Stephens County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Stephens County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Stephens County is much lower than Texas average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #193
| Stephens County | 0.00 |
| Texas | 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
| Stephens County | 0.0000 |
| Texas | 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, #229
| Stephens County | 0.00 |
| Texas | 208.58 |
| 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 13,352 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Stephens 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: | 1 | Cold: | 4 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 78 |
| Dust Storm: | 1 | Flood: | 1,246 | Hail: | 7,698 | Heat: | 15 | Heavy Snow: | 25 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 27 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 36 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 3,954 | Tropical Storm: | 2 | Wildfire: | 16 | Winter Storm: | 28 | Winter Weather: | 42 |
| Other: | 179 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Stephens County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Stephens County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Stephens County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 54 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Stephens County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.2 | 1979-10-30 | 3 | 32°37'N / 98°59'W | 32°48'N / 98°45'W | 18.60 Miles | 127 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Stephens |
| 11.5 | 1979-05-21 | 3 | 32°34'N / 98°49'W | 2.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Stephens | |
| 18.9 | 1963-04-28 | 2 | 32°59'N / 98°58'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Camp | |||
| 22.9 | 1957-04-19 | 2 | 32°24'N / 98°50'W | 0.30 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Eastland | |
| 24.1 | 1970-10-22 | 2 | 32°23'N / 98°49'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Eastland | |
| 26.6 | 1970-04-25 | 2 | 33°03'N / 98°35'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Young | |
| 28.4 | 1975-03-17 | 2 | 32°16'N / 98°56'W | 32°23'N / 98°54'W | 8.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Eastland |
| 29.0 | 1974-06-04 | 2 | 33°06'N / 98°36'W | 1.00 Mile | 467 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Young | |
| 29.5 | 1976-04-15 | 2 | 33°06'N / 98°35'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Young | |
| 29.6 | 1976-04-15 | 2 | 33°07'N / 98°37'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Young | |
| 30.1 | 1975-06-08 | 2 | 32°59'N / 98°25'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Palo Pinto | |||
| 30.4 | 2003-05-15 | 2 | 32°33'N / 99°18'W | 32°33'N / 99°20'W | 1.50 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Shackelford |
| Brief Description: This was the northern tornado track of the two that paralleled one another. This tornado snapped and stripped large trees and ripped up some T post fence along it's path. It seems that the tree damage was more severe on this track. A warm front was located near Abilene as strong upper level energy moved in from the west. Several thunderstorms developed along and to the north of the front with two storms becoming supercells and producing most of the severe weather that evening. One supercell moved across Fisher county into Jones county with only reports of hail and funnel clouds. Another supercell formed to the south of the first supercell just to the northwest of Abilene. This supercell became the dominant storm just north of Abilene and continued to intensify as it moved across Shackelford county and continued east to near Ranger. One tornado was reported in extreme southern Jones county just north of Abilene and four more tornadoes were confirmed across southern Shackelford county. | |||||||||||
| 31.6 | 1955-04-05 | 2 | 32°59'N / 99°29'W | 33°02'N / 99°04'W | 24.40 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Throckmorton |
| 31.7 | 1977-04-20 | 2 | 32°24'N / 99°18'W | 32°24'N / 99°08'W | 9.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Callahan |
| 32.4 | 2003-05-15 | 2 | 32°30'N / 99°20'W | 32°30'N / 99°19'W | 1.50 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Shackelford |
