Orleans, IA Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Orleans is about the same as Iowa average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Orleans is lower than Iowa average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #269
| Orleans, IA | 0.00 |
| Iowa | 0.00 |
| 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
| Orleans, IA | 0.0000 |
| Iowa | 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, #815
| Orleans, IA | 201.55 |
| Iowa | 236.74 |
| 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 2,658 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Orleans, IA 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: | 14 | Cold: | 5 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 4 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 235 | Hail: | 1,263 | Heat: | 1 | Heavy Snow: | 14 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 4 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 20 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 971 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 16 | Winter Weather: | 31 |
| Other: | 79 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Orleans, IA.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Orleans, IA.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Orleans, IA.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 69 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Orleans, IA.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.9 | 1968-06-13 | 2 | 43°23'N / 95°06'W | 43°26'N / 95°01'W | 4.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 17 | 2.5M | 0 | Dickinson |
| 2.9 | 1960-07-11 | 2 | 43°24'N / 95°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dickinson | |
| 5.7 | 1990-08-18 | 2 | 43°28'N / 95°16'W | 43°22'N / 95°08'W | 8.50 Miles | 63 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dickinson |
| 8.1 | 1981-06-14 | 2 | 43°27'N / 95°23'W | 43°29'N / 95°07'W | 13.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dickinson |
| 8.6 | 1981-06-14 | 2 | 43°29'N / 95°23'W | 43°30'N / 95°07'W | 13.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dickinson |
| 8.9 | 1971-05-31 | 3 | 43°22'N / 95°19'W | 43°28'N / 95°13'W | 8.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dickinson |
| 12.9 | 1971-05-31 | 3 | 43°30'N / 95°20'W | 43°38'N / 95°14'W | 10.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 14.0 | 1991-04-26 | 2 | 43°16'N / 95°14'W | 18.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dickinson | |
| 15.1 | 1964-05-08 | 2 | 43°26'N / 95°26'W | 43°29'N / 95°21'W | 5.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Osceola |
| 16.3 | 1966-07-09 | 2 | 43°26'N / 95°25'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Osceola | |
| 17.1 | 1959-05-28 | 2 | 43°12'N / 95°01'W | 1.00 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Clay | |
| 18.0 | 1967-04-30 | 2 | 43°23'N / 94°41'W | 43°29'N / 94°47'W | 8.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Emmet |
| 18.8 | 1981-06-14 | 2 | 43°25'N / 95°33'W | 43°27'N / 95°23'W | 8.30 Miles | 1533 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Osceola |
| 18.8 | 1981-06-14 | 2 | 43°26'N / 95°33'W | 43°29'N / 95°23'W | 8.80 Miles | 1533 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Osceola |
| 20.3 | 1971-05-31 | 3 | 43°20'N / 95°32'W | 43°27'N / 95°27'W | 8.60 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Osceola |
| 20.4 | 1980-09-20 | 3 | 43°09'N / 95°09'W | 1.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Clay | |
| 20.4 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 43°09'N / 95°09'W | 2.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Clay | |
| 20.6 | 1967-04-30 | 2 | 43°25'N / 94°41'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Emmet | |
| 20.7 | 1976-06-14 | 2 | 43°15'N / 94°47'W | 43°29'N / 94°36'W | 18.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Emmet |
| 20.9 | 1968-06-13 | 2 | 43°23'N / 95°30'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Osceola | |||
| 20.9 | 1976-06-14 | 2 | 43°09'N / 94°54'W | 43°15'N / 94°47'W | 8.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Palo Alto |
| 20.9 | 1959-05-28 | 2 | 43°10'N / 94°54'W | 43°12'N / 94°51'W | 2.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Palo Alto |
| 22.8 | 2004-06-11 | 2 | 43°08'N / 95°23'W | 43°12'N / 95°18'W | 5.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Clay |
| Brief Description: A tornado destroyed a hog barn, killing ten hogs, destroyed a greenhouse, destroyed a barn, outbuildings, a machine shed and a garage, and damaged several other farm structures including a horse barn. Several horses were injured. At least two houses were damaged, with windows blown out. Several vehicles were also damaged. Numerous power lines and trees were blown down. The tornado also damaged crops. | |||||||||||
| 23.0 | 1960-06-23 | 2 | 43°39'N / 94°44'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Martin | |
| 24.1 | 1977-05-04 | 2 | 43°33'N / 94°38'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Martin | |||
| 25.3 | 1951-06-25 | 2 | 43°34'N / 94°46'W | 43°36'N / 94°29'W | 14.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Martin |
| 25.4 | 1976-06-14 | 2 | 43°46'N / 95°11'W | 43°51'N / 95°06'W | 6.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
