W39°28'N / 99°06'W30.00 Miles300 Yards002.5M0Rooks
28.61968-06-18338°30'N / 99°18'W0.50 Mile220 Yards08250K0Rush
29.31964-06-12238°42'N / 98°48'W38°52'N / 98°48'W11.50 Miles33 Yards0025K0Russell
30.82008-05-23238°42'N / 99°50'W38°43'N / 99°49'W3.00 Miles715 Yards000K0KTrego
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved out of Ness county at 19:42 CDT. EF2 damage was done to trees and fences. Otherwise, this is a sparely populated area (farms and vegetation). EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
31.51951-06-27439°02'N / 99°53'W0.80 Mile300 Yards51002.5M0Trego
31.61968-05-13339°13'N / 99°02'W39°17'N / 98°48'W13.10 Miles320 Yards0025K0Osborne
31.71973-04-30238°28'N / 99°27'W0.20 Mile100 Yards003K0Rush
33.41964-06-10238°28'N / 99°05'W0025K0Rush
33.61971-05-17238°44'N / 100°05'W38°47'N / 99°44'W19.10 Miles33 Yards00250K0Trego
33.91960-05-04238°38'N / 99°50'W000K0Ness
34.02008-05-23338°36'N / 99°52'W38°42'N / 99°50'W6.00 Miles715 Yards000K0KNess
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado caused EF3 damage to trees and an old stone home. A farm implement was carried 1/2 mile south of it's original starting point. EF3 damage was also done to trees. Another home sustained EF1 damage. There were numerous power poles taken down and at least 5 head of cattle perished in the tornado. The tornado moved into Trego county at 19:42 CDT. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
34.12005-06-09338°51'N / 100°00'W38°55'N / 99°54'W6.00 Miles200 Yards0000Trego
 Brief Description: Significant damage was done to several farms, outbuildings and trees. One 1500 pound heifer was thrown 1/4 mile. The tornado actually made a loop traveling back west, south then back to the north and it dissipated rather rapidly (from video). Some of the structures were protected in a ravine but still sustained major damage. Several cottonwood trees with six foot diameter trunks were pulled out of the ground. This tornado did high-end F3 damage.
35.71964-06-12238°31'N / 98°46'W38°42'N / 98°48'W12.60 Miles33 Yards0125K0Barton
35.71961-08-12239°28'N / 99°49'W39°12'N / 99°36'W21.60 Miles300 Yards003K0Graham
36.81950-05-08239°14'N / 98°57'W39°14'N / 98°35'W19.60 Miles440 Yards0225K0Osborne
37.22001-04-21238°23'N / 99°12'W38°23'N / 99°12'W1.50 Miles100 Yards00200K0Rush
 Brief Description: Two farms received heavy damage (grain bins, roofs, shed and vehicle)
37.41969-06-24339°06'N / 100°02'W39°36'N / 99°26'W47.00 Miles700 Yards0025K0Trego
37.91985-05-10439°25'N / 99°24'W39°30'N / 99°25'W5.00 Miles1000 Yards002.5M0Rooks
38.41972-04-30338°27'N / 99°43'W38°26'N / 99°40'W2.70 Miles200 Yards00250K0Ness
39.31991-04-11339°26'N / 99°25'W39°32'N / 99°17'W6.00 Miles400 Yards012.5M0Rooks
39.32001-04-21438°30'N / 98°47'W38°34'N / 98°46'W5.00 Miles660 Yards12843.0M0Barton
 Brief Description: Initial touchdown occurred 1 mile southwest of Hoisington. The tornado rapidly achieved F3 intensity as it entered the west side of town. Moving northeast around 20 mph, the tornado intensified to F4 within 2-3 minutes. While crossing northwest Hoisington, the tornado inflicted a path about 2 miles long and about 2 blocks wide of almost complete destruction. Damage summary: 182 homes destroyed, 52 homes with major damage, 180 homes with minor to moderate damage, 12 businesses destroyed, tore the roof off the hospital, and severed power to most (if not all) areas on the northwest and north sides of town. As the tornado exited through the north side of town it weakened rapidly, inflicting F1-F2 damage as it approached Deception Creek which runs in a southeast to northwest manner 3 miles northeast of town. Once the tornado crossed the creek, it suddenly turned toward the northwest where it damaged two farmsteads shortly before dissipating. One man, 69 years of age, was killed when a minivan fell on him. There were 28 injuries of which 3 were critical. M69PH
40.81972-04-30338°13'N / 99°30'W38°27'N / 99°24'W17.00 Miles77 Yards00250K0Pawnee
40.82005-06-09239°17'N / 99°57'W39°21'N / 99°48'W9.50 Miles400 Yards0000Graham
 Brief Description: A significant tornado (rated F2 based on damage survey) touched down 8 miles SW of Hill City near Road 220 and Road J at approximately 4:20 pm CDT. As the tornado continued northeast toward Road 260 and Road M it damaged two homes and destroyed a detached garage. One home suffered roof damage while another had part of the roof from the upper story removed. Significant and continuous tree and power pole damage was noted for one mile south of this location. Some of this damage was likely produced by an intense rear-flank downdraft accompanying the southern periphery of the tornado. As the tornado crossed Highway 283 approximately 3.5 miles south of Hill City, it caused structural damage to a hangar used as storage. A boat, a small four-wheeler and a camper were either heavily damaged or destroyed, with debris rolled or bounced between one-half and three-fourths of a mile. The tornado crossed the intersection of Road 290 and Road O producing tree damage. The tornado ultimately lifted about a half mile northeast of this location at approximately 4:48 pm CDT.
