Norton County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Kansas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Norton County is higher than Kansas average and is lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Norton County is much lower than Kansas average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #3
| Norton County | 0.32 |
| 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
| Norton 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, #84
| Norton County | 142.50 |
| 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 12,818 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Norton 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: | 22 | Cold: | 28 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 18 |
| Dust Storm: | 1 | Flood: | 381 | Hail: | 8,053 | Heat: | 5 | Heavy Snow: | 55 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 19 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 93 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 3,654 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 121 | Winter Weather: | 29 |
| Other: | 339 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Norton County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Norton County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Norton County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 39 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Norton County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 0.9 | 1962-07-14 | 2 | 39°47'N / 99°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Ford | |
| 2.8 | 1970-09-06 | 2 | 39°49'N / 99°52'W | 0.80 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Norton | |
| 10.7 | 1952-06-27 | 2 | 39°45'N / 100°07'W | 39°47'N / 100°05'W | 1.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Norton |
| 12.2 | 1999-06-03 | 3 | 39°50'N / 99°48'W | 39°58'N / 99°39'W | 10.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Norton |
| Brief Description: A large tornado dropped down just east of the town of Norton and stayed on the ground for approximately 10 miles before finally lifting north-northeast of the town of Almena. This Tornado reached around 3/4 of a mile wide at times and did major (F3) damage to a few farmsteads. Tornado also went through a stage with multiple vortices. | |||||||||||
| 20.2 | 1979-04-19 | 2 | 39°28'N / 99°50'W | 39°32'N / 99°47'W | 5.20 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Graham |
| 22.4 | 1983-06-12 | 2 | 39°51'N / 100°23'W | 40°01'N / 100°10'W | 15.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Decatur |
| 23.1 | 1956-06-25 | 2 | 40°13'N / 100°02'W | 40°01'N / 99°52'W | 16.20 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Furnas |
| 24.2 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°30'N / 99°25'W | 39°57'N / 99°29'W | 28.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Phillips |
| 28.0 | 1970-06-14 | 3 | 39°34'N / 100°27'W | 39°41'N / 100°19'W | 10.60 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Decatur |
| 29.4 | 1991-05-30 | 2 | 40°08'N / 99°35'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Harlan | |
| 29.4 | 1952-06-26 | 2 | 39°41'N / 99°27'W | 39°46'N / 99°15'W | 12.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Phillips |
| 30.1 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 39°21'N / 99°51'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Graham | |||
| 30.2 | 1972-09-05 | 2 | 39°37'N / 100°27'W | 39°39'N / 100°25'W | 2.30 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Decatur |
| 31.2 | 1969-06-24 | 3 | 39°06'N / 100°02'W | 39°36'N / 99°26'W | 47.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Trego |
| 32.3 | 2005-06-09 | 2 | 39°17'N / 99°57'W | 39°21'N / 99°48'W | 9.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Graham |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 32.7 | 1961-08-12 | 2 | 39°28'N / 99°49'W | 39°12'N / 99°36'W | 21.60 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Graham |
| 34.2 | 1972-09-05 | 2 | 39°33'N / 100°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Sheridan | |
| 34.5 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°25'N / 99°24'W | 39°30'N / 99°25'W | 5.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Rooks |
| 35.3 | 1995-05-12 | 2 | 39°22'N / 100°17'W | 0.80 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50K | Sheridan | |
| Brief Description: Tornado snapped large trees. | |||||||||||
| 35.8 | 1991-04-11 | 3 | 39°26'N / 99°25'W | 39°32'N / 99°17'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Rooks |
| 35.8 | 1970-06-14 | 3 | 39°29'N / 100°31'W | 39°34'N / 100°27'W | 6.60 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Sheridan |
