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Kearney County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

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

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

Earthquake Index, #52

Kearney County
0.01
Nebraska
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

Kearney County
0.0000
Nebraska
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, #14

Kearney County
263.59
Nebraska
205.07
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 12,356 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Kearney County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:20Cold:34Dense Fog:7Drought:17
Dust Storm:1Flood:398Hail:7,558Heat:11Heavy Snow:47
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:19Landslide:0Strong Wind:74
Thunderstorm Winds:3,676Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:0Winter Storm:141Winter Weather:31
Other:322 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Kearney County.

Historical Earthquake Events

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

No historical earthquake events found in or near Kearney County.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 81 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Kearney County.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
3.11955-06-02240°28'N / 98°54'W40°34'N / 98°53'W6.50 Miles33 Yards0025K0Kearney
5.81986-04-13240°34'N / 99°02'W40°36'N / 98°57'W5.00 Miles40 Yards00250K0Kearney
8.41990-03-13340°32'N / 99°00'W40°43'N / 98°50'W10.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Kearney
9.41993-05-07240°16'N / 98°58'W40°49'N / 98°35'W40.00 Miles200 Yards005.0M0Hall
 Brief Description: Tornado touched down four miles southwest of Upland. Several farm buildings were destroyed and a house damaged. The tornado moved northeast in Kearney county with touchdowns eight miles south and four miles Minden. It crossed the Platte river east of Kearney. Funnel clouds were reported in eastern Buffalo county with 60 mph wind gusts at the Kearney Interstate 80 interchange. The tornado was last seen 1 1/2 miles east of Wood River in southwest Hall county.
14.81969-06-24240°13'N / 99°09'W40°26'N / 99°03'W15.70 Miles33 Yards0025K0Franklin
15.82008-05-29240°39'N / 99°12'W40°39'N / 99°10'W2.00 Miles100 Yards0075K0KPhelps
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado started in northeast Phelps County and crossed into Buffalo County. The tornado did damage a couple of outbuildings and grain silos near the start of the damage path. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant severe weather outbreak occurred during the late afternoon and evening of May 29th. Several tornadoes were reported from near Elwood to north of York. Two tornadoes caused damage in the city of Kearney and one occurred just to the south of town. Another tornado damaged homes and power poles near Aurora. Another tornado started in north-central Kansas and entered south-central Nebraska near Hubbell. Very strong winds moved down a portion of Interstate 80 and pushed cars and trucks off of the roadway near Aurora. Other areas of south-central Nebraska received heavy rains and hail. Hail to the size of baseballs was reported near Arapahoe in Furnas County. These storms also produce a lot of rainfall over areas that had fairly wet ground. Several areas of flooding were noted in the Platte and Republican River valleys.
16.01990-03-13240°22'N / 99°14'W40°29'N / 99°14'W8.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Kearney
16.21967-06-13240°43'N / 99°05'W0.50 Mile33 Yards000K0Buffalo
16.91994-10-17240°28'N / 99°16'W4.00 Miles75 Yards00250K0Phelps
 Brief Description: A tornado moved across the western and northern parts of Holdrege. The roof of one business was removed. One residence was destroyed and three others were damaged. At the golf course, the clubhouse roof was damaged while the maintenance building and two golf cart sheds were destroyed. Sixty golf carts were damaged. Other brief tornado touchdowns were reported in Phelps County.
17.52008-05-29240°43'N / 99°07'W40°48'N / 98°43'W22.00 Miles400 Yards0011.0M500KBuffalo
