Madison County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Nebraska Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Madison County is about the same as Nebraska average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Madison County is about the same as Nebraska average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #31
| Madison County | 0.02 |
| Nebraska | 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
| Madison County | 0.0000 |
| Nebraska | 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, #36
| Madison County | 198.55 |
| Nebraska | 205.07 |
| 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 13,253 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Madison 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: | 77 | Cold: | 85 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 16 |
| Dust Storm: | 2 | Flood: | 777 | Hail: | 7,010 | Heat: | 18 | Heavy Snow: | 68 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 23 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 141 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,426 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 1 | Winter Storm: | 207 | Winter Weather: | 74 |
| Other: | 327 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Madison County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 1 historical earthquake event that had a recorded magnitude of 3.5 or above found in or near Madison County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 45.6 | 1975-05-13 | 4.3 | N/A | 42.12 | -98.45 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 60 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Madison County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.2 | 1967-06-13 | 2 | 41°45'N / 97°47'W | 41°59'N / 97°23'W | 26.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Madison |
| 4.5 | 1954-05-30 | 4 | 41°45'N / 97°43'W | 41°59'N / 97°22'W | 24.00 Miles | 167 Yards | 6 | 23 | 2.5M | 0 | Madison |
| 4.7 | 1969-06-25 | 2 | 41°45'N / 97°46'W | 41°56'N / 97°27'W | 20.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Madison |
| 5.1 | 1991-06-04 | 2 | 41°54'N / 97°33'W | 41°54'N / 97°28'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Madison |
| 5.2 | 1972-07-20 | 2 | 41°51'N / 97°40'W | 0.30 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Madison | |
| 10.3 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°57'N / 97°40'W | 42°10'N / 97°31'W | 16.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Madison |
| 12.3 | 1984-04-25 | 2 | 41°46'N / 97°45'W | 0.50 Mile | 3 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Madison | |
| 13.1 | 1954-05-30 | 4 | 41°44'N / 97°44'W | 41°45'N / 97°43'W | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Platte | ||
| 14.1 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 41°54'N / 97°54'W | 42°03'N / 97°50'W | 10.60 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Antelope |
| 15.4 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 42°03'N / 97°50'W | 42°06'N / 97°47'W | 3.60 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Madison |
| 16.2 | 1954-05-30 | 4 | 41°59'N / 97°22'W | 42°03'N / 97°17'W | 5.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Stanton |
| 18.4 | 1984-06-17 | 2 | 41°53'N / 97°15'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Stanton | |
| 20.1 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 42°08'N / 97°36'W | 42°15'N / 97°25'W | 12.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Pierce |
| 22.5 | 1975-05-06 | 4 | 42°12'N / 97°34'W | 42°16'N / 97°32'W | 4.10 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Pierce |
| 23.2 | 1965-05-08 | 4 | 41°55'N / 98°05'W | 42°30'N / 97°33'W | 48.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Antelope |
| 23.3 | 1975-05-06 | 3 | 41°58'N / 97°12'W | 42°12'N / 97°14'W | 15.90 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Stanton |
| 23.5 | 1953-06-07 | 3 | 41°42'N / 98°01'W | 41°49'N / 98°01'W | 8.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Boone |
| 24.6 | 1962-05-21 | 3 | 42°06'N / 97°47'W | 42°26'N / 97°27'W | 28.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Pierce |
| 24.7 | 1970-08-02 | 2 | 41°52'N / 98°05'W | 2.00 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Boone | |
| 25.3 | 1973-06-18 | 2 | 42°21'N / 97°46'W | 42°12'N / 97°31'W | 16.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pierce |
| 25.5 | 1964-05-05 | 2 | 41°23'N / 98°15'W | 41°55'N / 97°40'W | 47.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Nance |