| 36.6 | 1958-06-30 | 2 | 40°14'N / 100°18'W | 40°14'N / 100°14'W | 3.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Furnas |
| 36.7 | 1969-06-22 | 2 | 40°15'N / 99°39'W | 40°17'N / 99°34'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Furnas |
| 39.0 | 1959-05-29 | 2 | 39°12'N / 100°06'W | 39°16'N / 100°02'W | 5.60 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Graham |
| 39.4 | 1975-07-21 | 2 | 40°21'N / 100°07'W | 40°20'N / 100°00'W | 5.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Furnas |
| 40.9 | 1951-07-07 | 2 | 39°15'N / 99°34'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Rooks | |||
| 40.9 | 1996-08-10 | 2 | 40°16'N / 100°25'W | 40°11'N / 100°25'W | 6.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0 | Red Willow |
| Brief Description: TORNADO MOVED SOUTH SOUTHWEST AT 30 MPH THROUGH THE WEST PORTION OF INDIANOLA. DAMAGE INCLUDED NUMEROUS TREES UPROOTED, A GARAGE DESTROYED, SECTIONS OF ROOFS BLOWN OFF, CAMPERS FLIPPED, AND WINDOWS, TV ANTENNAES, GRAIN BINS, GUTTERS, AND SHINGLES DAMAGED. AT TWO MILES SOUTHWEST OF INDIANOLA, TORNADO CURVED SOUTHEAST BEFORE DISSIPATING. A POWER FAILURE PREVENTED SIRENS FROM BEING ACTIVATED IN INDIANOLA. | |||||||||||
| 41.1 | 2008-05-22 | 2 | 39°21'N / 100°30'W | 39°29'N / 100°31'W | 9.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0K | Sheridan |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado developed just south of highway 24 west of Hoxie, and moved north nine miles before dissipating. It produced EF2 damage at a home on highway 24, removing much of the roof of the home and destroying a large metal outbuilding. Significant tree damage also occurred. South of the highway, an irrigation pivot was overturned and a second home suffered minor damage and a small outbuilding was destroyed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A series of intense supercell thunderstorms moved north across the area during the afternoon and early evening hours. Long-track tornadoes, flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds were reported across much of northwest Kansas into extreme southern Nebraska. Eleven tornadoes were verified by storm chasers and damage surveys. | |||||||||||
| 41.6 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°44'N / 99°09'W | 39°56'N / 99°05'W | 11.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Phillips |
| 42.8 | 1980-08-01 | 2 | 40°15'N / 99°22'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Harlan | |
| 44.2 | 2008-05-23 | 2 | 39°07'N / 100°14'W | 39°17'N / 100°15'W | 11.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0K | Sheridan |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved into southern Sheridan county from Gove county. It initially moved NNE, then straight north on Road 120E then turned back to the NNW before dissipating near Road 50S and 100E in Sheridan county. Approximately five miles of utility poles were broken or heavily damaged from a combination of tornado and rear flank downdraft winds. In addition, several farmsteads suffered damage to the home and outbuildings. A mobile home was blown off its supports and into a nearby home which was destroyed as a result. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Intense supercell thunderstorms moved north across the region during the afternoon and evening hours producing 10 tornadoes, including an F4 tornado just SW of Quinter. Extremely heavy rainfall also resulted in flooding in many areas. Many of these thunderstorms occurred in the same areas as the storms the previous day. | |||||||||||
| 44.6 | 1985-05-10 | 3 | 39°11'N / 99°31'W | 39°28'N / 99°06'W | 30.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Rooks |
| 45.1 | 1956-10-29 | 3 | 40°07'N / 100°07'W | 40°41'N / 99°07'W | 65.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Furnas |
| 46.4 | 1957-06-15 | 3 | 39°42'N / 99°04'W | 39°54'N / 98°59'W | 14.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Smith |
| 46.6 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 39°52'N / 99°02'W | 39°56'N / 99°02'W | 4.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Smith |
| 47.1 | 1970-06-15 | 2 | 39°08'N / 99°38'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Graham | |
| 47.2 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°56'N / 99°05'W | 40°00'N / 99°00'W | 10.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Smith |
| 48.8 | 1972-07-27 | 2 | 39°15'N / 99°18'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Rooks | |
| 49.4 | 1959-05-20 | 2 | 39°36'N / 99°00'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Smith | |||
* 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.