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Manhattan Metro Area Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 

The chance of earthquake damage in Manhattan Area is higher than Kansas average and is lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Manhattan Area is 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, #189

Manhattan Area
0.36
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, #129

Manhattan Area
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, #300

Manhattan Area
197.97
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 17,847 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Manhattan Area were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:41Cold:81Dense Fog:18Drought:23
Dust Storm:0Flood:1,202Hail:9,261Heat:75Heavy Snow:123
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:72Landslide:0Strong Wind:183
Thunderstorm Winds:5,865Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:2Winter Storm:287Winter Weather:103
Other:511 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Manhattan Area.

Historical Earthquake Events

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

No historical earthquake events found in or near Manhattan Area.

Historical Tornado Events

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

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
0.71965-06-21239°16'N / 96°33'W0025K0Pottawatomie
8.52008-06-11439°07'N / 96°42'W39°12'N / 96°34'W9.00 Miles440 Yards000K0KRiley
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down to the southwest of Manahattan on a farm, and first destroyed a large machine shed, and threw a grain cart into an adjacent field. The tornado tracked to the northeast and destroyed several homes that were in the process of being built. Then, the tornado entered the Miller Ranch area of Manhattan, where the EF-4 damage was observed. Fifteen well built homes were completely destroyed. Nearby in the Amherst residential area, approximately thirty homes were damaged. A local newspaper reported that 45 residences in Manhattan were destroyed, 142 were damaged, and 637 were affected by the tornado. Ninety three apartments or duplexes, twenty mobile homes, and ten total businesses were impacted. Thereafter, the windows at the Little Apple Honda/Toyota car dealership were blown out, and several cars on the lots were tossed. A nearby hardware store and several self-storage units were demolished. Other nearby businesses were also damaged. The Lee Elementary School was then damaged. The tornado continued toward the Kansas State University campus. There, the roof was blown off a fraternity house, windows were blown out of buildings, the USDA Wind Erosion Labratory roof was damaged, and debris from damage to the southwest was blown across the campus. Summer classes at the University were shuffled around to find appropriate, undamaged buildings to hold summer students. New student orientation was also going on the week the tornado struck. It was reported that $20 million dollars in damage was done to the KSU campus alone. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan.
13.01966-06-08339°04'N / 96°46'W39°16'N / 96°46'W13.80 Miles660 Yards0502.5M0Riley
15.11954-04-05239°11'N / 96°55'W39°17'N / 96°46'W10.40 Miles33 Yards000K0Geary
19.61978-05-31339°19'N / 96°23'W39°22'N / 96°02'W18.90 Miles1300 Yards00250K0Pottawatomie
20.31979-10-18239°15'N / 96°21'W39°20'N / 96°01'W18.60 Miles200 Yards05250K0Pottawatomie
20.91990-03-13238°56'N / 96°29'W39°01'N / 96°27'W10.00 Miles220 Yards002.5M0Wabaunsee
23.61960-05-19439°09'N / 96°20'W39°11'N / 95°57'W20.60 Miles33 Yards01225.0M0Wabaunsee
24.41990-03-13238°54'N / 96°34'W38°56'N / 96°29'W5.00 Miles220 Yards002.5M0Geary
27.11951-05-21239°02'N / 96°58'W000K0Geary
28.41973-09-26239°21'N / 97°05'W2.50 Miles33 Yards00250K0Clay
28.61966-06-08239°08'N / 97°09'W39°13'N / 97°01'W8.90 Miles100 Yards0025K0Clay
30.01964-04-20239°27'N / 97°05'W39°36'N / 96°57'W12.40 Miles50 Yards0025K0Clay
