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Ottawa County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in Ottawa County is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Ottawa County is lower 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, #31

Ottawa County
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

Ottawa 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, #50

Ottawa County
210.22
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 16,369 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Ottawa County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:24Cold:36Dense Fog:14Drought:11
Dust Storm:0Flood:738Hail:9,291Heat:43Heavy Snow:93
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:51Landslide:0Strong Wind:128
Thunderstorm Winds:5,280Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:1Winter Storm:178Winter Weather:85
Other:396 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Ottawa County.

Historical Earthquake Events

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

No historical earthquake events found in or near Ottawa County.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 78 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Ottawa County.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
2.92007-05-05239°04'N / 97°36'W39°13'N / 97°36'W11.00 Miles100 Yards150K0KOttawa
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down near the intersection of Granite Rd and 190th Rd approximately 3 miles south of the Ottawa State Fishing Lake. It lifted approximately 11 miles north of it's touchdown point, at Rifle Rd between 200th and 210th Rds. 38 structures were destroyed or damaged; including homes, mobile homes, cabins, outbuildings, and small cottages. A mobile home that was anchored to the ground was totally destroyed by the tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An upper level low pressure system remained relatively stationary over the Central Plains Saturday through Monday, May 5th through May 7th. Severe weather swept across Northeast Kansas during the late evening hours the 5th, and the early morning of the 6th. Hail, strong winds, and tornadoes were all observed over the course of the evening. An F2 tornado that ripped across Ottawa County killed one woman, and injured one other when their mobile home was demolished. At least three other people were confirmed to have been injured during the tornado. NWS Storm Surveys the following day confirmed that damage was created by both tornadoes and strong winds across portions of northeast Kansas, but 6 tornadoes were confirmed. Cloud county qualified for FEMA funds.
10.01973-09-25339°03'N / 97°35'W39°18'N / 97°22'W20.70 Miles67 Yards0225.0M0Ottawa
10.61979-10-18239°11'N / 97°38'W39°17'N / 97°22'W15.80 Miles400 Yards0025K0Pawnee
12.71992-06-15339°17'N / 97°50'W39°17'N / 97°46'W3.00 Miles800 Yards00250K0Ottawa
13.61973-09-25239°18'N / 97°36'W39°21'N / 97°33'W4.30 Miles67 Yards00250K0Cloud
14.41970-05-08239°02'N / 97°58'W39°09'N / 97°52'W9.50 Miles100 Yards0025K0Lincoln
15.01973-09-25338°58'N / 97°28'W39°05'N / 97°22'W9.40 Miles100 Yards1225.0M0Ottawa
17.31973-09-25339°05'N / 97°22'W39°08'N / 97°18'W4.70 Miles100 Yards0025.0M0Dickinson
17.71960-04-13238°54'N / 97°32'W1.00 Mile150 Yards003K0Saline
17.71960-05-16239°12'N / 97°20'W0.30 Mile100 Yards0025K0Clay
18.51959-05-04239°15'N / 97°23'W39°15'N / 97°18'W3.80 Miles100 Yards00250K0Ottawa
19.51959-12-26239°02'N / 97°19'W2.00 Miles33 Yards000K0Dickinson
20.01962-06-24238°51'N / 97°37'W0.50 Mile27 Yards003K0Saline
20.71956-07-15339°12'N / 98°06'W39°12'N / 97°58'W7.10 Miles880 Yards00250K0Lincoln
21.51964-06-21338°57'N / 97°22'W39°02'N / 97°14'W8.90 Miles33 Yards0025K0Dickinson
22.21969-06-21338°49'N / 97°38'W2.00 Miles100 Yards06025.0M0Saline
22.71957-05-20239°28'N / 97°38'W000K0Cloud
24.01973-09-25338°37'N / 97°46'W38°58'N / 97°28'W29.00 Miles100 Yards0625.0M0Saline
24.22008-06-11338°45'N / 97°40'W38°51'N / 97°24'W16.00 Miles225 Yards002.6M0KSaline
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Widespread damage was noted to several homes, businesses, and trees along the tornadoes path. One cabinet making business had a 10000 square foot section of roof removed, with a total of 20000 square feet of damage to the structure as a sprinkler main broke pouring water onto the factory floor. Several homes sustained damage due to garage doors collapsing in the wind and ultimately lifting the roofs off of the homes. One home sustained slightly more damage than the rest, as two exterior walls were also blown out. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Supercell thunderstorms erupted along a strong cold front across Central Kansas. The supercell storms produced destructive hail and damaging winds, along with tornadoes across Central, Kansas. A few strong tornadoes touched down just south of Salina, Kansas. The supercells would continue to track to the northeast and eventually produce the tornadoes that would hit Chapman, Kansas and Manhattan, Kansas.
