Gowanda, NY Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Gowanda is lower than New York average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Gowanda is about the same as New York average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #1496
Gowanda, NY | 0.03 |
New York | 0.58 |
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
Gowanda, NY | 0.0000 |
New York | 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, #671
Gowanda, NY | 56.02 |
New York | 49.25 |
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 2,328 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Gowanda, NY 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: | 3 | Cold: | 46 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 17 |
Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 307 | Hail: | 305 | Heat: | 10 | Heavy Snow: | 257 |
High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 13 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 117 |
Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,106 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 44 | Winter Weather: | 5 |
Other: | 98 |
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Gowanda, NY.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 2 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Gowanda, NY.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
44.1 | 1966-01-01 | 4.7 | N/A | 42.8 | -78.2 |
48.1 | 1967-06-13 | 3.9 | N/A | 42.9 | -78.2 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 22 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Gowanda, NY.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
12.3 | 1968-08-06 | 2 | 42°24'N / 79°05'W | 42°14'N / 78°30'W | 31.80 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Chautauqua |
14.9 | 1970-08-19 | 3 | 42°40'N / 78°53'W | 42°40'N / 78°49'W | 2.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Erie |
18.6 | 1992-07-12 | 2 | 42°26'N / 79°20'W | 42°29'N / 79°16'W | 4.00 Miles | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
19.7 | 1967-07-24 | 3 | 42°25'N / 78°40'W | 42°20'N / 78°28'W | 11.40 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cattaraugus |
21.6 | 1969-05-17 | 2 | 42°16'N / 79°16'W | 2.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Chautauqua | |
22.6 | 2010-07-24 | 2 | 42°09'N / 79°01'W | 42°07'N / 78°52'W | 8.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 7.0M | 0K | Cattaraugus |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A NWS survey confirmed an EF2 tornado touched down. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down in Randolph in Chautauqua County at 525 pm EDT. The initial touchdown occurred just south of Interstate 86 between exits 15 and 16. The tornado crossed Interstate 86 and damaged a gas station near exit 16???pulling the pumps out of the ground. The tornado continued across the Village of Randolph at its maximum size and intensity. The entire Village of Randolph lost power. About a dozen homes sustained significant structural damage in the village. The tornado continued for a total distance of about seven miles. Large trees were felled. Several automobiles were destroyed by falling trees. The final damage from the tornado appeared along County Rte 394 near exit 17 off I-86 in the town of Cold Spring. A NWS survey concluded an EF2 rating with winds estimated to 125 mph. The county emergency manager estimated damage at $7 million. | |||||||||||
26.4 | 1983-05-02 | 3 | 42°09'N / 79°37'W | 42°19'N / 79°05'W | 28.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 2 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
26.8 | 1969-06-20 | 3 | 42°01'N / 79°38'W | 42°15'N / 78°48'W | 45.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
28.7 | 1969-06-20 | 3 | 42°15'N / 78°48'W | 42°19'N / 78°03'W | 38.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Chautauqua |
29.2 | 1985-05-31 | 3 | 42°02'N / 79°14'W | 42°08'N / 79°09'W | 13.00 Miles | 177 Yards | 0 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
31.4 | 1961-05-15 | 3 | 42°06'N / 78°36'W | 42°06'N / 78°31'W | 3.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cattaraugus |
32.6 | 1987-07-30 | 2 | 42°55'N / 78°46'W | 1.50 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Erie | |
32.8 | 2010-07-24 | 2 | 42°17'N / 79°35'W | 42°14'N / 79°27'W | 8.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 0K | Chautauqua |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An NWS ground and aerial survey confirmed an EF2 tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down in the Town of Chautauqua in Chautauqua County at 440 pm EDT. Initial touchdown occurred near the Chautauqua Gorge State Forest. The along the first half of the damage path the primary damage was done to trees. As the tornado neared Mayville substantial structural damage occurred to homes and businesses. Some of the affected streets included: McKay Road, Morris Street, Valley Street, and Erie Street. The tornado then crossed Chautauqua Lake. During the aerial survey debris from the structures could be seen floating in the lake. The tornado continued across the lake into Dewittville. There is caused damage at the Camelot Golf Course. Dozens of golf carts were lost. Structural damage was done to several buildings on the course. Also in Dewittville, the tornado severely damaged three condominium buildings, including 18 condominium units, at the Chautauqua Lake Estates. This was also the final touchdown of the tornado although debris was visible for about another three-quarter mile downstream. A NWS survey concluded an EF2 rating with winds estimated at 125 mph. The county emergency manager estimated damage at $5 million. | |||||||||||
