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Washington County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes

 
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The chance of earthquake damage in Washington County is about the same as Indiana average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Washington County is lower than Indiana average and is much higher than the national average.

Topics:Earthquake IndexVolcano IndexTornado IndexOther Weather Extremes EventsVolcanos NearbyHistorical Earthquake EventsHistorical Tornado Events

Earthquake Index, #27

Washington County
0.06
Indiana
0.12
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

Washington County
0.0000
Indiana
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, #40

Washington County
254.73
Indiana
265.56
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 16,080 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Washington County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:

TypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCountTypeCount
Avalanche:0Blizzard:2Cold:55Dense Fog:44Drought:29
Dust Storm:0Flood:2,780Hail:3,641Heat:49Heavy Snow:117
High Surf:0Hurricane:0Ice Storm:45Landslide:0Strong Wind:119
Thunderstorm Winds:8,343Tropical Storm:0Wildfire:1Winter Storm:141Winter Weather:65
Other:649 

Volcanos Nearby

No volcano is found in or near Washington County.

Historical Earthquake Events

No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Washington County.

No historical earthquake events found in or near Washington County.

Historical Tornado Events

A total of 96 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Washington County.

Distance (miles)DateMagnitudeStart Lat/LogEnd Lat/LogLengthWidthFatalitiesInjuriesProperty DamageCrop DamageAffected County
0.61956-04-03238°36'N / 86°07'W0122.5M0Washington
1.41956-03-07238°35'N / 86°07'W1.00 Mile33 Yards0025K0Washington
3.81963-03-16238°34'N / 86°03'W1.00 Mile800 Yards003K0Washington
3.91990-06-02238°35'N / 86°04'W38°36'N / 86°00'W4.50 Miles150 Yards02250K0Washington
9.01985-04-05238°30'N / 86°00'W1.00 Mile10 Yards002.5M0Washington
10.71963-04-19338°16'N / 86°36'W38°59'N / 86°00'W59.10 Miles1400 Yards00250K0Lawrence
11.21990-06-02338°45'N / 86°06'W38°45'N / 85°57'W8.00 Miles150 Yards00250K0Washington
11.51974-04-03538°25'N / 86°05'W38°28'N / 86°00'W5.70 Miles33 Yards1120K0Washington
12.41986-03-10238°41'N / 85°56'W38°41'N / 85°52'W3.00 Miles300 Yards002.5M0Washington
13.71974-04-03538°28'N / 86°00'W38°36'N / 85°44'W17.00 Miles33 Yards1230K0Clark
15.11985-04-05238°24'N / 86°13'W1.00 Mile17 Yards0025K0Harrison
15.91974-04-03338°46'N / 86°18'W38°48'N / 86°16'W2.30 Miles177 Yards0025.0M0Lawrence
15.91996-04-20238°23'N / 86°01'W38°23'N / 86°00'W1.00 Mile100 Yards01250K0Floyd
 Brief Description: 6 houses were damaged 2 miles west of Greenville due to a brief F2 tornado. Also, mobile homes were overturned near the intersection of Georgetown and Greenville Roads, and a rescue unit was deployed. There were no serious injuries, however. One man was in his mobile home when the tornado struck. The tornado sent the mobile home flying, but the man only had a few cuts. Also, a roof off one house was was lifted up by the tornado and then set back down perfectly with only a few shingles missing.
16.51990-06-02338°45'N / 85°57'W38°47'N / 85°49'W8.00 Miles150 Yards00250K0Jackson
17.21963-01-11238°41'N / 85°51'W38°44'N / 85°47'W5.10 Miles150 Yards0025K0Scott
17.31974-04-03538°18'N / 86°17'W38°25'N / 86°05'W13.50 Miles33 Yards2340K0Harrison
18.41986-03-10238°41'N / 85°52'W38°47'N / 85°45'W9.00 Miles300 Yards0252.5M0Scott
18.61961-03-06238°45'N / 85°49'W1.00 Mile33 Yards03250K0Scott
18.82004-05-27238°30'N / 85°59'W38°25'N / 85°38'W17.90 Miles75 Yards001.0M0Clark
