Merna, NE Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Merna is about the same as Nebraska average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Merna is lower than Nebraska average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #470
| Merna, NE | 0.01 |
| 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
| Merna, NE | 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, #470
| Merna, NE | 140.40 |
| 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 2,152 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Merna, NE 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: | 0 | Cold: | 0 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 2 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 33 | Hail: | 1,556 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 0 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 0 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 0 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 515 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 0 | Winter Weather: | 0 |
| Other: | 46 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Merna, NE.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Merna, NE.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Merna, NE.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 48 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Merna, NE.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 8.8 | 1970-05-12 | 2 | 41°24'N / 99°38'W | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Custer | |||
| 9.7 | 1955-05-02 | 2 | 41°23'N / 99°38'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Custer | |||
| 12.3 | 1990-06-01 | 3 | 41°16'N / 99°50'W | 41°44'N / 99°13'W | 25.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 12.4 | 2000-10-31 | 2 | 41°20'N / 99°33'W | 41°28'N / 99°33'W | 12.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | Custer |
| Brief Description: The tornado touched down 7 miles southeast of Broken Bow and traveled 12 miles north northeast across farm and rangeland. Initial damage occurred at touchdown with a modular home destroyed. Then over the next 2 miles 3 farmsteads were struck. The first suffered heavy damage to all buildings including the house. At the second farmstead a modular home and several buildings were completely destroyed. The third farmstead suffered extensive damage to the outbuildings and minor damage to the house. The tornado then moved across highway 2 and destroyed several farm building 4 miles east of Broken Bow. Then as the tornado moved across highway 70 another farmstead was struck with several outbuildings destroyed and the house damaged. The tornado remained on the the ground and destroyed a barn 5 miles northeast of Broken Bow, then did extensive damage to a farmstead 7 miles northeast of Broken Bow where several outbuildings were destroyed or damaged and damaged the house. Tree damage was extensive along the entire path and several center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed. The tornado lifted 7 miles northeast of Broken Bow. | |||||||||||
| 13.3 | 1974-04-26 | 3 | 41°20'N / 99°37'W | 41°23'N / 99°31'W | 5.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 21.0 | 1961-05-30 | 3 | 41°37'N / 99°52'W | 41°38'N / 98°56'W | 48.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Custer |
| 21.0 | 1961-05-30 | 3 | 41°37'N / 99°52'W | 41°38'N / 98°56'W | 48.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Custer |
| 21.0 | 1961-05-30 | 4 | 41°37'N / 99°52'W | 41°38'N / 98°56'W | 48.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 24.1 | 1972-07-20 | 3 | 41°29'N / 99°36'W | 41°42'N / 99°02'W | 32.80 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Custer |
| 24.2 | 1986-04-03 | 2 | 41°09'N / 99°54'W | 41°09'N / 99°54'W | 1.50 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 24.6 | 2000-10-31 | 2 | 41°05'N / 99°53'W | 41°11'N / 99°47'W | 9.00 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.0M | 0 | Custer |
| Brief Description: The tornado moved out of Dawson county into south central Custer county 7 miles south southwest of Oconto. The tornado traveled across open rangeland until destroying a modular home 1 mile south of Oconto. The tornado then moved directly through the small community of Oconto producing extensive damage. Every building along main street was either damaged or destroyed. A community center was destroyed while 19 children and 4 adults were in the basement. Over half the homes in the small town suffered minor to major damage. The community was declared a disaster areas by the governor. The tornado knocked down a power line 2 miles north of Oconto before lifting. | |||||||||||
| 25.4 | 1975-06-18 | 4 | 41°21'N / 100°13'W | 41°34'N / 100°17'W | 15.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Custer |
| 25.9 | 1999-06-03 | 2 | 41°31'N / 99°17'W | 41°34'N / 99°15'W | 5.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Custer |