30.12008-06-11239°27'N / 96°06'W39°30'N / 96°02'W5.00 Miles200 Yards100K0KPottawatomie
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the first segment of an EF-2 tornado that began in Pottawatomie County, moved northeast into Jackson County and continued northeast into Nemaha County before dissipating. This is segment 1 of 3 for the tornado path. In Pottawatomie County the tornado touched down near a farmstead south of Havensville and compromised some of the external walls of a residence as well as tearing a large portion of the roof off of the residence. Extensive damage was noted to outbuildings and trees near the residence. The tornado continued northeast damaging mainly rural areas of northeastern Pottawatomie County damaging trees and power poles. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan.
30.91973-09-25339°23'N / 97°07'W39°34'N / 97°02'W13.30 Miles100 Yards0025.0M0Clay
31.91951-05-25339°16'N / 97°11'W39°19'N / 97°08'W4.10 Miles440 Yards10250K0Clay
32.11959-05-02239°51'N / 96°39'W39°37'N / 96°28'W18.70 Miles33 Yards0025K0Marshall
32.51971-06-06338°48'N / 96°37'W2.00 Miles200 Yards00250K0Morris
32.91979-10-18239°17'N / 97°22'W39°26'N / 96°58'W23.70 Miles400 Yards0112.5M0Clay
33.21974-03-07238°48'N / 96°26'W38°58'N / 95°57'W28.30 Miles220 Yards00250K0Wabaunsee
33.51985-08-17338°48'N / 96°24'W2.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Wabaunsee
33.71991-04-26238°44'N / 96°15'W39°06'N / 96°00'W28.00 Miles200 Yards00250K0Wabaunsee
33.92008-06-11338°54'N / 97°07'W38°59'N / 96°57'W13.00 Miles880 Yards1320.2M0KDickinson
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the first segment of a tornado that moved through 2 counties. This tornado continued northeast out of Dickinson County and dissipated shortly after entering Geary County. The tornado first touched down at a farmstead to the north-northwest of the town of Enterprise. A grain bin was destroyed, and some tree damage was observed. Damage was also noted to another farmstead where a grain bin was destroyed, as were a center pivot and several power poles. The tornado then entered Chapman on the southwest side. It was reported that 70 homes were completely destroyed, and 215 damaged. In all, three-quarters of the buildings in town sustained damage. Two churches were demolished. The town's middle school and high school were both severely damaged. Approximately 100 residents were in the locker rooms of the high school seeking shelter from the storm when the tornado struck. Trees across town were twisted and nearly stripped of their leaves and branches. For the most part, the downtown business section received only minor damage. Once outside the town, another farmstead was hit which damaged trees and outbuildings before lifting to the northeast of town. Debris from the town was littered for several miles east of the town. Dozens of individuals sustained minor injuries. Three were critically injured. One death was reported when a tree was blown onto a woman who had just put here daughter into the carseat of her vehicle. Thousands of volunteers took part in the clean-up effort over the next few weeks. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan.
34.41991-04-26239°06'N / 96°00'W39°14'N / 95°52'W9.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Shawnee
34.51973-09-25339°08'N / 97°18'W39°23'N / 97°07'W19.80 Miles100 Yards02025.0M0Clay
35.11974-03-07238°44'N / 96°29'W38°48'N / 96°26'W5.10 Miles220 Yards00250K0Wabaunsee
35.21973-09-25339°34'N / 97°02'W39°44'N / 96°58'W11.90 Miles100 Yards2625.0M0Washington
36.21958-06-12239°02'N / 96°00'W39°02'N / 95°55'W4.30 Miles200 Yards0025K0Wabaunsee
36.81968-04-16239°04'N / 96°10'W39°24'N / 95°35'W38.70 Miles33 Yards0025K0Wabaunsee
37.02008-06-11239°30'N / 96°02'W39°34'N / 95°53'W9.00 Miles300 Yards100K0KJackson
