Ethan, SD Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Ethan is about the same as South Dakota average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Ethan is much higher than South Dakota average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #185
| Ethan, SD | 0.03 |
| South Dakota | 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
| Ethan, SD | 0.0000 |
| South Dakota | 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, #80
| Ethan, SD | 187.96 |
| South Dakota | 114.73 |
| 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 2,488 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Ethan, SD 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: | 16 | Cold: | 2 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 0 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 173 | Hail: | 1,380 | Heat: | 3 | Heavy Snow: | 13 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 0 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 35 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 807 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 28 | Winter Weather: | 0 |
| Other: | 30 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Ethan, SD.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 1 historical earthquake event that had a recorded magnitude of 3.5 or above found in or near Ethan, SD.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 37.6 | 1982-11-15 | 4.3 | 5 | 43.01 | -97.85 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 69 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Ethan, SD.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 6.7 | 1954-05-27 | 2 | 43°30'N / 98°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 137 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Davison | |
| 9.7 | 1968-06-20 | 3 | 43°41'N / 97°59'W | 43°39'N / 97°47'W | 9.90 Miles | 2667 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Davison |
| 11.8 | 1962-04-26 | 2 | 43°43'N / 98°00'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Davison | |||
| 12.2 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 43°43'N / 98°03'W | 1.00 Mile | 167 Yards | 0 | 32 | 2.5M | 0 | Davison | |
| 12.9 | 1954-05-27 | 2 | 43°37'N / 97°47'W | 43°38'N / 97°43'W | 2.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Hanson |
| 17.6 | 1962-05-14 | 3 | 43°24'N / 98°23'W | 43°30'N / 98°14'W | 9.70 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Douglas |
| 17.7 | 1998-05-30 | 2 | 43°46'N / 97°49'W | 43°44'N / 97°43'W | 6.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Hanson |
| Brief Description: A tornado damaged trees and power lines. | |||||||||||
| 18.2 | 1969-06-25 | 2 | 43°24'N / 98°14'W | 43°26'N / 98°22'W | 6.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Douglas |
| 18.2 | 1969-08-08 | 2 | 43°42'N / 98°00'W | 43°38'N / 97°19'W | 34.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Davison |
| 18.3 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°43'N / 98°09'W | 43°50'N / 98°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Davison |
| 18.3 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°43'N / 98°09'W | 43°50'N / 98°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Davison |
| 18.3 | 1984-06-05 | 2 | 43°20'N / 97°46'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 18.7 | 2003-06-24 | 2 | 43°42'N / 98°14'W | 43°47'N / 98°15'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Davison |
| Brief Description: A tornado damaged crops, trees, and numerous buildings on several farms. On one farm the northeast corner of a home was heavily damaged, and several buildings including a barn, a grainery, and a machine shed were destroyed. Large trees were blown down. | |||||||||||
| 21.5 | 1986-07-28 | 2 | 43°26'N / 98°23'W | 1.90 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Douglas | |
| 21.8 | 1993-05-07 | 2 | 43°35'N / 97°33'W | 2.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Hutchinson | |
| Brief Description: A tornado carried a 60 X 120 foot metal pole barn into the tops of four grain bins causing extensive damage. The tornado also destroyed many small buildings and blew roofs off larger buildings on many farms in the area. | |||||||||||
| 21.8 | 1993-05-07 | 2 | 43°35'N / 97°33'W | 1.00 Mile | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Mccook | |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down on several farms destroying two pole barns, a grain bin, and a barn roof. | |||||||||||
| 22.4 | 1998-05-30 | 3 | 43°45'N / 97°41'W | 43°43'N / 97°33'W | 7.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 100K | Hanson |
| Brief Description: A large and strengthening tornado destroyed buildings and other property on five farms and also destroyed trees and power lines before crossing the eastern edge of Hanson County. | |||||||||||
| 23.1 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 43°43'N / 97°36'W | 43°46'N / 97°37'W | 4.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0K | Mccook |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado damaged a house on the west side of Spencer and caused tree damage before crossing into western Hanson County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 24.0 | 1965-06-28 | 2 | 43°13'N / 97°48'W | 43°15'N / 97°45'W | 2.30 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson |
