Merkel Independent School District Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Merkel Independent School District is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Merkel Independent School District is higher than Texas average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #551
| Merkel Independent School District | 0.01 |
| Texas | 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
| Merkel Independent School District | 0.0000 |
| Texas | 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, #570
| Merkel Independent School District | 222.86 |
| Texas | 208.58 |
| 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 2,564 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Merkel Independent School District 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: | 0 | Cold: | 1 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 9 |
| Dust Storm: | 1 | Flood: | 214 | Hail: | 1,590 | Heat: | 1 | Heavy Snow: | 8 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 5 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 9 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 687 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 3 | Winter Storm: | 5 | Winter Weather: | 9 |
| Other: | 22 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Merkel Independent School District.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Merkel Independent School District.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Merkel Independent School District.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 80 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Merkel Independent School District.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.6 | 1978-07-03 | 2 | 32°29'N / 99°52'W | 0.10 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Taylor | |
| 9.6 | 1989-05-13 | 2 | 32°35'N / 99°56'W | 1.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jones | |
| 10.2 | 1985-04-28 | 2 | 32°36'N / 100°01'W | 3.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jones | |
| 10.4 | 1990-04-05 | 2 | 32°35'N / 99°54'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jones | |
| 15.1 | 1990-04-05 | 2 | 32°27'N / 99°44'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Taylor | |
| 16.0 | 1961-03-16 | 2 | 32°24'N / 100°27'W | 32°24'N / 100°04'W | 22.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Taylor |
| 16.1 | 1965-05-15 | 3 | 32°27'N / 99°44'W | 32°35'N / 99°43'W | 9.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Jones |
| 16.4 | 1973-03-10 | 2 | 32°20'N / 99°45'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Taylor | |||
| 19.7 | 1976-05-25 | 3 | 32°34'N / 99°41'W | 32°30'N / 99°39'W | 5.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Jones |
| 19.8 | 1979-10-30 | 2 | 32°13'N / 99°48'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Taylor | |||
| 20.1 | 1957-08-12 | 2 | 32°35'N / 99°41'W | 0.50 Mile | 7 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Jones | |
| 20.4 | 1969-05-06 | 2 | 32°37'N / 99°42'W | 0.10 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Jones | |
| 20.4 | 1976-05-26 | 3 | 32°31'N / 99°39'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jones | |
| 20.8 | 1970-04-26 | 2 | 32°12'N / 99°48'W | 0.10 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Taylor | |
| 21.0 | 2004-03-04 | 2 | 32°07'N / 99°55'W | 32°14'N / 99°47'W | 10.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 2 | 800K | 0 | Taylor |
| Brief Description: A quickly moving tornado tore a 10 mile path through southern Taylor County. This tornado hit the community of Tuscola, where it damaged the Jim Ned high school injuring two people. A strong upper level disturbance combined with a strong surface low pressure system moving across West Central Texas produced a significant squall line that moved through the entire San Angelo county warning area. This squall line was accompanied by 60 to 80 MPH winds which produced widespread damage, especially across the Big Country. Embedded within the squall line, were several Supercell thunderstorms which produced nine tornadoes within the San Angelo county warning area. | |||||||||||
| 21.7 | 1985-04-28 | 2 | 32°08'N / 100°07'W | 32°11'N / 100°07'W | 2.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Taylor |
| 22.0 | 1976-05-25 | 3 | 32°30'N / 99°39'W | 32°29'N / 99°35'W | 4.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Taylor |
| 22.3 | 1973-03-23 | 2 | 32°28'N / 100°24'W | 32°28'N / 100°21'W | 3.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Nolan |
| 23.3 | 1986-04-19 | 3 | 32°27'N / 100°26'W | 32°29'N / 100°21'W | 4.50 Miles | 600 Yards | 1 | 100 | 25.0M | 0 | Nolan |
| 23.6 | 1967-04-12 | 2 | 32°43'N / 100°15'W | 0.20 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fisher | |
| 24.0 | 1985-04-28 | 2 | 32°07'N / 100°08'W | 32°08'N / 100°07'W | 1.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Nolan |
