Potter County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Potter County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Potter County is higher than Texas average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #46
| Potter County | 0.04 |
| 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
| Potter 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, #53
| Potter County | 234.47 |
| 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 9,903 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Potter 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: | 5 | Cold: | 2 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 45 |
| Dust Storm: | 1 | Flood: | 368 | Hail: | 6,958 | Heat: | 2 | Heavy Snow: | 46 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 7 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 86 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,177 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 28 | Winter Storm: | 17 | Winter Weather: | 22 |
| Other: | 139 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Potter 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 Potter County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 44.2 | 1966-07-20 | 4.8 | N/A | 35.7 | -101.2 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 65 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Potter County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 5.7 | 1969-05-02 | 2 | 35°20'N / 101°50'W | 0.10 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Potter | |
| 12.6 | 1973-03-23 | 2 | 35°13'N / 101°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Potter | |
| 12.9 | 1962-06-24 | 2 | 35°14'N / 102°00'W | 1.50 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Potter | |
| 14.3 | 1965-05-04 | 2 | 35°12'N / 101°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Potter | |
| 14.4 | 1988-09-14 | 2 | 35°12'N / 101°49'W | 0.70 Mile | 173 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Randall | |
| 14.7 | 1972-06-21 | 2 | 35°12'N / 101°50'W | 35°12'N / 101°46'W | 4.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Potter |
| 16.3 | 1982-05-09 | 3 | 35°11'N / 102°05'W | 35°17'N / 102°07'W | 6.20 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Potter |
| 19.3 | 1982-05-09 | 3 | 35°09'N / 102°05'W | 35°11'N / 102°05'W | 2.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Randall |
| 20.1 | 1964-08-19 | 2 | 35°41'N / 101°58'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Moore | |
| 20.4 | 1967-06-15 | 2 | 35°07'N / 101°47'W | 0.10 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Randall | |
| 20.8 | 1989-05-16 | 2 | 35°09'N / 102°04'W | 35°04'N / 101°55'W | 10.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Randall |
| 21.4 | 1992-06-27 | 3 | 35°42'N / 101°57'W | 35°43'N / 101°51'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Moore |
| 22.0 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°05'N / 101°50'W | 0.30 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Randall | |
| 23.1 | 1992-06-27 | 4 | 35°35'N / 101°35'W | 35°32'N / 101°29'W | 5.00 Miles | 1583 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Carson |
| 23.1 | 1992-06-27 | 4 | 35°41'N / 101°37'W | 35°35'N / 101°35'W | 5.00 Miles | 1583 Yards | 0 | 7 | 25.0M | 0 | Hutchinson |
| 23.2 | 1992-06-27 | 4 | 35°41'N / 101°44'W | 35°41'N / 101°37'W | 10.00 Miles | 1583 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Moore |
| 24.5 | 1992-06-27 | 2 | 35°38'N / 101°35'W | 35°36'N / 101°31'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Hutchinson |
| 24.8 | 2007-04-21 | 2 | 35°40'N / 101°55'W | 35°51'N / 101°52'W | 12.00 Miles | 704 Yards | 0 | 0 | 8K | 0K | Moore |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado developed approximately one to two miles south of Farm to Market Road 1913 about three miles east of Four Way...and likely dissipated near State Highway 152 five miles east of Dumas. Visible damage was limited to five single power poles snapped...fence downed...and large round hay bales were tossed around. No injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous severe thunderstorms producing large hail...damaging winds...and tornadoes moved north and northeast across the western and central Texas panhandle during the evening hours. The only injuries occurred in Cactus from a tornado...however no fatalities were reported. | |||||||||||
| 27.0 | 1973-04-13 | 2 | 35°12'N / 101°34'W | 35°18'N / 101°20'W | 14.90 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Armstrong |
| 28.9 | 1968-04-02 | 2 | 35°21'N / 101°23'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Carson | |
| 29.2 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 34°59'N / 101°48'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Randall | |
| 29.9 | 1962-06-14 | 2 | 34°58'N / 101°55'W | 1.40 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Randall | |
| 30.4 | 1967-05-05 | 2 | 35°13'N / 101°30'W | 35°20'N / 101°15'W | 16.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Carson |
| 31.9 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 35°01'N / 101°41'W | 35°01'N / 101°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Randall |
| 32.1 | 1961-05-16 | 2 | 35°19'N / 101°20'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Carson | |
| 32.5 | 1987-07-01 | 2 | 35°14'N / 101°22'W | 35°11'N / 101°22'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Carson |
| 32.6 | 1965-05-04 | 2 | 35°40'N / 101°25'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hutchinson | |
| 32.7 | 1989-05-12 | 2 | 35°41'N / 102°26'W | 35°40'N / 102°18'W | 7.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hartley |
| 33.4 | 2001-05-29 | 3 | 35°24'N / 101°23'W | 35°26'N / 101°13'W | 10.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Carson |
