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Hays, KS Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in Hays is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Hays is higher than 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, #355

Hays, KS
0.02
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

Hays, KS
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, #232

Hays, KS
267.45
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 4,253 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Hays, KS were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:8Cold:5Dense Fog:0Drought:5
Dust Storm:1Flood:130Hail:2,596Heat:11Heavy Snow:32
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:11Landslide:0Strong Wind:33
Thunderstorm Winds:1,243Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:0Winter Storm:35Winter Weather:17
Other:126 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Hays, KS.

Historical Earthquake Events

No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Hays, KS.

No historical earthquake events found in or near Hays, KS.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 78 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Hays, KS.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
0.71972-08-02238°53'N / 99°20'W0.20 Mile150 Yards00250K0Ellis
2.21964-08-31338°48'N / 99°19'W38°55'N / 99°16'W8.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Ellis
5.31998-10-16338°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.
5.81980-10-16338°49'N / 99°15'W00250K0Ellis
7.71990-04-25338°47'N / 99°33'W39°07'N / 99°19'W23.00 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Ellis
7.91972-04-30238°55'N / 99°23'W39°04'N / 99°20'W10.50 Miles127 Yards0025K0Ellis
9.51972-05-22238°56'N / 99°29'W0.50 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
10.71954-10-11338°56'N / 99°13'W38°56'N / 99°03'W8.60 Miles33 Yards0025K0Ellis
12.22001-04-10238°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.
13.61960-05-24238°47'N / 99°06'W0.30 Mile100 Yards000K0Ellis
13.71972-05-22238°56'N / 99°34'W2.00 Miles250 Yards0025K0Ellis
14.11972-05-22239°00'N / 99°32'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
14.11972-05-22239°00'N / 99°32'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
14.11972-05-22239°00'N / 99°32'W1.00 Mile220 Yards000K0Ellis
14.11974-06-05239°00'N / 99°42'W39°00'N / 99°22'W17.70 Miles70 Yards00250K0Trego
16.51964-08-31238°55'N / 99°01'W000K0Russell
17.52002-05-05339°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.
18.22008-05-23238°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.
18.72008-05-23238°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.
19.21985-05-10338°56'N / 99°38'W39°06'N / 99°38'W10.00 Miles300 Yards00250K0Trego
19.21990-04-25338°41'N / 99°42'W38°47'N / 99°33'W10.00 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Trego
19.42002-05-05239°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.
21.61968-05-13339°08'N / 99°20'W39°13'N / 99°02'W16.90 Miles320 Yards0125K0Rooks
23.91959-05-28238°37'N / 99°39'W38°39'N / 99°37'W2.30 Miles100 Yards0025K0Ness
24.01951-06-21238°32'N / 99°19'W000K0Rush
24.21970-06-15239°08'N / 99°38'W1.50 Miles200 Yards0025K0Graham
24.51973-03-13239°14'N / 99°17'W1.00 Mile50 Yards00250K0Rooks
25.61972-07-27239°15'N / 99°18'W0.50 Mile100 Yards0125K0Rooks
25.61974-08-30238°44'N / 98°55'W38°46'N / 98°50'W4.70 Miles67 Yards0025K0Russell
26.31968-06-18338°30'N / 99°18'W0.50 Mile220 Yards08250K0Rush
26.61990-04-25338°37'N / 99°44'W38°41'N / 99°42'W4.00 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Ness