| 26.2 | 1990-05-14 | 2 | 32°50'N / 100°00'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0K | 0 | Jones | |
| 26.3 | 1962-05-31 | 2 | 32°40'N / 100°22'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fisher | |
| 26.5 | 1982-03-14 | 2 | 32°05'N / 99°53'W | 32°07'N / 99°45'W | 8.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Taylor |
| 26.7 | 1982-03-14 | 2 | 32°04'N / 99°55'W | 32°05'N / 99°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Runnels |
| 27.9 | 1962-05-31 | 3 | 32°18'N / 99°33'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Callahan | |
| 27.9 | 1962-05-25 | 3 | 32°50'N / 100°00'W | 32°53'N / 99°58'W | 4.10 Miles | 67 Yards | 1 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Jones |
| 29.2 | 1976-05-25 | 3 | 32°29'N / 99°35'W | 32°28'N / 99°24'W | 10.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Callahan |
| 29.3 | 1950-04-28 | 4 | 32°25'N / 99°30'W | 32°25'N / 99°29'W | 1.30 Miles | 233 Yards | 5 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Callahan |
| 29.7 | 1990-05-14 | 2 | 32°53'N / 100°00'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Jones | |
| 29.9 | 1965-08-31 | 2 | 32°45'N / 100°22'W | 2.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fisher | |
| 30.3 | 1990-05-14 | 3 | 32°53'N / 99°53'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Jones | |
| 30.8 | 1991-05-02 | 2 | 32°53'N / 100°08'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jones | |
| 31.2 | 1969-06-12 | 2 | 32°04'N / 100°16'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Coke | |
| 31.4 | 1976-04-15 | 3 | 32°02'N / 100°06'W | 31°58'N / 99°57'W | 9.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Runnels |
| 31.4 | 1971-02-18 | 2 | 32°00'N / 99°57'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Runnels | |
| 31.5 | 1969-06-19 | 2 | 32°47'N / 99°37'W | 0.10 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jones | |
| 31.6 | 1965-05-12 | 2 | 32°00'N / 99°57'W | 32°00'N / 99°53'W | 4.10 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 3K | 0 | Runnels |
| 32.3 | 1982-03-14 | 3 | 32°04'N / 99°42'W | 32°05'N / 99°38'W | 5.00 Miles | 173 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Coleman |
| 32.9 | 1982-03-14 | 3 | 32°05'N / 99°38'W | 32°06'N / 99°37'W | 2.00 Miles | 173 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Taylor |
| 32.9 | 1982-03-14 | 3 | 32°06'N / 99°37'W | 32°09'N / 99°33'W | 3.50 Miles | 173 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Callahan |
| 33.1 | 1990-05-14 | 2 | 32°56'N / 100°01'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Jones | |
| 33.8 | 1989-06-07 | 2 | 32°23'N / 99°28'W | 32°24'N / 99°22'W | 6.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Callahan |
| 33.9 | 1982-03-14 | 3 | 31°52'N / 100°09'W | 32°04'N / 99°42'W | 30.00 Miles | 173 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Runnels |
| 34.0 | 1982-05-30 | 2 | 32°57'N / 99°56'W | 32°56'N / 99°54'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jones |
| 34.9 | 1971-02-18 | 2 | 31°57'N / 99°57'W | 0.20 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Runnels | |
| 34.9 | 1962-04-26 | 2 | 32°52'N / 99°43'W | 32°55'N / 99°40'W | 4.70 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jones |
| 35.4 | 1982-05-27 | 2 | 32°26'N / 100°41'W | 32°28'N / 100°31'W | 5.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Nolan |
| 35.8 | 1955-04-05 | 2 | 32°56'N / 99°48'W | 32°57'N / 99°46'W | 2.70 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jones |
| 35.9 | 1979-04-10 | 2 | 31°58'N / 99°48'W | 31°58'N / 99°45'W | 2.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Runnels |
| 36.1 | 1982-05-30 | 2 | 33°00'N / 99°58'W | 32°57'N / 99°56'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Haskell |
| 37.4 | 1962-06-01 | 2 | 32°20'N / 99°22'W | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Callahan | |||
| 37.4 | 1979-04-10 | 2 | 31°58'N / 99°45'W | 31°59'N / 99°38'W | 6.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Coleman |
| 38.9 | 1967-04-12 | 2 | 32°51'N / 100°28'W | 0.30 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fisher | |
| 39.0 | 2003-05-15 | 2 | 32°30'N / 99°20'W | 32°30'N / 99°19'W | 1.50 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Shackelford |
| Brief Description: Two tornadoes paralleled one another. This tornado was the southern tornado track and destroyed oil storage tanks, oil equipment, a small building, and a couple of recreational vehicles. A trained spotter reported that this tornado was multiple vortex. The survey team noted separate damage areas south and southwest of the main track. A warm front was located near Abilene as strong upper level energy moved in from the west. Several thunderstorms developed along and to the north of the front with two storms becoming supercells and producing most of the severe weather that evening. One supercell moved across Fisher county into Jones county with only reports of hail and funnel clouds. Another supercell formed to the south of the first supercell just to the northwest of Abilene. This supercell became the dominant storm just north of Abilene and continued to intensify as it moved across Shackelford county and continued east to near Ranger. One tornado was reported in extreme southern Jones county just north of Abilene and four more tornadoes were confirmed across southern Shackelford county. | |||||||||||
