Southern Plains Drought

Losses, 2024 dollars

$3.7 billion

Losses at the time

$1.8 billion

Deaths

0

The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.

• Drought in Kansas, March 1 to 31, 199627 eventsMarch ended another month of extreme dryness. The period from July 1995 through March was the driest period ever at many locations accross western Kansas, with records dating back 120 years. The wheat crop was almost completely wiped out by the drought.
• Drought in New Mexico, March 1 to 31, 199622 eventsLight snow pack, combined with warm temperatures throughout the winter season had a negative impact on New Mexico ski business and set the stage for below normal river runoff and an early and unusually high fire danger season.
• Wildfire in Texas, March 2, 19961 eventDormant winter vegetation and antecedent dry conditions over the area contributed to several large grass fires that burned 10,000 acres. Low humidities and strong winds also contributed to the fires.
• Wildfire in Texas, March 3, 19961 eventDormant winter vegetation and antecedent dry conditions over the area contributed to several large grass fires that burned 15,000 acres. Low humidities and strong winds also contributed to the fires.
• Wildfire in Florida, March 4 to 5, 19961 eventA wild fire forced the intermittent closing of both U.S. 1 and Card Sound Road in deep south Dade. East winds of 25 to 30 mph pushed smoke and flames across both highways, causing traffic into and out of the Keys to be halted for up to 12 hours at a time.
• Wildfire in New Mexico, March 12 to 19, 19961 eventA planned burn in the Cibola National Forest was fanned into a wildfire by low humidity and gusty winds. The Pinatosa fire in the Gallinas mountains was finally contained at about 6000 acres.
• Wildfire in Texas, March 14, 19961 eventDormant winter vegetation and antecedent dry conditions over the area contributed to several large grass fires that burned 20,000 acres. Low humidities and strong winds also contributed to the fires.
• Wildfire in Florida, March 23 to 24, 19961 eventA 100-acre brush fire caused the evacuation of Metro Zoo for a 24 hour period. No animals were injured.
• Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 199624 eventsVery dry weather continued to plague the South Plains of West Texas in April. On average, South Plains cities received only 0.26 inches of precipitation this month, bringing the year-to-date precipitation to just 0.90 inches (which is about 33 percent of normal).The drought will…
• Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 199623 eventsThe winter of 1995-1996 had below normal precipitation over all of Southeast Texas. This trend continued into April of 1996. Conditions have become so serious that this dry spell is now being referred to the drought of 1996.
• Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 1996$25 million · 20 eventsRainfall continues well below normal. NWS Amarillo is now in it's longest dry period on record. The month of April had two trace events and no measurable rain. During the past seven plus months the region has only received 15 to 25 percent of its normal rain.
• Drought in Texas, April 1 to 30, 199639 eventsDrought persisted into April across South Central Texas. Through the first four months of 1996, rainfall accumulations were between 1 and 2 inches across the area.
• Drought in Oklahoma, April 1 to 30, 19963 eventsProlonged dry spell continues across the region. Over the past seven months most locations are receiving only 15 to 25 percent of their normal rainfall.
• Drought in New Mexico, April 1 to 30, 199621 eventsDrought conditions intensified throughout New Mexico with many locations reporting little measureable rainfall and warmer than normal temperatures through April.
• Wildfire in Virginia, April 25 to 28, 1996$750,000 · 1 eventProlonged dry weather, combined with several breezy days in March and April, set the stage for scattered wildfires across portions of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.
• Wildfire in Virginia, April 25 to 28, 1996$750,000 · 1 eventSeveral forest fires were ignited across the northern and central Shenandoah Valley near the end of April, a result of continued dry and breezy weather.
• Wildfire in Virginia, April 25, 1996$38,000 · 1 event
• Wildfire in Virginia, April 25, 1996$38,000 · 1 eventSeveral forest fires were ignited across the northern and central Shenandoah Valley near the end of April, a result of continued dry and breezy weather.
• Wildfire in New Mexico, April 25 to 28, 19961 event
• Wildfire in New Mexico, April 25 to 30, 19961 eventWinds and extremely dry conditions on the 26th and 27th exacerbated small fires into a ranging firestorms which grew from less than several hundred acres to 2000-3000 acres in less than 6 hours.
• Wildfire in New Mexico, April 27 to 28, 19961 event
• Wildfire in California, April 28 to 30, 19962 injured · 1 eventDry, gusty Santa Ana winds helped fuel a fire in the Los Padres National Forest. A low voltage electrical line failed, igniting the blaze. Over 10,000 acres were burned. Two firefighters were injured during the fire.
