Ericson, NE Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Ericson is about the same as Nebraska average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Ericson is lower than Nebraska average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #262
| Ericson, NE | 0.02 |
| Nebraska | 0.04 |
| 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
| Ericson, NE | 0.0000 |
| Nebraska | 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, #425
| Ericson, NE | 165.72 |
| Nebraska | 205.07 |
| 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 2,330 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Ericson, NE 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: | 4 | Cold: | 8 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 2 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 79 | Hail: | 1,550 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 7 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 6 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 11 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 597 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 28 | Winter Weather: | 5 |
| Other: | 33 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Ericson, NE.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 1 historical earthquake event that had a recorded magnitude of 3.5 or above found in or near Ericson, NE.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 26.2 | 1975-05-13 | 4.3 | N/A | 42.12 | -98.45 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 60 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Ericson, NE.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.5 | 2004-07-12 | 2 | 41°49'N / 98°44'W | 41°49'N / 98°43'W | 1.00 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 90K | 0 | Wheeler |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down in open rangeland and then moved south breaking off and uprooting numerous large trees as it encountered a farmstead. One large tree fell on the roof of a home. As the tornado moved south across the road, it hit another farmstead. Again, it broke off and uprooted numerous large trees and broke many power poles. The barn and steel fencing was lifted and tossed 50 yards northwestwards into a tree belt behind the house. The roof of the home was taken off. A detached garage was demolished. Before lifting, the tornado moved through a corral south of the home where it severely injured or killed several horses. After the storm, two colts and a mare were found up in a tree. | |||||||||||
| 7.0 | 1962-04-26 | 2 | 41°43'N / 98°47'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Valley | |
| 8.0 | 1981-08-04 | 2 | 41°46'N / 98°50'W | 0.20 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Garfield | |
| 9.7 | 1974-04-20 | 2 | 41°29'N / 98°45'W | 41°48'N / 98°33'W | 24.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Greeley |
| 11.3 | 1965-05-08 | 4 | 41°14'N / 98°40'W | 42°20'N / 98°15'W | 78.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Howard |
| 13.4 | 2004-07-12 | 2 | 41°59'N / 98°40'W | 41°58'N / 98°40'W | 1.50 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 130K | 0 | Wheeler |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down in an grove of trees, uprooting and breaking off numerous large trees. As the tornado moved southeastwards, it encountered a farmstead where it ripped off the roof of the home, destroyed a machine shed and garage, and broke power poles. Before lifting, the tornado moved through a field and overturned the end of a center pivot irrigation system. | |||||||||||
| 13.6 | 1963-06-09 | 2 | 41°38'N / 98°55'W | 41°40'N / 98°50'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Valley |
| 16.9 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°28'N / 98°38'W | 41°41'N / 98°22'W | 20.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Greeley |
| 20.7 | 1974-04-20 | 3 | 41°26'N / 99°08'W | 41°47'N / 98°53'W | 27.30 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dawson |
| 21.2 | 1999-06-03 | 3 | 41°36'N / 99°10'W | 41°42'N / 98°56'W | 14.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 1.0M | Valley |
| Brief Description: Late in the evening of June 3rd, a severe thunderstorm produced a large tornado across northwest Valley county. The thunderstorm entered the western part of the county around 11 pm. Shortly thereafter, the tornado touched down 12 miles west of Ord and snaked its way northeast before lifting after midnight about 7 miles north of Ord. This F3 tornado had a damage path almost one-half mile wide at one point. It completely destroyed two farmsteads and damaged two others along its path. At the two destroyed farmsteads, residents took shelter in the basement upon warning. The tornado tossed cars and farm equipment up to 300 feet, strewn irrigation pipe across the countryside and killed livestock. The two destroyed homes were completely wiped from the foundation. However, given sufficient warning, no one in the storms path was injured or killed. | |||||||||||
| 22.7 | 1960-08-05 | 3 | 41°42'N / 99°12'W | 41°40'N / 99°00'W | 10.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 1 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Valley |