| 25.8 | 2008-06-11 | 2 | 43°00'N / 95°16'W | 43°09'N / 95°06'W | 13.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0K | Clay |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado destroyed or heavily damaged numerous outbuildings on at least 8 affected farmsteads, with damaged buildings including several large sheds. The tornado damaged numerous grain bins, most of which were carried off their foundations, with some being carried as much as a half mile. The ornado also overturned a camper, blew the top off a silo, destroyed a garage, broke windows on a house, and caused considerable damage to trees, power poles, and power lines. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms produced several tornadoes, along with large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding in northwest Iowa during the late afternoon and early evening of June 11th. | |||||||||||
| 28.2 | 1971-05-31 | 3 | 43°13'N / 95°57'W | 43°30'N / 95°20'W | 36.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | O'brien |
| 28.4 | 1975-06-04 | 2 | 43°02'N / 95°09'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Clay | |||
| 28.7 | 1971-10-01 | 3 | 43°02'N / 95°29'W | 43°09'N / 95°19'W | 11.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | O'brien |
| 29.3 | 1965-05-05 | 2 | 43°10'N / 95°29'W | 43°24'N / 95°47'W | 21.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | O'brien |
| 29.5 | 1967-04-30 | 2 | 43°07'N / 94°40'W | 43°18'N / 94°32'W | 14.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Palo Alto |
| 30.8 | 1954-04-26 | 2 | 43°03'N / 95°18'W | 42°58'N / 95°10'W | 8.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Clay |
| 31.1 | 1976-06-14 | 2 | 43°51'N / 95°06'W | 43°56'N / 95°00'W | 7.10 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Cottonwood |
| 31.5 | 1982-06-06 | 2 | 43°24'N / 95°43'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Osceola | |
| 34.1 | 2004-06-11 | 3 | 42°55'N / 95°03'W | 42°59'N / 95°00'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Clay |
| Brief Description: A large cone shaped tornado tore a steel bridge from a road. The tornado raised a large debris cloud as it moved over open country, causing damage to crops and power lines. The tornado moved into Clay County after forming just south of the County Line. | |||||||||||
| 34.5 | 2010-06-25 | 4 | 43°24'N / 95°51'W | 43°22'N / 95°42'W | 8.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 13 | 3.0M | 0K | Osceola |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado destroyed at least two houses, injuring two people in one of them. the tornado also destroyed several garages and severely damaged several other homes, destroyed at least 4 hog confinement buildings, several barns and silos, and numerous outbuildings. The tornado destroyed three vehicles that had been parked under an Iowa Highway 60 overpass, injuring 11 people in the vehicles, and removing the engine from one of the vehicles. The tornado damaged power lines, causing power outages, and caused damage to trees and crops. The tornado also destroyed a shelter belt and severely damaged heavy farm equipment, removing the wheels from some of the vehicles. Much of the damage occurred a short distance west to south of the town of Sibley. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms produced tornadoes, one that caused considerable damage and at least two injuries along a 14 mile path, along with damaging winds, in northwest Iowa during the evening of June 25th. | |||||||||||
| 36.1 | 1977-05-27 | 2 | 43°28'N / 95°48'W | 43°37'N / 95°48'W | 10.30 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Nobles |
| 36.5 | 1956-05-10 | 2 | 43°37'N / 95°48'W | 43°42'N / 95°43'W | 6.50 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Nobles |
| 36.8 | 2008-06-11 | 2 | 42°58'N / 95°32'W | 43°03'N / 95°30'W | 6.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0K | O'brien |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado destroyed several outbuildings, moved a 1.5 ton wagon, heavily damaged a machine shed containing farm equipment and also damaged a nearby house on the same farm. Also destroyed another machine shed at a different location, destroyed a pole barn, damaged a grain bin, broke or blew down several power poles and power lines, and caused tree damage. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms produced several tornadoes, along with large hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding in northwest Iowa during the late afternoon and early evening of June 11th. | |||||||||||
| 36.9 | 2006-08-01 | 3 | 43°54'N / 94°43'W | 43°53'N / 94°40'W | 1.50 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.0M | 0 | Watonwan |
| Brief Description: Initial damage occurred at farmstead just east of the Watonwan/Cottonwood line. Damage included the partial removal of roofs off two large sheds, along with scattered downed trees. The tornado then moved across corn and bean fields. Another farmstead was hit just southwest of the intersection of County Roads 10 and 2. This was the location of the F3 damage. A house was leveled, a 60 foot concrete base silo was toppled and rolled. Virtually all barns, sheds and outbuildings were completely destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 37.4 | 1980-07-19 | 2 | 43°01'N / 95°37'W | 43°04'N / 95°34'W | 3.30 Miles | 160 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | O'brien |
