Bradley County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Bradley County is lower than Tennessee average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Bradley County is lower than Tennessee average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #39
Bradley County | 0.22 |
Tennessee | 0.56 |
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
Bradley County | 0.0000 |
Tennessee | 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, #50
Bradley County | 160.56 |
Tennessee | 175.35 |
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 14,788 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Bradley 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: | 0 | Cold: | 18 | Dense Fog: | 2 | Drought: | 42 |
Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,159 | Hail: | 4,328 | Heat: | 21 | Heavy Snow: | 57 |
High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 10 | Ice Storm: | 21 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 65 |
Thunderstorm Winds: | 7,950 | Tropical Storm: | 13 | Wildfire: | 2 | Winter Storm: | 77 | Winter Weather: | 44 |
Other: | 979 |
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Bradley County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 5 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Bradley County.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
43.7 | 1964-02-18 | 4.4 | 15 | 34.8 | -85.5 |
33.9 | 1984-10-09 | 4.2 | 12 | 34.75 | -85.2 |
27.7 | 1979-08-13 | 3.7 | 5 | 35.24 | -84.38 |
30.8 | 1977-07-27 | 3.5 | 7 | 35.42 | -84.42 |
50.0 | 1982-09-24 | 3.5 | 8 | 35.68 | -84.25 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 51 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Bradley County.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
2.3 | 1997-03-29 | 3 | 35°09'N / 84°54'W | 35°09'N / 84°54'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 50 | 3.2M | 0 | Bradley |
Brief Description: In Hamilton county...the tornado first touched down in the Tiftonia community just west of downtown Chattanooga around 1:10 am EDT. As the tornado moved due east across the southern part of the county, 50 homes were completely destroyed. Another 600 homes and one business were heavily damaged. Most of the damage was concentrated in the East Brainerd community. There, about half of the 180-unit Hickory Villa apartment complex was destroyed, and 18 of 23 townhomes of the Hickory Trace complex were destroyed. Two more apartment complexes, Hickory Valley and Ledford Apartments, were severely damaged. Around 20000 homes were without electricity after the storm. Most power had been restored by Monday morning. In Bradley county...the tornado destroyed 5 poultry farms, 4 homes, and 4 mobile homes. Another 45 homes, 16 mobile homes and 3 poultry farms were damaged. | |||||||||||
2.8 | 1963-03-19 | 2 | 35°11'N / 84°54'W | 35°12'N / 84°51'W | 3.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Bradley |
3.0 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°06'N / 84°55'W | 35°14'N / 84°42'W | 15.40 Miles | 350 Yards | 1 | 100 | 250K | 0 | Bradley |
5.3 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°11'N / 84°52'W | 35°13'N / 84°42'W | 9.70 Miles | 500 Yards | 2 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bradley |
6.7 | 1965-04-15 | 3 | 35°11'N / 84°52'W | 35°18'N / 84°45'W | 10.40 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 50 | 2.5M | 0 | Bradley |
8.6 | 1986-02-06 | 3 | 35°14'N / 84°49'W | 35°14'N / 84°40'W | 5.00 Miles | 270 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Bradley |
11.6 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°14'N / 84°42'W | 35°15'N / 84°40'W | 2.70 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Polk |
12.0 | 1973-12-13 | 2 | 35°11'N / 84°39'W | 0.80 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
12.3 | 1974-03-21 | 2 | 35°00'N / 84°45'W | 0.80 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
12.4 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°13'N / 84°42'W | 35°16'N / 84°38'W | 5.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Polk |
14.1 | 1986-02-06 | 3 | 35°14'N / 84°39'W | 35°18'N / 84°39'W | 2.00 Miles | 270 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk |
16.3 | 1986-02-06 | 3 | 35°18'N / 84°39'W | 35°17'N / 84°36'W | 3.00 Miles | 270 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Mcminn |
16.6 | 1994-04-15 | 3 | 35°19'N / 85°00'W | 35°26'N / 84°29'W | 15.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 1 | 7 | 5.0M | 0 | Hamilton, Meigs, Bradley And Mcminn |
Brief Description: The tornado first touched in northern Hamilton County near the town of Grasshopper and moved northeast crossing into Meigs County just south of Birchwood. One man was killed in Birchwood when his mobile home collapsed on top of him. Two others were injured in the same area. In Hamilton County, eight homes, three mobile homes, one church, and 17 barns were damaged or destroyed. The tornado continued across southern Meigs County passing near the towns of East View and Brittsville. Three persons were injured in the county. About 25 mobile homes and six barns were damaged or destroyed. The tornado then clipped the northern part of Bradley County. Two persons were injured in the county. Ten mobile homes and 17 homes were damaged. Numerous trees were knocked down as well. The tornado then crossed into McMinn County where it moved through the towns of Lamontville, Riceville, Georgetown, and Englewood. The tornado was not on the ground during the entire trip in McMinn County, but was on the ground for much of its lifetime. When the tornado went through the town of Riceville, the local elementary school lost the roof off its concession stand and the bleachers were damaged. Numerous trees were knocked down in the county as well. One person was injured in McMinn County. M57H | |||||||||||