| 23.4 | 1972-07-20 | 2 | 41°30'N / 98°56'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Valley | |||
| 25.7 | 1965-05-08 | 4 | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 41°55'N / 98°05'W | 27.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 4 | 53 | 25.0M | 0 | Boone |
| 27.0 | 1966-06-05 | 2 | 41°42'N / 98°10'W | 0.70 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Boone | |
| 27.0 | 1963-08-27 | 2 | 41°28'N / 99°04'W | 41°28'N / 98°55'W | 7.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Valley |
| 27.1 | 1987-07-06 | 2 | 41°36'N / 99°12'W | 41°40'N / 99°08'W | 4.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Valley |
| 27.6 | 1964-05-05 | 4 | 41°24'N / 98°23'W | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 11.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 11 | 25K | 0 | Greeley |
| 29.4 | 1964-05-05 | 4 | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 42°04'N / 97°56'W | 39.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Boone |
| 30.2 | 1953-06-07 | 4 | 41°21'N / 99°06'W | 41°34'N / 99°03'W | 15.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 11 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Valley |
| 31.2 | 1970-08-02 | 2 | 41°52'N / 98°05'W | 2.00 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Boone | |
| 31.8 | 1974-04-20 | 2 | 41°12'N / 98°59'W | 41°29'N / 98°45'W | 22.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sherman |
| 33.4 | 1955-09-20 | 2 | 41°39'N / 99°23'W | 41°44'N / 99°15'W | 8.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Custer |
| 34.1 | 1953-06-07 | 3 | 41°42'N / 98°01'W | 41°49'N / 98°01'W | 8.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Boone |
| 34.3 | 1955-07-08 | 2 | 41°17'N / 98°44'W | 41°17'N / 98°35'W | 7.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Howard |
| 34.5 | 1999-06-03 | 2 | 41°31'N / 99°17'W | 41°34'N / 99°15'W | 5.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Custer |
| Brief Description: Several large hail reports were received beginning at 936 PM CDT near Berwyn. Five center pivot irrigation systems were overturned from 8 miles southwest to 7 miles west southwest of Comstock at approximately 1000 PM CDT. A tornado initially touched down 3 miles southwest of Comstock and was intermittentaly on the ground causing tree damage. The tornado then dropped down 1 mile southwest of the center of Comstock. It reached its maximum intensity as it struck a farm 1/2 mile west of Comstock. Every outbuilding on the farm was destroyed, including a large machine building and the house was heavily damaged. The tornado then crossed the Middle Loup River and struck a residence on the northwest edge of Comstock destroying three outbuildings and damaging the house. Another farm a mile north of Comstock was struck, and everything but the house was destroyed. Several vehicles in the path were damaged or destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 34.9 | 1959-05-28 | 2 | 41°24'N / 99°13'W | 41°27'N / 99°06'W | 6.40 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Valley |
| 35.4 | 1972-07-20 | 3 | 41°29'N / 99°36'W | 41°42'N / 99°02'W | 32.80 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Custer |
| 36.2 | 1964-04-26 | 2 | 41°57'N / 98°10'W | 42°20'N / 98°10'W | 26.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Antelope |
| 37.3 | 1990-03-13 | 2 | 41°17'N / 98°20'W | 41°25'N / 98°09'W | 11.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Nance |
| 37.4 | 1955-07-08 | 2 | 41°17'N / 99°12'W | 41°17'N / 98°44'W | 24.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 13 | 250K | 0 | Sherman |
| 37.8 | 1953-06-07 | 4 | 41°20'N / 99°08'W | 41°21'N / 99°06'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sherman | ||
| 38.2 | 1964-05-05 | 2 | 41°23'N / 98°15'W | 41°55'N / 97°40'W | 47.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Nance |
| 38.7 | 1961-05-30 | 3 | 41°37'N / 99°52'W | 41°38'N / 98°56'W | 48.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Custer |
| 38.7 | 1961-05-30 | 3 | 41°37'N / 99°52'W | 41°38'N / 98°56'W | 48.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Custer |
| 38.7 | 1961-05-30 | 4 | 41°37'N / 99°52'W | 41°38'N / 98°56'W | 48.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 39.4 | 1964-05-05 | 2 | 41°07'N / 98°33'W | 41°23'N / 98°15'W | 24.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 7 | 25K | 0 | Howard |
| 40.0 | 1984-04-25 | 3 | 41°11'N / 98°30'W | 41°16'N / 98°25'W | 8.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 18 | 25.0M | 0 | Howard |
| 40.5 | 1990-03-13 | 2 | 41°15'N / 98°16'W | 41°17'N / 98°20'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Merrick |
| 40.7 | 1982-05-10 | 2 | 41°13'N / 98°27'W | 0.30 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Howard | |
| 40.7 | 1974-04-20 | 3 | 41°14'N / 99°15'W | 41°26'N / 99°08'W | 14.70 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Dawson |
| 41.4 | 1965-05-08 | 4 | 40°52'N / 98°36'W | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 49.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Hall |