| 26.7 | 1964-05-05 | 4 | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 42°04'N / 97°56'W | 39.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Boone |
| 27.4 | 1960-06-14 | 2 | 42°18'N / 97°42'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Pierce | |
| 27.6 | 1960-06-15 | 2 | 42°17'N / 97°55'W | 42°17'N / 97°41'W | 11.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Antelope |
| 29.5 | 1965-05-08 | 2 | 41°25'N / 97°21'W | 41°44'N / 97°09'W | 24.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Platte |
| 29.6 | 1967-06-13 | 2 | 41°59'N / 97°23'W | 41°05'N / 97°17'W | 62.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Stanton |
| 29.8 | 1980-10-16 | 2 | 42°13'N / 98°01'W | 0.30 Mile | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Antelope | |
| 30.3 | 1977-05-04 | 3 | 41°36'N / 97°08'W | 41°43'N / 97°07'W | 7.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Colfax |
| 32.1 | 1965-05-08 | 4 | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 41°55'N / 98°05'W | 27.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 4 | 53 | 25.0M | 0 | Boone |
| 32.3 | 1966-06-05 | 2 | 41°42'N / 98°10'W | 0.70 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Boone | |
| 32.6 | 1998-06-23 | 2 | 41°29'N / 97°18'W | 41°33'N / 97°13'W | 6.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 17 | 4.0M | 500K | Platte |
| Brief Description: Two farm houses destroyed. Six farm houses severely damaged. One house blown off foundation. Bar destroyed. Center pivots overturned. Severe crop damage. | |||||||||||
| 32.9 | 1964-04-26 | 2 | 41°57'N / 98°10'W | 42°20'N / 98°10'W | 26.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Antelope |
| 34.0 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 42°15'N / 97°25'W | 42°25'N / 97°07'W | 18.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Cedar |
| 36.7 | 1952-08-13 | 3 | 41°28'N / 97°17'W | 41°26'N / 97°13'W | 3.30 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Colfax |
| 36.8 | 1998-06-23 | 2 | 41°36'N / 97°04'W | 41°36'N / 96°59'W | 2.70 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Colfax |
| Brief Description: Debris on highway. | |||||||||||
| 36.9 | 1953-06-19 | 2 | 42°13'N / 97°01'W | 0 | 1 | 3K | 0 | Wayne | |||
| 37.6 | 1964-04-20 | 2 | 42°14'N / 97°01'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wayne | |||
| 38.6 | 1982-05-20 | 2 | 41°34'N / 97°04'W | 41°37'N / 96°55'W | 5.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Colfax |
| 39.8 | 1954-06-17 | 3 | 42°05'N / 97°03'W | 42°07'N / 96°42'W | 17.90 Miles | 163 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Stanton |
| 40.0 | 1967-08-01 | 2 | 41°59'N / 96°50'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cuming | |
| 40.2 | 1975-06-21 | 2 | 42°27'N / 97°54'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Knox | |
| 40.5 | 1955-06-17 | 2 | 42°15'N / 97°06'W | 42°21'N / 96°56'W | 10.60 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wayne |
| 40.7 | 1975-05-06 | 3 | 42°10'N / 97°28'W | 42°49'N / 97°30'W | 44.80 Miles | 90 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Pierce |
| 41.4 | 1963-04-28 | 2 | 41°35'N / 97°01'W | 41°40'N / 96°47'W | 13.10 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Colfax |
| 41.7 | 1955-05-26 | 2 | 42°14'N / 97°00'W | 42°19'N / 96°55'W | 6.50 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wayne |
| 42.0 | 1982-05-20 | 2 | 41°37'N / 96°55'W | 41°37'N / 96°52'W | 2.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Dodge |
| 42.5 | 1970-06-15 | 2 | 42°02'N / 97°25'W | 42°28'N / 96°25'W | 59.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Madison |
| 43.1 | 1964-08-10 | 2 | 42°25'N / 97°07'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cedar | |||
| 44.2 | 1992-05-16 | 2 | 42°24'N / 97°02'W | 42°22'N / 97°01'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cedar |
| 44.4 | 1990-03-13 | 4 | 41°26'N / 97°02'W | 41°27'N / 97°00'W | 4.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Colfax |
| 44.7 | 1965-05-08 | 4 | 41°14'N / 98°40'W | 42°20'N / 98°15'W | 78.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Howard |
| 45.6 | 1962-07-21 | 3 | 41°06'N / 97°47'W | 41°24'N / 97°30'W | 25.20 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Polk |
| 46.7 | 1992-05-16 | 2 | 42°22'N / 97°01'W | 42°21'N / 96°50'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dixon |
| 47.0 | 2003-06-23 | 4 | 42°30'N / 97°19'W | 42°32'N / 97°04'W | 13.00 Miles | 1200 Yards | 1 | 0 | 3.7M | 0 | Cedar |