• Wildfire in California, April 29 to 30, 19961 eventSanta Ana winds helped spread a fire in Riverside county. Over 300acres of land was burned with one home destroyed.
• Wildfire in Arizona, April 30, 19961 eventA wildfire, named the "Slate Fire", was human-caused but wind-driven. The fire grew to over 200 acres in less than two hours. No structures were damaged, but a total of 275 acres of timber were destroyed. The fire was controlled on May 1.
• Drought in Alaska, May 1 to 31, 19961 eventThe month of May in Valdez was the driest on record (23 1/2 years) with only .70 inches.
• Drought in Georgia, May 1 to 31, 199616 eventsAbove normal temperatures and below normal rainfall persisted over southeastern Georgia counties for much of the month. This combination was statring to affect the agricultural industry.
• Drought in South Carolina, May 1 to 31, 19969 eventsAbove normal temperatures and below normal rainfall persistedover the south coastal counties most of the month. This combinationwas starting to affect the agricultural industry.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 1996$14 million · 24 eventsThe drought continued through most of the month of May, causing significant crop damage. Some areas received several inches of rain during the severe weather of the 25th and 26th, but this was not nearly enough to break this long term drought.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 1996$4.0 million · 18 eventsMay was one of the hottest and driest on record. Over ninety percent of cooperative observers reported rainfall far below climatological averages. Some reporting stations in northeast Texas including New Summerfield had no measurable rainfall the entire month.
• Drought in Louisiana, May 1 to 31, 1996$4.0 million · 4 eventsMay was not only abnormally hot and dry but was the sixth driest and the fifth hottest on record. There were numerous problems in northwest Louisiana attributed to the heat which included profit loses in the lumber market, agriculture and food production industries.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 199624 eventsDry conditions for 1994 and 1995 were starting to take their toll and during the first part of 1996, even drier conditions were felt. From October 1995 through May 1996 not only was it dry, but temperatures and winds were above normal adding to the drying effect.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 199623 eventsContinuation of drought conditions from April. May, normally one of the wettest months, had very little rainfall across Southeast Texas. Many stations actually received less than 0.10 of an inch of rain during May.
• Drought in New Mexico, May 1 to 31, 19963 eventsSee narrative in Texas, Western section.
• Drought in Oklahoma, May 1 to 31, 19961 eventMay was one of the driest and hottest on record for McCurtain County. The effects were felt especially hard in the timber, livestock, and poultry industry. Many lakes and reservoirs suffered near record low water levels.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 1996$60 million · 33 eventsDrought persisted through May across South Central Texas. Monthly damages are based on an estimated $2.4 billion loss to agriculture across all of Texas through the past 6 months. Property damages do not include business or commercial revenue losses.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 1996$25 million · 20 eventsSevere drought conditions continued across the Texas Panhandle. Some locally heavy rains did fall in the northeast region, but these rains were accomplanied with excessive runoff.
• Drought in Louisiana, May 1 to 31, 199617 eventsDrought conditions increased during the month of May across all of southwest and central Louisiana. Rainfall totals from January to May were between 12 and 15 inches below normal across the region, making this the driest year on record in many places.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 19966 eventsDrought conditions continue across southeast Texas. Rainfall totals from January through May averaged 10 to 15 inches below normal. The main areas affected include farming and fire protection. Crop damage across the entire region exceeded 1 million dollars.
• Drought in Oklahoma, May 1 to 31, 19963 eventsContinued drought conditions caused unknown crop damage in the Oklahoma Panhandle.
• Drought in New Mexico, May 1 to 31, 199618 eventsA statewide drought intensified throughout an unusually hot month with most stations reporting little or no significant rainfall. By the end of May severe to extreme drought was indicated by the Palmer Drought Severity Index in all 8 New Mexico climatic divisions.
• Wildfire in Arizona, May 1, 19961 eventThe Slate Fire was human-caused, but wind driven. The fire began on April 30 and was controlled on May 1. No structures were damaged, but 275 acres of timber were destroyed.
• Wildfire in California, May 1 to 3, 19963 injured · $500,000 · 1 eventHot and dry conditions, produced by offshore winds, continued to fuel a fire in the Los Padres National Forest. The fire, which ignited in late April, destroyed one mobile home and scorched numerous citrus and avocado orchards. In addition, several firefighters were injured.