| 43.5 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°15'N / 99°15'W | 41°20'N / 99°10'W | 6.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sherman |
| 43.8 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 41°54'N / 97°54'W | 42°03'N / 97°50'W | 10.60 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Antelope |
| 43.9 | 1955-07-08 | 2 | 41°17'N / 99°13'W | 41°17'N / 99°12'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer | ||
| 44.0 | 1992-01-07 | 2 | 41°09'N / 98°48'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sherman | |
| 44.8 | 1982-05-10 | 2 | 41°13'N / 98°15'W | 0.30 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Merrick | |
| 45.3 | 1999-04-21 | 2 | 41°08'N / 98°33'W | 41°08'N / 98°31'W | 2.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Howard |
| Brief Description: Thunderstorms developed west of Holdrege in the morning and spread quickly northeast to St. Paul and Greeley by noon. Early on, the thunderstorms dumped hail and torrential rainfall northeast of Holdrege. 2.75" diameter hail was reported north of Holdrege and some areas in northwest Phelps county noted three foot hail drifts. Rain and hail teamed to produce areas of erosion across freshly tilled fields. As the storms spread northeast, a brief tornado damaged a home under construction north of Dannebrog. The tornado nearly destroyed the entire main floor. Only one wall was left standing. The owner and construction crew at the house at the time escaped injury by going to the basement just before the tornado struck. Minor roof damage occurred on a nearby house. Another brief tornado touch down occurred just south of St. Paul, causing some minor damage to outbuildings. | |||||||||||
| 45.4 | 1980-10-16 | 2 | 42°13'N / 98°01'W | 0.30 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Antelope | |
| 45.8 | 1965-05-08 | 3 | 41°03'N / 98°45'W | 41°11'N / 98°39'W | 10.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Howard |
| 46.9 | 1965-05-08 | 3 | 42°06'N / 99°06'W | 42°44'N / 98°54'W | 44.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Holt |
| 47.8 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°14'N / 99°16'W | 41°15'N / 99°15'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer | ||
| 47.8 | 1990-06-01 | 3 | 41°16'N / 99°50'W | 41°44'N / 99°13'W | 25.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 48.2 | 1974-04-26 | 3 | 41°12'N / 99°18'W | 41°15'N / 99°11'W | 6.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0K | 0 | Custer |
| 48.2 | 1959-06-27 | 2 | 41°05'N / 98°43'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Howard | |
| 48.7 | 2003-06-09 | 3 | 42°32'N / 98°48'W | 42°26'N / 98°25'W | 23.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.7M | 1.3M | Holt |
| Brief Description: As the tornado initially touched down, it encountered a farmstead and destroyed three barns, a detached garage, and 3 large metal grain binds, and also ripped off a portion of the house roof, broke windows, and uprooted and snapped off 90% of the trees around the farmstead. As the tornado moved southeast, it hit two more farmsteads where it completely overturned a modular home, destroyed barns, snapped off nearly all trees. Further along the path to the southeast, the tornado threw farm machinery one quarter mile into a grove of trees. Then it hit another farm where it ripped off an attached garage on a house, broke most windows in the house, moved an old home off its foundation 2 feet, and killed one cow and extensively injured 14 other cows. A barn was also destroyed at a dairy farm across the road to the southeast. The tornado then moved southeast mainly across farmland destroying fields of corn and soybeans, overturning 200 hundred center pivot irrigation systems, snapping off 1,000 power poles, and breaking off numerous large trees. As the tornado passed 3 miles north of O'Neill, it destroyed storage sheds at numerous homesteads. Baseball size hail associated with the storm punctured holes in vinyl siding and broke windows and skylights in homes. Finally just before dissipating 2 miles north of Page, the tornado lifted the front porch on a home which then took off the roof and one exterior wall of the home. | |||||||||||
| 49.1 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 42°03'N / 97°50'W | 42°06'N / 97°47'W | 3.60 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Madison |
| 49.6 | 2008-06-05 | 2 | 42°12'N / 99°27'W | 42°25'N / 99°13'W | 20.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 10K | Rock |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This multiple vortex tornado formed near Rose and tracked northeast for about 20 miles before exiting Rock County about 13 miles south-southeast of Newport at 1500 CST. In Rock County, the tornado broke power poles, shifted a house off its foundation a few inches, destroyed outbuildings, overturned a couple of center pivot irrigation systems, and snapped trees. The tornado maintained the EF2 intensity through Rock and Holt County. The average path width in Rock County was 30 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Supercell thunderstorms developed along a nearly stationary front across southwest Nebraska during the afternoon hours of June 4th and continued through the afternoon of June 5th. The storms produced very large hail during the overninght and morning hours, then some tornadoes during the afternoon of June 5th. | |||||||||||