41.21956-10-29338°51'N / 98°37'W39°00'N / 98°29'W12.40 Miles200 Yards00250K0Russell
41.41953-06-07239°21'N / 99°51'W0025K0Graham
42.51972-04-30338°33'N / 100°02'W38°37'N / 99°56'W6.80 Miles440 Yards003K0Ness
42.81974-08-30238°21'N / 99°15'W38°15'N / 99°11'W7.70 Miles200 Yards0025K0Pawnee
43.01954-04-25239°03'N / 100°06'W0025K0Trego
44.21964-05-05238°34'N / 98°36'W38°43'N / 98°33'W10.60 Miles1320 Yards0025K0Barton
44.62008-05-23238°33'N / 100°00'W38°33'N / 100°00'W1.00 Mile75 Yards000K0KNess
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This was a satellite tornado that moved south on the west side of its large parent tornado. EF2 damage was done to trees (uprooted). EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
45.21966-08-06238°24'N / 98°48'W0.20 Mile200 Yards0125K0Barton
45.31975-05-27338°32'N / 98°38'W0.50 Mile20 Yards00250K0Barton
45.41952-08-07339°00'N / 98°31'W39°03'N / 98°27'W4.70 Miles33 Yards000K0Russell
45.61971-06-09238°31'N / 100°01'W38°27'N / 99°54'W7.70 Miles117 Yards01250K0Ness
45.81959-05-29239°12'N / 100°06'W39°16'N / 100°02'W5.60 Miles77 Yards0025K0Graham
45.91950-05-04438°16'N / 98°55'W38°27'N / 98°47'W14.50 Miles150 Yards01250K0Pawnee
46.12008-05-23238°29'N / 100°03'W38°37'N / 100°01'W12.00 Miles1410 Yards000K0KNess
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This was a large tornado that produced EF2 damage. It turned northwest towards the end of its life cycle but dissipated before reaching Arnold. Damage was done to trees, large power poles, a large tank, a barn and hay bales. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
46.51962-05-28238°18'N / 98°58'W1.50 Miles33 Yards003K0Barton
48.11956-10-29338°22'N / 98°46'W0.60 Mile147 Yards01250K0Barton
48.21979-04-19239°28'N / 99°50'W39°32'N / 99°47'W5.20 Miles400 Yards00250K0Graham
48.21972-04-30438°16'N / 99°43'W38°18'N / 99°41'W2.30 Miles77 Yards00250K0Ness
48.41956-10-29339°00'N / 98°29'W39°13'N / 98°25'W15.20 Miles200 Yards02250K0Lincoln
49.41988-05-02238°12'N / 99°25'W38°12'N / 99°19'W5.00 Miles70 Yards0025K0Pawnee
49.61956-10-29338°06'N / 99°29'W38°19'N / 99°29'W14.90 Miles440 Yards003K0Pawnee
49.81968-05-13338°29'N / 101°08'W39°08'N / 99°20'W106.8 Miles320 Yards0025K0Scott
49.92007-05-05239°23'N / 98°42'W39°28'N / 98°37'W8.00 Miles75 Yards011150K50KOsborne
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado sat down south of Osborne and moved north into town. The twister destroyed 2 mobile homes, damaged roofs, fences, cars and windows, and damaged 2 restaurants. The Pizza Hut sustained minor damage and several employees??? car windows were blown out. Across the road, the Circle Inn lost a large part of their roof, a couple of outside walls, and substantial damage happened to the interior portion of the restaurant. A couple of semi-trailers were blown around and one ended up on top of another car. Eleven people were injured, none seriously, and were treated at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital. The Osborne County Sheriff's office reported the most severe injury was a broken arm. (sources: Osborne County Farmer newspaper, Osborne County Sheriff's office, and the Osborne County Emergency Management Agency). EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms rumbled across northern Kansas. A few became severe in the early evening hours. One produced a tornado in Osborne. This tornado damaged homes and two restaurants in town. Other storms in Mitchell and Jewell Counties produced hail to the size of quarters.


* 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.


 
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