Upper Tract, WV Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Upper Tract is about the same as West Virginia average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Upper Tract is lower than West Virginia average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #375
| Upper Tract, WV | 0.04 |
| West Virginia | 0.06 |
| 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
| Upper Tract, WV | 0.0000 |
| West Virginia | 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, #540
| Upper Tract, WV | 23.25 |
| West Virginia | 34.13 |
| 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 1,771 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Upper Tract, WV 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: | 17 | Dense Fog: | 9 | Drought: | 11 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 409 | Hail: | 292 | Heat: | 21 | Heavy Snow: | 34 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 9 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 29 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 682 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 11 | Winter Storm: | 35 | Winter Weather: | 32 |
| Other: | 179 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Upper Tract, WV.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Upper Tract, WV.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Upper Tract, WV.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 12 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Upper Tract, WV.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 24.9 | 1980-07-09 | 2 | 38°48'N / 79°43'W | 0.30 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Randolph | |
| 35.0 | 2002-04-28 | 2 | 38°41'N / 78°40'W | 38°41'N / 78°35'W | 4.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 2 | 1.6M | 0 | Shenandoah |
| Brief Description: A tornado injured 2 people, destroyed 4 homes, damaged 56 additional homes and 36 agricultural structures, downed numerous trees, and blew over a tractor-trailer on Interstate 81. A long-lived supercell thunderstorm formed over northwest Rockingham County during the afternoon of the 28th. This severe storm moved east at 45 MPH, damaging property all of the way to the Potomac River. This same storm later produced a devastating F4 tornado in La Plata, MD. While the storm moved through North Central Virginia, it produced an F2 tornado in Shenandoah County, a significant funnel cloud in Fauquier County, large hail, heavy downpours, and scattered wind damage. In Shenandoah County, an F2 tornado touched down just east of Quicksburg near the intersection of Quicksburg Road and Old Bridge Road. The tornado stayed on the ground for 4 miles before it dissipated while moving up the west side of Massanutten Mountain. The twister was estimated to be about 75 yards wide and it caused a total of $1.6 million in damage. Along the path of the tornado, three residential structures were destroyed, 12 structures were heavily damaged, and 15 had minor damage. Four poultry houses and 15 barns were destroyed. Five poultry houses, two silos, and a mile of fencing was also damaged. On Old Bridge Road, a silo and three barns were damaged. Airborne roof debris and high winds hit a tractor-trailer on I-81 and caused it to flip onto its side. The driver of the tractor-trailer was treated for minor injuries. The tornado moved across I-81 and Route 11 into the Kay Hill subdivision. Homes were damaged and trees were downed on Lower and Upper Forge Road. A mobile home on Mantz Drive was destroyed. The tornado moved east across Smith Creek to Smith Creek Road and Franwood Lane where it caused significant damage. A two-story home just off Smith Creek Road was severely damaged by debris from a neighbor's 60-foot-high grain silo. A woman inside the structure was treated for bruises. On Franwood Lane, two turkey houses were destroyed and four were severely damaged. One dog that lived on the property was killed and another was injured. A cat was never found. A shed was damaged and work equipment was scattered across the property. At Franwood Farms Airport, 5 people took shelter from the storm in a hangar. A person in the hangar said the walls kept coming closer together as the tornado approached and eventually the roof blew off the building. The tornado also flipped a plane on the landing strip. The tornado's path was visible up to two miles east of Franwood Farms through a path of damaged trees in the forest. The path of tree damage ended as the topography sloped up Massanutten Mountain into George Washington National Forest. In addition, an orchard west of Mt. Jackson just north of the tornado's path, sustained hail damage. In Rockingham County, dime sized hail fell in Bergton for ten minutes. In Page County, golf ball sized hail fell in Rileyville. Power lines were downed in Stanley. In Culpeper County, a tree was downed onto Route 522 near Route 633 in Norman. In Fauquier County, a funnel cloud was photographed by a meteorologist on a hill near Fauquier Springs. The time series of photos shows the funnel never reaching the ground. High winds downed a large tree and utility poles onto Harts Mill and Spriggs roads about 5 miles west of Warrenton. In New Baltimore, dime sized hail was reported. In Prince William County, quarter sized hail fell in Woodbridge and Manassas. Golf ball sized hail caused property damage in Dale City. A total of 2.20 inches of rain fell in Canova as the storm passed through. | |||||||||||