| 49.7 | 1999-05-02 | 2 | 41°05'N / 98°19'W | 41°10'N / 98°15'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Howard |
| Brief Description: As strong low pressure lifted across Nebraska and Kansas, a series of damaging tornadoes ripped across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. No less than 10 tornadoes were confirmed across an area from west of Arapahoe to north of Grand Island near St. Libory. Tornado damage began around mid-afternoon near Holbrook. A brief tornado did some damage to a farmstead northwest of town. Another tornado set down in southern Gosper county and damaged or destroyed at least 3 irrigation center pivots. Tornadoes touched down near Ragan and west of Wilcox. Eventually, another twister near Macon hit two farms. With debris flying through the air, one man stood on his front porch as the tornado passed. Outbuildings, center pivots, and grain bins were heavily damaged by this tornado. Just after 6 pm, the first of three tornadoes in Adams county took aim on the region west of Kenesaw. Shortly thereafter, another tornado set down southeast of Kenesaw and moved northeast. One farm sustained damage southeast of Kenesaw as irrigation pipe littered the fields along the twister's path. Both tornadoes were on the ground at the same time. A third tornado set down west of Juniata but did no damage before lifting. Around 7 pm, a short lived tornado was observed just northwest of Wood River. This tornado destroyed grain bins, damaged a grain dryer and pulled shingles from a house nearby. Strong winds in the region also downed power lines and poles south of town. Finally, just after 8 pm, the final tornado of the evening set down in extreme western Merrick county and moved north just inside the Howard county line. This F2, multiple vortex tornado was on the ground for about 5 miles and damaged or destroyed numerous outbuildings and trees along its path. | |||||||||||
| 49.8 | 1996-06-19 | 2 | 42°31'N / 98°46'W | 42°29'N / 98°43'W | 3.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Holt |
| Brief Description: TORNADO ON THE GROUND FOR 3 MILES. THREE FARMSTEADS HEAVILY DAMAGED. THREE HEAD OF LIVESTOCK KILLED. HEAVY DAMAGE TO LARGE POWER TRANSMISSION LINE. CENTER PIVOT IRRIGAION SYSTEM DESTROYED. | |||||||||||
| 49.9 | 2001-10-09 | 2 | 41°15'N / 98°00'W | 41°17'N / 98°00'W | 3.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 25K | Merrick |
| Brief Description: Tornado crossed from Merrick County into Nance County. A powerful upper level low pressure system plowing into an unstable airmass triggered widespread severe weather across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. As many as nine tornadoes were confirmed and many reports of hail were received. The tornado damage was confined to an area located north and east of Grand Island, which included Merrick, Nance, Polk, Greeley, and Hamilton counties. The tornadoes got going west of Marquette. One twister set down in Hamilton county and crossed the Platte River southeast of Chapman. Damage to outbuildings was of most significance. Other tornadoes were reported in the Marquette area, with one tornado on the ground for 12 miles from south of Marquette to southeast of Hordville. This tornado was rated an F1 and produced minor structural damage to buildings and grain bins at several farms. Power lines were lost and several trees were blown over. Numerous center pivot irrigation systems were damaged. Just before 6 pm CDT, the most damaging tornado of the day developed near the Polk and Hamilton county line, and proceeded northeast across western Polk county, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Storm chaser reports indicated this tornado frequently became multi-vortex in nature and produced a wide swath of damage. Three miles north of Polk, a home was completely ripped from its foundation and blown into some nearby trees. The tornado was rated an F3 at this point. Along its 18 mile path, the tornado damaged over 20 center pivots, and nearly every farmstead in the path of the tornado sustained damage to the home, outbuildings, machinery or grain bins. This tornado lifted southwest of Silver Creek. Just prior to the F3 tornado in Polk county, an F2 tornado was ripping up a farmstead in northern Merrick county. This tornado was responsible for tearing the roof from a home, destroying two large metal outbuildings and damage to a half-dozen vehicles. The tornado moved north and destroyed a barn on the Nance and Merrick county line, but narrowly missed the home. Window and siding damage was noted at the home. Later that evening, one final tornado was reported. This tornado moved from south of Silver Creek to northeast of Silver Creek just before sunset. The tornado clipped the southeast side of town, resulting in damage to the post office, several cars, trees, and 13 residences in town. Fortunately, most of the damage was minor. | |||||||||||
* 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.