17.8 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°16'N / 84°38'W | 35°19'N / 84°33'W | 6.10 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 50 | 250K | 0 | Mcminn |
18.5 | 2010-10-26 | 2 | 35°07'N / 85°11'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 6 | 200K | 0K | Hamilton | |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: NWS storm survey determined an EF2 tornado with maximum wind speed of 125 mph and a length of 1.2 miles with a path width of 100 yards touched down in the vicinity of the Chickamauga Dam. Damage from the storm included a roof torn off an apartment complex, a cement plant demolished, several vehicles on Highway 153 damaged and numerous trees and powerlines downed. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A cold front tracked through the region triggering scattered severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours. Storm reports contained mainly damaging thunderstorm wind, but an EF2 tornado formed in Hamilton County. Six people were injured. Tornadoes also formed in Bradley, Loudon and Marion Counties. | |||||||||||
22.5 | 1952-02-29 | 2 | 35°18'N / 84°40'W | 35°27'N / 84°28'W | 15.30 Miles | 587 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mcminn |
23.2 | 1997-03-29 | 3 | 35°03'N / 85°19'W | 35°03'N / 85°11'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 44 | 45.0M | 0 | Hamilton |
Brief Description: In Hamilton county...the tornado first touched down in the Tiftonia community just west of downtown Chattanooga around 1:10 am EDT. As the tornado moved due east across the southern part of the county, 50 homes were completely destroyed. Another 600 homes and one business were heavily damaged. Most of the damage was concentrated in the East Brainerd community. There, about half of the 180-unit Hickory Villa apartment complex was destroyed, and 18 of 23 townhomes of the Hickory Trace complex were destroyed. Two more apartment complexes, Hickory Valley and Ledford Apartments, were severely damaged. Around 20000 homes were without electricity after the storm. Most power had been restored by Monday morning. In Bradley county...the tornado destroyed 5 poultry farms, 4 homes, and 4 mobile homes. Another 45 homes, 16 mobile homes and 3 poultry farms were damaged. | |||||||||||
23.7 | 1974-04-08 | 3 | 35°26'N / 84°37'W | 2.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Mcminn | |
23.9 | 1961-03-08 | 2 | 34°54'N / 85°18'W | 34°56'N / 85°02'W | 15.20 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Catoosa |
25.0 | 1995-04-21 | 2 | 35°03'N / 85°17'W | 10.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0.1M | 0 | Hamilton | |
Brief Description: A tornado touched down over parts of suburban Chattanooga. The tornado most of its damage in a 16-block area. Overall 80 buildings were damaged. Of the 80 buildings damaged, 50 of them were homes and 30 of the buildings were businesses. Several apartments suffered roof damage and 43 persons were evacuated. | |||||||||||
25.3 | 1963-03-19 | 2 | 35°27'N / 84°39'W | 35°29'N / 84°36'W | 3.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Mcminn |
25.6 | 1953-05-02 | 4 | 35°31'N / 84°47'W | 35°31'N / 84°45'W | 2.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 4 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Meigs |
26.6 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°46'N / 84°46'W | 34°48'N / 84°42'W | 4.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Murray |
26.6 | 1953-05-02 | 4 | 35°31'N / 84°45'W | 35°32'N / 84°43'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Mcminn |
28.6 | 1994-06-26 | 2 | 35°20'N / 85°19'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Sequatchie | |
Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Lewis Chapel. A church and a mobile home and another mobile home were destroyed. Two other homes were damaged. Several trees were blown down as well. | |||||||||||
29.2 | 1956-02-18 | 2 | 34°42'N / 85°17'W | 34°52'N / 84°56'W | 22.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Walker |
31.6 | 2009-04-10 | 2 | 35°21'N / 85°22'W | 5.00 Miles | 175 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0K | Sequatchie | |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An F2 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 120 mph occurred around 2 miles south of Dunlap. The tornado initially touched down along Frank Tate Road with a maximum wind speed of 90 mph (EF-1) and a width of 100 yards. The tornado continued in a northeast path and increased in size to an EF-2 with a maximum wind speed of 120 mph and a width of 175 yards. Several large hardwood trees were snapped off near the trunk base with extensive damage occurring in a concentrated path. The tornado continued its northeast movement and finally weakened to a EF-1 with a maximum wind speed of 100 mph as it dissipated at the foothill of Signal Mountain. A school and several homes suffered minor to moderate wind damage along the nearly 5 mile of the tornado. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A cold front tracked across east Tennessee during the afternoon and evening hours. The resulting squall line triggered numerous thunderstorm wind damage reports along with large hail. Three tornadoes were also reported. One person was injured. | |||||||||||
