Local Data Search

 
USA.com / Kansas / Clark County / Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

Clark County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
Hot Kansas Rankings
Fastest / Slowest Growing Counties in KS
Richest / Poorest Counties by Income in KS
Expensive / Cheapest Homes by County in KS
Most / Least Educated Counties in KS
Fastest / Slowest Growing Cities in KS
High / Low KS Cities by Males Employed
High / Low KS Cities by Females Employed
Best / Worst Cities by Crime Rate in KS
Richest / Poorest Cities by Income in KS
Expensive / Cheapest Homes by City in KS
Most / Least Educated Cities in KS

The chance of earthquake damage in Clark County is about the same as Kansas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Clark County is much lower than Kansas average and is higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake IndexVolcano IndexTornado IndexOther Weather Extremes EventsVolcanos NearbyHistorical Earthquake EventsHistorical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #42

Clark County
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

Clark County
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, #81

Clark County
150.95
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 16,530 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Clark County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:17Cold:10Dense Fog:2Drought:47
Dust Storm:0Flood:377Hail:10,586Heat:23Heavy Snow:98
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:35Landslide:0Strong Wind:162
Thunderstorm Winds:4,632Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:16Winter Storm:67Winter Weather:42
Other:416 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Clark County.

Historical Earthquake Events

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

No historical earthquake events found in or near Clark County.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 46 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Clark County.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
13.11955-06-17237°20'N / 100°01'W000K0Clark
13.52008-05-23337°20'N / 99°43'W37°24'N / 99°33'W11.00 Miles3170 Yards000K0KClark
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This extremely large tornado (1.8 miles wide) moved east and then turned northeast towards Kiowa county. Many power poles were taken down by the tornado. It also caused EF3 damage to trees, two old houses, barns and it carried an oil tank battery 1.8 miles depositing it in trees. There was at least 20 head of cattle killed by the tornado. There was minor injuries received by a 20 year old male as he took refuge in his truck that was parked next to a baler inside a barn. The barn was completely swept away leaving the young man with cuts from broken glass. The baler that was left standing probably protected him and his truck from going airborne, if not rolling. Also, there was serious injury to a male in a semi on highway 34 in the vicinity of 37.3327 N, 99.6344 W probably by the RFD. Two other semis parked at this location rolled over but no injuries were sustained by the drivers. This extremely large tornado moved into Kiowa county. The radar signature was eerily similar to the Greensburg tornado that occurred on May 4, 2007. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
15.11994-04-09237°27'N / 99°46'W0.80 Mile200 Yards0050K0Clark
 Brief Description: Tornado touched down briefly and passed through the Roger Giles Farmstead. House windows were broken out, farm machinery was wrecked, and the house was moved on its foundation. All but two outbuildings on the farmstead were damaged.
16.61973-09-25337°06'N / 100°05'W37°11'N / 100°06'W5.70 Miles50 Yards0025K0Meade
18.11953-05-29237°29'N / 99°55'W000K0Ford
18.61972-07-28237°27'N / 100°01'W0.50 Mile50 Yards0025K0Clark
20.21950-05-24237°16'N / 99°29'W37°17'N / 99°25'W3.60 Miles77 Yards013K0Comanche
21.82008-05-23237°24'N / 99°33'W37°31'N / 99°31'W10.00 Miles2815 Yards000K0KKiowa
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This large tornado moved out of Clark county where it had done EF3 damage. In Kiowa county, EF2 damage was done to a concrete walled house. Trees also received EF2 damage. A power pole with transmission wire attached was deposited from an unknown location. The tornado turned sharply west towards the end of it's life. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
23.92001-04-10237°31'N / 99°46'W37°38'N / 99°43'W10.00 Miles200 Yards00425K0Ford
 Brief Description: Eight pivot sprinklers were destroyed along with a barn and silo.
26.72005-06-09237°19'N / 100°20'W37°24'N / 100°13'W9.20 Miles200 Yards0000Meade
 Brief Description: This tornado damaged outbuilds, trees and center pivot sprinklers.
26.91970-09-06236°51'N / 99°42'W36°54'N / 99°33'W8.80 Miles33 Yards0025K0Harper
27.12008-05-23237°22'N / 99°24'W37°26'N / 99°20'W6.00 Miles760 Yards000K0KKiowa