| 24.4 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 43°45'N / 97°38'W | 43°51'N / 97°39'W | 7.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0K | Hanson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado caused damage to trees and a junk yard after crossing over from McCook County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 24.9 | 2007-05-05 | 3 | 43°40'N / 98°25'W | 43°44'N / 98°27'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0K | Aurora |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado destroyed a hunting lodge and nearby outbuildings. The tornado also severely damaged a house, tossed a trailer 100 yards, and caused tree damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 25.3 | 1978-06-24 | 2 | 43°54'N / 98°07'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sanborn | |||
| 26.0 | 1998-05-30 | 4 | 43°45'N / 97°37'W | 43°42'N / 97°26'W | 7.00 Miles | 1600 Yards | 6 | 150 | 17.0M | 400K | Mccook |
| Brief Description: The tornado from Hanson County destroyed most of Spencer as it strengthened and continued to grow. Most homes, other buildings, and other structures in Spencer were completely levelled. Debris and belongings were scattered over a large area, and one receipt blown from Spencer was found just west of Chandler, MN about 80 miles east of Spencer. The tornado killed 6 and injured 150 in Spencer. The tornado continued southeast from Spencer, widened, then weakened, and dissipated 4 miles southwest of Salem with another tornado then forming from the same storm. The tornado caused additional damage to trees, power lines, crops, and buildings on farms after moving southeast of Spencer. F70PH, F77PH, F93PH, F68PH, M62PH, F85PH | |||||||||||
| 28.4 | 1965-05-24 | 3 | 43°30'N / 97°30'W | 43°34'N / 97°20'W | 9.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Mccook |
| 29.2 | 1998-05-30 | 2 | 43°42'N / 97°26'W | 43°36'N / 97°24'W | 6.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 900K | 100K | Mccook |
| Brief Description: A tornado spawned by the same storm which produced the Spencer tornado damaged farms, crops, trees, and power lines in southern McCook County. | |||||||||||
| 29.3 | 1973-07-01 | 2 | 43°50'N / 97°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Mccook | |
| 29.9 | 1965-06-26 | 3 | 42°58'N / 97°49'W | 43°25'N / 97°28'W | 35.60 Miles | 163 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bon Homme |
| 30.0 | 1971-10-01 | 2 | 43°33'N / 97°23'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mccook | |||
| 30.1 | 2006-09-16 | 2 | 43°33'N / 97°30'W | 43°42'N / 97°17'W | 12.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Mccook |
| Brief Description: A tornado affected 3 farmsteads, destroying numerous outbuildings, damaging farm equipment and a home, killing at least 5 cattle and injuring others. The tornado also damaged a hog confinement building and overturned a semi trailer on Interstate 90. | |||||||||||
| 31.1 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°59'N / 97°50'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Miner | |
| 31.6 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 43°04'N / 97°54'W | 43°07'N / 97°55'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Bon Homme |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado damaged two farms, including a house shifted off its foundation, and several outbuildings destroyed. The tornado also caused widespread tree damage, including some trees debarked and uprooted. The tornado also blew off the tops of grain bins and blew down power lines. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 31.8 | 1962-05-21 | 2 | 44°01'N / 98°17'W | 43°52'N / 98°20'W | 10.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sanborn |
| 31.8 | 1954-05-27 | 2 | 43°47'N / 97°33'W | 43°51'N / 97°23'W | 9.00 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mccook |
| 33.4 | 1968-06-20 | 2 | 43°29'N / 98°51'W | 43°36'N / 98°27'W | 21.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Charles Mix |
| 33.8 | 1965-06-07 | 2 | 43°25'N / 97°20'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Turner | |||
| 34.5 | 1986-07-28 | 2 | 43°39'N / 98°43'W | 43°39'N / 98°36'W | 3.50 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Aurora |
| 35.8 | 1954-06-18 | 2 | 43°25'N / 97°16'W | 43°28'N / 97°18'W | 2.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Turner |
| 36.2 | 1962-05-15 | 2 | 44°00'N / 97°42'W | 44°04'N / 97°44'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Miner |
| 36.3 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 43°06'N / 97°36'W | 43°06'N / 97°36'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Yankton |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado destroyed 3 concrete silos, destroyed numerous outbuildings, heavily damaged a large shed, damaged a barn, caused tree damage, and caused other damage on a farm. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 36.6 | 1962-05-14 | 3 | 44°30'N / 98°14'W | 43°38'N / 98°01'W | 60.70 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Davison |
| 36.7 | 1965-05-08 | 2 | 43°57'N / 97°30'W | 43°59'N / 97°34'W | 3.30 Miles | 243 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Miner |
| 36.7 | 1956-05-10 | 2 | 42°59'N / 97°52'W | 43°04'N / 97°49'W | 5.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Bon Homme |
| 37.8 | 1993-05-07 | 3 | 43°36'N / 97°18'W | 43°42'N / 97°11'W | 10.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 0 | Mccook |
