Rochelle Micro Area Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Rochelle Area is lower than Illinois average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Rochelle Area is much lower than Illinois average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #538
Rochelle Area | 0.03 |
Illinois | 0.24 |
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
Rochelle Area | 0.0000 |
Illinois | 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, #541
Rochelle Area | 121.60 |
Illinois | 220.15 |
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 15,801 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Rochelle Area 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: | 31 | Cold: | 140 | Dense Fog: | 184 | Drought: | 63 |
Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,282 | Hail: | 4,040 | Heat: | 129 | Heavy Snow: | 171 |
High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 86 | Landslide: | 1 | Strong Wind: | 201 |
Thunderstorm Winds: | 7,502 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 9 | Winter Storm: | 335 | Winter Weather: | 326 |
Other: | 1,301 |
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Rochelle Area.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 1 historical earthquake event that had a recorded magnitude of 3.5 or above found in or near Rochelle Area.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
31.6 | 1972-09-15 | 3.7 | 5 | 41.59 | -89.42 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 35 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Rochelle Area.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
12.1 | 1979-08-05 | 3 | 42°01'N / 89°35'W | 41°57'N / 89°30'W | 5.70 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Ogle |
13.1 | 1972-04-06 | 2 | 42°03'N / 89°36'W | 41°54'N / 89°31'W | 10.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 1 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Ogle |
15.6 | 1979-08-17 | 2 | 42°16'N / 89°21'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Winnebago | |
16.7 | 1972-04-06 | 2 | 41°54'N / 89°31'W | 41°43'N / 89°18'W | 16.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
19.1 | 1956-08-30 | 2 | 41°48'N / 89°30'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lee | |||
23.5 | 1958-08-30 | 2 | 42°19'N / 89°03'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Winnebago | |||
24.3 | 1962-05-07 | 2 | 41°48'N / 89°39'W | 41°43'N / 89°33'W | 7.20 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Whiteside |
24.3 | 1962-05-07 | 2 | 41°48'N / 89°39'W | 41°43'N / 89°33'W | 7.20 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Whiteside |
26.7 | 1975-06-18 | 2 | 42°03'N / 88°51'W | 42°02'N / 88°45'W | 4.70 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | De Kalb |
27.3 | 1955-04-18 | 2 | 42°10'N / 89°55'W | 42°10'N / 89°44'W | 9.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Carroll |
28.4 | 1958-10-08 | 2 | 42°25'N / 89°28'W | 42°25'N / 88°43'W | 38.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Stephenson |
29.3 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 41°37'N / 89°29'W | 41°38'N / 89°22'W | 5.60 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lee |
29.9 | 1967-04-21 | 4 | 42°13'N / 88°55'W | 42°17'N / 88°42'W | 11.50 Miles | 1200 Yards | 24 | 410 | 250K | 0 | Boone |
34.2 | 1967-01-24 | 3 | 42°03'N / 90°02'W | 42°08'N / 89°56'W | 7.40 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 12 | 250K | 0 | Carroll |
34.8 | 2010-11-22 | 2 | 42°19'N / 88°58'W | 42°26'N / 88°39'W | 18.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 5.0M | 0K | Winnebago |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Based on an eyewitness report, a tornado touched in the backyard of a home just west of Interstate 39, on the eastern edge of a subdivision. The tornado then blew over a school bus near the intersection of Argyle and Harlem Roads. There were six people on the bus, the driver and five children. All six people were taken to the hospital but none of the injuries were serious. The tornado then knocked down eleven electrical high tension towers just southwest of the same intersection. The tornado continued northeast into western Boone county, and moved across largely open rural fields towards the town of Caledonia. Significant damage occured to at least six buildings in Caledonia, with approximately 20 additional buildings sustaining minor damage. Several large trees were snapped or uprooted and a grain bin was partially collapsed. The tornado then continued northeast from Caledonia, downing several power poles, and causing damage ranging from blown off roofs to completely destroying at least three farm outbuildings. One of these buildings, located 2 miles northwest of Capron, had also been damaged during the January 2008 tornado. The tornado path, consisting mainly of sporadic tree damage at this point, then continued to a location roughly one mile west of Lawrence, where the tornado appears to have dissipated at 325 pm. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northern Illinois during the afternoon hours of November 22nd. These storms produced two tornadoes, hail, heavy rain and some flooding. | |||||||||||
37.3 | 1971-11-01 | 2 | 42°31'N / 89°03'W | 42°33'N / 88°59'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Rock |
37.9 | 2008-01-07 | 3 | 42°23'N / 88°49'W | 42°25'N / 88°42'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.0M | 0K | Boone |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down at 330 pm CST about 1.2 miles north of Popular Grove in Boone County and ended at 348 pm about 3.2 miles north northeast of Harvard in McHenry County. The tornado crossed the Boone McHenry County line near Hunter Road, about 3 miles northeast of Capron. The first signs of damage were at Quail Trap Road just east of Popular Grove Road where trees were damaged and sections of roofing were removed from a shed. The tornado intensified to EF2 intensity at Edwards Apple Orchard on Centerville Road. A large barn was destroyed and other buildings were severely damaged. Large trees were snapped or uprooted. The tornado reached its maximum intensity of EF3 at the northeast corner of Centerville Road and Beaverton Road. A two story farm house and garage were leveled and large trees were stripped of all branches. The tornado was about 100 yards wide through this area. The tornado continued east northeast across Stimes Road and eventually crossed the Boone McHenry County line near Hunter Road. Most of the damage through this part of the tornado path was EF1, though it weakened to EF0 near the county line. There was damage to trees, power lines, barns and sheds. A few farm houses had shingles or small sections of roof damaged. Four injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front across northern Illinois during the afternoon hours of January 7th. The storms moved southeast across east central Illinois during the early to mid evening hours. | |||||||||||