24.81967-06-09239°27'N / 97°55'W39°31'N / 97°39'W14.80 Miles1320 Yards152.5M0Cloud
25.31973-09-25339°08'N / 97°18'W39°23'N / 97°07'W19.80 Miles100 Yards02025.0M0Clay
26.21957-05-20239°31'N / 97°38'W000K0Cloud
26.21957-05-20239°31'N / 97°38'W000K0Cloud
27.31972-04-30338°55'N / 97°14'W1.50 Miles300 Yards06250K0Dickinson
27.41967-06-09239°24'N / 98°06'W39°27'N / 97°55'W10.20 Miles1320 Yards052.5M0Mitchell
28.41964-06-21238°57'N / 97°11'W000K0Dickinson
28.51960-11-27339°33'N / 97°39'W2.00 Miles167 Yards02250K0Cloud
28.61951-05-25339°16'N / 97°11'W39°19'N / 97°08'W4.10 Miles440 Yards10250K0Clay
30.21979-10-18239°17'N / 97°22'W39°26'N / 96°58'W23.70 Miles400 Yards0112.5M0Clay
30.71966-06-08239°08'N / 97°09'W39°13'N / 97°01'W8.90 Miles100 Yards0025K0Clay
31.71967-06-09239°31'N / 97°39'W39°39'N / 97°22'W17.50 Miles1320 Yards002.5M0Cloud
32.61973-09-25239°29'N / 97°20'W39°33'N / 97°15'W5.90 Miles67 Yards00250K0Clay
32.61957-05-20339°34'N / 97°34'W39°38'N / 97°29'W6.10 Miles33 Yards000K0Cloud
33.42008-04-24239°31'N / 98°07'W39°33'N / 97°55'W11.00 Miles1050 Yards00750K500KMitchell
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado sat down north of Beloit near highway 14 and traveled eastward. Several homes, farmsteads, outbuildings and trees were damaged along the tornadoes path. For the first 4 miles of the damage path, the tornado was rated at EF2 with EF0 damage seen through the rest of the county. The tornado exited Mitchell County northeast of Scottsville and entered Cloud County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms developed during the evening hours across north-central Kansas and produced large hail, strong winds and heavy rains. Hail up to the size of softballs was reported west of Stockton where windows were broken, roofs and siding damaged and crops pummeled. A couple of brief tornados were reported to have touched down in Rooks County. One was south of Stockton and the other was near Woodston. No damage occurred with these. There were other reports of hail, mainly up to the size of golf balls, and wind gusts of 60 to 70 mph reported across the area. A tornado touched down north of Beloit in Mitchell County and traveled east. Several houses, outbuildings, grain bins, trees and power poles were damaged along the it???s path. This tornado crossed into Cloud County.
33.91973-09-26239°21'N / 97°05'W2.50 Miles33 Yards00250K0Clay
33.91968-05-13239°30'N / 98°06'W39°32'N / 98°01'W4.70 Miles20 Yards003K0Mitchell
34.31992-06-15239°24'N / 98°12'W2.00 Miles73 Yards000K0Mitchell
34.91992-06-15439°25'N / 98°13'W39°26'N / 98°10'W3.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Mitchell
34.91992-06-15339°25'N / 98°12'W2.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Mitchell
35.11996-05-09239°34'N / 97°19'W39°34'N / 97°17'W1.50 Miles100 Yards00300K40KWashington
 Brief Description: A tornado hit along the Clay-Washington county line moving east through mainly the city of Vining, beginning about 1.5 West of town and ending about 1/2 mile eastnortheast. Some damage was also noted in Clifton. There were about 25 buildings damaged in Vining including a large grain elevator complex with many trees downed or uprooted. A few buildings had their roofs torn completely off. Wind damage also occurred just north of Vining on a couple of farm homes and buildings. There were no injuries.
35.31992-06-15239°23'N / 98°14'W2.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Mitchell
35.61957-05-20439°23'N / 97°44'W39°53'N / 97°12'W44.60 Miles400 Yards00250K0Cloud
36.02008-06-11338°54'N / 97°07'W38°59'N / 96°57'W13.00 Miles880 Yards1320.2M0KDickinson
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the first segment of a tornado that moved through 2 counties. This tornado continued northeast out of Dickinson County and dissipated shortly after entering Geary County. The tornado first touched down at a farmstead to the north-northwest of the town of Enterprise. A grain bin was destroyed, and some tree damage was observed. Damage was also noted to another farmstead where a grain bin was destroyed, as were a center pivot and several power poles. The tornado then entered Chapman on the southwest side. It was reported that 70 homes were completely destroyed, and 215 damaged. In all, three-quarters of the buildings in town sustained damage. Two churches were demolished. The town's middle school and high school were both severely damaged. Approximately 100 residents were in the locker rooms of the high school seeking shelter from the storm when the tornado struck. Trees across town were twisted and nearly stripped of their leaves and branches. For the most part, the downtown business section received only minor damage. Once outside the town, another farmstead was hit which damaged trees and outbuildings before lifting to the northeast of town. Debris from the town was littered for several miles east of the town. Dozens of individuals sustained minor injuries. Three were critically injured. One death was reported when a tree was blown onto a woman who had just put here daughter into the carseat of her vehicle. Thousands of volunteers took part in the clean-up effort over the next few weeks. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan.