| 39.6 | 1980-06-03 | 3 | 39°23'N / 79°29'W | 39°21'N / 79°23'W | 5.60 Miles | 117 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Garrett |
| 39.8 | 1967-05-19 | 3 | 39°23'N / 79°20'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 1 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Garrett | |
| 41.1 | 1998-06-02 | 2 | 39°23'N / 79°03'W | 39°20'N / 78°52'W | 10.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 100K | Mineral |
| Brief Description: The combination of an upper-level disturbance, increasing atmospheric shear, and ample instability set the stage for a major severe weather episode across portions of eastern West Virginia during the late afternoon and evening. The episode was highlighted by supercell thunderstorms which produced two multi-county tornadoes and several instances of large hail. For many residents of the Potomac highlands, the storms were a watershed event; the locals believed that tornadoes "like those in the midwest and Great Plains" could never strike. The first twister, originally associated with a supercell which had produced a long (11-13 mile track) tornado in Somerset Co, Pennsylvania, re-emerged in extreme northeastern Mineral Co just east of Wagoner. The storm crossed into Hampshire Co, then passed an Allegheny Power substation before causing minor damage at some homes just north of Donaldson. Damage included a destroyed gazebo, stripped siding/trim from homes, and several uprooted or snapped trees. The tornado crossed River Mountain, causing damage primarily to forested areas. The path continued across the South Branch of the Potomac River before the tornado dissipated just outside the town of Levels. The second tornado produced significantly more property damage. Initial reports of a funnel cloud over Bloomington, Maryland (Garrett Co) became prophetic as the first touchdown occurred 5 miles southwest of Keyser. Damage increased as the storm descended the Allegheny front range (Green Mountain). A car was blown over, a garage destroyed, and several trees were snapped or uprooted. A pine tree landed on one home, another home sustained minor damage, and a nearby mobile home had its skirting blown off. The twister crossed New Creek Mountain, levelling numerous trees in heavily forested areas. Damage intensified after the tornado descended the mountain. One mobile home was destroyed - and, after the storm crossed federal highway 220, more tree damage was noted, as was minor damage to homes and extensive damage to outbuildings. The storm continued along federal highway(s) 50/220 to Ridgeville, rolling one mobile home, causing minor damage to nearby buildings, and destroying a barn near the Mill Creek Country Club just west of Burlington. From there, the tornado continued over Patterson Creek Mountain and into Hampshire Co, where several mobile homes were damaged or rolled along Davy Road. Five persons in one of the homes sustained minor injuries; only one accepted transport to a local hospital for head trauma. A station wagon was completely turned around and sustained minor damage. The twister then tracked three miles south of Junction, where it likely dissipated. Hail was associated with each mini-supercell - and several residents, including fruit farmers, noted varying amounts of damage due to prolonged and, in some cases, sizeable hail. One grower reported total damage to his orchard (near Levels); other damage was seen in the form of stripped leaves and downed small limbs. Conditions quieted after the final supercell (that which produced the second tornado) passed. | |||||||||||
| 41.2 | 1977-06-20 | 2 | 39°24'N / 79°29'W | 39°22'N / 79°27'W | 1.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Garrett |
| 41.6 | 1952-04-05 | 2 | 38°22'N / 78°44'W | 38°25'N / 78°40'W | 4.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rockingham |
| 41.8 | 1960-08-06 | 2 | 38°28'N / 78°37'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Rockingham | |||
| 45.8 | 1977-06-20 | 2 | 39°29'N / 79°33'W | 39°24'N / 79°29'W | 6.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Preston |
| 46.9 | 1952-04-05 | 2 | 38°13'N / 78°50'W | 1.00 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Augusta | |
| 49.1 | 1980-06-03 | 3 | 39°30'N / 79°52'W | 39°23'N / 79°29'W | 21.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Preston |
| 49.2 | 1990-05-04 | 2 | 38°06'N / 79°20'W | 7.00 Miles | 27 Yards | 2 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Augusta | |
* 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.