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This is the second segment of a tornado that initially touched down in Pottawatomie County and then continued northeast into Jackson County before continuing northeast and dissipating in Nemaha County. This is segment 2 of 3. Upon entering Jackson County the tornado did EF1 and EF0 damage primarily to outbuildings, power poles and large trees. As the tornado continued northeast, it moved south of Soldier causing extensive damage to two farmsteads. One residence was blown off of its foundation while another sustained extensive damage to its external walls and roof. All surrounding outbuildings were destroyed. The tornado continued northeast, striking a mobile home just south of the Nemaha County border. The mobile home was destroyed, and the occupant sustained fatal injuries. The tornado then continued northeast into Nemaha County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Two long lived supercells wreaked havoc across portions of north central and northeast Kansas on the night of June 11th. Three significant tornadoes touched down, caused millions of dollars in damage, killed two, and critically injured three citizens. The town of Chapman saw the most extensive damage. Approximately three-quarters of the town were damaged by the tornado that passed through. Numerous homes were demolished, as were both the middle school and high school. One death occured, as a result of a tree having fallen onto a young woman oustide her car, who had just placed her daughter into her car seat. The most severe, but more localized damage occurred in the Miller Ranch neighborhood in Manhattan, where several homes were completely destroyed. Several buildings on the Kansas StiThe Soldier, Kansas tornado was responsible for the other death. A man was killed in his mobile home when it flipped several times and was found a few miles from it's original location. The unoccupied home a few hundred feet from the mobile home went virtually untouched. Thousands of citizens turned up over the next few weeks to help with the clean-up effort in both Chapman and Manhattan.
37.41973-09-25339°18'N / 97°22'W39°54'N / 96°52'W49.20 Miles67 Yards0025.0M0Cloud
37.41990-03-13238°36'N / 96°58'W38°54'N / 96°34'W30.00 Miles220 Yards002.5M0Morris
37.81982-06-08239°22'N / 95°58'W39°26'N / 95°47'W10.00 Miles200 Yards00250K0Jackson
38.11978-05-31339°22'N / 96°02'W39°28'N / 95°43'W18.10 Miles1300 Yards312.5M0Jackson
38.11984-04-26239°06'N / 95°53'W0.60 Mile100 Yards04250K0Shawnee
38.51991-04-26239°14'N / 95°52'W39°16'N / 95°49'W7.00 Miles27 Yards003K0Jackson
38.81974-03-07238°41'N / 96°32'W38°44'N / 96°29'W4.50 Miles220 Yards00250K0Morris
39.61959-05-29239°49'N / 96°47'W010K0Marshall
39.91964-06-21238°57'N / 97°11'W000K0Dickinson
40.41969-06-17238°40'N / 96°36'W38°42'N / 96°29'W6.20 Miles37 Yards06250K0Morris
41.51960-05-16239°12'N / 97°20'W0.30 Mile100 Yards0025K0Clay
41.51979-10-18239°20'N / 96°01'W39°30'N / 95°36'W24.90 Miles200 Yards00250K0Jackson
41.71966-05-11339°39'N / 97°12'W39°41'N / 97°06'W5.40 Miles100 Yards00250K0Washington
41.71959-05-04239°15'N / 97°23'W39°15'N / 97°18'W3.80 Miles100 Yards00250K0Ottawa
41.71963-04-28239°48'N / 96°19'W39°52'N / 96°15'W5.60 Miles100 Yards000K0Marshall
41.81961-10-12239°19'N / 95°47'W1.00 Mile33 Yards003K0Jackson
42.21974-03-07238°38'N / 96°42'W38°41'N / 96°32'W9.40 Miles220 Yards00250K0Morris
42.51973-09-25239°29'N / 97°20'W39°33'N / 97°15'W5.90 Miles67 Yards00250K0Clay
42.71973-09-25339°05'N / 97°22'W39°08'N / 97°18'W4.70 Miles100 Yards0025.0M0Dickinson
42.81960-05-19439°11'N / 95°57'W39°13'N / 95°35'W19.60 Miles880 Yards1912.5M0Shawnee
42.91956-04-02338°50'N / 95°53'W38°58'N / 95°57'W9.80 Miles500 Yards002.5M0Marion
43.01954-03-18238°45'N / 96°07'W003K0Wabaunsee
43.41972-04-30338°55'N / 97°14'W1.50 Miles300 Yards06250K0Dickinson
43.51959-12-26239°02'N / 97°19'W2.00 Miles33 Yards000K0Dickinson
43.91964-06-21338°57'N / 97°22'W39°02'N / 97°14'W8.90 Miles33 Yards0025K0Dickinson
44.41996-05-09239°34'N / 97°19'W39°34'N / 97°17'W1.50 Miles100 Yards00300K40KWashington