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado was the most organized tornado that hit the city of Kearney this night and was the most persistent. It appeared to stay on the ground for the majority of its 22 mile path in Buffalo County. The tornado did exit Buffalo County and entered Hall County. The tornado started in the northwest part of the city of Kearney where it damaged an apartment complex. It took the roof off of part of the complex, blew out a wall and stacked a couple of cars in the parking lot. The tornado then moved east, damaging trees in Harmon Park and took a part of the roof off a building near the hospital. At the Buffalo County Fairgrounds, it caused a portion of the Expo Center building to collapse. Two people in this building were shook up but not injured. The tornado then continued east to the Kearney Airport where it destroyed a hanger and the cooperate jet housed inside. The tornado then continued on east and northeast through rural parts of Buffalo County. Several farmsteads were hit but damage was limited to shingles removed from roofs, outbuildings damaged and empty grain bins destroyed. There were multiple power poles and lines down by this storm. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A significant severe weather outbreak occurred during the late afternoon and evening of May 29th. Several tornadoes were reported from near Elwood to north of York. Two tornadoes caused damage in the city of Kearney and one occurred just to the south of town. Another tornado damaged homes and power poles near Aurora. Another tornado started in north-central Kansas and entered south-central Nebraska near Hubbell. Very strong winds moved down a portion of Interstate 80 and pushed cars and trucks off of the roadway near Aurora. Other areas of south-central Nebraska received heavy rains and hail. Hail to the size of baseballs was reported near Arapahoe in Furnas County. These storms also produce a lot of rainfall over areas that had fairly wet ground. Several areas of flooding were noted in the Platte and Republican River valleys.
19.31967-06-12240°40'N / 99°03'W40°48'N / 98°25'W34.30 Miles50 Yards0025K0Buffalo
19.31990-03-13340°43'N / 98°50'W40°47'N / 98°42'W10.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Buffalo
19.91990-03-13240°40'N / 98°39'W40°43'N / 98°40'W2.00 Miles80 Yards00250K0Adams
21.01999-05-02240°35'N / 98°35'W40°39'N / 98°34'W10.00 Miles250 Yards00300K0Adams
 Brief Description: As strong low pressure lifted across Nebraska and Kansas, a series of damaging tornadoes ripped across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. No less than 10 tornadoes were confirmed across an area from west of Arapahoe to north of Grand Island near St. Libory. Tornado damage began around mid-afternoon near Holbrook. A brief tornado did some damage to a farmstead northwest of town. Another tornado set down in southern Gosper county and damaged or destroyed at least 3 irrigation center pivots. Tornadoes touched down near Ragan and west of Wilcox. Eventually, another twister near Macon hit two farms. With debris flying through the air, one man stood on his front porch as the tornado passed. Outbuildings, center pivots, and grain bins were heavily damaged by this tornado. Just after 6 pm, the first of three tornadoes in Adams county took aim on the region west of Kenesaw. Shortly thereafter, another tornado set down southeast of Kenesaw and moved northeast. One farm sustained damage southeast of Kenesaw as irrigation pipe littered the fields along the twister's path. Both tornadoes were on the ground at the same time. A third tornado set down west of Juniata but did no damage before lifting. Around 7 pm, a short lived tornado was observed just northwest of Wood River. This tornado destroyed grain bins, damaged a grain dryer and pulled shingles from a house nearby. Strong winds in the region also downed power lines and poles south of town. Finally, just after 8 pm, the final tornado of the evening set down in extreme western Merrick county and moved north just inside the Howard county line. This F2, multiple vortex tornado was on the ground for about 5 miles and damaged or destroyed numerous outbuildings and trees along its path.