| Brief Description: Several large hail reports were received beginning at 936 PM CDT near Berwyn. Five center pivot irrigation systems were overturned from 8 miles southwest to 7 miles west southwest of Comstock at approximately 1000 PM CDT. A tornado initially touched down 3 miles southwest of Comstock and was intermittentaly on the ground causing tree damage. The tornado then dropped down 1 mile southwest of the center of Comstock. It reached its maximum intensity as it struck a farm 1/2 mile west of Comstock. Every outbuilding on the farm was destroyed, including a large machine building and the house was heavily damaged. The tornado then crossed the Middle Loup River and struck a residence on the northwest edge of Comstock destroying three outbuildings and damaging the house. Another farm a mile north of Comstock was struck, and everything but the house was destroyed. Several vehicles in the path were damaged or destroyed. | |||||||||||
| 27.0 | 1955-09-20 | 2 | 41°39'N / 99°23'W | 41°44'N / 99°15'W | 8.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Custer |
| 27.0 | 1981-08-24 | 2 | 41°28'N / 100°17'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Logan | |
| 29.9 | 1975-06-18 | 3 | 41°23'N / 100°19'W | 41°28'N / 100°21'W | 5.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Logan |
| 30.7 | 1975-06-18 | 3 | 41°04'N / 100°10'W | 41°23'N / 100°19'W | 23.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer |
| 31.0 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°14'N / 99°16'W | 41°15'N / 99°15'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer | ||
| 31.3 | 1974-04-20 | 3 | 41°14'N / 99°15'W | 41°26'N / 99°08'W | 14.70 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Dawson |
| 31.5 | 1959-05-28 | 2 | 41°24'N / 99°13'W | 41°27'N / 99°06'W | 6.40 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Valley |
| 31.6 | 1953-06-07 | 2 | 41°15'N / 99°15'W | 41°20'N / 99°10'W | 6.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sherman |
| 31.8 | 1955-07-08 | 2 | 41°17'N / 99°13'W | 41°17'N / 99°12'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Custer | ||
| 32.4 | 1974-04-26 | 3 | 41°12'N / 99°18'W | 41°15'N / 99°11'W | 6.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 0K | 0 | Custer |
| 32.4 | 1987-07-06 | 2 | 41°36'N / 99°12'W | 41°40'N / 99°08'W | 4.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Valley |
| 33.0 | 1956-10-29 | 4 | 41°30'N / 100°20'W | 42°24'N / 99°29'W | 75.90 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rock |
| 34.8 | 1953-06-07 | 4 | 41°20'N / 99°08'W | 41°21'N / 99°06'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sherman | ||
| 34.8 | 1974-04-20 | 3 | 40°57'N / 99°26'W | 41°14'N / 99°15'W | 21.50 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Dawson |
| 35.5 | 1953-06-07 | 4 | 41°21'N / 99°06'W | 41°34'N / 99°03'W | 15.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 11 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Valley |
| 36.8 | 1960-08-05 | 3 | 41°42'N / 99°12'W | 41°40'N / 99°00'W | 10.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 1 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Valley |
| 37.6 | 2000-10-31 | 2 | 40°51'N / 99°51'W | 41°02'N / 99°46'W | 14.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 125K | 0 | Dawson |
| Brief Description: In a continuation of late season severe weather, a Halloween tornado moved across central and northern Dawson county and crossed into southern Custer county. The tornado, which was spawned from a large supercell thunderstorm, was on the ground in Dawson county for about 14 miles and had a maximum width of 200 yards. Most of the tornadoes path was over open country, but one farmstead in northern Dawson county did receive extensive damage. Part of the roof of the house was blown away and a barn was flattened. Pivots and other outbuildings along the tornadoes path were also damaged. Prior to the tornado itself, the same thunderstorm produced hail which covered the ground white just east of Cozad. Minor street flooding was reported in Cozad as well. | |||||||||||
| 38.5 | 1999-06-03 | 3 | 41°36'N / 99°10'W | 41°42'N / 98°56'W | 14.00 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 1.0M | Valley |
| Brief Description: Late in the evening of June 3rd, a severe thunderstorm produced a large tornado across northwest Valley county. The thunderstorm entered the western part of the county around 11 pm. Shortly thereafter, the tornado touched down 12 miles west of Ord and snaked its way northeast before lifting after midnight about 7 miles north of Ord. This F3 tornado had a damage path almost one-half mile wide at one point. It completely destroyed two farmsteads and damaged two others along its path. At the two destroyed farmsteads, residents took shelter in the basement upon warning. The tornado tossed cars and farm equipment up to 300 feet, strewn irrigation pipe across the countryside and killed livestock. The two destroyed homes were completely wiped from the foundation. However, given sufficient warning, no one in the storms path was injured or killed. | |||||||||||