| Brief Description: A tornado caused extensive damage in the Canistota area. Four metal grain storage bins were severely damaged and the roof was blown off the grain elevator. A large roof was blown off a building in Canistota resulting in rain seeping through the floors of the building. The roof blew into another building causing damage, and the flying debris took out power lines and transformers. The storm nearly totaled a farm including the house, and destroyed barns on other farms. Buildings were damaged in Montrose and a farm and metal buildings were lost on a farm east of Montrose. | |||||||||||
| 37.8 | 1956-05-10 | 2 | 43°25'N / 97°15'W | 1.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Turner | |
| 38.0 | 2003-06-24 | 3 | 44°01'N / 98°19'W | 44°05'N / 98°16'W | 5.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Sanborn |
| Brief Description: A tornado, crossing into Sanborn County from Jerauld County, destroyed or severely damaged several buildings on two farms. The tornado lifted the roof off a house. Another farmhouse had windows blown out, and shingles and aluminum siding torn off. Destroyed buildings included a barn, garage, outbuildings, and other small structures. Vehicles inside the destroyed garage were damaged. The tornado also caused tree, power line, and crop damage. | |||||||||||
| 38.4 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 44°00'N / 97°54'W | 44°12'N / 98°12'W | 20.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Sanborn |
| 39.5 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 44°01'N / 97°32'W | 0.10 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Miner | |
| 39.8 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 42°57'N / 97°49'W | 43°01'N / 97°49'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0K | Bon Homme |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado blew over a shed, damaged several outbuildings, and flipped over a hog shed. A house was damaged when hit by debris from the hog shed. The tornado also shifted a two car garage off its foundation, damaged the adjoining house, blew a chimney off the roof, twisted a windmill, and caused tree damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 39.9 | 1973-06-24 | 2 | 43°01'N / 98°18'W | 1 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Charles Mix | |||
| 40.2 | 1954-07-29 | 2 | 43°03'N / 98°20'W | 42°59'N / 98°18'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Charles Mix |
| 40.5 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 44°04'N / 97°36'W | 44°04'N / 97°37'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 20K | 0K | Miner |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado damaged outbuildings and destroyed a hunting lodge. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of May 5th produced large hail, damaging winds, several tornadoes, and flash flooding in southeast South Dakota. Significant damage was reported from several locations. | |||||||||||
| 42.8 | 1971-06-04 | 2 | 43°23'N / 98°51'W | 43°26'N / 98°47'W | 4.30 Miles | 137 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Charles Mix |
| 43.5 | 1962-06-05 | 3 | 42°52'N / 97°54'W | 42°59'N / 97°47'W | 9.50 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bon Homme |
| 43.9 | 2003-06-24 | 2 | 43°23'N / 97°08'W | 43°24'N / 97°08'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.0M | 0 | Turner |
| Brief Description: A tornado heavily damaged or destroyed numerous structures at the county fairgrounds, uprooted numerous trees, and blew down power lines, resulting in power outages which lasted up to a day. The tornado damaged other structures in Parker including homes and the county courthouse. One home was shifted off its foundation and received broken windows and damaged siding. Some of the damage resulted from falling trees or wind blown debris. | |||||||||||
| 43.9 | 1985-04-20 | 2 | 42°56'N / 97°40'W | 42°59'N / 97°38'W | 3.50 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bon Homme |
| 44.1 | 1954-06-18 | 3 | 43°02'N / 97°30'W | 43°01'N / 97°27'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Yankton | ||
| 44.2 | 1954-06-18 | 3 | 42°51'N / 97°53'W | 42°59'N / 97°46'W | 10.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Bon Homme |
| 44.2 | 1965-06-07 | 2 | 43°08'N / 97°20'W | 43°10'N / 97°15'W | 3.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Turner |
| 45.3 | 1972-08-05 | 2 | 43°01'N / 97°27'W | 0.30 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Yankton | |
| 45.9 | 1965-06-07 | 4 | 43°10'N / 97°14'W | 43°11'N / 97°13'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Yankton | ||
| 45.9 | 1962-05-16 | 2 | 44°10'N / 97°39'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Miner | |||
| 46.3 | 1972-09-20 | 2 | 42°59'N / 97°29'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Yankton | |||
| 46.4 | 1985-04-20 | 2 | 43°11'N / 97°14'W | 43°18'N / 97°05'W | 12.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Turner |
| 46.9 | 1985-04-20 | 2 | 42°54'N / 97°36'W | 43°01'N / 97°26'W | 10.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Yankton |
| 47.6 | 1992-06-16 | 3 | 44°05'N / 97°32'W | 44°11'N / 97°26'W | 3.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Miner |
| 48.2 | 1965-06-07 | 4 | 43°11'N / 97°13'W | 43°14'N / 97°04'W | 7.80 Miles | 647 Yards | 1 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Turner |
| 48.3 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 43°00'N / 98°35'W | 43°00'N / 98°35'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Charles Mix | ||
| 49.6 | 1957-06-10 | 2 | 43°51'N / 97°05'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lake | |||
| 49.9 | 1981-08-03 | 3 | 43°17'N / 97°09'W | 43°06'N / 97°05'W | 12.80 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Turner |
* 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.