| Brief Description: The tornado destroyed an office building associated with a grain elevator...unroofed and severely damaged a nearby home...and tossed a pickup truck and suburban about fifty and one hundred yards respectively. Several cattle and one horse were reported killed or injured from the tornado. As many as fifty power poles and transmission lines were brought down from the storm. The tornado path and width were estimated and an official damage survey was made on the tornado. Severe thunderstorms produced tornadoes and large hail from the central and southern Texas panhandle into the eastern and southeastern Texas panhandle during the evening hours. | |||||||||||
| 34.1 | 1965-06-14 | 2 | 35°52'N / 101°42'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Moore | |||
| 34.3 | 1970-04-17 | 4 | 34°27'N / 102°31'W | 35°22'N / 101°05'W | 103.0 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Randall |
| 34.4 | 1990-06-08 | 2 | 35°17'N / 101°18'W | 2.60 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Carson | |
| 34.7 | 1965-06-09 | 2 | 35°52'N / 101°40'W | 0.20 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Moore | |
| 34.9 | 1987-07-01 | 2 | 35°11'N / 101°22'W | 35°05'N / 101°22'W | 6.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Armstrong |
| 35.2 | 1987-05-25 | 2 | 35°01'N / 101°28'W | 35°00'N / 101°31'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Armstrong |
| 35.3 | 1973-04-13 | 2 | 35°18'N / 101°20'W | 35°33'N / 101°12'W | 18.80 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Armstrong |
| 35.5 | 1982-06-05 | 2 | 35°40'N / 101°23'W | 35°42'N / 101°21'W | 3.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 6 | 2.5M | 0 | Hutchinson |
| 36.9 | 2007-04-21 | 2 | 35°47'N / 102°07'W | 36°03'N / 102°00'W | 20.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 14 | 1.3M | 0K | Moore |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado formed ten miles west southwest of Dumas at 1816 CST and tracked northeast for about twenty miles before exiting Moore county one half of a mile north of Cactus at 1840 CST. The tornado continued in Sherman county for about another four miles...before dissipating at 1852 CST. In Moore county...evidence suggested that the tornado was about three quarters of a mile wide as it passed through the town of Cactus. The most significant damage occurred across the northwest half of Cactus...but most homes and businesses received some damage as a result of this tornado. It is estimated that at least ten mobile homes were demolished and many more left uninhabitable. Fourteen people were injured in Cactus...however there were no fatalities. On April 25...Governor Rick Perry declared a State of Emergency in two proclamations for Moore county as a result of the Cactus tornado. The Governor also requested President Bush to declare a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the county. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous severe thunderstorms producing large hail...damaging winds...and tornadoes moved north and northeast across the western and central Texas panhandle during the evening hours. The only injuries occurred in Cactus from a tornado...however no fatalities were reported. | |||||||||||
| 38.5 | 1987-07-01 | 2 | 35°34'N / 101°17'W | 35°34'N / 101°12'W | 4.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Carson |
| 39.0 | 1973-04-30 | 2 | 35°24'N / 101°12'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Carson | |
| 41.1 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 41.1 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 41.1 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 41.1 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 41.1 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 41.1 | 1971-06-05 | 2 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson | |||
| 41.5 | 1967-06-01 | 2 | 34°56'N / 102°24'W | 34°56'N / 102°19'W | 4.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Deaf Smith |
| 42.3 | 1971-06-05 | 3 | 35°55'N / 101°32'W | 35°55'N / 101°27'W | 4.70 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Hutchinson |
| 42.5 | 2007-04-21 | 2 | 35°10'N / 101°07'W | 35°21'N / 101°12'W | 12.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 72K | 0K | Carson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado formed nine miles east northeast of Claude at 2035 CST and entered Carson county at 2037 CST one and a half miles southwest of Groom. The tornado tracked north and traveled about another ten miles before dissipating at 2110 CST ten miles east of Panhandle. In Carson county...the tornado plowed through a storage area for tractors and other farm equipment. Tractors...turbines...vehicles...cotton presser box cars similar to railroad cars were moved and thrown about in the tornado for considerable distances. Power poles were also damaged. No injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Numerous severe thunderstorms producing large hail...damaging winds...and tornadoes moved north and northeast across the western and central Texas panhandle during the evening hours. The only injuries occurred in Cactus from a tornado...however no fatalities were reported. | |||||||||||
| 43.2 | 2002-05-05 | 2 | 34°45'N / 101°48'W | 34°49'N / 101°43'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 40K | 0 | Randall |
