Sioux County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Iowa Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Sioux County is about the same as Iowa average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Sioux County is lower than Iowa average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #2
| Sioux County | 0.03 |
| 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
| Sioux County | 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, #55
| Sioux County | 219.09 |
| 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 12,729 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Sioux County 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: | 129 | Cold: | 83 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 25 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 976 | Hail: | 5,980 | Heat: | 14 | Heavy Snow: | 122 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 32 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 183 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,515 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 3 | Winter Storm: | 171 | Winter Weather: | 159 |
| Other: | 336 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Sioux County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Sioux County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Sioux County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 85 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Sioux County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 5.8 | 1966-06-02 | 2 | 43°06'N / 96°24'W | 43°02'N / 96°11'W | 11.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sioux |
| 7.0 | 1978-07-05 | 2 | 43°02'N / 96°15'W | 42°56'N / 96°03'W | 11.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Sioux |
| 8.2 | 1968-09-22 | 3 | 43°01'N / 96°04'W | 43°04'N / 95°59'W | 4.70 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Sioux |
| 10.9 | 2008-05-01 | 2 | 43°08'N / 96°18'W | 43°15'N / 96°22'W | 9.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0.5M | 0K | Sioux |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado damaged numerous trees, including large trees uprooted, blew windows out of a home, destroyed a metal shed, blew two windows and part of a wall out of a metal building, damaged at least three grain bins, destroyed or damaged numerous outbuildings and small sheds, blew down or snapped off at least 15 power poles, bent a metal light pole, tipped one wagon and blew the top off another, blew down a barb wire fence and pushed fence posts almost to the ground, destroyed a hog barn, and flattened corn stubble, before crossing the county line into Lyon County. Contents inside several damaged or destroyed buildings and sheds were also damaged, especially on one farm where damaged buildings housed a farm and trucking business. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Thunderstorms produced 5 confirmed tornadoes over extreme northwest Iowa during the early evening hours of May 1st. One large long track tornado caused considerable damage, while the other 4 tornadoes were short lived and weak. | |||||||||||
| 13.6 | 1954-06-19 | 2 | 43°17'N / 96°18'W | 43°15'N / 96°15'W | 2.30 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lyon |
| 13.8 | 1967-06-14 | 2 | 42°53'N / 96°10'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth | |
| 14.9 | 1979-08-08 | 2 | 43°04'N / 95°53'W | 0.40 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Sioux | |
| 15.5 | 1987-07-07 | 2 | 43°01'N / 96°29'W | 43°00'N / 96°27'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sioux |
| 15.9 | 1981-06-13 | 2 | 43°10'N / 95°53'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Sioux | |||
| 17.2 | 1965-06-07 | 3 | 42°52'N / 96°18'W | 42°48'N / 96°05'W | 11.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 18.3 | 1954-05-27 | 2 | 42°49'N / 96°05'W | 42°51'N / 96°02'W | 2.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 19.0 | 1987-07-07 | 2 | 43°04'N / 96°37'W | 43°01'N / 96°29'W | 6.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Union |
| 19.0 | 1978-07-05 | 2 | 42°54'N / 96°33'W | 42°47'N / 96°10'W | 20.80 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Plymouth |
| 19.5 | 1968-04-03 | 2 | 42°59'N / 95°49'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | O'brien | |
| 19.6 | 1963-03-16 | 2 | 42°48'N / 96°12'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth | |
| 20.0 | 1970-07-01 | 2 | 43°09'N / 96°36'W | 43°08'N / 96°32'W | 2.30 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 20.2 | 1964-05-08 | 3 | 42°47'N / 96°10'W | 42°49'N / 95°59'W | 9.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 20.4 | 1964-05-05 | 3 | 42°34'N / 96°21'W | 43°11'N / 95°26'W | 62.90 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Plymouth |