| 39.2 | 1986-04-26 | 2 | 43°28'N / 95°56'W | 43°35'N / 95°48'W | 10.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Nobles |
| 39.4 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 42°55'N / 94°45'W | 43°02'N / 94°32'W | 15.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Palo Alto |
| 40.4 | 1953-03-21 | 3 | 43°16'N / 94°38'W | 43°18'N / 94°00'W | 31.80 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Emmet |
| 40.6 | 2010-06-25 | 2 | 43°26'N / 95°57'W | 43°24'N / 95°51'W | 5.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0K | Lyon |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado destroyed two hog confinement buildings, killing about 12 hogs, numerous outbuildings, a metal farm building, tore the roof off a house and damaged at least 6 other houses, and caused damage to other farm buildings, power lines, vehicles, and trees, before moving out of Lyon County and into Osceola County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms produced tornadoes, one that caused considerable damage and at least two injuries along a 14 mile path, along with damaging winds, in northwest Iowa during the evening of June 25th. | |||||||||||
| 40.7 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 43°00'N / 94°28'W | 43°13'N / 94°23'W | 15.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Palo Alto |
| 41.3 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 42°51'N / 94°51'W | 42°55'N / 94°45'W | 10.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Pocahontas |
| 41.7 | 1998-03-29 | 3 | 43°59'N / 95°26'W | 44°06'N / 94°56'W | 39.50 Miles | 900 Yards | 0 | 3 | 30.0M | 0 | Cottonwood |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado which began in Murray County tracked across Cottonwood County and then further northeast. The tornado destroyed numerous farms, farm equipment, buildings, trees, power lines and poles, vehicles, and other structures in its path. A vehicle was tossed a hundred yards as it hit the first farm in southwest Cottonwood County. People in the basement of the house on this farm received minor injuries. The tornado also destroyed a church near Jeffers, and destroyed numerous homes in the southern part of Comfrey, a city which is only partly in Cottonwood County. | |||||||||||
| 42.7 | 1980-07-19 | 2 | 42°50'N / 94°50'W | 43°01'N / 94°25'W | 24.40 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Palo Alto |
| 42.8 | 1952-06-23 | 2 | 44°00'N / 95°17'W | 44°07'N / 95°05'W | 12.50 Miles | 220 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cottonwood |
| 43.1 | 1992-06-16 | 2 | 43°57'N / 95°26'W | 44°06'N / 95°22'W | 7.50 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Cottonwood |
| 44.1 | 1981-06-13 | 2 | 43°10'N / 95°53'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Sioux | |||
| 44.4 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 42°50'N / 94°42'W | 43°00'N / 94°28'W | 16.20 Miles | 833 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Pocahontas |
| 44.7 | 1986-04-26 | 2 | 43°24'N / 96°02'W | 43°28'N / 95°56'W | 8.50 Miles | 120 Yards | 1 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Lyon |
| 44.7 | 1977-08-09 | 2 | 44°04'N / 94°46'W | 44°00'N / 94°41'W | 5.60 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Watonwan |
| 44.7 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 42°50'N / 94°42'W | 42°56'N / 94°35'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Pocahontas |
| 45.2 | 1980-07-19 | 2 | 43°01'N / 94°25'W | 43°02'N / 94°23'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Kossuth | ||
| 45.3 | 1968-03-18 | 2 | 43°52'N / 94°24'W | 2.50 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Watonwan | |
| 46.1 | 1963-07-16 | 2 | 44°03'N / 94°46'W | 44°03'N / 94°39'W | 5.20 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Watonwan |
| 46.3 | 1998-03-29 | 4 | 44°05'N / 94°51'W | 44°06'N / 94°52'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Watonwan |
| Brief Description: Tornado moving through southern Brown county brushed extreme northwest Watonwan county. See Brown county narrative. | |||||||||||
| 47.4 | 1998-03-29 | 2 | 43°48'N / 95°54'W | 43°48'N / 95°54'W | 0.10 Mile | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0 | Nobles |
| Brief Description: A tornado destroyed farm buildings...uprooted numerous trees...and overturned a tractor trailer. | |||||||||||
| 47.5 | 1979-08-08 | 2 | 43°04'N / 95°53'W | 0.40 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Sioux | |
| 47.8 | 1957-06-16 | 2 | 42°30'N / 95°24'W | 43°00'N / 94°45'W | 47.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Ida |
| 48.1 | 1979-06-28 | 3 | 43°15'N / 94°15'W | 43°01'N / 94°13'W | 15.90 Miles | 300 Yards | 2 | 34 | 25.0M | 0 | Kossuth |
| 48.3 | 1968-04-03 | 2 | 42°59'N / 95°49'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | O'brien | |
| 48.6 | 1963-03-16 | 2 | 42°47'N / 95°26'W | 2.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Cherokee | |
| 48.9 | 1998-03-29 | 2 | 43°47'N / 95°57'W | 43°47'N / 95°57'W | 0.10 Mile | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 400K | 0 | Nobles |
| Brief Description: A tornado destroyed buildings...trees in shelter belts...and numerous pieces of farm equipment...and killed two cattle. | |||||||||||
* 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.