Athol, KS Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Athol is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Athol is lower than Kansas average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #306
| Athol, KS | 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
| Athol, KS | 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, #493
| Athol, KS | 203.18 |
| 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 2,859 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Athol, KS 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: | 12 | Cold: | 23 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 10 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 83 | Hail: | 1,760 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 20 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 8 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 40 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 750 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 79 | Winter Weather: | 14 |
| Other: | 60 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Athol, KS.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Athol, KS.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Athol, KS.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 57 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Athol, KS.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 0.2 | 1963-06-11 | 2 | 39°46'N / 98°55'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Smith | |
| 0.7 | 1957-06-15 | 3 | 39°46'N / 98°56'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Smith | |
| 2.0 | 1965-05-25 | 2 | 39°45'N / 98°57'W | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Smith | |||
| 6.1 | 1957-06-15 | 3 | 39°42'N / 99°04'W | 39°54'N / 98°59'W | 14.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Smith |
| 10.7 | 1973-09-25 | 2 | 39°44'N / 98°58'W | 39°59'N / 98°33'W | 27.90 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Smith |
| 10.7 | 1971-05-30 | 2 | 39°46'N / 98°46'W | 39°51'N / 98°41'W | 7.10 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Smith |
| 11.0 | 1973-04-19 | 2 | 39°52'N / 99°02'W | 39°56'N / 99°02'W | 4.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Smith |
| 11.4 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°44'N / 99°09'W | 39°56'N / 99°05'W | 11.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Phillips |
| 12.2 | 1959-05-20 | 2 | 39°36'N / 99°00'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Smith | |||
| 15.3 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°56'N / 99°05'W | 40°00'N / 99°00'W | 10.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Smith |
| 19.2 | 1973-03-13 | 2 | 39°35'N / 98°35'W | 39°50'N / 98°33'W | 17.20 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Smith |
| 22.7 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 40°00'N / 99°00'W | 40°11'N / 98°43'W | 18.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Franklin |
| 23.0 | 1952-06-26 | 2 | 39°41'N / 99°27'W | 39°46'N / 99°15'W | 12.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Phillips |
| 25.2 | 1954-03-11 | 2 | 39°27'N / 98°41'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Osborne | |||
| 27.1 | 1986-09-18 | 2 | 40°06'N / 98°39'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Webster | |
| 27.4 | 2007-05-05 | 2 | 39°23'N / 98°42'W | 39°28'N / 98°37'W | 8.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 11 | 150K | 50K | Osborne |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado sat down south of Osborne and moved north into town. The twister destroyed 2 mobile homes, damaged roofs, fences, cars and windows, and damaged 2 restaurants. The Pizza Hut sustained minor damage and several employees??? car windows were blown out. Across the road, the Circle Inn lost a large part of their roof, a couple of outside walls, and substantial damage happened to the interior portion of the restaurant. A couple of semi-trailers were blown around and one ended up on top of another car. Eleven people were injured, none seriously, and were treated at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital. The Osborne County Sheriff's office reported the most severe injury was a broken arm. (sources: Osborne County Farmer newspaper, Osborne County Sheriff's office, and the Osborne County Emergency Management Agency). EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms rumbled across northern Kansas. A few became severe in the early evening hours. One produced a tornado in Osborne. This tornado damaged homes and two restaurants in town. Other storms in Mitchell and Jewell Counties produced hail to the size of quarters. | |||||||||||
| 28.3 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°30'N / 99°25'W | 39°57'N / 99°29'W | 28.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Phillips |
| 28.8 | 1971-05-30 | 2 | 39°50'N / 98°23'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jewell | |
| 30.1 | 1991-04-11 | 3 | 39°26'N / 99°25'W | 39°32'N / 99°17'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Rooks |
| 32.6 | 1964-06-12 | 2 | 39°30'N / 98°26'W | 39°32'N / 98°22'W | 4.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 33.6 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 39°25'N / 99°24'W | 39°30'N / 99°25'W | 5.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Rooks |
| 35.1 | 1992-06-15 | 2 | 39°23'N / 98°28'W | 39°26'N / 98°26'W | 3.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 35.6 | 1968-05-13 | 3 | 39°13'N / 99°02'W | 39°17'N / 98°48'W | 13.10 Miles | 320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Osborne |
| 36.8 | 1985-05-10 | 3 | 39°11'N / 99°31'W | 39°28'N / 99°06'W | 30.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Rooks |
| 37.4 | 1992-06-15 | 2 | 39°24'N / 98°24'W | 39°26'N / 98°22'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 37.4 | 1950-05-08 | 2 | 39°34'N / 98°18'W | 39°38'N / 98°12'W | 6.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Jewell |