 Brief Description: A tornado hit along the Clay-Washington county line moving east through mainly the city of Vining, beginning about 1.5 West of town and ending about 1/2 mile eastnortheast. Some damage was also noted in Clifton. There were about 25 buildings damaged in Vining including a large grain elevator complex with many trees downed or uprooted. A few buildings had their roofs torn completely off. Wind damage also occurred just north of Vining on a couple of farm homes and buildings. There were no injuries.
44.51973-09-25339°44'N / 96°58'W40°00'N / 96°47'W20.70 Miles100 Yards0025.0M0Marshall
44.61953-05-10338°21'N / 96°40'W38°56'N / 96°03'W52.20 Miles33 Yards0025K0Chase
45.11974-06-08438°52'N / 95°54'W38°54'N / 95°52'W1.90 Miles200 Yards000K0Shawnee
45.21958-07-11238°55'N / 95°51'W000K0Shawnee
46.01966-05-11339°10'N / 95°48'W39°12'N / 95°37'W9.90 Miles660 Yards0025K0Shawnee
46.11993-05-06239°37'N / 96°08'W39°58'N / 95°55'W23.00 Miles440 Yards005.0M50KNemaha
 Brief Description: The longest track tornado of the day moved southwest to northeast across Nemaha county miraculously producing no deaths or injuries. However significant damage occurred to about 20 different farms or farmsteads and related business, machinery and buildings. The tornado just missed populated areas and remained generally in fields and farm areas. Excessive rain in the days after the storm hampered cleanup. Property damage from the tornado was estimated at $1.1 million. In some areas the tornado was about 1/2 mile wide while in other areas damage was only about 100 yards wide. At times the tornado had multiple vortices.
46.31956-04-02338°58'N / 95°57'W39°21'N / 95°28'W37.00 Miles790 Yards012.5M0Marion
46.41962-08-06439°31'N / 95°47'W39°23'N / 95°40'W11.00 Miles667 Yards03250K0Jackson
46.61974-03-08238°58'N / 95°57'W39°12'N / 95°30'W29.00 Miles220 Yards00250K0Shawnee
46.62006-04-06239°47'N / 96°52'W40°00'N / 96°56'W17.00 Miles440 Yards00750K0Washington
 Brief Description: This tornado touched down at 420pm cst 5 miles north of Barnes and was on the ground for 17 miles before crossing the state line into Gage County, Nebraska 3.5 miles east-northeast of Hollenberg, Kansas...or about 3 miles south and 0.5 miles west of Odell, Nebraska. It was caused by a supercell thunderstorm and was sighted by many storm chasers and storm spotters. Most of the damage with this tornado was rated as F0 or F1. However, strong F2 damage was noted near the intersection of Highways 36 and 148, where one brick home had the roof torn off and some of the exterior walls knocked down. The occupants of the home were in the basement and had to be helped from the damaged home by emergency personel. Four outbuildings were also damaged at this location. Elsewhere, the tornado caused damage to one other home and five additional outbuildings as well as many trees, and one home was completely destroyed just southeast of Hanover.
46.91962-05-28238°50'N / 95°54'W38°56'N / 95°47'W0.90 Mile200 Yards00250K0Osage
47.11960-05-19239°07'N / 95°40'W39°09'N / 95°44'W4.10 Miles33 Yards003K0Shawnee
47.21952-08-14238°41'N / 97°01'W1.50 Miles100 Yards0025K0Dickinson
47.31966-06-08538°55'N / 95°55'W39°05'N / 95°35'W21.10 Miles880 Yards16450250.0M0Shawnee
47.51974-06-08438°42'N / 95°58'W38°52'N / 95°54'W11.90 Miles440 Yards0025.0M0Osage
47.91991-04-26239°49'N / 97°07'W39°51'N / 97°03'W3.50 Miles100 Yards06250K0Washington
48.21950-07-01238°42'N / 97°05'W0025K0Dickinson
48.71973-09-25338°58'N / 97°28'W39°05'N / 97°22'W9.40 Miles100 Yards1225.0M0Ottawa
49.21956-04-02338°23'N / 96°33'W38°50'N / 95°53'W47.50 Miles500 Yards022.5M0Marion
49.21983-05-06338°54'N / 95°52'W39°03'N / 95°35'W19.00 Miles150 Yards12525.0M0Shawnee
49.21973-09-25339°03'N / 97°35'W39°18'N / 97°22'W20.70 Miles67 Yards0225.0M0Ottawa
49.71981-07-19239°08'N / 95°39'W0.30 Mile150 Yards09250K0Shawnee


* 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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