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved out of Comanche county and did EF2 damage to trees and power poles. It crossed the path of the tornado that occurred on May 4, 2007. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
28.71959-07-10237°38'N / 99°40'W000K0Ford
28.81973-03-13237°21'N / 99°20'W37°23'N / 99°18'W2.30 Miles40 Yards0025K0Comanche
29.52001-04-10237°30'N / 100°11'W37°42'N / 100°00'W17.30 Miles380 Yards00190K0Ford
 Brief Description: A mobile home was completely demolished. Ironically, the occupants were not at home, only because the school activity bus was late. Another trailer nearby received moderate damage. Two pivot sprinklers were destroyed and there was other scattered minor damage along the path of the tornado.
30.41955-06-17237°15'N / 100°22'W000K0Meade
30.51973-09-25337°37'N / 99°45'W37°43'N / 99°39'W8.80 Miles73 Yards0025K0Ford
31.82007-05-04537°23'N / 99°22'W37°37'N / 99°19'W26.00 Miles3000 Yards1163250.0M0KKiowa
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This killer tornado started in Comanche county and crossed into Kiowa county at 2003 CST / 2103 CDT. It curved north then northwest before making a complete loop northwest of Greensburg. Thus, the path was 25.8 miles. This tornado destroyed nearly 95 percent of the town of Greensburg and despite adequate warning, unfortunately took the life of 11 people, some that were in basements. First responders arriving on the scene requested three refrigerated refer trucks thinking there would be hundreds of fatalities. It also destroyed a dozen homes and a church south of Greensburg but did not cause injury. In all, 961 homes and businesses were destroyed, 216 received major damage and 307 received minor damage. As the tornado was dissipating it turned northwest, west, south and then back east making a loop. This was documented on both high resolution doppler radar and through the ground survey. Also as the tornado was dissipating a new circulation quickly grew northeast of town. Several oil storage tanks were destroyed causing an environmental concern. In the town of Greensburg, hazardous material was strewn everywhere. As of July 26th, the debris was still not fully cleaned up. Two landfills were filled with debris from the town and this was even as most was burned. Hundreds of thousands of dump truck loads were taken out. It was estimated that approximately 400,000 cubic yards of debris was removed. The major highway running through town was closed for 1 full month. At one time there were over 150 law enforcement officers (from all over the country) present. Military was called in for debris removal and rebuilding. Damage of insured losses exceeded $150 million, but including un-insured losses, was roughly 250 million dollars. **** NOTE **** The 11th victim passed away on September 19th, 2007 after a long battle with a head injury sustained during the tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A destructive tornado, the first 5 rating on the new Enhanced-Fujita Scale and the first 5 classification since May 3, 1999 when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma occurred on this day. There were 12 tornadoes during about a 4 hour period, one a little over 2 miles wide! Two of the tornadoes existed for over 1 hour as they churned up the ground, leveling homes and causing fatalities along their path. Miraculously, on 13 people perished, 11 in Greensburg - a miracle because over 90 percent of the town of Greensburg was literately wiped off the face of the earth. Another round of tornadoes occurred the following day across generally the same area. Nearly 250 pivot irrigation sprinklers were damaged or destroyed during the 2 day outbreak. Due to the number of sprinklers involved and the lack of replacements, some farmers would be out of service for over 1 year.
32.72002-05-07337°42'N / 99°33'W37°37'N / 99°33'W8.50 Miles1800 Yards0000Ford
 Brief Description: This tornado which developed in the same general tornadoes earlier, moved southwest and then finally turned south and southeast. It grew very large and at one time was 1 mile wide. Extreme damage was done to trees and irrigation pipe.
34.22002-05-07337°43'N / 99°34'W37°40'N / 99°35'W4.00 Miles900 Yards0000Ford
 Brief Description: This tornado became quite large as it moved at first to the southwest and then turned southeast. The tornado completely stripped topsoil from one field and debarked trees at a pond. Several dozen cattle were killed with several 1500 pound heifers carried 3/4 of a mile. Two other tornadoes crossed nearly the same location within an hour, which may have contributed to the scouring of the topsoil.
34.82002-05-07337°41'N / 99°29'W37°36'N / 99°24'W10.00 Miles600 Yards01800K0Kiowa
 Brief Description: This tornado moved slowly east/northeast at first and then turned south/southeast striking two farms. One person was thrown from the house and into the yard.