| 37.4 | 1950-05-08 | 2 | 39°21'N / 98°29'W | 39°28'N / 98°18'W | 12.60 Miles | 660 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 37.7 | 1950-05-08 | 2 | 39°14'N / 98°57'W | 39°14'N / 98°35'W | 19.60 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Osborne |
| 38.0 | 1978-04-07 | 2 | 40°05'N / 98°20'W | 0.20 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Webster | |
| 38.4 | 2008-05-29 | 2 | 39°28'N / 98°19'W | 39°34'N / 98°14'W | 8.00 Miles | 2000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 500K | Mitchell |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 38.9 | 1985-05-10 | 4 | 40°11'N / 98°43'W | 40°21'N / 98°27'W | 17.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Webster |
| 39.4 | 1990-03-13 | 4 | 40°03'N / 98°32'W | 40°18'N / 98°16'W | 20.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Webster |
| 39.7 | 1969-06-24 | 2 | 40°13'N / 99°09'W | 40°26'N / 99°03'W | 15.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Franklin |
| 40.0 | 1992-06-15 | 2 | 39°47'N / 98°10'W | 1.50 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jewell | |
| 40.6 | 2008-05-29 | 3 | 39°34'N / 98°14'W | 39°42'N / 98°07'W | 11.00 Miles | 2000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 1.0M | Jewell |
| 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. | |||||||||||
| 40.9 | 1980-08-01 | 2 | 40°15'N / 99°22'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Harlan | |
| 40.9 | 1960-05-24 | 2 | 39°26'N / 98°17'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Mitchell | |||
| 41.0 | 1972-07-27 | 2 | 39°15'N / 99°18'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Rooks | |
| 41.4 | 1965-05-25 | 2 | 40°02'N / 98°42'W | 40°33'N / 98°23'W | 39.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Webster |
| 41.6 | 1973-03-13 | 2 | 39°14'N / 99°17'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rooks | |
| 43.0 | 1992-06-15 | 2 | 39°20'N / 98°20'W | 39°24'N / 98°16'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 43.2 | 1968-05-13 | 3 | 39°08'N / 99°20'W | 39°13'N / 99°02'W | 16.90 Miles | 320 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Rooks |
| 43.3 | 1991-05-30 | 2 | 40°08'N / 99°35'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Harlan | |
| 43.7 | 1999-06-03 | 3 | 39°50'N / 99°48'W | 39°58'N / 99°39'W | 10.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Norton |
| Brief Description: A large tornado dropped down just east of the town of Norton and stayed on the ground for approximately 10 miles before finally lifting north-northeast of the town of Almena. This Tornado reached around 3/4 of a mile wide at times and did major (F3) damage to a few farmsteads. Tornado also went through a stage with multiple vortices. | |||||||||||
| 44.4 | 1991-04-11 | 2 | 40°10'N / 98°20'W | 40°13'N / 98°15'W | 5.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Webster |
| 45.1 | 1992-06-15 | 2 | 39°23'N / 98°14'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell | |
| 45.3 | 1992-06-15 | 3 | 39°25'N / 98°12'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell | |
| 45.3 | 1992-06-15 | 4 | 39°25'N / 98°13'W | 39°26'N / 98°10'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 45.4 | 1976-04-14 | 2 | 39°46'N / 98°13'W | 39°53'N / 97°55'W | 17.70 Miles | 330 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jewell |
| 45.9 | 1992-06-15 | 2 | 39°24'N / 98°12'W | 2.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Mitchell | |
| 46.0 | 1956-10-29 | 3 | 39°13'N / 98°25'W | 39°14'N / 98°25'W | 1.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 46.6 | 1955-06-04 | 4 | 39°31'N / 98°32'W | 40°00'N / 97°33'W | 61.90 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Osborne |
| 47.2 | 1974-05-10 | 2 | 40°02'N / 98°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 233 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Nuckolls | |
| 48.4 | 1990-03-13 | 2 | 40°22'N / 99°14'W | 40°29'N / 99°14'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kearney |
| 48.8 | 2010-06-20 | 2 | 40°01'N / 98°04'W | 40°01'N / 98°03'W | 1.00 Mile | 1300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Nuckolls |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The most significant damage was confined to the city limits of Superior. There was widespread tree damage, along with a warehouse building and several small buildings being destroyed and a number of snapped power poles. On the southeast edge of town, railroad cars were overturned. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Much like the previous day, most severe weather focused south of the Nebraska and Kansas border on this Sunday afternoon and evening. However, one severe storm crept just far enough north of the state line to produce a damaging EF2 tornado in the community of Superior in southern Nuckolls County. The storm complex that eventually produced this tornado initially developed across Northwest Kansas in the vicinity of a nearly stationary east-west surface front, as a subtle mid-level shortwave ejected from a large-scale western United States trough. As these storms snuck into far South Central Nebraska out of North Central Kansas, the synoptic environment was quite supportive of severe weather, featuring deep-layer wind shear of 40 knots, and MLCAPE values around 3500 J/kg. The low-level shear environment was also favorable for tornadoes, with 0-1 km shear values around 25 knots, and 0-1 km storm relative helicity of at least 300 m2/s2. The storm that produced the Superior tornado was essentially an embedded supercell on the north end of a squall line, associated with a bookend vortex that first developed within the line in North Central Kansas. Around the same time as the Superior tornado, a separate area of strong to severe storms flared up several counties to the north, resulting in a quarter-sized hail report from Valley County. | |||||||||||
| 48.9 | 1968-05-13 | 2 | 39°30'N / 98°06'W | 39°32'N / 98°01'W | 4.70 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Mitchell |
| 49.6 | 1951-07-07 | 2 | 39°15'N / 99°34'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Rooks | |||
* 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.