| Brief Description: Two tornadoes paralleled one another. This tornado was the southern tornado track and destroyed oil storage tanks, oil equipment, a small building, and a couple of recreational vehicles. A trained spotter reported that this tornado was multiple vortex. The survey team noted separate damage areas south and southwest of the main track. A warm front was located near Abilene as strong upper level energy moved in from the west. Several thunderstorms developed along and to the north of the front with two storms becoming supercells and producing most of the severe weather that evening. One supercell moved across Fisher county into Jones county with only reports of hail and funnel clouds. Another supercell formed to the south of the first supercell just to the northwest of Abilene. This supercell became the dominant storm just north of Abilene and continued to intensify as it moved across Shackelford county and continued east to near Ranger. One tornado was reported in extreme southern Jones county just north of Abilene and four more tornadoes were confirmed across southern Shackelford county. | |||||||||||
| 32.9 | 1979-06-06 | 2 | 33°12'N / 98°53'W | 33°13'N / 98°45'W | 7.90 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Young |
| 35.0 | 1979-10-30 | 2 | 33°03'N / 98°38'W | 33°19'N / 98°30'W | 20.00 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Young |
| 35.9 | 1954-02-19 | 2 | 32°13'N / 98°41'W | 32°15'N / 98°39'W | 3.00 Miles | 17 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Eastland |
| 36.3 | 1985-04-21 | 3 | 33°14'N / 99°00'W | 33°15'N / 98°59'W | 1.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 3 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Throckmorton |
| 37.1 | 1980-08-23 | 2 | 32°55'N / 99°26'W | 32°52'N / 99°28'W | 4.30 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Palo Pinto |
| 37.7 | 1985-04-21 | 3 | 33°15'N / 98°59'W | 33°17'N / 98°57'W | 3.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Young |
| 38.1 | 1994-05-29 | 3 | 33°20'N / 98°49'W | 33°14'N / 98°50'W | 7.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5K | 0 | Young |
| Brief Description: A large tornado was video-taped by storm chasers. The tornado was on the ground for 20 minutes and moved south-southeast across open ranch land with the only known damage being to a garage and an oil storage tank. | |||||||||||
| 38.3 | 1979-06-06 | 3 | 33°13'N / 98°37'W | 33°15'N / 98°30'W | 7.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Young |
| 40.3 | 1976-05-31 | 2 | 32°22'N / 98°20'W | 32°19'N / 98°19'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Erath |
| 40.5 | 1982-05-12 | 3 | 32°29'N / 98°14'W | 32°31'N / 98°10'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Erath |
| 40.9 | 1989-06-07 | 2 | 32°23'N / 99°28'W | 32°24'N / 99°22'W | 6.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Callahan |
| 41.2 | 1962-06-01 | 2 | 32°20'N / 99°22'W | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Callahan | |||
| 41.3 | 1994-02-19 | 2 | 32°55'N / 99°31'W | 0.10 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Shackelford | |
| Brief Description: A brief tornado formed in open country on the Nail Ranch. | |||||||||||
| 41.6 | 1973-04-22 | 2 | 32°17'N / 99°19'W | 0.30 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Callahan | |
| 41.8 | 1976-05-25 | 3 | 32°29'N / 99°35'W | 32°28'N / 99°24'W | 10.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Callahan |
| 42.0 | 2002-04-07 | 2 | 33°11'N / 99°20'W | 33°14'N / 99°15'W | 7.00 Miles | 1500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0 | Throckmorton |
| Brief Description: Immediately after the first tornado dissipated, a second larger, more stable multiple vortex tornado developed. Tracking along a 7 mile long path across western Throckmorton County, this tornado would reach over three quarters of a mile wide. Fortunately, the tornado tracked largely over open county and damage was minimal for a tornado of this size. Partially buried fence posts were torn out of the ground and disappeared, while a 300 yard path was swept clean and a large mesquite tree was ripped out of the ground. Severe thunderstorms rolled across much of West Central Texas during the afternoon and evening hours of the 7th. Two supercells produced a total of 5 tornadoes, 3 across the northern Big Country in Throckmorton County and 2 more across the Northern Edwards Plateau in Crockett County. Although one of the tornadoes in Throckmorton was about three quarters of a mile wide and stayed on the ground for 16 minutes, it fortunately crossed open farmland, striking no homes were causing no injuries. Damage was more extensive with the southern supercell, with tennis ball size hail causing tens of thousands of dollars of damage to several ranch houses in eastern Crockett County. Other storms produced hail up to golf ball size across parts of the Concho Valley and Heartland. | |||||||||||
