Roberts County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Roberts County is about the same as South Dakota average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Roberts County is lower than South Dakota average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #48
Roberts County | 0.01 |
South Dakota | 0.05 |
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
Roberts County | 0.0000 |
South Dakota | 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, #32
Roberts County | 80.49 |
South Dakota | 114.73 |
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 8,020 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Roberts 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: | 86 | Cold: | 29 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 14 |
Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 527 | Hail: | 4,064 | Heat: | 5 | Heavy Snow: | 75 |
High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 12 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 92 |
Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,711 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 6 | Winter Storm: | 94 | Winter Weather: | 70 |
Other: | 234 |
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Roberts 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 Roberts County.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
43.9 | 1975-07-09 | 5 | N/A | 45.67 | -96.04 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 25 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Roberts County.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
11.2 | 2004-09-23 | 2 | 45°42'N / 96°44'W | 45°45'N / 96°48'W | 2.20 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Roberts |
Brief Description: The storm entered South Dakota from Traverse county, Minnesota where it produced a tornado. The storm produced a second tornado as it crossed Lake Traverse into South Dakota. This tornado was stronger and destroyed a house, a mobile home, and a travel trailer. Another house and travel trailer were damaged and a shed was also ripped apart. The tornado also killed three cattle. | |||||||||||
15.4 | 1964-05-05 | 2 | 45°48'N / 96°52'W | 45°52'N / 96°49'W | 4.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Roberts |
15.4 | 1956-10-29 | 2 | 45°31'N / 96°40'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Big Stone | |||
18.6 | 1951-07-08 | 2 | 45°22'N / 96°50'W | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Roberts | |||
23.3 | 1979-08-03 | 2 | 45°24'N / 96°52'W | 45°18'N / 96°28'W | 20.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Roberts |
27.1 | 1996-05-17 | 3 | 45°23'N / 96°34'W | 45°33'N / 96°18'W | 17.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 0 | Big Stone |
Brief Description: A tornado crossing Big Stone Lake from Roberts County, South Dakota destroyed one cabin at the Meadowbrook Resort, blew the roof off another cabin, and another cabin was demolished when a big tree fell onto it. Several boats on Big Stone Lake were overturned. Approxiamately 150 buildings sustained damage or were destroyed as the tornado moved northeast across Big Stone County through the townships of Prior, Big Stone, Almond, Malta, and Moonshine. Southwest of Clinton, a pontoon boat and a camper were destroyed. East of Clinton, a farm lost all buildings with severe damage to their home. The cupboards fell off the walls and doors would not close, signifying a twisted frame. Northeast of Clinton, another farm suffered damage to all structures. Half of the roof was torn off their home. Two miles south of Johnson, a house (rambler) was completely destroyed and several barns and machine sheds were destroyed, before the tornado lifted. Many trees were uprooted in the path of the tornado across Big Stone County and much of the power was out in the County as power lines were downed. | |||||||||||
30.6 | 1952-07-01 | 3 | 46°04'N / 96°57'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Richland | |
33.2 | 1961-06-28 | 2 | 45°36'N / 97°38'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Marshall | |
35.4 | 1968-06-09 | 2 | 45°50'N / 97°38'W | 45°53'N / 97°34'W | 3.80 Miles | 283 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Marshall |
35.6 | 1973-07-01 | 3 | 46°07'N / 97°10'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Richland | |||
36.8 | 1964-05-05 | 3 | 46°03'N / 96°36'W | 46°08'N / 96°34'W | 5.20 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 11 | 0K | 0 | Richland |
37.3 | 2010-08-07 | 4 | 46°06'N / 96°37'W | 46°06'N / 96°33'W | 3.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Richland |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado touched down south of Tyler and tracked to the east for roughly 2.5 miles before crossing the Bois de Sioux River into Wilkin County, Minnesota. In Wilkin County, the tornado continued for another 2.5 miles and lifted about 650 pm CDT. The total track length was about 5 miles and peak winds were estimated at 175 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: By late in the day on the 7th, an east-west lying warm front had set up just north of the South Dakota border, extending eastward into west central Minnesota. South of the warm front, temperatures were in the mid to upper 80s with dew points in the lower 70s. Thunderstorms formed along and north of the warm front and several produced tornadoes. | |||||||||||
38.7 | 1982-05-10 | 3 | 46°01'N / 96°28'W | 46°01'N / 96°17'W | 8.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Traverse |
38.9 | 2005-06-29 | 2 | 45°57'N / 97°37'W | 46°02'N / 97°30'W | 8.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Sargent |
Brief Description: Numerous trees were blown down or uprooted along the damage path. A roof was torn off a pole barn in Havana. Peak winds were estimated at 120 mph. | |||||||||||
39.2 | 1955-08-28 | 2 | 45°07'N / 96°35'W | 1.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Grant | |
39.7 | 1964-05-05 | 3 | 46°08'N / 96°34'W | 46°08'N / 96°34'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wilkin | ||
40.4 | 2010-08-07 | 4 | 46°07'N / 96°33'W | 46°09'N / 96°31'W | 3.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0K | Wilkin |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado began in Richland County, North Dakota, at 625 pm CDT, where it had a path length of 2.5 miles. It continued in Wilkin County, Minnesota, where it finally lifted about 2.5 miles southwest of Doran. The total path length was roughly five miles and peak winds were estimated at 175 mph. EPISODE NARRATIVE: By late in the day on the 7th, an east-west lying warm front had set up just north of the South Dakota border, extending eastward into west central Minnesota. South of the warm front, temperatures were in the mid to upper 80s with dew points in the lower 70s. Thunderstorms formed along and north of the warm front and several produced tornadoes. | |||||||||||
40.8 | 1953-05-29 | 2 | 46°12'N / 97°08'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Richland | |||
41.7 | 1962-08-06 | 2 | 45°03'N / 97°13'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Codington | |||
42.2 | 1996-07-17 | 2 | 45°29'N / 97°51'W | 45°30'N / 97°45'W | 5.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0 | Day |
Brief Description: A tornado touched down one mile southwest of Pierpont and traveled east northeast. Two miles east of Pierpont the tornado took out the west wall and the roof of a farmhouse, destroyed a machine shop, a garage, and six grain bins. A truck had its windshield crushed and its side was dented by debris. The tornado also brought down some power lines and several trees in its path. | |||||||||||
42.6 | 1982-05-10 | 3 | 46°01'N / 96°17'W | 46°02'N / 96°16'W | 1.00 Mile | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Traverse |
45.9 | 1982-05-10 | 3 | 46°02'N / 96°16'W | 46°04'N / 96°10'W | 6.00 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Grant |
46.8 | 1960-08-25 | 2 | 46°18'N / 97°00'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Richland | |||
48.9 | 1958-07-13 | 2 | 46°06'N / 97°42'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sargent | |||
49.2 | 1973-07-01 | 3 | 46°02'N / 97°47'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sargent |
* 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.