| Brief Description: An eventual f4 tornado began its destructive path around 6 miles southwest of Coleridge. The tornado moved northeast and crossed the northern sections of the city uprooting trees, downing power lines and destroying a couple of grain bins. A construction business in a garage was also destroyed. The tornado then continued northeast of town hitting a large hog farm. At this farm a 70-year-old man was killed while in a storage shed when a tractor that was flipped by the winds crushed him. Many livestock were also killed by debris or flung through the air by the deadly winds. In one case cattle were carried over a mile then left dead in a pile. The tornado then widened to around 3/4 of a mile, reaching its maximum intensity. Numerous vehicles were tossed at this location and a complete farmstead was flattened. Trees were also stripped and debarked. The tornado remained around 3/4 of a mile wide for a few more miles before turning slightly to the southeast and diminishing, but not before hitting 2 more farmsteads and moving one house off of its foundation. In total, 11 homes received substantial damage and between 100 and 200 utility poles were downed. M70EQ | |||||||||||
| 47.7 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°21'N / 97°04'W | 41°25'N / 96°57'W | 6.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Butler |
| 48.0 | 1964-05-05 | 4 | 41°24'N / 98°23'W | 41°33'N / 98°17'W | 11.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 11 | 25K | 0 | Greeley |
| 48.8 | 2001-10-09 | 2 | 41°15'N / 98°00'W | 41°17'N / 98°00'W | 3.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 25K | Merrick |
| Brief Description: Tornado crossed from Merrick County into Nance County. A powerful upper level low pressure system plowing into an unstable airmass triggered widespread severe weather across south-central Nebraska during the late afternoon and evening hours. As many as nine tornadoes were confirmed and many reports of hail were received. The tornado damage was confined to an area located north and east of Grand Island, which included Merrick, Nance, Polk, Greeley, and Hamilton counties. The tornadoes got going west of Marquette. One twister set down in Hamilton county and crossed the Platte River southeast of Chapman. Damage to outbuildings was of most significance. Other tornadoes were reported in the Marquette area, with one tornado on the ground for 12 miles from south of Marquette to southeast of Hordville. This tornado was rated an F1 and produced minor structural damage to buildings and grain bins at several farms. Power lines were lost and several trees were blown over. Numerous center pivot irrigation systems were damaged. Just before 6 pm CDT, the most damaging tornado of the day developed near the Polk and Hamilton county line, and proceeded northeast across western Polk county, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Storm chaser reports indicated this tornado frequently became multi-vortex in nature and produced a wide swath of damage. Three miles north of Polk, a home was completely ripped from its foundation and blown into some nearby trees. The tornado was rated an F3 at this point. Along its 18 mile path, the tornado damaged over 20 center pivots, and nearly every farmstead in the path of the tornado sustained damage to the home, outbuildings, machinery or grain bins. This tornado lifted southwest of Silver Creek. Just prior to the F3 tornado in Polk county, an F2 tornado was ripping up a farmstead in northern Merrick county. This tornado was responsible for tearing the roof from a home, destroying two large metal outbuildings and damage to a half-dozen vehicles. The tornado moved north and destroyed a barn on the Nance and Merrick county line, but narrowly missed the home. Window and siding damage was noted at the home. Later that evening, one final tornado was reported. This tornado moved from south of Silver Creek to northeast of Silver Creek just before sunset. The tornado clipped the southeast side of town, resulting in damage to the post office, several cars, trees, and 13 residences in town. Fortunately, most of the damage was minor. | |||||||||||
| 49.5 | 1963-06-09 | 2 | 42°23'N / 97°20'W | 42°35'N / 96°43'W | 34.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cedar |
| 49.6 | 1954-06-17 | 3 | 42°07'N / 96°42'W | 42°12'N / 96°42'W | 5.70 Miles | 163 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Thurston |
| 50.0 | 1964-05-05 | 5 | 41°03'N / 97°34'W | 41°21'N / 97°16'W | 25.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Polk |
* 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.