36.22004-05-29239°37'N / 97°56'W39°38'N / 97°53'W5.00 Miles200 Yards002.1M0Cloud
 Brief Description: A tornado touched down 4 miles westnorthwest of Jamestown and moved eastnorteast before dissipating 3 miles northnorthwest of Jamestown. Large trees and power poles were downed. A number of farms along the route had significant damage.
37.61951-05-21239°02'N / 96°58'W000K0Geary
37.91992-06-15239°20'N / 98°20'W39°24'N / 98°16'W4.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Mitchell
38.71973-09-25339°23'N / 97°07'W39°34'N / 97°02'W13.30 Miles100 Yards0025.0M0Clay
39.31960-05-24239°26'N / 98°17'W000K0Mitchell
39.31952-05-21239°41'N / 97°52'W0.20 Mile100 Yards0025K0Republic
41.21956-10-29339°13'N / 98°25'W39°14'N / 98°25'W1.10 Miles200 Yards00250K0Mitchell
42.22008-05-29239°28'N / 98°19'W39°34'N / 98°14'W8.00 Miles2000 Yards00500K500KMitchell
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado started near Glen Elder Dam in Mitchell County and moved northeast. It crossed into Jewell County about 4 miles west of Highway 14. Eye witness accounts stated that this tornado combined near the dam with a tornado that had formed to the southwest in Osborne County. Just to the east of the dam, the tornado damaged several outbuildings at a farmstead and uprooted many trees. Power lines and trees were snapped off when the twister crossed US Highway 24 to the east of the town of Glen Elder. Large power poles were broken and another farmstead sustained extensive damage just before the tornado moved into Jewell County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant severe weather outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening of May 29th. Several tornadoes were reported from south of Palco in Rooks County to community of Jewell in Jewell County. On tornado inflected significant damage to the community of Jewell, including destroying the town???s caf?? and water tower. Several homes in rural areas of Mitchell and Jewell Counties were damaged or destroyed. The town of Woodston in eastern Rooks County also had a twister move through the community; luckily damage was not as severe. All together eight tornadoes occurred in this part of north-central Kansas and no critical injuries were reported. Other areas of north-central Kansas also saw hail and heavy rains from the storms. An area between Webster Lake and Stockton in Rooks County had hail up to the size of baseballs. The hail damaged windows and siding of homes along the storms path. In addition to the tornadoes, hail and wind, thunderstorms dumped several inches of rain across the Solomon River valleys. This resulted in some flooding of rural roads and area creeks and rivers.
42.41992-06-15238°33'N / 97°30'W38°33'N / 97°21'W7.00 Miles73 Yards0025K0Mcpherson
42.61956-10-29339°00'N / 98°29'W39°13'N / 98°25'W15.20 Miles200 Yards02250K0Lincoln
42.61973-09-25238°32'N / 97°49'W00250K0Mcpherson
42.91973-09-25339°18'N / 97°22'W39°54'N / 96°52'W49.20 Miles67 Yards0025.0M0Cloud
43.11950-07-01238°42'N / 97°05'W0025K0Dickinson
43.31964-04-20239°27'N / 97°05'W39°36'N / 96°57'W12.40 Miles50 Yards0025K0Clay
43.41992-06-15239°24'N / 98°24'W39°26'N / 98°22'W3.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Mitchell
43.61950-05-08239°21'N / 98°29'W39°28'N / 98°18'W12.60 Miles660 Yards00250K0Mitchell
44.01954-04-05239°11'N / 96°55'W39°17'N / 96°46'W10.40 Miles33 Yards000K0Geary
44.12008-05-29339°34'N / 98°14'W39°42'N / 98°07'W11.00 Miles2000 Yards005.0M1.0MJewell