| Brief Description: A damage assessment was made on this tornado. This tornado began in Lubbock's County Warning Area in Swisher county. After the tornado tore through the community of Happy Texas, it moved east northeast and entered the extreme southern sections of Randall county. Two homes received moderate damage from the tornado in Randall county. No injuries or deaths occurred in Randall county. Severe thunderstorms raked across much of the Texas panhandle during the late afternoon and into the evening hours. Large hail and damaging winds along with several tornadoes occurred with these storms with the extreme southern Texas panhandle being hit hardest. No fatalities or injuries occured from the severe weather...although damage was reported from the high winds and large hail. | |||||||||||
| 43.3 | 1951-06-06 | 3 | 35°26'N / 101°11'W | 35°19'N / 101°04'W | 10.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 12 | 250K | 0 | Carson |
| 43.8 | 2010-05-18 | 2 | 35°54'N / 101°28'W | 35°58'N / 101°29'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 40K | 0K | Hutchinson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The tornado touched down three miles south southwest of Pringle or six miles northwest of Stinnett at 1844 CST. The tornado was on the ground for about five miles with a maximum path width of three hundred yards. The tornado moved to the north dissipating at 1900 CST three miles northwest of Pringle. The National Weather Service survey team found significant damage to a farm located on County Road J between County Road 8 and County Road 9. A large portion of the roof was removed from the residence with considerable damage to several small sheds in the vicinity. Numerous trees were stripped with many broken large branches. A pickup truck behind the residence was flipped upside down with the cab smashed. Several power poles were snapped along County Road J just to the east of the residence with additional damage sustained to a few irrigation pivots. A storage bin and large fuel tank were found up to fifty yards to the east northeast of their original locations. One resident was home at the time but no injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms producing many tornadoes along with large hail and strong thunderstorm wind gusts tracked across much of the Texas Panhandle from the early evening hours into the early morning hours. No injuries were reported...however a few of the tornadoes caused some damage. | |||||||||||
| 44.0 | 1971-06-09 | 2 | 36°02'N / 101°49'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sherman | |||
| 44.0 | 1971-06-09 | 2 | 36°02'N / 101°49'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sherman | |||
| 44.0 | 1971-06-09 | 2 | 36°02'N / 101°49'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sherman | |||
| 44.1 | 1967-05-05 | 2 | 36°02'N / 102°00'W | 36°02'N / 101°58'W | 2.30 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Moore |
| 45.5 | 1971-04-19 | 3 | 34°49'N / 102°22'W | 34°52'N / 102°17'W | 6.10 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 24 | 0K | 0 | Deaf Smith |
| 45.9 | 2002-05-05 | 2 | 34°44'N / 101°56'W | 34°44'N / 101°51'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Swisher |
| Brief Description: A large tornado developed west of town. It moved eastward across open country and thus the storm survey team, made up of both NWS personnel and a Texas Tech University wind engineer, could only find damage to power poles and to fence posts. Based on storm chaser video, the large tornado weakened and finally dissipated just west of Happy. | |||||||||||
| 46.0 | 1971-06-09 | 4 | 36°02'N / 101°49'W | 36°05'N / 101°44'W | 5.90 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Sherman |
| 46.1 | 1982-03-18 | 4 | 36°01'N / 101°44'W | 36°04'N / 101°37'W | 6.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Moore |
| 46.1 | 2002-05-05 | 2 | 34°44'N / 101°51'W | 34°44'N / 101°48'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 2 | 4 | 4.0M | 0 | Swisher |
| Brief Description: Storm chaser video indicated that shortly after the large tornado dissipated, another tornado developed just west of town. This tornado tore a 150-yard wide path across the southern part of town. Fifteen homes were destroyed, including at least ten mobile homes, another seventeen received major damage, and eighteen others received minor damage. The storm survey team estimated wind speeds associated with the damage to be in the 115 to 130 mph range. Two fatalities occurred in a mobile home on the southeast side of town; the mobile home was rolled about 50 yards and destroyed. Four injuries also occurred in mobile homes that were in the same area. The church on the west side of town lost 120 feet of its roof and 30 vehicles, including two tractor trailers, were damaged or destroyed. Seventy five utility and telephone poles were snapped. The tornado crossed I-27 and continued to produce significant damage east of town as it struck a home two miles east of Happy on Farm-to-Market Road 1075. Before crossing into southern Randall County about three miles east of Happy, the tornado produced major damage to a second home on Farm-to-Market Road 1075. M37MH, F35MH | |||||||||||
| 46.1 | 1971-10-17 | 3 | 35°22'N / 101°06'W | 35°22'N / 101°03'W | 2.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Carson |
| 46.2 | 1972-08-06 | 2 | 34°44'N / 101°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Swisher | |
| 49.3 | 1982-05-19 | 3 | 35°32'N / 101°02'W | 1.50 Miles | 587 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Gray | |
| 49.6 | 1996-05-25 | 2 | 35°03'N / 102°40'W | 35°01'N / 102°38'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 150K | 0 | Deaf Smith |
| Brief Description: This tornado blew the roof and some exterior walls of a brick veneer home down and destroyed the adjacent barn. Two other homes were seriously damaged. Two farm hands rode out the storm in the brick veneer home without injuries. The track is an estimate. | |||||||||||
* 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.