79708 Zip Code Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in 79708 Zip Code is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in 79708 Zip Code is much lower than Texas average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #689
| 79708 Zip Code | 0.02 |
| 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
| 79708 Zip Code | 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, #2023
| 79708 Zip Code | 118.30 |
| 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 2,310 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of 79708 Zip Code 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: | 0 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 17 |
| Dust Storm: | 2 | Flood: | 357 | Hail: | 1,284 | Heat: | 1 | Heavy Snow: | 7 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 1 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 22 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 585 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 2 | Winter Weather: | 7 |
| Other: | 25 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near 79708 Zip Code.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 1 historical earthquake event that had a recorded magnitude of 3.5 or above found in or near 79708 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 39.4 | 1978-03-02 | 3.5 | 11 | 31.56 | -102.51 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 18 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near 79708 Zip Code.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.5 | 1965-05-15 | 3 | 31°58'N / 102°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Midland | |
| 11.0 | 1969-06-03 | 2 | 32°00'N / 102°20'W | 32°09'N / 102°09'W | 14.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Ector |
| 11.0 | 1957-05-24 | 2 | 32°09'N / 102°08'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Martin | |
| 17.3 | 1973-05-12 | 2 | 31°51'N / 102°19'W | 1.00 Mile | 120 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Ector | |
| 17.5 | 1991-10-27 | 2 | 32°14'N / 101°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Martin | |
| 18.7 | 1961-07-21 | 2 | 31°55'N / 102°23'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Ector | |
| 25.3 | 1957-05-24 | 3 | 32°19'N / 101°52'W | 1.50 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 1 | 3K | 0 | Martin | |
| 29.4 | 1981-10-15 | 2 | 31°39'N / 102°22'W | 1.50 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Ector | |
| 29.7 | 1964-06-20 | 2 | 32°15'N / 101°40'W | 0.80 Mile | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Howard | |
| 32.4 | 2006-05-05 | 2 | 32°28'N / 102°03'W | 32°28'N / 102°03'W | 6.10 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Martin |
| Brief Description: A tornado developed in Martin County in open fields north of County Road D4800 and east of County Road D2651. Based on spotter reports, the tornado was visible at 8:02 pm CDT just south of CR D4800 and west of Farm to Market Road 829 (FM 829), south-southeast of Patricia. According to spotter reports, it took on a stove-pipe like shape and continued to move to the east-southeast along FM 829. A few minutes later, the tornado pulled an oil pump jack and well head from the ground. The pump jack was estimated to weigh about 35,000 pounds by an oil company representative. The well head was anchored in the ground by an additional 35,000 pounds of weight from pipe below the ground. Southward along FM 829, four power poles were snapped four to five feet above ground and an additional six poles farther south were blown over to the east due to rear flank downdraft winds. Another couple of minutes later, an oil heater treater weighing approximately 12,000 pounds was blown over. The damage survey team classified the damage that occurred between 8:02pm CDT and 8:07pm CDT, when the oil heater treater was blown over, as F2 intensity damage. After blowing over the oil heater, the tornado became rain-wrapped and crossed County Road 4600, just west of County Road D3401. Five power poles were knocked down on County Road D3401. Based on information received from both spotters and chasers, the tornado dissipated at 8:14pm CDT, just west of Texas Highway 137. During the remainder of the tornado's path, it remained mainly over open country. The damage survey team calculated the width of the tornado to be 130 yards near the end of its life. However, the track was estimated to be between 200 and 300 yards during earlier stages of its life. The path length was calculated to be just over six miles long. | |||||||||||
| 33.6 | 1962-06-16 | 2 | 32°28'N / 102°14'W | 0.80 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Andrews | |
| 37.1 | 1991-05-07 | 2 | 32°28'N / 101°51'W | 32°30'N / 101°46'W | 3.50 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Martin |