 Brief Description: A tornado moved from Washington County, Indiana into western Clark County in the vicinity of Borden. It briefly reached F2 intensity in the Borden area, blowing the roofs off several homes. The roof was blown off an elementary school while a graduation was in progress, but no injuries were reported. In all, the tornado destroyed or damaged 10 homes in the Borden area. The tornado continued moving east southeast across Clark County, lifting intermittently. Several witnesses spotted the tornado as it moved south of Charlestown. It caused some F1 damage in the Stacy Road and Bethany Road areas, before lifting southeast of Charlestown.
19.11968-08-09238°41'N / 85°46'W0025K0Scott
19.81990-06-02338°22'N / 85°57'W38°24'N / 85°47'W8.30 Miles300 Yards072.5M0Floyd
19.81954-08-01238°33'N / 86°28'W003K0Orange
21.01974-04-03538°36'N / 85°44'W38°38'N / 85°42'W1.90 Miles33 Yards0100K0Scott
21.51974-04-03438°33'N / 85°45'W38°36'N / 85°40'W5.40 Miles1200 Yards00250.0M0Clark
22.41990-06-02438°51'N / 86°17'W39°00'N / 85°57'W18.00 Miles200 Yards092.5M0Jackson
22.51974-04-03338°48'N / 86°16'W39°03'N / 85°53'W26.80 Miles177 Yards1210K0Jackson
22.91990-06-02338°47'N / 85°49'W38°47'N / 85°41'W6.00 Miles150 Yards00250K0Scott
22.91990-06-02338°24'N / 85°47'W38°24'N / 85°45'W3.70 Miles300 Yards002.5M0Clark
23.21959-02-10238°44'N / 86°30'W00250K0Lawrence
24.31963-04-19238°51'N / 85°54'W38°49'N / 85°38'W14.50 Miles1300 Yards00250K0Jackson
25.31990-06-02438°47'N / 86°32'W38°54'N / 86°23'W11.00 Miles400 Yards1512.5M0Lawrence
25.91974-04-03438°36'N / 85°40'W38°39'N / 85°35'W5.20 Miles1200 Yards1150K0Scott
26.01955-03-01238°50'N / 86°29'W1.50 Miles300 Yards0025K0Lawrence
26.51985-04-05238°39'N / 85°37'W2.00 Miles17 Yards003K0Scott
26.81990-06-02238°14'N / 86°18'W38°14'N / 86°14'W3.00 Miles100 Yards00250K0Harrison
26.91996-05-08238°58'N / 85°58'W38°58'N / 85°54'W5.50 Miles200 Yards001.3M0Jackson
 Brief Description: A strong tornado developed just west of Seymour and moved across the downtown area causing major damage before lifting. In all, nine businesses sustained major damage, eighty-eight homes were damaged and seven homes were destroyed. Three mobile homes were also destroyed. The Seymour highschool also received damage.
27.31976-09-26338°56'N / 85°54'W38°57'N / 85°48'W4.90 Miles100 Yards1102.5M0Jackson
28.51990-06-02238°15'N / 86°26'W38°14'N / 86°18'W8.00 Miles100 Yards09250K0Crawford
28.81974-04-03538°12'N / 86°30'W38°18'N / 86°17'W13.60 Miles33 Yards010K0Crawford
29.01990-06-02438°40'N / 86°39'W38°41'N / 86°37'W1.30 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Lawrence
29.51990-06-02338°34'N / 85°38'W38°35'N / 85°29'W7.20 Miles440 Yards04250K0Clark
30.71990-06-02438°41'N / 86°41'W38°40'N / 86°39'W2.00 Miles200 Yards002.5M0Orange
30.81996-05-28238°10'N / 86°19'W38°09'N / 86°03'W10.00 Miles575 Yards0000Harrison
 Brief Description: A classic supercell thunderstorm formed over southern Dubois county and moved across Crawford and Harrison counties before moving across north central and east central Kentucky. The first tornado that the supercell produced was across Harrison county. The tornado first appeared across the far western part of the county in the southern portion of the Harrison State Forest. The tornado moved 10 miles to just 1 mile south of New Middletown before dissapating. It snapped and debarked numerous trees in rural areas and was estimated as an F2 on the Fujita scale with winds estimated at 150 mph. The path length was estimated to 1/3 of a mile.
31.42009-03-08338°51'N / 86°36'W38°51'N / 86°35'W1.00 Mile1408 Yards01420K0KLawrence