34.1 | 1972-05-02 | 2 | 42°44'N / 78°31'W | 42°47'N / 78°17'W | 12.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Erie |
34.7 | 1971-08-23 | 2 | 42°55'N / 78°42'W | 42°56'N / 78°39'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Erie | ||
37.2 | 1965-05-16 | 2 | 42°06'N / 79°30'W | 42°06'N / 79°27'W | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Chautauqua | ||
37.4 | 1961-07-07 | 2 | 43°00'N / 78°57'W | 43°00'N / 78°47'W | 7.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Erie |
41.3 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 42°01'N / 79°34'W | 42°03'N / 79°26'W | 8.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Chautauqua |
43.0 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 42°45'N / 78°15'W | 42°38'N / 78°03'W | 15.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Wyoming |
Brief Description: A tornado struck Wyoming county and did substantial damage to numerous structures and completely destroyed several others. Much of the damage done to this rural area included snapped and downed trees and wires. The initial touchdown of the tornado occurred in Orangeville just east of Orangeville Center Road. As the tornado moved east a barn was leveled on Hermitage Road in Orangeville. On Liberty Street a hanger with three airplanes and a helicopter inside, was destroyed and all four craft sustained damage. Also on Liberty Street a barn and modular home were leveled. The tornado passed south of the Village of Warsaw damaging two houses, a barn and a garage on Keeney Street. Another barn was leveled on Silver Springs Road. The tornado then followed near the border of the Towns of Perry and Castile damaging several sheds and docks as it crossed Silver Lake. The tornado touched down in the Village of Perry where it caused minor damage to eight mobile homes and major damage to five others. Several larger buildings also sustained considerable damage in the Village of Perry. The final traces of the tornado occurred on Middle Reservation Road in Castile where several buildings of a fertilizer plant were leveled. The total path length was 15 miles although the tornado was not on the ground the entire time. This was a slow moving tornado and was viewed by numerous witnesses. Several eyewitnesses reported seeing multiple vortices and in addition to being confirmed by amateur video of the tornado, from the aerial survey conducted several sections of the damage path supported this. No injuries or deaths resulted from the storm--remarkable since some of the buildings which sustained substantial damage were occupied when the tornado struck. | |||||||||||
45.4 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 42°20'N / 78°07'W | 42°18'N / 78°01'W | 6.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Allegany |
Brief Description: Thunderstorms developed across the eastern Great Lakes region during the afternoon hours. The thunderstorms produced hail up to 1.25" in diameter in parts of Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties. The thunderstorm downburst winds ripped down trees and power lines. Scattered power outages were reported. Several structures and automobiles were damaged by falling trees. Wind damage was reported in Randolph, Panama, Ellery, Chaffee, Cuba, Portageville, Dansville and Henrietta. The thunderstorms spawned two tornadoes. In the town of East Concord, Erie County, a weak tornado briefly touched down. Damage consisted of a portion of the back and roof of an outbuilding blown away, a pier tossed across a pond, and tree damage. Winds were estimated between 70 and 75 mph. Another tornado touched down in Belfast, Allegany county, and traveled 6.5 miles into the town of Angelica. The greatest structural damage occurred near White Creek Road in Belfast where a two-story home, garage, and barn were destroyed. Other damaged structures along the path included a silo, a second barn, and minor damage to a second home where the siding was ripped from an outer wall. Winds were estimated at 115-135 mph. No injuries were caused by either tornado. | |||||||||||
45.5 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 42°00'N / 79°36'W | 42°01'N / 79°34'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Warren |
47.6 | 1985-05-31 | 4 | 41°59'N / 79°38'W | 42°00'N / 79°36'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Erie |
* 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.