| 38.6 | 2010-05-14 | 3 | 31°49'N / 102°43'W | 31°54'N / 102°43'W | 4.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Ector |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: At 12:15 pm CST, members of the TWISTEX research group confirmed the formation of a tornado approximately 6.5 miles south of Notrees. This tornado progressed northeastward around 20 mph, first causing damage to power poles around from 12:16 to 12:17 pm CST. As it continued to track to the northeast, the tornado caused significant damage to oil equipment from 12:19 to 12:22 pm CST. Two type 320 pump jacks, each weighing 71,000 pounds including the concrete base, were blown over. The tornado then began to weaken at 12:27 pm CST, and dissipated at 12:28 pm CST approximately 2 miles southeast of Notrees, TX. EPISODE NARRATIVE: During the late morning hours, an upper level disturbance slowly progressed over the area. At the surface, abundant low level moisture was available due to southeasterly to easterly winds. A nearly stationary frontal boundary across the Permian basin provided a focus for rapid thunderstorm development. Several supercell thunderstorms resulted in widespread severe weather in the form of tornadoes, flash flooding and large hail across the Texas Permian Basin. The supercell thunderstorms eventually diminished during the late evening hours across the southern Permian Basin. | |||||||||||
| 40.8 | 1970-05-31 | 2 | 32°30'N / 102°07'W | 32°40'N / 101°52'W | 18.60 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Martin |
| 41.6 | 2009-04-16 | 2 | 32°18'N / 101°34'W | 32°25'N / 101°27'W | 11.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 83K | 0K | Howard |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: At 1953 CST, a trained weather spotter reported a tornado about 5 miles northwest of Big Spring. The NWS Storm Survey confirmed two snapped power poles, minor tree damage and an empty oil pump storage tank knocked over near this location. The tornado then tracked north northeastward and bent an 80 foot aluminum radio tower in half towards the east and snapped two additional power poles due to damaging northerly winds on its northwest flank; this occurred sometime around 2000 CST. At 2005 CST, another trained spotter reported a tornado near the town of Fairview, TX. The damage survey concluded this was a valid report, as the tornado began to turn right snapping multiple power poles and damaging a 12???X10??? storage shed anchored 2-3 feet in the ground along the way. The storage shed was tossed east northeast approximately 30 yards, indicating the tornado passed north of the residence. As the tornado continued eastward just north of Farm to Market Road 2230 east of Fairview, a significant line of power pole damage (2 miles) was observed. There were a total of 28 poles snapped towards the south around 2015 CST. Twenty of these were distribution poles and 8 of these were larger transmission poles. The tornado then possibly weakened and turned left to the northeast. On its way, it damaged another storage shed and a home's north side windows approximately 4 miles northeast of Fairview. The last approximated time for tornadic wind damage was around 2030 CST. The path recorded for this event is not the exact path the tornado actually took. Please see attached image. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A mid to upper level closed low was located over southwest Utah the day of the event. Near the surface, a quasi dryline was located from a line near the mountains of west Texas to the eastern NM/TX border. Dewpoints in the low to mid 50 F range resulted in moderate surface based instability east of the dryline during the early evening hours. The upper dynamics combined with the surface convergence along the dryline led to the development of severe weather as the deep layer shear increased with the approach of the aforementioned feature. There was also a brief window for tornadic storms as low level profiles became increasingly backed east of the dryline as height falls increased ahead of the upper trough just west of the region. A tornado watch was issued from 1642-2400 local. | |||||||||||
| 41.7 | 1971-05-08 | 2 | 32°36'N / 102°07'W | 1.00 Mile | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Dawson | |
| 42.5 | 2000-03-22 | 2 | 31°34'N / 101°35'W | 31°38'N / 101°28'W | 6.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 5 | 200K | 0 | Reagan |
| Brief Description: The tornado knocked a small house off its foundation by about 15 yards with the house pivoting 90 degrees as well. One infant suffered a slight head injury from falling furniture. The tornado continued travelling north-northeast through rural areas, but struck and destroyed a mobile home, injuring two men, one seriously. Lighter damage was scattered along the rest of its path, including utility poles down, parts of roofs damaged, fences and barns damaged, etc. The tornado crossed into Glasscock County at 31.65N/101.50W. This storm was a classic supercell that formed ahead of the training line of storms to the west. | |||||||||||
| 44.2 | 1962-07-10 | 2 | 31°24'N / 102°21'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Crane | |||
* 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.