| 39.2 | 1971-05-08 | 2 | 31°59'N / 99°37'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Coleman | |
| 39.3 | 1968-05-24 | 3 | 32°38'N / 100°36'W | 32°38'N / 100°40'W | 4.10 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scurry |
| 39.9 | 2003-05-15 | 2 | 32°33'N / 99°18'W | 32°33'N / 99°20'W | 1.50 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Shackelford |
| Brief Description: This was the northern tornado track of the two that paralleled one another. This tornado snapped and stripped large trees and ripped up some T post fence along it's path. It seems that the tree damage was more severe on this track. A warm front was located near Abilene as strong upper level energy moved in from the west. Several thunderstorms developed along and to the north of the front with two storms becoming supercells and producing most of the severe weather that evening. One supercell moved across Fisher county into Jones county with only reports of hail and funnel clouds. Another supercell formed to the south of the first supercell just to the northwest of Abilene. This supercell became the dominant storm just north of Abilene and continued to intensify as it moved across Shackelford county and continued east to near Ranger. One tornado was reported in extreme southern Jones county just north of Abilene and four more tornadoes were confirmed across southern Shackelford county. | |||||||||||
| 41.1 | 1973-04-22 | 2 | 32°17'N / 99°19'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Callahan | |
| 41.3 | 1955-04-05 | 2 | 32°57'N / 99°46'W | 32°59'N / 99°29'W | 16.60 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Haskell |
| 41.8 | 1982-05-27 | 2 | 32°25'N / 100°44'W | 32°26'N / 100°41'W | 3.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 42.0 | 1994-05-12 | 2 | 32°47'N / 100°36'W | 2.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Fisher | |
| 42.2 | 1994-02-19 | 2 | 32°55'N / 99°31'W | 0.10 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shackelford | |
| Brief Description: A brief tornado formed in open country on the Nail Ranch. | |||||||||||
| 42.2 | 1961-05-07 | 3 | 32°56'N / 99°35'W | 32°58'N / 99°33'W | 3.60 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shackelford |
| 42.3 | 1968-05-24 | 3 | 32°38'N / 100°42'W | 32°39'N / 100°40'W | 2.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scurry |
| 42.5 | 1962-06-07 | 2 | 32°54'N / 100°32'W | 32°52'N / 100°30'W | 3.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fisher |
| 43.6 | 2004-06-11 | 2 | 32°10'N / 100°44'W | 32°12'N / 100°36'W | 10.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| Brief Description: A National Weather Service damage survey team concluded that a significant tornado struck rural areas of southeastern Mitchell County during the evening of the 11th. The team examined a damage path marked by shredded vegetation (mostly mesquite trees), downed utility poles, agricultural fences, and a complex of destroyed mobile homes that extended over ten miles in a continuous horseshoe shaped path that crossed State Route 208 twenty miles south-southeast of Colorado City. The tornado developed seventeen miles south-southeast of Colorado City around 2028 CST. Damage indicates the tornado's motion was initially toward the southeast then east as it crossed the heavily traveled State Route 208. Two Texas Tech University students traveling north on 208 (south of the tornado's path) watched as a Ford Expedition drove into the tornadic circulation. The large sports utility vehicle was blown 100 yards off of the highway. Evidence supports the vehicle was rolled a considerable distance by the tornadic winds, but it is unclear whether it became airborne. Three motorists were transferred to local hospitals. One person sustained serious injuries that included a broken back. A detailed damage path analysis and corresponding radar data suggest that the tornado then tracked very slowly east a few miles before curving to the northeast. Similar curved damage paths (turning left of the tornado's original motion) are commonly observed when well-developed tornadoes enter the dissipation stage. The tornado proved to remain very dangerous, however, as eight mobile homes were destroyed by the tornado near the end of its life cycle twenty miles southeast of Colorado City. The light weight and unanchored structures were blown over and shredded by the dissipation stage tornadic winds. The trailers were arranged in a complex and were used to provide shelter