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This brief but powerful tornado had a steady track to the east-northeast, creating damage consistent of an EF3 strength tornado. A rating of EF3 corresponds with winds of 136 to 165 MPH. The maximum width of the tornado was approximately 1/8 mile. It completely destroyed the above ground portions of two homes, seriously damaged a trailer home, and created lesser damage to two other homes. It picked a full size school bus up, turned it around and onto its side, and moved it uphill onto the foundation of what had been an occupied home. The damage estimate is very rough. EPISODE NARRATIVE: By late morning a warm front stretched approximately from low pressure over northeast Missouri through central Illinois to between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana while the cold front trailed from the low into Oklahoma. At 1040 EST tornado watch number 49 was issued for much of western Indiana, much of Illinois, and locations south, effective until 1600 EST. National Weather Service radar showed scattered storms in the watch area in Indiana, better organized storms firing up over eastern Iowa and western Illinois, and an area of rain north of the warm front. At 1400 EST radar showed a broken line of storms with isolated supercells and line segments extending from northern Indiana south-southwestward through southern Indiana into western Kentucky with an eastward movement at 40-45 knots along central and northern portions of the line. The thermodynamic environment was marginally unstable but becoming more unstable with time. Supporting factors for severe weather were: large-scale atmospheric ascent, forcing associated with an ejecting short wave trough, significant shear, and increasing sunshine along and behind the warm front as it lifted north. At 1343 EST the first severe weather report occurred with a measured thunderstorm wind gust of 91 MPH in Vincennes in Knox county. An additional tornado watch, watch number 50, was issued at 1355 EST to cover the rest of Indiana east of watch number 49. At this point 90+ knot mid-level winds and 55+ knot 850 millibar winds were across the region. Portions of the watches were canceled starting shortly before 1600 EST. By the end of the severe weather episode an EF3 tornado had touched down in Lawrence County just west of Bedford. Portions of Daviess county experienced wind gusts of 80 to 90 MPH, while Tippecanoe, Clinton and Howard Counties had gusts from 60 to 70 mph. Significant damage occurred to several homes and farms in Lawrence County.
31.41990-06-02338°47'N / 85°41'W38°51'N / 85°30'W9.00 Miles150 Yards00250K0Jefferson
31.81957-04-05238°59'N / 86°26'W003K0Lawrence
31.81959-02-10238°34'N / 85°31'W0025K0Clark
31.81961-07-23238°34'N / 85°31'W0025K0Clark
32.11985-04-05238°44'N / 85°32'W1.00 Mile17 Yards0025K0Jefferson
32.41967-04-21238°52'N / 85°39'W38°53'N / 85°35'W3.30 Miles33 Yards0125K0Jennings
33.01965-10-07238°44'N / 85°31'W2.00 Miles100 Yards0025K0Jefferson
33.11976-09-26338°48'N / 85°40'W38°45'N / 85°24'W14.60 Miles300 Yards11250K0Jefferson
33.22007-10-18338°28'N / 85°33'W38°30'N / 85°28'W5.00 Miles440 Yards001.0M10KClark
 Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An EF-3 tornado touched down near Bull Creek Road, and was on the ground intermittently before lifting near the end of Fulton Road, just short of the Ohio River. The greatest damage occurred about 10 miles east northeast of Charlestown, where a recently constructed two story home was blown off its basement and destroyed. Two large barns, a stable, a silo, and four vehicles were also damaged or destroyed on the same property. Ten other homes were damaged, with four of them receiving severe damage. Five barns and several other outbuildings were destroyed. The tornado left scour marks for nearly one half mile through corn and bean fields between Bull Creek Road and Church Road just after its initial touchdown. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A cold front with strong upper level support collided with a very moist air mass over the lower Ohio Valley. Widespread severe thunderstorms resulted, along with three confirmed tornadoes in south central Indiana. The severe storms and tornadoes produced property damage, widespread areas with downed trees and power lines, and some large hail.