| 43.7 | 1950-04-28 | 4 | 32°25'N / 99°30'W | 32°25'N / 99°29'W | 1.30 Miles | 233 Yards | 5 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Callahan |
| 43.8 | 1982-05-12 | 3 | 32°31'N / 98°10'W | 32°33'N / 98°05'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Palo Pinto |
| 44.1 | 2000-04-30 | 3 | 33°22'N / 98°46'W | 33°22'N / 98°46'W | 13.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Young |
| Brief Description: A large tornado was reported from near the county line (between Elbert and Padgett) to east of Olney. A 100 year old home was completely destroyed one mile south of the Olney Airport. A total of three homes and two motor homes were destroyed. Damage was reported to a nursing home, barns, power lines and trees. Most of the damage, however, occurred in open country. April 30, 2000 - Event Narrative A big day for severe weather across northwest portions of the area. Several outflow boundaries, a dryline, and moist unstable air all helped contribute to thunderstorm development. There were several rounds of thunderstorms, the first wave was in the early morning hours, from about 3 am to 5 am. This activity developed in Young and Palo Pinto counties and moved eastward to affect Parker, Jack, Wise and Tarrant counties. Another event developed in the early evening, generally north and west of a Dallas, Glen Rose, Eastland line. Most of the activity was centered on Young, Jack, and Stephens county. A large tornado occurred near Olney (Young County) during this event. A continuation of aa tornado that began in Throckmorton county. | |||||||||||
| 44.4 | 1993-10-12 | 2 | 32°07'N / 98°37'W | 25.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 12 | 5.0M | 0 | Comanche | |
| Brief Description: Ten houses were destroyed, and 12 persons were injured. | |||||||||||
| 44.6 | 1994-05-29 | 2 | 32°11'N / 99°12'W | 32°07'N / 99°09'W | 6.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 500K | 0 | Callahan |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Cottonwood and moved southeast through Cross Plains doing heavy damage. Eighteen homes were destroyed and one hundred were damaged. Ninety percent of the businesses in town were damaged. | |||||||||||
| 44.8 | 1961-05-07 | 3 | 32°56'N / 99°35'W | 32°58'N / 99°33'W | 3.60 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Shackelford |
| 45.2 | 1966-04-10 | 2 | 33°21'N / 98°35'W | 1.00 Mile | 133 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Young | |
| 45.2 | 1969-06-19 | 2 | 32°47'N / 99°37'W | 0.10 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jones | |
| 46.0 | 1976-04-19 | 3 | 32°04'N / 98°53'W | 2.20 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Comanche | |
| 46.3 | 1985-04-21 | 2 | 33°23'N / 98°55'W | 33°25'N / 98°52'W | 2.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Young |
| 47.3 | 1985-04-21 | 2 | 33°25'N / 98°52'W | 33°25'N / 98°50'W | 2.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Archer |
| 47.6 | 1951-05-18 | 4 | 33°25'N / 98°45'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 2 | 100 | 2.5M | 0 | Young | |
| 47.8 | 1959-09-03 | 2 | 32°45'N / 98°01'W | 0.30 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Parker | |
| 48.1 | 1976-05-25 | 3 | 32°30'N / 99°39'W | 32°29'N / 99°35'W | 4.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Taylor |
| 48.3 | 1955-04-05 | 2 | 32°57'N / 99°46'W | 32°59'N / 99°29'W | 16.60 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Haskell |
| 48.3 | 1958-11-17 | 2 | 33°23'N / 98°46'W | 33°28'N / 98°41'W | 7.60 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Young |
| 48.6 | 1990-04-25 | 2 | 32°06'N / 98°27'W | 32°08'N / 98°25'W | 2.80 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Erath |
| 48.6 | 1955-09-25 | 2 | 33°26'N / 98°46'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Young | |
| 49.3 | 1979-10-30 | 2 | 33°19'N / 98°30'W | 33°25'N / 98°24'W | 9.10 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jack |
| 49.4 | 1976-05-26 | 3 | 32°31'N / 99°39'W | 1.00 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jones | |
| 49.5 | 1990-04-25 | 2 | 32°05'N / 98°28'W | 32°06'N / 98°27'W | 1.20 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Comanche |
| 49.9 | 1965-04-14 | 2 | 33°03'N / 98°04'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jack | |
| 50.0 | 1976-05-25 | 3 | 32°34'N / 99°41'W | 32°30'N / 99°39'W | 5.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Jones |
* 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.