| 20.7 | 1991-08-07 | 2 | 42°47'N / 96°10'W | 1.50 Miles | 63 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Plymouth | |
| 23.5 | 1986-04-26 | 2 | 43°21'N / 96°23'W | 43°27'N / 96°19'W | 9.50 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lyon |
| 24.5 | 1991-08-07 | 2 | 42°49'N / 95°54'W | 42°49'N / 95°49'W | 3.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 24.9 | 1967-06-14 | 3 | 42°48'N / 96°35'W | 42°52'N / 96°29'W | 6.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 25.5 | 1964-09-07 | 2 | 42°47'N / 95°58'W | 42°47'N / 95°48'W | 7.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 25.5 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 42°45'N / 96°36'W | 42°52'N / 96°26'W | 11.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Plymouth |
| 25.7 | 1978-07-06 | 2 | 43°28'N / 96°24'W | 43°26'N / 96°07'W | 14.20 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lyon |
| 26.1 | 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 |
| 26.7 | 1964-09-07 | 2 | 42°42'N / 96°15'W | 2.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Plymouth | |
| 27.0 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 28.2 | 1991-08-07 | 2 | 42°49'N / 95°49'W | 42°45'N / 95°47'W | 5.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cherokee |
| 29.0 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 29.7 | 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 |
| 30.0 | 1970-07-14 | 2 | 43°10'N / 96°48'W | 43°07'N / 96°44'W | 3.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 1 | 25.0M | 0 | Lincoln |
| 30.7 | 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 |
| 31.1 | 1963-06-09 | 2 | 42°46'N / 96°37'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth | |
| 31.7 | 1993-05-07 | 2 | 43°28'N / 96°29'W | 43°31'N / 96°27'W | 1.50 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Lyon |
| Brief Description: Border Crosser, went into Minnehaha County, SD at 1500CST. Intense thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching cold front. This line was the first wave of storms to form. The bulk of the severe weather passed to the west and north of Iowa. One very large cell formed over the northwest corner of the state. It produced a tornado northwest of Larchwood, in the northwest corner of Lyon County. Buildings were damaged on three farms. A total of 10 buildings were destroyed as well as two silos. On one of the farms, the owner watched as a 1500 pound fertilizer tank was lifted 50 feet into the air and blew past his window. Total damage to the three farmsteads affected amounted to about $200,000. The only injury that occurred was to a bull on one of the farms. The bull sustained a broken leg. The tornado passed into southeast South Dakota shortly after this damage occurred. It was a border crossing tornado. | |||||||||||
| 31.9 | 1982-06-06 | 2 | 43°24'N / 95°43'W | 2.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Osceola | |
| 32.1 | 1986-04-26 | 2 | 43°18'N / 96°40'W | 43°24'N / 96°44'W | 5.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 32.7 | 1958-04-01 | 2 | 42°44'N / 95°42'W | 42°51'N / 95°38'W | 8.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cherokee |
| 32.8 | 1952-06-23 | 4 | 42°45'N / 95°51'W | 42°54'N / 95°25'W | 24.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Cherokee |
| 33.0 | 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 |
| 33.4 | 1965-06-07 | 3 | 42°55'N / 96°48'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Union | |||
| 33.8 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 34.3 | 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 |
| 34.5 | 1970-07-14 | 2 | 42°36'N / 96°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Plymouth | |
| 36.9 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 42°39'N / 95°44'W | 42°46'N / 95°35'W | 10.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cherokee |
| 36.9 | 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 |
| 37.0 | 1964-06-22 | 2 | 43°07'N / 96°53'W | 43°21'N / 96°53'W | 16.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 37.5 | 1986-04-26 | 2 | 43°16'N / 96°55'W | 43°15'N / 96°51'W | 6.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lincoln |
| 38.3 | 1954-06-19 | 3 | 43°29'N / 96°43'W | 43°30'N / 96°40'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Lincoln | ||
| 38.8 | 1964-05-05 | 3 | 42°31'N / 96°25'W | 42°34'N / 96°21'W | 4.10 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Woodbury |
| 38.9 | 1965-06-07 | 2 | 43°04'N / 97°02'W | 43°07'N / 96°52'W | 8.60 Miles | 210 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Clay |
| 39.2 | 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 |
| 39.4 | 1986-04-26 | 2 | 43°14'N / 96°56'W | 43°16'N / 96°55'W | 6.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Turner |