34.21963-04-19338°59'N / 86°00'W39°03'N / 85°31'W26.20 Miles33 Yards000K0Lawrence
34.41974-04-03438°12'N / 85°45'W38°19'N / 85°32'W14.20 Miles33 Yards32250K0Jefferson
34.51968-04-14339°04'N / 85°58'W39°06'N / 85°55'W3.30 Miles33 Yards00250K0Bartholomew
35.41990-06-02338°35'N / 85°29'W38°35'N / 85°25'W3.80 Miles440 Yards00250K0Jefferson
35.71974-04-03339°03'N / 85°53'W39°06'N / 85°48'W5.40 Miles177 Yards000K0Bartholomew
36.01967-04-21238°53'N / 85°35'W38°54'N / 85°31'W3.00 Miles33 Yards0125K0Jefferson
36.91974-04-03438°19'N / 85°32'W38°22'N / 85°29'W4.30 Miles33 Yards000K0Oldham
36.91974-05-30238°40'N / 86°47'W2.00 Miles50 Yards0025K0Martin
37.51990-06-02438°34'N / 86°55'W38°41'N / 86°41'W14.30 Miles200 Yards042.5M0Martin
37.91964-03-25238°11'N / 85°43'W38°13'N / 85°32'W10.30 Miles33 Yards01250K0Jefferson
38.41967-10-24338°29'N / 86°48'W0125K0Dubois
38.71974-04-03438°39'N / 85°35'W38°55'N / 85°16'W25.00 Miles1200 Yards101750K0Jefferson
39.01999-04-09238°53'N / 85°30'W38°54'N / 85°28'W2.00 Miles100 Yards00100K0Jefferson
 Brief Description: A tornado touched down in Dupont taking the roof off and structurally damaging one home. The storm also damaged to a lesser extent several homes and barns along its path. The storm then intensified as it moved into Jennings county.
39.11974-04-03339°06'N / 85°48'W39°07'N / 85°46'W1.30 Miles177 Yards050K0Jennings
39.81974-04-03538°00'N / 86°10'W38°03'N / 86°06'W4.90 Miles440 Yards0025K0Harrison
39.81990-06-02338°35'N / 85°25'W38°36'N / 85°19'W6.00 Miles50 Yards012.5M0Trimble
40.11990-06-02338°24'N / 85°30'W38°26'N / 85°18'W8.00 Miles73 Yards052.5M0Oldham
41.41990-06-02238°59'N / 85°47'W39°08'N / 85°26'W18.00 Miles60 Yards00250K0Jennings
41.51999-04-09338°55'N / 85°27'W38°55'N / 85°27'W1.00 Mile400 Yards00250K0Jennings
 Brief Description: A strong F3 tornado moved across the extreme southeastern part of the county significantly damaging 2 homes and destroying 4 barns. 2 high tension power line towers were toppled as well. The tornado then moved northeast out of the Indianapolis CWA.
41.71963-03-19238°24'N / 86°50'W00250K0Dubois
42.51964-03-25238°13'N / 85°32'W38°13'N / 85°27'W4.70 Miles33 Yards00250K0Jefferson
42.81971-05-24239°12'N / 85°58'W39°13'N / 85°56'W002.5M0Bartholomew
42.81974-04-03538°04'N / 86°45'W38°12'N / 86°30'W16.30 Miles33 Yards26250.0M0Perry
43.01974-04-03439°08'N / 85°43'W39°09'N / 85°42'W0025.0M0Bartholomew
43.31990-06-02338°41'N / 86°54'W38°41'N / 86°54'W0.50 Mile200 Yards00250K0Martin
45.21996-05-28438°06'N / 85°44'W38°03'N / 85°29'W15.00 Miles575 Yards010100.0M0Bullitt
 Brief Description: The supercell that crossed the Ohio River from Harrison county produced the second a most destructive tornado in its long history. This second tornado formed 4 miles northwest of Brooks at 540 pm est in extreme south central Jefferson county. The tornado was initially estimated at F0-F1 intensity and moved east-southeast and quickly strengthened as it moved into north central Bullitt county near Holsclaw Hill road and Top Hill road where numerous trees were snapped off and some tree bark was stripped. At 545 pm est, the tronado then crossed near the Brooks exit at interstate 65 turning over 5 tractor trailers and damaging a Comfort Inn, Arby's and a Cracker Barrel. From there the tornado continued into the towns of Pioneer Village, Hillview and Mount Washington. Widespread severe structural damage occurred to over 1000 homes in these towns. 