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved out of Mitchell County and into Jewell County about 4 miles west of Highway 14. As the tornado moved northeast and was southwest of the town of Jewell, it hit three farmsteads and severely damaged the homes and outbuildings at these locations. One of the homes was completely destroyed and other had a machine shed also destroyed. Trees and power poles and lines were also damaged along its path. The tornado entered the southwest side of community of Jewell and moved across the west side of town. Several homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed. The Jewell Caf?? and the Bourbon Trucking Company were destroyed. The town???s water tower was also blown down by the tornado. The tornado lifted about two miles northeast of town. Luckily no injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant severe weather outbreak occurred during the afternoon and evening of May 29th. Several tornadoes were reported from south of Palco in Rooks County to community of Jewell in Jewell County. On tornado inflected significant damage to the community of Jewell, including destroying the town???s caf?? and water tower. Several homes in rural areas of Mitchell and Jewell Counties were damaged or destroyed. The town of Woodston in eastern Rooks County also had a twister move through the community; luckily damage was not as severe. All together eight tornadoes occurred in this part of north-central Kansas and no critical injuries were reported. Other areas of north-central Kansas also saw hail and heavy rains from the storms. An area between Webster Lake and Stockton in Rooks County had hail up to the size of baseballs. The hail damaged windows and siding of homes along the storms path. In addition to the tornadoes, hail and wind, thunderstorms dumped several inches of rain across the Solomon River valleys. This resulted in some flooding of rural roads and area creeks and rivers.
44.11990-05-24338°31'N / 97°54'W38°29'N / 97°22'W30.00 Miles400 Yards002.5M0Mcpherson
45.01950-05-08239°34'N / 98°18'W39°38'N / 98°12'W6.80 Miles33 Yards0125K0Jewell
45.11952-08-07339°00'N / 98°31'W39°03'N / 98°27'W4.70 Miles33 Yards000K0Russell
45.41966-05-11339°39'N / 97°12'W39°41'N / 97°06'W5.40 Miles100 Yards00250K0Washington
46.41992-06-15239°23'N / 98°28'W39°26'N / 98°26'W3.50 Miles100 Yards00250K0Mitchell
46.51952-08-14238°41'N / 97°01'W1.50 Miles100 Yards0025K0Dickinson
46.91961-05-31239°49'N / 97°37'W0025K0Republic
47.01973-09-25338°21'N / 98°01'W38°37'N / 97°46'W22.70 Miles100 Yards0025.0M0Rice
47.11990-03-13239°43'N / 97°51'W39°55'N / 97°39'W15.00 Miles440 Yards002.5M0Republic
47.51955-06-04439°31'N / 98°32'W40°00'N / 97°33'W61.90 Miles500 Yards00250K0Osborne
47.61966-06-08339°04'N / 96°46'W39°16'N / 96°46'W13.80 Miles660 Yards0502.5M0Riley
47.61964-06-12239°30'N / 98°26'W39°32'N / 98°22'W4.10 Miles200 Yards0025K0Mitchell
48.21990-05-24338°30'N / 98°11'W38°31'N / 97°54'W12.00 Miles400 Yards002.5M0Ellsworth
48.91955-04-27238°23'N / 97°37'W38°29'N / 97°31'W8.70 Miles100 Yards0025K0Mcpherson
49.31972-04-30238°35'N / 98°14'W1.00 Mile30 Yards0025K0Ellsworth
49.71973-09-25339°34'N / 97°02'W39°44'N / 96°58'W11.90 Miles100 Yards2625.0M0Washington
49.82008-05-29339°43'N / 97°55'W40°00'N / 97°30'W30.00 Miles1320 Yards001.0M0KRepublic
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado crossed from Jewell County into Republic County 4 miles South Southwest of Courtland. There, tree damage was noted, and several outbuildings were destroyed at a residence. An old rock home was also destroyed. Significant tree, power pole, and power line damage was reported along the path. Several of these trees had been uprooted and thrown for several hundred feet. Irrigation units were destroyed. Several homes, a newspaper reported at least six, were damaged along the path. The home that sustained the most significant damage had portions of the roof removed, and it's eastern wall blown out. Barns, outbuildings, and grain bins were destroyed at the residence as well. The old Union Valley Schoolhouse was demolished, and several headstones and trees in the Union Valley Cemetary were blown down. The tornado was rated EF-3 when it entered the county. Local Emergency Management reported that several residents had to be rescued after the tornado because of debris and damage to their homes. Highway 36 was closed through Friday morning because of power poles and power lines on the roadway. Between Hwy 81 and a point two miles south of the state line along the path, EF-2 damage was surveyed. Thereafter, EF-1 damage was noted. The tornado exited Republic County and entered Thayer County 5 miles west northwest of Narka. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A supercell that tracked across much of north central Kansas spawned a long-lived tornado that tracked from Jewell County, KS (Hastings CWA) into Republic County, KS (Topeka CWA) into Thayer County, NE (Hastings CWA) and finally into Jefferson County, NE (Omaha CWA) before dissipating. The bulk of the damage that occurred in Republic County happened within a few minutes of crossing the county line. Damage there was rated EF-3. Six residences were reported to have been significantly damaged. A few residents of these homes needed to be rescued, as they were trapped by debris. Other damage occurred to trees, power lines, and farm related buildings.


* 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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