21.51955-07-12240°47'N / 99°01'W40°51'N / 98°57'W5.20 Miles33 Yards003K0Buffalo
21.81958-07-18340°47'N / 98°45'W3.00 Miles33 Yards0025K0Buffalo
22.81958-07-18240°25'N / 99°22'W6.00 Miles533 Yards02250K0Phelps
23.01985-05-10340°46'N / 99°00'W40°54'N / 98°44'W17.00 Miles500 Yards022.5M0Buffalo
24.41990-03-13240°43'N / 98°40'W40°49'N / 98°36'W7.00 Miles80 Yards00250K0Hall
24.71993-05-07240°42'N / 98°34'W40°44'N / 98°34'W1.00 Mile150 Yards005.0M0Hall
 Brief Description: Tornado touched down near Prosser. Equipment at a sand and gravel pit was damaged and five foot diameter cottonwood trees were uprooted. The tornado moved into southern Hall county and lifted.
25.31985-05-10440°11'N / 98°43'W40°21'N / 98°27'W17.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Webster
26.01965-05-25240°02'N / 98°42'W40°33'N / 98°23'W39.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Webster
27.21990-06-18240°24'N / 98°27'W0.70 Mile440 Yards00250K0Adams
27.41984-06-11240°53'N / 98°47'W0.50 Mile20 Yards0025K0Buffalo
28.21980-08-01240°15'N / 99°22'W0.10 Mile30 Yards0025K0Harlan
28.81960-08-23240°31'N / 98°24'W1.00 Mile33 Yards0025K0Adams
28.81998-10-16240°27'N / 99°34'W40°41'N / 99°25'W18.00 Miles500 Yards00400K1.0MPhelps
 Brief Description: An unusual October severe weather outbreak spawned a tornado which tore across parts of Phelps and western Buffalo counties. The tornado set down a few miles southwest of Loomis and rapidly moved northeast. Along its path in Phelps county, grain bins were damaged, power poles snapped and a roof was torn from a large storage building. One farmstead northeast of Loomis sustained major damage. The roof was ripped from the house and two walls were moved from the foundation. A pole barn was destroyed. Both the house and barn were a total loss. Once the storm crossed the Platte River, the tornado hit a trailer house just west of Elm Creek and deposited the shattered remains about 200 feet north of its original location. The tornado continued to move north and shortly dissipated. Another tornado formed from a different storm in northern Dawson county. This tornado passed through a farmstead causing tree damage, blew over grain bins, and damaged other buildings. The house sustained only minor damage.
29.01956-05-10240°35'N / 98°30'W40°44'N / 98°22'W12.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Adams
29.01985-05-10440°00'N / 99°00'W40°11'N / 98°43'W18.00 Miles200 Yards012.5M0Franklin
29.91990-03-13340°47'N / 98°42'W40°58'N / 98°36'W12.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Hall
32.21986-09-18240°06'N / 98°39'W2.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Webster
32.31978-04-05240°21'N / 98°26'W40°27'N / 98°16'W11.00 Miles80 Yards002.5M0Adams
32.51964-04-26240°56'N / 98°54'W41°00'N / 98°44'W9.50 Miles33 Yards0025K0Buffalo
32.81956-06-06440°58'N / 99°06'W2.00 Miles500 Yards0025K0Buffalo
33.51964-05-05540°33'N / 98°22'W40°36'N / 98°16'W6.10 Miles880 Yards2202.5M0Adams
35.81975-06-02240°40'N / 98°33'W40°23'N / 97°59'W35.50 Miles300 Yards00250K0Adams
35.91956-10-29340°07'N / 100°07'W40°41'N / 99°07'W65.50 Miles33 Yards00250K0Furnas
35.91973-10-09240°54'N / 98°30'W1.00 Mile33 Yards05250K0Hall
36.01969-06-10240°32'N / 99°38'W2.00 Miles400 Yards000K0Phelps
36.41978-04-05240°27'N / 98°16'W40°28'N / 98°15'W002.5M0Clay
36.81990-03-13440°03'N / 98°32'W40°18'N / 98°16'W20.00 Miles440 Yards0025.0M0Webster
37.61985-05-10439°56'N / 99°05'W40°00'N / 99°00'W10.00 Miles1000 Yards002.5M0Smith
37.81986-09-18240°41'N / 98°16'W1.00 Mile40 Yards0025K0Clay
38.11967-06-13240°52'N / 99°10'W41°15'N / 98°47'W33.00 Miles33 Yards000K0Buffalo
38.21977-05-19240°49'N / 98°36'W40°58'N / 98°15'W20.80 Miles50 Yards00250K0Hall
38.41969-06-22240°15'N / 99°39'W40°17'N / 99°34'W4.10 Miles33 Yards1025K0Furnas
40.01990-03-13440°18'N / 98°16'W40°21'N / 98°11'W7.00 Miles440 Yards0325.0M0Nuckolls
40.81991-04-11240°10'N / 98°20'W40°13'N / 98°15'W5.00 Miles73 Yards00250K0Webster
41.61984-06-11341°00'N / 98°35'W41°02'N / 98°28'W7.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Hall
41.61959-06-27241°05'N / 98°43'W1.00 Mile33 Yards0025K0Howard
41.81953-05-09240°58'N / 99°28'W1.50 Miles33 Yards003K0Dawson
41.81980-06-03240°51'N / 98°18'W40°51'N / 98°17'W000K0Hall
