Weld County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Colorado Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Weld County is lower than Colorado average and is lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Weld County is much higher than Colorado average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #10
| Weld County | 0.50 |
| Colorado | 1.32 |
| 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, #26
| Weld County | 0.0000 |
| Colorado | 0.0009 |
| 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, #4
| Weld County | 226.36 |
| Colorado | 117.98 |
| 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 8,050 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Weld 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: | 32 | Cold: | 6 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 41 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 281 | Hail: | 5,553 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 65 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 0 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 108 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,402 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 4 | Winter Storm: | 52 | Winter Weather: | 7 |
| Other: | 498 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Weld County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 10 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Weld County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 48.3 | 1967-08-09 | 5.3 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 41.8 | 1967-11-27 | 5.2 | N/A | 40 | -104.7 |
| 46.7 | 1965-09-14 | 4.7 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.6 |
| 48.3 | 1965-11-21 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 48.3 | 1967-11-27 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 48.3 | 1967-04-27 | 4.4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 48.3 | 1966-11-14 | 4.3 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.7 |
| 46.7 | 1962-12-05 | 4 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.6 |
| 46.7 | 1967-11-15 | 3.7 | N/A | 39.9 | -104.6 |
| 10.8 | 1969-05-26 | 3.5 | N/A | 40.4 | -104.4 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 35 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Weld County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 9.2 | 1987-07-07 | 2 | 40°24'N / 104°22'W | 40°27'N / 104°28'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld |
| 12.1 | 1996-07-31 | 2 | 40°27'N / 104°32'W | 40°22'N / 104°29'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Weld |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Gill. It damaged a grain bin owned by the Northern Feed and Bean of Gill. Although not confirmed, it is believed the same twister was responsible for destroying a 60-ft by 250-ft storage building south of town. The tornado also uprooted a tree near Kuner, east of Kersey. The time of the tornado was approximated. In addition several twisters, strong thunderstorm winds and large hail the size of baseballs caused several power outages in central Weld County. Power was out from Kersey to Purcell, which covered a distance of 20 miles, for about 12 hours. An estimated 400 to 500 residents were without power throughout the night. Crops in the area also received substantial damage, but no dollar estimates were available. | |||||||||||
| 17.5 | 1955-07-10 | 2 | 40°31'N / 104°42'W | 40°35'N / 104°44'W | 4.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld |
| 17.7 | 1982-06-25 | 2 | 40°23'N / 104°38'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Weld | |
| 19.5 | 1952-05-15 | 3 | 40°20'N / 104°34'W | 40°15'N / 104°28'W | 7.40 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25K | 0 | Weld |
| 24.3 | 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°27'N / 104°52'W | 40°33'N / 104°49'W | 7.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld |
| 24.8 | 1965-05-08 | 2 | 40°46'N / 104°46'W | 1.00 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | |
| 25.0 | 1984-05-18 | 2 | 40°11'N / 104°34'W | 40°14'N / 104°28'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld |
| 26.1 | 1996-07-30 | 2 | 40°21'N / 103°58'W | 40°21'N / 103°58'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Morgan |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down briefly near Weldona. The twister caused substantial damage to a fertilizer truck when it was smashed into a utility pole. The time of the event was approximated. | |||||||||||
| 26.7 | 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°28'N / 104°53'W | 40°27'N / 104°52'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld | ||
| 27.2 | 2008-05-22 | 3 | 40°13'N / 104°45'W | 40°33'N / 104°57'W | 24.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 1 | 78 | 147.0M | 0K | Weld |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across Weld County and into Larimer County, carving a path of destruction, nearly 39 miles in length. The tornado, up to one-mile wide at times, initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington. A tornado assessment in the aftermath of the tornado revealed extensive areas of damage. On the enhanced Fujita Scale there were pockets of EF3 damage, mainly near the Missile Silo Park Campground, and to businesses and home in eastern Windsor. There was one fatality, and 78 injuries. One man was killed when he tried to escape the trailer park in his motor home. Preliminary estimates from FEMA indicated 850 homes were damaged, and nearly 300 homes were significantly damaged or destroyed. Privately insured damages totaled $147 million, and the Poudre Valley Rural Electric Associated reported $1 million of damage to electric transmission lines. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across Weld County, carving a path of destruction, nearly 39 miles in length. The tornado, up to one-mile wide at times, initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington. A tornado assessment in the aftermath of the tornado revealed extensive areas of damage. On the enhanced Fujita Scale there were pockets of EF3 damage, mainly near the Missile Silo Park Campground, and to businesses and home in eastern Windsor. Farmers also reported extensive damage to crops and irrigation equipment. There was one fatality, and 78 injuries ranging from broken bones to minor cuts and lacerations. One man was killed when he tried to escape a trailer park in his motor home. Tractor trailers were flipped along U.S. Highway 85, and over 200 power poles were snapped or blown down. Approximately 60,000 people were left without electricity. The tornado overturned 15 railroad cars and destroyed a lumber car on the Great Western Railway of Colorado. The tornado also flattened Windsor's main feedlot and destroyed a dairy barn. Most of the four-hundred cows were killed in the tornado or destroyed later. In addition to the damaging winds, the thunderstorm also produced hail up to the size of baseballs. Another tornado rated an EF1, from a separate severe thunderstorm, briefly touched down near Dacono and destroyed 5 buildings. The tornado overturned a five-wheel trailer and injured the man who was sitting inside. Preliminary estimates from FEMA indicated 850 homes were damaged, and nearly 300 homes were significantly damaged or destroyed. The Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association reported $1 million of damage to electric transmission lines. Privately insured damages totaled $147 million, making it the state's 4th costliest disaster. | |||||||||||
| 27.4 | 1984-05-24 | 2 | 40°21'N / 103°58'W | 40°23'N / 103°53'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan |
| 28.2 | 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°28'N / 104°56'W | 40°28'N / 104°53'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Larimer |
| 28.4 | 1957-05-30 | 2 | 40°30'N / 104°56'W | 40°28'N / 104°54'W | 1.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 3K | 0 | Weld |
| 29.5 | 1984-05-18 | 2 | 40°07'N / 104°35'W | 40°10'N / 104°28'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Weld |
| 30.2 | 1984-05-18 | 2 | 40°07'N / 104°40'W | 40°12'N / 104°35'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld |
| 31.9 | 1990-06-09 | 2 | 40°43'N / 104°58'W | 40°46'N / 104°55'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Larimer |
| 32.7 | 1976-06-04 | 2 | 40°13'N / 104°49'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld | |
| 33.2 | 1990-06-09 | 2 | 40°46'N / 104°55'W | 40°53'N / 104°54'W | 20.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Weld |
| 35.1 | 1956-06-19 | 2 | 40°16'N / 103°50'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Morgan | |||
| 35.2 | 1958-06-08 | 2 | 40°04'N / 104°42'W | 40°06'N / 104°34'W | 7.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Weld |
| 36.6 | 1996-05-30 | 2 | 40°12'N / 103°52'W | 40°12'N / 103°52'W | 1.00 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Morgan |
| Brief Description: Twin tornadoes developed 5 miles southwest of Fort Morgan. Although one of the twisters dissipated quickly; the other caused substantial damage to a farmstead. A teenager trapped in the home was uninjured when he took shelter in the basement. The tornado lifted the roof off the house temporarily and broke several windows. Also, the roof of a vacant dairy barn nearby was completely torn off. A car, 2 dump trucks and 2 pickups used in the families' tree service business were completely destroyed. One dog and several of the family cats were killed. Debris was spread approximately 300 yards across the area. Not too far away, the tornado also tossed an empty 5,000 gallon propane storage tank 500 yards and a nearly full 250 gallon storage tank 600 yards. Estimated damage to property in Morgan County was around $150,000. | |||||||||||
| 36.7 | 1976-06-04 | 2 | 40°35'N / 105°05'W | 0.50 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Larimer | |
| 37.4 | 1986-09-18 | 2 | 40°30'N / 103°50'W | 40°44'N / 103°31'W | 25.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Morgan |
| 39.4 | 1955-07-08 | 2 | 40°15'N / 103°45'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Morgan | |||
| 40.6 | 1956-06-01 | 2 | 40°25'N / 103°38'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Morgan | |||
| 42.2 | 2010-05-18 | 2 | 41°10'N / 104°22'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0K | Laramie | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A National Weather Service storm survey determined a tornado that struck Burns Wyoming the evening of May 18 was rated an EF-2. One house lost its roof. Additionally, the storm that spawned the tornado produced hail the size of golfballs which accumulated to over 3 feet in depth. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Southeast low level wind flow increased ahead of a low pressure system over northern Colorado the afternoon of May 18 2010. A strong low level southeast jet combined with dynamics of the low to create a favorable environment for severe thunderstorms. By mid afternoon thunderstorms over northern Colorado began to rotate, producing a tornado just south of the Wyoming state line south of Cheyenne. Severe thunderstorms continued into the evening hours of the 18th producing severe weather across the Nebraska panhandle and extreme southeast Wyoming. | |||||||||||
| 43.4 | 1979-07-16 | 3 | 41°10'N / 104°49'W | 41°04'N / 104°42'W | 8.80 Miles | 80 Yards | 1 | 40 | 25.0M | 0 | Laramie |
| 46.6 | 1959-05-29 | 2 | 39°53'N / 104°18'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Adams | |
| 47.2 | 1960-04-23 | 3 | 41°02'N / 105°13'W | 41°00'N / 104°53'W | 17.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Laramie |
| 47.7 | 1988-06-05 | 2 | 40°02'N / 104°59'W | 40°02'N / 104°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Weld |
| 48.5 | 1988-06-05 | 2 | 40°00'N / 104°58'W | 40°02'N / 104°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Adams |
| 49.4 | 1982-06-12 | 3 | 39°49'N / 104°32'W | 39°53'N / 104°32'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Adams |
| 49.5 | 1976-05-29 | 2 | 41°15'N / 104°37'W | 0.20 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Laramie | |
| 50.0 | 1987-07-02 | 2 | 39°53'N / 104°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Adams | |
* 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.