10 people required hospital care. The worst injury was from a man who was treated for broken ribs. The tornado was rated a strong F3 in Pioneer Village and Hillview, where winds were estimated at around 200 mph. F4 damage occurred to at least one house in Hillview which was totally leveled. Here wind speeds were estimated at 210 to 220 mph. The path width across Bullitt county was around 1/3 of a mile. Eyewitnesses and the National Weather Service survey as well as video footage revealed multiple-vortices within the parent tornado. This multiple-vortex tornado appeared to consolidate into one funnel as it moved through the Northfield subdivision near Mount Washington at 558 pm est. Here, the tornado was categorized as an F3 with wind speeds up to 200 mph. The tornado then moved into Spencer County 3 miles west of Mount Washington at 608 pm est. The tornado passed over Route 55, 1 1/2 miles south of Route 44 and Taylorsville at around 630 pm est damaging a few homes. It then passed very close to the Taylorsville Lake Dam and the ranger station at the Taylorsville lake. There, it sank and destroyed several boats, snapped and debarked numerous trees while maintaining its F3 intensity. The path width here was from 1/3 to 1/2 of a mile. Damage patterns again again suggesting multiple-vortices. The tornado then dissapated around 645 pm est just east of Little Mount. The total path length across the 3 countiess was estimated at 30 miles.
45.21973-06-26239°10'N / 86°33'W39°14'N / 86°20'W12.40 Miles50 Yards00250K0Monroe
45.21992-11-22239°09'N / 85°44'W39°12'N / 85°40'W4.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Bartholomew
45.51974-04-03537°54'N / 86°18'W38°00'N / 86°10'W10.00 Miles440 Yards312572.5M0Meade
45.91954-04-06238°14'N / 86°51'W38°16'N / 86°48'W3.30 Miles33 Yards0025K0Dubois
46.11969-05-10239°13'N / 85°47'W39°11'N / 85°40'W6.40 Miles33 Yards00250K0Bartholomew
46.21990-06-02338°26'N / 85°18'W38°24'N / 85°16'W2.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Henry
46.31970-04-19239°08'N / 86°39'W39°10'N / 86°33'W5.60 Miles30 Yards06250K0Monroe
46.71964-03-25238°17'N / 85°27'W38°30'N / 85°07'W23.40 Miles33 Yards00250K0Shelby
47.21990-06-02338°39'N / 87°03'W38°41'N / 86°54'W6.50 Miles200 Yards00250K0Daviess
47.31973-05-27239°10'N / 86°36'W30.00 Miles50 Yards00250K0Monroe
48.01971-05-06238°38'N / 87°15'W38°29'N / 86°44'W29.70 Miles50 Yards00250K0Daviess
48.21999-04-09338°53'N / 85°25'W38°59'N / 85°13'W15.00 Miles450 Yards021.4M0Ripley
 Brief Description: A tornado moved into Jefferson Proving Grounds from Jennings county and moved northeast across the county. Four mobile homes were destroyed and 4 were damaged. One house was destroyed while 8 had heavy damage and 20 minor damage. Twenty-one barns were destroyed, 6 had heavy damage, and 14 received minor damage. Seventeen outbuildings were destroyed while 4 had heavy damage and 11 minor damage. Four vehicles received major damage and 3 had minor damage. Five pieces of farm equipment were destroyed while 4 incurred major damage. Seven livestock were lost with 2 being killed and 2 injured. Trees were also downed in the path.
48.61992-11-22239°13'N / 85°40'W39°13'N / 85°40'W1.00 Mile50 Yards00250K0Decatur
48.71974-04-01338°30'N / 85°14'W38°32'N / 85°11'W3.30 Miles300 Yards1202.5M0Henry
48.81957-05-22238°37'N / 85°12'W0.80 Mile440 Yards0025K0Carroll
48.91974-04-03438°46'N / 85°16'W38°50'N / 85°12'W5.70 Miles300 Yards0025.0M0Jefferson
49.42004-07-30239°03'N / 85°25'W39°04'N / 85°23'W2.00 Miles133 Yards02465K0Ripley
 Brief Description: A tornado moved along a two mile path from southwest of Holton into town. One house, one mobile home and two small planes were destroyed. Thirty-six other structures sustained major damage. Numerous trees were uprooted along the path of the tornado.


* 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.


 
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