| 38.9 | 1953-05-09 | 2 | 40°58'N / 99°28'W | 1.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Dawson | |
| 39.8 | 1974-04-20 | 3 | 41°26'N / 99°08'W | 41°47'N / 98°53'W | 27.30 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Dawson |
| 39.8 | 1963-08-27 | 2 | 41°28'N / 99°04'W | 41°28'N / 98°55'W | 7.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Valley |
| 40.1 | 1975-06-18 | 3 | 40°57'N / 100°11'W | 41°05'N / 100°15'W | 9.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Dawson |
| 42.8 | 1972-07-20 | 2 | 41°30'N / 98°56'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Valley | |||
| 43.0 | 2007-04-20 | 2 | 40°52'N / 100°12'W | 41°02'N / 100°10'W | 12.00 Miles | 1320 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.5M | 50K | Dawson |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: This tornado touched down southwest of Gothenburg and traveled north. It crossed Interstate 80 and passed about 2 miles west of the town of Gothenburg. The twister continued to the north and crossed from Dawson County into Custer County. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Scattered thunderstorms developed just west of the Hastings CWA. One storm entered extreme western Dawson County and produced hail and one tornado. The tornado started south of Gothenburg and moved north. It crossed Interstate 80 where several vehicles and semis were blown off the road with several injuries reported, thankfully, none serious. At one farmstead, the twister killed nearly a dozen head of cattle. The tornado damaged or destroyed many outbuildings and farmhouses. The storm survey team rated this tornado as an EF2 based on damage to a farmhouse (FR12) that lost half of its roof and had many windows blown out (DOD6). This would have had an expected wind speed around 114 mph. Many wood utility poles (ETL) were also broken off at their base or snapped in half (DOD4). This would have an expected wind speed of 120 mph. The tornado had a maximum width around 3/4 mile about 5 miles north of Gothenburg. The storm also produced hail along its path in which the largest was softball in size. | |||||||||||
| 43.4 | 1965-05-24 | 2 | 41°29'N / 100°30'W | 41°59'N / 100°34'W | 34.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Logan |
| 43.4 | 1955-07-08 | 2 | 41°17'N / 99°12'W | 41°17'N / 98°44'W | 24.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 1 | 13 | 250K | 0 | Sherman |
| 43.5 | 1959-07-07 | 2 | 40°56'N / 100°10'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Dawson | |||
| 43.9 | 1986-08-06 | 2 | 42°03'N / 100°12'W | 41°56'N / 100°21'W | 9.00 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Blaine |
| 46.4 | 1975-04-22 | 2 | 40°51'N / 100°03'W | 1.10 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dawson | |
| 46.4 | 1986-08-06 | 2 | 41°56'N / 100°21'W | 41°59'N / 100°27'W | 10.00 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Thomas |
| 47.2 | 1963-06-09 | 2 | 41°38'N / 98°55'W | 41°40'N / 98°50'W | 4.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Valley |
| 47.4 | 1974-04-20 | 2 | 41°12'N / 98°59'W | 41°29'N / 98°45'W | 22.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Sherman |
| 49.4 | 2000-05-17 | 3 | 40°57'N / 100°22'W | 41°02'N / 100°32'W | 11.50 Miles | 1000 Yards | 0 | 2 | 750K | 25K | Lincoln |
| Brief Description: The same supercell thunderstorm that had earlier produced the twin tornadoes 20 miles south of Brady produced a large tornado that touched down 6 miles south of Brady and moved toward the northwest lifting 4 miles south of Maxwell. Two women were injured when their home blew down around them. The tornado destroyed three homes and heavily damaged three others. Numerous outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Four center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed and extensive damage was done to agricultural equipment. Over 75 power and telephone poles were destroyed along with miles of wire. The tornado reached it's maximum intensity of F3 shortly after touchdown when it heavily damaged a brick home and completely destroyed a large steel building. Later in it's path, the tornado leveled a frame home and blew several vehicles over and around the home. The path of the tornado was clearly visible where crops had been stripped from the ground. This tornado received extensive national coverage because of great video taken from chasers. | |||||||||||
| 49.4 | 1975-06-18 | 2 | 40°43'N / 100°14'W | 41°02'N / 100°17'W | 21.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lincoln |
| 49.6 | 1956-06-06 | 4 | 40°58'N / 99°06'W | 2.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Buffalo | |
* 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.