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Abilene Metro Area Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

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The chance of earthquake damage in Abilene Area is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Abilene Area is higher than Texas average and is much higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake Index Volcano Index Tornado Index Other Weather Extremes Events Volcanos Nearby Historical Earthquake Events Historical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #707

Abilene Area	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, #129

Abilene Area	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, #194

Abilene Area	230.21
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 9,225 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Abilene Area 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:	1	Cold:	4	Dense Fog:	0	Drought:	58
Dust Storm:	1	Flood:	795	Hail:	5,708	Heat:	6	Heavy Snow:	18
High Surf:	0	Hurricane:	0	Ice Storm:	16	Landslide:	0	Strong Wind:	27
Thunderstorm Winds:	2,454	Tropical Storm:	0	Wildfire:	15	Winter Storm:	24	Winter Weather:	31
Other:	67

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Abilene Area.

Historical Earthquake Events

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

No historical earthquake events found in or near Abilene Area.

Historical Tornado Events

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

Distance (miles)	Date	Magnitude	Start Lat/Log	End Lat/Log	Length	Width	Fatalities	Injuries	Property Damage	Crop Damage	Affected County
0.9	1990-04-05	2	32°27'N / 99°44'W		0.20 Mile	10 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Taylor
4.5	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
6.0	1976-05-26	3	32°31'N / 99°39'W		1.00 Mile	300 Yards	0	0	250K	0	Jones
6.4	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
6.5	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
8.4	1973-03-10	2	32°20'N / 99°45'W				0	1	25K	0	Taylor
8.9	1978-07-03	2	32°29'N / 99°52'W		0.10 Mile	50 Yards	0	0	250K	0	Taylor
9.3	1957-08-12	2	32°35'N / 99°41'W		0.50 Mile	7 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Jones
11.4	1969-05-06	2	32°37'N / 99°42'W		0.10 Mile	50 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Jones
13.3	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
13.5	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
13.9	1990-04-05	2	32°35'N / 99°54'W		0.20 Mile	10 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Jones
14.4	1962-05-31	3	32°18'N / 99°33'W		2.00 Miles	33 Yards	0	2	0K	0	Callahan
15.4	1989-05-13	2	32°35'N / 99°56'W		1.50 Miles	150 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Jones
16.9	1979-10-30	2	32°13'N / 99°48'W				0	0	25K	0	Taylor
18.0	1970-04-26	2	32°12'N / 99°48'W		0.10 Mile	200 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Taylor
18.1	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
20.1	1985-04-28	2	32°36'N / 100°01'W		3.50 Miles	400 Yards	0	0	25K	0	Jones
20.6	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.
22.1	1962-06-01	2	32°20'N / 99°22'W				0	1	2.5M	0	Callahan
23.2	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.
23.6	1969-06-19	2	32°47'N / 99°37'W		0.10 Mile	10 Yards	0	0	25K	0	Jones
23.9	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
24.4	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.
25.0	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
25.5	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
26.2	1973-04-22	2	32°17'N / 99°19'W		0.30 Mile	100 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Callahan
26.2	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
28.1	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
29.5	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
30.4	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
30.8	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
31.0	1990-05-14	2	32°50'N / 100°00'W		0.20 Mile	10 Yards	0	3	0K	0	Jones
31.3	1990-05-14	3	32°53'N / 99°53'W		0.20 Mile	10 Yards	0	2	0K	0	Jones
31.7	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
32.0	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
32.7	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
32.9	1971-05-08	2	31°59'N / 99°37'W		0.50 Mile	100 Yards	0	0	25K	0	Coleman
33.0	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
33.3	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
33.7	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
34.0	1990-05-14	2	32°53'N / 100°00'W		0.20 Mile	10 Yards	0	2	0K	0	Jones
34.0	1971-02-18	2	32°00'N / 99°57'W		0.50 Mile	100 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Runnels
34.0	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
34.1	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
34.2	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.
35.5	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
35.6	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
35.7	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
35.9	1967-04-12	2	32°43'N / 100°15'W		0.20 Mile	40 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Fisher
35.9	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
36.0	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
36.6	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
37.2	1971-02-18	2	31°57'N / 99°57'W		0.20 Mile	50 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Runnels
37.5	1990-05-14	2	32°56'N / 100°01'W		2.00 Miles	100 Yards	0	2	250K	0	Jones
38.0	1994-05-29	2	32°11'N / 99°12'W	32°07'N / 99°09'W	6.00 Miles	200 Yards	0	3	500K	0	Callahan
		Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Cottonwood and moved southeast through Cross Plains doing heavy damage. Eighteen homes were destroyed and one hundred were damaged. Ninety percent of the businesses in town were damaged.
38.2	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
38.3	1991-05-02	2	32°53'N / 100°08'W		0.20 Mile	10 Yards	0	0	25K	0	Jones
38.5	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
39.2	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
40.5	1962-05-31	2	32°40'N / 100°22'W		1.00 Mile	20 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Fisher
41.6	1969-06-12	2	32°04'N / 100°16'W		0.50 Mile	50 Yards	0	0	25K	0	Coke
42.9	1965-08-31	2	32°45'N / 100°22'W		2.00 Miles	20 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Fisher
44.0	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.
44.0	1955-06-04	2	32°03'N / 99°08'W		2.00 Miles	100 Yards	0	0	25K	0	Brown
44.2	1979-04-10	3	31°44'N / 99°43'W	31°55'N / 99°25'W	21.70 Miles	880 Yards	0	1	2.5M	0	Coleman
44.5	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.
44.6	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
45.9	1975-05-13	3	31°50'N / 99°26'W		0.10 Mile	27 Yards	2	5	0K	0	Coleman
45.9	1992-03-03	2	31°50'N / 99°26'W		0.50 Mile	100 Yards	0	1	250K	0	Coleman
46.3	1955-04-05	2	32°59'N / 99°29'W	33°02'N / 99°04'W	24.40 Miles	67 Yards	0	3	250K	0	Throckmorton
47.2	1973-05-22	2	31°49'N / 100°01'W		2.00 Miles	33 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Runnels
47.3	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
47.6	1975-03-17	2	32°16'N / 98°56'W	32°23'N / 98°54'W	8.50 Miles	33 Yards	0	0	250K	0	Eastland
48.2	1963-04-05	2	33°09'N / 99°44'W		1.00 Mile	33 Yards	0	0	3K	0	Haskell
49.4	1962-05-26	4	33°10'N / 99°46'W	33°10'N / 99°35'W	10.70 Miles	133 Yards	0	1	2.5M	0	Haskell
49.4	1962-05-26	2	33°10'N / 99°46'W		1.00 Mile	67 Yards	0	0	0K	0	Haskell
49.9	1991-04-24	3	33°09'N / 99°46'W	33°12'N / 99°42'W	3.50 Miles	200 Yards	0	1	250K	0	Haskell

* 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.