38.0 | 1981-03-29 | 4 | 41°41'N / 89°57'W | 41°45'N / 89°53'W | 5.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Whiteside |
38.7 | 1959-09-26 | 2 | 41°57'N / 90°06'W | 41°59'N / 90°02'W | 3.30 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carroll |
38.7 | 1966-03-21 | 2 | 41°48'N / 90°00'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Whiteside | |||
39.0 | 1951-12-06 | 3 | 41°20'N / 89°11'W | 41°39'N / 89°07'W | 21.90 Miles | 150 Yards | 1 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Bureau |
40.1 | 1958-08-15 | 2 | 41°46'N / 89°28'W | 41°30'N / 88°04'W | 74.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
40.7 | 1980-07-16 | 2 | 42°07'N / 88°32'W | 1.40 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kane | |
41.7 | 1979-06-09 | 2 | 42°36'N / 89°38'W | 2.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Green | |
41.9 | 1969-06-12 | 2 | 42°37'N / 89°35'W | 0.30 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Green | |
43.0 | 1967-04-21 | 4 | 42°17'N / 88°42'W | 42°21'N / 88°26'W | 14.00 Miles | 1200 Yards | 0 | 40 | 25.0M | 0 | Mchenry |
43.6 | 2008-01-07 | 3 | 42°25'N / 88°42'W | 42°27'N / 88°36'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.0M | 0K | Mchenry |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down at 330 pm CST about 1.2 miles north of Popular Grove in Boone County and ended at 348 pm about 3.2 miles north northeast of Harvard in McHenry County. The tornado crossed the Boone McHenry County line near Hunter Road, about 2.1 miles west northwest of Chemung. The tornado crossed Hunter Road into McHenry County and continued to track northeast across Ryan Road as an EF0 and caused mainly minor tree damage. It crossed White Oaks Road then it uprooted a hardwood tree and snapped off pine trees at their base along Maxon Road. This damage continued to be EF0 damage with winds estimated to 80 mph. The tornado intensified as it moved toward the town of Lawrence, where it produced the worst damage in McHenry County. Significant damage occurred in the town of Lawrence, particularly at a house that had more than half of its roof ripped off and garage blown down. The tornado then moved across the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad where it blew 12 railroad freight cars of the track. The train was moving at the time the tornado hit it, so as the main engine stopped, the remaining cars on the track continued along it and slammed into the front part of the train. This caused a few more cars to derail, including one containing hazardous materials that caused the evacuation of the town of Lawrence. The damage in Lawrence was rated as EF2 with winds up to 110 mph. As the tornado moved east of Lawrence it once again started to weaken with some tree damage and shingles off of a few houses on the northeast side of town. It then ran along Oak Grove Road for a stretch where it produced EF1 damage with a hardwood tree snapped at its base and knocked over an old, weakly structured barn. The tornado headed across farm fields and headed for Highway 14 where it damaged a metal barn and sheared a few trees. As it crossed Highway 14, it flipped a semi-trailer and injured the driver at a truck stop weigh station. It continued across Oak Grove Road where it lifted. The maximum width of the tornado in McHenry County was around 50 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front across northern Illinois during the afternoon hours of January 7th. The storms moved southeast across east central Illinois during the early to mid evening hours. | |||||||||||
44.7 | 1967-01-24 | 3 | 42°36'N / 89°22'W | 42°45'N / 88°55'W | 24.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Green |
45.4 | 1967-04-16 | 3 | 42°31'N / 89°56'W | 42°45'N / 89°29'W | 27.80 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lafayette |
45.8 | 1967-06-11 | 2 | 42°24'N / 90°06'W | 42°26'N / 90°01'W | 4.30 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jo Daviess |
46.6 | 1967-04-21 | 2 | 41°32'N / 89°58'W | 41°32'N / 89°52'W | 4.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Henry |
47.8 | 1974-06-20 | 3 | 41°59'N / 90°16'W | 41°50'N / 90°12'W | 10.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Clinton |
48.0 | 1978-06-25 | 2 | 41°32'N / 88°41'W | 0.90 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | La Salle | |
49.4 | 1990-03-13 | 3 | 41°46'N / 90°13'W | 41°46'N / 90°12'W | 3.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Whiteside |
49.6 | 1998-06-25 | 2 | 42°45'N / 89°11'W | 42°45'N / 89°08'W | 2.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 845K | 3K | Rock |
Brief Description: Severe thunderstorms packing winds between 60 and 70 mph and producing hail between 1 and 2 inches in diameter caused significant damage to property and crops. Kenosha and Racine counties experienced some of the worst destruction with 40,000 homes and businesses left without power due to the high number of trees and power lines downed. In the city of Racine a tree fell on a home and another tree crushed an automobile. In Kenosha county, siding was ripped off the side of a Bristol business and metal signs were blown down on Interstate 94. Hidden among the thunderstorms was a lone F2 tornado that took aim on northern Rock county, destroying 3 homes and damaging 4 others. A barn and 2 sheds were also destoyed. Three garages and 3 cars were damaged and a 20 foot beam was found anchored in the ground at a 45-degree angle in the storms aftermath. Fortunately there were no deaths or injuries. This tornado touched down just southwest of a railroad track 2.3 miles west/northwest of Leyden and lifted just east of Highway 184, 1 mile north/northeast of Leyden. Eyewitness reports suggest that this slow moving tornado had a second vortex at one time, and at another time it was nearly stationary for a couple minutes. The slow movement enhanced the destruction. At least 3 individuals video-taped it. Maximum winds were estimated to be about 150 mph. |
* 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.