35.02002-05-07237°43'N / 99°40'W37°43'N / 99°34'W1.90 Miles300 Yards00150K0Ford
 Brief Description: This first tornado of the afternoon came close to striking a farm that was plowing his field. His tractor was running low on fuel and just made it back to shelter as irrigation pipe was flying by. Several pivots were destroyed.
37.11960-04-12236°42'N / 99°53'W0325K0Harper
37.11991-05-15336°39'N / 99°59'W36°45'N / 99°48'W11.50 Miles900 Yards03250K0Harper
37.21973-09-25337°08'N / 99°31'W37°49'N / 98°54'W58.00 Miles80 Yards00250K0Comanche
37.81958-06-21237°16'N / 100°35'W37°09'N / 100°25'W12.20 Miles30 Yards0025K0Meade
40.02008-05-23237°46'N / 99°37'W37°48'N / 99°33'W4.00 Miles850 Yards000K0KFord
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado produced EF2 damage to trees and pivot irrigation systems. It caused EF1 damage to a house and grain bin. It took down several power poles and power lines. The tornado moved into Edwards county at 22:19 CDT. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
40.11994-04-09237°09'N / 100°46'W37°16'N / 100°19'W7.00 Miles1000 Yards0850K0Seward
 Brief Description: A tornado touched down 3.5 WSW of Kismet at 1535 CST and moved ENE across Highway 54 and east into Meade County where it ended at 1610 CST at a point one southeast of Meade. Speed of movement was 35 mph with total path length of 26 miles. In Seward County the tornado struck a car and mobile home 2 E of Kismet at 1540 CST. Two adults were in the car and one adult and five children were in the mobile home. All eight sustained minor injuries and the mobile home was demolished. The tornado had a maximum path width of 1,000 yards in Seward County, but expanded to a maximum width of a mile southeast of Plains in Meade County.
40.11991-04-02236°52'N / 99°17'W36°53'N / 99°12'W5.00 Miles100 Yards0025K0Woods
40.52008-05-23336°40'N / 99°33'W36°43'N / 99°31'W5.00 Miles1100 Yards000K0KHarper
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A strong tornado, rated EF3 at its peak intensity, struck south-southwest of the Selman area, producing widespread damage along its path. The tornado touched down, doing minor damage to trees and outbuildings. The tornado continued moving northeast and struck a residence. Significant damage consistent with EF2 damage was seen at this location. More significant damage was done to a residence and stocked workshop building as the tornado moved northeast. This was the strongest point of the tornado, rated EF3. A semi-cab and a 20-horse trailer were blown 50 yards from inside of the workshop. They both sustained significant damage. The tornado moved north from this point, doing EF2 damage to a building and workshop. The owners of the home took shelter in their storm shelter during the tornado, but became trapped inside by debris over top of the door. They were freed by local firemen after approximately 45 minutes. The tornado continued north and then northwest as it began to dissipate. Before it dissipated, however, a heavy fiberglass water tank that was filled with water was destroyed and moved some distance away. Two horses were also killed and one was seriously injured by swirling tin and other sharp debris. Monetary damages were estimated. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon ahead of a dry line that was located near the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma border. The thunderstorms quickly became supercells as they moved toward southwest Kansas. Very large hail was the initial threat, although a significant tornado threat became apparent as they neared the Kansas border. Three tornadoes were reported with the thunderstorms, with two of them doing significant damage. The tornadic thunderstorms moved northeast by nightfall, with other less severe thunderstorms developing farther south. Monetary damages were estimated.
42.91987-03-22236°37'N / 99°54'W1.00 Mile73 Yards003K0Harper
42.91977-05-01236°54'N / 100°30'W36°56'N / 100°28'W2.70 Miles100 Yards000K0Beaver
43.92008-05-23337°00'N / 99°03'W37°06'N / 99°03'W7.00 Miles980 Yards000K0KComanche
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This 1/2 mile wide tornado moved out of Oklahoma. EF3+ damaged was based on trees that appeared to be sand blasted. Also, there were trees uprooted, several antique cars that have yet to be found as of late July, 2008 (probably dropped in ravines in the area). An oil tank was carried 2 miles. Several head of cattle were killed. The tornado turned west (left) as it began to dissipate. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
44.01955-06-04437°29'N / 100°02'W38°11'N / 99°03'W72.20 Miles100 Yards00250K0Ford
45.02007-03-28236°43'N / 100°24'W36°49'N / 100°22'W6.00 Miles100 Yards0058K0KBeaver