for groups of hunters that frequent the ranch property. They were not occupied when the tornado struck. In summary, a significant round of severe thunderstorms affected parts of west Texas during the afternoon and evening of the 11th. At least two supercell storms produced giant hail and one strong tornado over the region. A supercell thunderstorm tracked across Terrell County in the west Texas Lower Trans Pecos region during the late afternoon hours. Multiple reports of large hail including two different instances of tennis ball sized stones were received as this storm tracked east along U.S. Highway 90 between Sanderson and Dryden. A second area of convection erupted over the eastern Permian Basin by late afternoon and continued into the evening hours. A severe storm associated with this activity produced half-dollar size hail in the Westbrook community. An isolated classic supercell evolved from this complex of storms and took on a distinctly deviant southeastward storm motion. This storm took on radar characteristics consistent with a classic tornadic supercell. Hail up to the size of golfballs was observed southeast of Colorado City as the storm evolved into its tornadic phase. A long-lived significant tornado tracked across mainly rural areas of Mitchell County just after sunset. The tornado resulted in three injuries when it crossed State Route 208 and blew a vehicle off of the highway. Severe rear flank downdraft winds also resulted in widespread wind damage south of the tornado's path. | |||||||||||
| 43.7 | 1980-08-23 | 2 | 32°55'N / 99°26'W | 32°52'N / 99°28'W | 4.30 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Palo Pinto |
| 44.0 | 1973-05-22 | 2 | 31°49'N / 100°01'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Runnels | |
| 45.3 | 1977-04-20 | 2 | 32°24'N / 99°18'W | 32°24'N / 99°08'W | 9.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Callahan |
| 45.5 | 1965-05-25 | 2 | 32°09'N / 100°41'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell | |
| 46.1 | 1982-06-19 | 2 | 31°50'N / 99°50'W | 31°47'N / 99°45'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Runnels |
| 46.8 | 1968-05-24 | 3 | 32°38'N / 100°46'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Scurry | |
| 48.4 | 1982-05-27 | 2 | 32°10'N / 100°52'W | 32°25'N / 100°44'W | 15.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 48.6 | 2004-03-04 | 2 | 33°05'N / 99°37'W | 33°05'N / 99°37'W | 1.00 Mile | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Haskell |
| Brief Description: Numerous manufactured homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado along Lake Stamford. A strong upper level disturbance combined with a strong surface low pressure system moving across West Central Texas produced a significant squall line that moved through the entire San Angelo county warning area. This squall line was accompanied by 60 to 80 MPH winds which produced widespread damage, especially across the Big Country. Embedded within the squall line, were several Supercell thunderstorms which produced nine tornadoes within the San Angelo county warning area. | |||||||||||
| 48.7 | 1967-04-12 | 2 | 31°45'N / 99°57'W | 0.10 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Runnels | |
| 48.8 | 1970-04-26 | 2 | 32°00'N / 99°24'W | 32°07'N / 99°12'W | 14.20 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Coleman |
| 48.9 | 2003-05-03 | 2 | 33°04'N / 99°38'W | 33°07'N / 99°37'W | 4.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0 | Haskell |
| Brief Description: Spotters watched a large one quarter mile wide tornado that moved across the northeast portion of lake Stamford. This tornado came within yards of hitting the lake Stamford power plant, however it did knock down 11 transmission poles coming out of the power plant and eight distribution poles. This tornado was also filmed by a weather broadcaster from a local Abilene television station. An isolated severe thunderstorm formed along the dry line in the late afternoon in Dickens County. This thunderstorm split into two different cells with one going northeast into Oklahoma and the other moving almost due east across Stonewall, Haskell and Eastern Throckmorton Counties. As the thunderstorm was over eastern Stonewall County, it begin to take on tornadic radar signatures and continued to intensify as it moved into Haskell County. During it's two hour trek across Haskell County, it produced at least four tornadoes. Right after the storm crossed over into Throckmorton County it weakened rapidly and eventually dissipated over the southeastern portion of Throckmorton County. | |||||||||||
| 49.5 | 1963-04-26 | 2 | 32°44'N / 100°55'W | 32°48'N / 100°36'W | 19.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Scurry |
| 49.9 | 1982-06-19 | 2 | 31°47'N / 99°45'W | 31°45'N / 99°42'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Coleman |
* 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.