| 39.9 | 2000-07-25 | 2 | 43°38'N / 96°03'W | 43°40'N / 96°00'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Nobles |
| Brief Description: A tornado damaged buildings, vehicles, and trees on a farm. The tornado destroyed the west side of the house, blew three grain bins away and wrapped them around trees. The tornado also blew the top of a barn off, killing at least 4 calves inside. | |||||||||||
| 39.9 | 1968-06-13 | 2 | 43°23'N / 95°30'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Osceola | |||
| 40.6 | 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 |
| 41.2 | 1981-09-26 | 2 | 42°47'N / 96°53'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Clay | |||
| 41.5 | 2003-06-24 | 2 | 43°14'N / 96°56'W | 43°19'N / 96°59'W | 7.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Turner |
| Brief Description: A tornado, after crossing into Turner County from Lincoln County, heavily damaged farm buildings, including one farm home demolished, and roof and window damage to at least two other farm homes. The tornado also caused an unknown amount of crop damage. | |||||||||||
| 41.8 | 1973-06-18 | 2 | 42°29'N / 96°04'W | 2.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 2 | 10 | 250K | 0 | Woodbury | |
| 42.2 | 2003-06-24 | 2 | 43°08'N / 96°58'W | 43°11'N / 97°03'W | 7.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Turner |
| Brief Description: A tornado damaged farm buildings and equipment, as well as crops, trees, and power lines. | |||||||||||
| 42.5 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 42.9 | 1963-03-16 | 2 | 42°47'N / 95°26'W | 2.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Cherokee | |
| 43.0 | 1973-06-18 | 2 | 42°28'N / 96°03'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Woodbury | |
| 43.2 | 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 |
| 43.4 | 1967-08-16 | 2 | 42°47'N / 96°56'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Clay | |||
| 43.6 | 1975-05-22 | 2 | 42°28'N / 96°22'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Woodbury | |||
| 43.7 | 1979-05-08 | 3 | 42°27'N / 96°10'W | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Woodbury | |||
| 43.8 | 1956-08-08 | 2 | 43°33'N / 96°46'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Minnehaha | |||
| 44.2 | 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 |
| 44.4 | 1968-06-13 | 2 | 42°27'N / 96°20'W | 0.10 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Woodbury | |
| 45.0 | 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 |
| 45.1 | 1956-06-29 | 2 | 43°44'N / 96°16'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Rock | |||
| 45.3 | 1966-07-09 | 2 | 43°26'N / 95°25'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Osceola | |
| 45.7 | 1984-06-11 | 2 | 42°47'N / 96°59'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Clay | |||
| 45.8 | 1965-06-07 | 2 | 42°54'N / 97°03'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Clay | |||
| 45.9 | 1964-06-22 | 2 | 43°29'N / 96°50'W | 43°38'N / 96°48'W | 10.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 46.0 | 1986-07-28 | 4 | 42°32'N / 96°41'W | 42°25'N / 96°25'W | 20.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25.0M | 0 | Dakota |
| 46.3 | 1986-07-28 | 4 | 42°41'N / 96°58'W | 42°32'N / 96°41'W | 20.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Dixon |
| 46.8 | 1966-05-22 | 2 | 43°24'N / 97°00'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Turner | |||
| 47.3 | 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 |
| 48.0 | 1969-06-25 | 2 | 43°40'N / 96°25'W | 43°51'N / 96°24'W | 12.30 Miles | 120 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Rock |
| 48.5 | 2001-08-17 | 2 | 42°27'N / 96°34'W | 42°26'N / 96°34'W | 1.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 3 | 3.0M | 0 | Dakota |
| Brief Description: A tornado completely destroyed at least ten houses and heavily damaged several others. The tornado heavily damaged the town school, including taking most of the roof off the school. The only church in town and a telephone company building were also heavily damaged. Power lines, poles, and trees were blown down, and electricity and water service were knocked out. Three empty box cars on the southeast side of Jackson were toppled. Three injuries included a woman with a broken leg and cuts rescued from the rubble of a house, and two children with minor injuries. | |||||||||||
| 48.5 | 1980-05-29 | 2 | 42°39'N / 96°59'W | 42°41'N / 96°55'W | 3.30 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dixon |
| 48.6 | 1983-09-05 | 2 | 42°23'N / 96°04'W | 2.50 Miles | 127 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Woodbury | |
| 49.7 | 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.