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado began just south of the Bar-B Ranch and moved north damaging much of the ranch property...mainly along the western edge. A large horse trailer and several other utility trailers were destroyed as they bounced and rolled and/or became airborne for significant distances. The horse trailer was displaced more than one hundred and fifty yards from its original location. Several power poles and trees were snapped at the base within the path of the tornado. A large grain silo was toppled with parts of the roof of the silo carried over one hundred yards. No injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms during the early evening hours produced deadly tornadoes...damaging winds and hail across the central and eastern Oklahoma panhandle. Heavy rains caused flash flooding in the eastern Oklahoma panhandle during the late night and early morning hours. A couple was killed in Beaver County when a tornado struck their home.
45.12008-05-23236°57'N / 99°07'W36°59'N / 99°01'W4.00 Miles440 Yards0020K0KWoods
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado developed and moved predominately over range land. Little or no significant damage was observed until the tornado approached the state line. Widespread tree damage, consistent with an EF2 tornado was noted. The tornado then moved into Comanche County Kansas. Monetary damages were estimated. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon ahead of a dry line that was located near the Texas panhandle and Oklahoma border. The thunderstorms quickly became supercells as they moved toward southwest Kansas. Very large hail was the initial threat, although a significant tornado threat became apparent as they neared the Kansas border. Three tornadoes were reported with the thunderstorms, with two of them doing significant damage. The tornadic thunderstorms moved northeast by nightfall, with other less severe thunderstorms developing farther south. Monetary damages were estimated.
45.72007-05-04237°37'N / 99°15'W37°43'N / 99°07'W10.00 Miles3344 Yards000K0KKiowa
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This monster tornado formed as the Greensburg tornado was dissipating and quickly grew into a nearly 2 mile wide tornado. Two farms received strong EF3 damage and destroyed several pieces of machinery. A combine was thrown at least 1/4 of a mile and it disintegrated upon impact. Numerous pivot irrigation sprinklers were destroyed, along with trees and power lines. The tornado moved into Edwards county at 2131 CST. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A destructive tornado, the first 5 rating on the new Enhanced-Fujita Scale and the first 5 classification since May 3, 1999 when an F5 tornado ripped through Moore, Oklahoma occurred on this day. There were 12 tornadoes during about a 4 hour period, one a little over 2 miles wide! Two of the tornadoes existed for over 1 hour as they churned up the ground, leveling homes and causing fatalities along their path. Miraculously, on 13 people perished, 11 in Greensburg - a miracle because over 90 percent of the town of Greensburg was literately wiped off the face of the earth. Another round of tornadoes occurred the following day across generally the same area. Nearly 250 pivot irrigation sprinklers were damaged or destroyed during the 2 day outbreak. Due to the number of sprinklers involved and the lack of replacements, some farmers would be out of service for over 1 year.
46.82008-05-23237°48'N / 99°33'W37°54'N / 99°22'W13.00 Miles950 Yards000K0KEdwards
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado moved out of Ford county at 22:19 CDT. It took down power poles, overturned pivot irrigation sprinklers and produced low end EF2 damage to outbuildings and a house. EPISODE NARRATIVE: An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes were very large and damaging. The character of the supercell thunderstorms that day had similarities to the storms that produced the Greensburg tornado a little over a year after. In fact there was one tornado that was just as large and perhaps could have been just as damaging that was headed towards the small Kiowa county town but fortunately turned and dissipated.
47.31970-09-06236°44'N / 100°24'W0025K0Beaver
47.91974-06-21337°12'N / 100°42'W37°10'N / 100°40'W2.70 Miles30 Yards0225K0Seward
48.01962-05-20237°26'N / 99°05'W37°48'N / 99°05'W25.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Kiowa
48.01950-05-04236°34'N / 99°34'W1.00 Mile100 Yards00250K0Woodward
48.61987-03-22236°29'N / 99°59'W36°36'N / 99°58'W7.50 Miles100 Yards00250K0Ellis
49.31955-07-13237°49'N / 100°20'W0.30 Mile33 Yards003K0Gray
49.41978-05-30237°54'N / 100°13'W37°52'N / 100°10'W3.30 Miles33 Yards00250K0Ford
49.91982-03-19237°37'N / 100°40'W37°49'N / 100°19'W24.00 Miles67 Yards00250K0Gray


* 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.


 
The USA.com website and domain are privately owned and are not operated by or affiliated with any government or municipal authority.
© 2024 World Media Group, LLC.