31.9 | 1980-04-28 | 2 | 35°15'N / 84°20'W | 35°16'N / 84°17'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Monroe |
32.5 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°36'N / 84°56'W | 34°46'N / 84°46'W | 14.90 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Murray |
33.8 | 1964-08-12 | 2 | 35°22'N / 85°24'W | 0.80 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25K | 0 | Sequatchie | |
36.6 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°57'N / 84°18'W | 34°58'N / 84°13'W | 5.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Fannin |
37.1 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 34°49'N / 84°21'W | 34°51'N / 84°19'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Fannin |
37.2 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 34°41'N / 84°30'W | 34°49'N / 84°21'W | 12.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Gilmer |
38.1 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 35°31'N / 84°21'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Monroe | |
39.7 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°34'N / 84°58'W | 34°36'N / 84°56'W | 3.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 2 | 25 | 2.5M | 0 | Whitfield |
40.4 | 1977-03-30 | 2 | 34°33'N / 84°51'W | 34°36'N / 84°40'W | 11.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Gordon |
40.9 | 1973-03-16 | 2 | 34°34'N / 84°57'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Gordon | |
42.3 | 1977-03-30 | 2 | 34°37'N / 84°30'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Gilmer | |
42.4 | 1997-03-28 | 2 | 35°28'N / 85°33'W | 35°29'N / 85°27'W | 6.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Sequatchie |
Brief Description: The tornado started in the Savage Gulf State Natural area and went about 6 miles. It damaged 5 structures...including a grocery store in the Savage Gulf State Natural Area. The Tennessee Nitrate Technologies were completely destroyed near the junction of RT 111 and RT 8. The tornado dissipated on Mc Carver Loop Road. Tornado path length and width are approximations. | |||||||||||
43.6 | 1963-03-11 | 2 | 35°00'N / 85°43'W | 35°09'N / 85°32'W | 14.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Marion |
43.7 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°30'N / 85°03'W | 34°34'N / 84°58'W | 6.60 Miles | 150 Yards | 6 | 25 | 2.5M | 0 | Gordon |
44.3 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°58'N / 84°13'W | 35°09'N / 83°57'W | 18.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 4 | 26 | 25.0M | 0 | Cherokee |
44.7 | 1992-11-22 | 2 | 34°45'N / 85°31'W | 34°47'N / 85°28'W | 3.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Dade |
45.9 | 1993-02-21 | 2 | 35°47'N / 84°34'W | 35°45'N / 84°31'W | 10.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Blount And Loudon |
Brief Description: The tornado that went through Loudon County continued across Blount County through the town of Friendsville and ending just west of Maryville. One large home was destroyed and several other were damaged. Numerous trees were snapped. | |||||||||||
46.3 | 2007-11-14 | 2 | 35°03'N / 85°41'W | 35°02'N / 85°39'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.5M | 0K | Marion |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Nine injuries resulted from the EF2 rated tornado which heavily damaged the roof of the Kimball Baptist Church as well as damaging several vehicles in the church parking lot. The tornado also destroyed several modular homes between Main Street and Interstate 24. Peak wind speed was estimated at 130 mph with a path width of 200 yards. Path length was 2 miles. EPISODE NARRATIVE: High shear with moderate instability in the warm sector ahead of strong late Fall cold front. The Event was characterized by a few wind damage reports and an EF 2 tornado (Marion County) all across Southeast Tennessee. | |||||||||||
46.5 | 1957-04-08 | 2 | 34°26'N / 85°00'W | 34°32'N / 84°52'W | 10.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Gordon |
46.7 | 1985-04-05 | 2 | 34°30'N / 84°36'W | 34°33'N / 84°31'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Pickens |
46.7 | 1973-03-16 | 2 | 34°30'N / 85°15'W | 34°35'N / 85°10'W | 7.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Chattooga |
47.3 | 1988-05-09 | 2 | 34°46'N / 85°33'W | 34°45'N / 85°32'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Dekalb |
47.5 | 1957-11-18 | 2 | 34°28'N / 85°16'W | 34°33'N / 85°02'W | 14.50 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chattooga |
49.2 | 1984-05-07 | 2 | 35°44'N / 84°21'W | 1.00 Mile | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Loudon |
* 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.