28.71951-07-07239°15'N / 99°34'W003K0Rooks
28.81964-06-12238°42'N / 98°48'W38°52'N / 98°48'W11.50 Miles33 Yards0025K0Russell
29.41973-04-30238°28'N / 99°27'W0.20 Mile100 Yards003K0Rush
29.62008-05-23238°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.
30.71985-05-10339°11'N / 99°31'W39°28'N / 99°06'W30.00 Miles300 Yards002.5M0Rooks
31.31964-06-10238°28'N / 99°05'W0025K0Rush
32.01951-06-27439°02'N / 99°53'W0.80 Mile300 Yards51002.5M0Trego
32.41960-05-04238°38'N / 99°50'W000K0Ness
32.62008-05-23338°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.
32.71971-05-17238°44'N / 100°05'W38°47'N / 99°44'W19.10 Miles33 Yards00250K0Trego
33.51968-05-13339°13'N / 99°02'W39°17'N / 98°48'W13.10 Miles320 Yards0025K0Osborne
33.82005-06-09338°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.
34.51964-06-12238°31'N / 98°46'W38°42'N / 98°48'W12.60 Miles33 Yards0125K0Barton
34.92001-04-21238°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)
36.31972-04-30338°27'N / 99°43'W38°26'N / 99°40'W2.70 Miles200 Yards00250K0Ness
37.51961-08-12239°28'N / 99°49'W39°12'N / 99°36'W21.60 Miles300 Yards003K0Graham
37.92001-04-21438°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
38.41972-04-30338°13'N / 99°30'W38°27'N / 99°24'W17.00 Miles77 Yards00250K0Pawnee
38.41950-05-08239°14'N / 98°57'W39°14'N / 98°35'W19.60 Miles440 Yards0225K0Osborne
39.21969-06-24339°06'N / 100°02'W39°36'N / 99°26'W47.00 Miles700 Yards0025K0Trego
40.21985-05-10439°25'N / 99°24'W39°30'N / 99°25'W5.00 Miles1000 Yards002.5M0Rooks
40.51974-08-30238°21'N / 99°15'W38°15'N / 99°11'W7.70 Miles200 Yards0025K0Pawnee
41.11972-04-30338°33'N / 100°02'W38°37'N / 99°56'W6.80 Miles440 Yards003K0Ness
41.51956-10-29338°51'N / 98°37'W39°00'N / 98°29'W12.40 Miles200 Yards00250K0Russell
41.71991-04-11339°26'N / 99°25'W39°32'N / 99°17'W6.00 Miles400 Yards012.5M0Rooks
42.32005-06-09239°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.
43.11953-06-07239°21'N / 99°51'W0025K0Graham
43.12008-05-23238°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.
43.41964-05-05238°34'N / 98°36'W38°43'N / 98°33'W10.60 Miles1320 Yards0025K0Barton
43.41954-04-25239°03'N / 100°06'W0025K0Trego
43.51966-08-06238°24'N / 98°48'W0.20 Mile200 Yards0125K0Barton
43.91971-06-09238°31'N / 100°01'W38°27'N / 99°54'W7.70 Miles117 Yards01250K0Ness
44.11950-05-04438°16'N / 98°55'W38°27'N / 98°47'W14.50 Miles150 Yards01250K0Pawnee
44.11975-05-27338°32'N / 98°38'W0.50 Mile20 Yards00250K0Barton
44.41962-05-28238°18'N / 98°58'W1.50 Miles33 Yards003K0Barton
44.62008-05-23238°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.
46.01972-04-30438°16'N / 99°43'W38°18'N / 99°41'W2.30 Miles77 Yards00250K0Ness
46.11952-08-07339°00'N / 98°31'W39°03'N / 98°27'W4.70 Miles33 Yards000K0Russell
46.41956-10-29338°22'N / 98°46'W0.60 Mile147 Yards01250K0Barton
46.81959-05-29239°12'N / 100°06'W39°16'N / 100°02'W5.60 Miles77 Yards0025K0Graham
47.01988-05-02238°12'N / 99°25'W38°12'N / 99°19'W5.00 Miles70 Yards0025K0Pawnee
47.21956-10-29338°06'N / 99°29'W38°19'N / 99°29'W14.90 Miles440 Yards003K0Pawnee
48.41970-06-13238°08'N / 99°31'W38°15'N / 99°28'W8.40 Miles33 Yards0025K0Pawnee
49.11956-04-02338°32'N / 98°33'W38°35'N / 98°28'W5.40 Miles33 Yards0025K0Ellsworth
49.31964-06-10238°31'N / 98°32'W0.50 Mile150 Yards00250K0Barton
49.31968-05-13338°29'N / 101°08'W39°08'N / 99°20'W106.8 Miles320 Yards0025K0Scott
49.31956-10-29339°00'N / 98°29'W39°13'N / 98°25'W15.20 Miles200 Yards02250K0Lincoln


* 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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