41.91991-04-11240°13'N / 98°15'W40°21'N / 98°10'W10.00 Miles73 Yards00250K0Nuckolls
41.91980-06-03440°55'N / 98°21'W40°54'N / 98°21'W1.10 Miles33 Yards000K0Hall
42.11973-04-19239°52'N / 99°02'W39°56'N / 99°02'W4.60 Miles100 Yards003K0Smith
42.11967-06-13240°42'N / 98°59'W41°13'N / 97°50'W69.70 Miles33 Yards000K0Buffalo
42.21991-05-30240°08'N / 99°35'W1.00 Mile50 Yards00250K0Harlan
42.41990-03-13340°53'N / 98°28'W41°02'N / 98°20'W17.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Hall
42.41980-06-03240°54'N / 98°18'W40°51'N / 98°18'W3.40 Miles33 Yards000K0Hall
42.51980-06-03440°54'N / 98°21'W40°54'N / 98°18'W000K0Hall
42.91980-06-03340°56'N / 98°21'W40°55'N / 98°20'W000K0Hall
43.11980-06-03341°01'N / 98°24'W40°55'N / 98°23'W6.40 Miles700 Yards1252.5M0Hall
43.11991-04-11240°21'N / 98°10'W40°26'N / 98°07'W6.00 Miles73 Yards00250K0Clay
43.21980-06-03440°55'N / 98°18'W40°55'N / 98°21'W3110250.0M0Hall
43.32004-05-22240°27'N / 98°16'W40°29'N / 97°59'W20.00 Miles700 Yards004.5M1.0MClay
 Brief Description: A large tornado moved out of Adams county and into central Clay county. Approximately 15 residences were hit by the tornado. Thirty-eight cars of a forty-nine car Union Pacific train were derailed southeast of Glenvil. Over 100 center irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed across Clay County. One of the worst severe weather outbreaks in recent years struck south-central Nebraska the afternoon and evening of May 22. No less than 17 different tornadoes rolled across south-central Nebraska. Dozens of homes were damaged and a few completely destroyed. Over 250 center irrigation pivots were damaged or destroyed in south-central Nebraska alone. Large hail and strong straight-line winds of up to 80 mph also wreaked havoc on the region. Several million dollars in property damage was reported. Hundreds of power poles were snapped resulting in dozens of miles of downed electrical line.
43.61978-04-07240°05'N / 98°20'W0.20 Mile10 Yards000K0Webster
43.81980-06-03340°58'N / 98°21'W40°56'N / 98°21'W2.30 Miles500 Yards14025.0M0Hall
43.81980-06-03240°54'N / 98°17'W40°54'N / 98°18'W0182.5M0Hall
43.91982-06-14240°44'N / 98°16'W40°51'N / 98°08'W10.00 Miles30 Yards002.5M0Hamilton
44.11965-05-08341°03'N / 98°45'W41°11'N / 98°39'W10.20 Miles33 Yards000K0Howard
44.21957-05-20240°46'N / 98°22'W40°58'N / 98°08'W18.20 Miles33 Yards000K0Hall
44.61953-06-07240°47'N / 98°10'W40°52'N / 98°15'W6.60 Miles33 Yards0025K0Hamilton
45.11992-01-07241°09'N / 98°48'W0.10 Mile30 Yards0025K0Sherman
45.31974-04-20340°57'N / 99°26'W41°14'N / 99°15'W21.50 Miles880 Yards032.5M0Dawson
45.81973-09-25239°44'N / 98°58'W39°59'N / 98°33'W27.90 Miles80 Yards0025K0Smith
47.21984-06-11341°02'N / 98°28'W41°05'N / 98°22'W7.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Howard
47.31985-05-10439°44'N / 99°09'W39°56'N / 99°05'W11.00 Miles1000 Yards012.5M0Phillips
48.41999-04-21241°08'N / 98°33'W41°08'N / 98°31'W2.00 Miles30 Yards00100K0Howard
 Brief Description: Thunderstorms developed west of Holdrege in the morning and spread quickly northeast to St. Paul and Greeley by noon. Early on, the thunderstorms dumped hail and torrential rainfall northeast of Holdrege. 2.75" diameter hail was reported north of Holdrege and some areas in northwest Phelps county noted three foot hail drifts. Rain and hail teamed to produce areas of erosion across freshly tilled fields. As the storms spread northeast, a brief tornado damaged a home under construction north of Dannebrog. The tornado nearly destroyed the entire main floor. Only one wall was left standing. The owner and construction crew at the house at the time escaped injury by going to the basement just before the tornado struck. Minor roof damage occurred on a nearby house. Another brief tornado touch down occurred just south of St. Paul, causing some minor damage to outbuildings.
48.91957-06-15339°42'N / 99°04'W39°54'N / 98°59'W14.30 Miles33 Yards002.5M0Smith
49.51964-05-05540°36'N / 98°16'W40°51'N / 97°50'W28.40 Miles880 Yards0025K0Clay
49.61971-05-30239°46'N / 98°46'W39°51'N / 98°41'W7.10 Miles220 Yards0025K0Smith


* 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.


 
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