• Drought in Texas, May 1 to 31, 19961 eventA long dry spell for North Texas beginning in the Fall of 1995 resulted in moderate drought conditions across the entire area, except for the extreme eastern portions where severe drought conditions were prevalent.
• Heat in Alaska, May 3, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 58 at the Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 4, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 62 at Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 4, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 44 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Alaska, May 4, 19961 eventRecord high temperature of 62 at Kodiak (airport).
• Wildfire in Arizona, May 4 to 8, 19961 eventA wildfire, called the Side Fire, was human-caused and wind-driven. Over 200 recidents were evacuated when the fire moved within 200 feet of 2 subdivisions in east Flagstaff. No homes were damaged, but 320 acres were burned.
• Heat in Alaska, May 5, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 62 at the Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 5, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 43 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Alaska, May 5, 19961 eventRecord high temperature 65 at Anchorage International airport.
• Heat in Alaska, May 6, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 45 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Alaska, May 6, 19961 eventRecord high temperature 56 at Kodiak (airport).
• Wildfire in New Mexico, May 6 to 11, 1996$1.5 million · 1 eventAn escaped trash fire developed into a wind-driven raging forest fire exacerbated by hot temperatures and some of the driest fuel moisture conditions in 30 years. The fire exhibited extreme behavior and had consumed nearly 7000 acres of national forest within the first 24 hours.
• Heat in Alaska, May 10, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 48 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Alaska, May 11, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 63 at Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 11, 19961 eventRecord high temperature 72 at Anchorage International airport.
• Wildfire in California, May 11 to 12, 19961 eventOn Mother's Day, hot Santa Ana winds helped fuel a brush fire near the University of California at Riverside. The fire burned over 300 acres, including property owned by Kappa Alpha fraternity. Three cars and two mobile homes were destroyed.
• Heat in Alaska, May 12, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 74 at Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 13, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 70 set at Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 13, 19961 eventRecord high temperature 71 at Anchorage International airport.
• Heat in Alaska, May 14, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 71 set at Valdez city site.
• Heat in Alaska, May 14, 19961 eventRecord high 73 at Anchorage International airport.
• Drought in Arkansas, May 14 to 31, 19966 eventsMay was one of the driest and hottest on record across portions of southwest Arkansas. Near record low water levels were recorded in lakes and ponds throughout the southwest portion of the state.
• Heat in Alaska, May 15, 19961 eventHi temperature record 56 at Cold Bay.
• Heat in Alaska, May 15, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 49 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Alaska, May 16, 19961 eventRecord high temperature 57 at Cold Bay.
• Heat in Alaska, May 16, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 49 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Missouri, May 17 to 20, 199625 injured · 3 eventsA spring heat wave hig eastern Missouri, with record temperatures set on 3 consecutive days. Record highs of 94 degrees were set on May 17, 18, and 19. Record high minimums, 75 and 74 degrees were also set on the 18 and 19.
• Heat in Alaska, May 18, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 60 set at Valdez city site.
• Heat in Virginia, May 18 to 21, 199642 eventsAN EARLY-SEASON FOUR-DAY HEAT WAVE PRODUCED RECORD OR NEAR RECORDHIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS CENTRAL AND EASTERN VIRGINIA. HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 80S AND LOW 90S ACROSS THE REGION ON MAY 18.
• Heat in Virginia, May 18 to 21, 199620 eventsAn early-season four day heat wave, which followed a spring characterized by cooler than normal temperatures and above normal cloud cover, took it's toll on outdoor enthusiasts unprepared for the dramatic temperature swing.
• Heat in North Carolina, May 18 to 21, 199610 eventsAN EARLY-SEASON FOUR-DAY HEAT WAVE PRODUCED RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 80S AND LOW 90S ACROSS THE REGION ON MAY 18. THEN, ON MAY 19, MAY 20, AND MAY 21, HIGH TEMPER
• Heat in Maryland, May 18 to 21, 19965 eventsAN EARLY-SEASON FOUR-DAY HEAT WAVE PRODUCED RECORD OR NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE LOWER MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE. HIGH TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 80S ACROSS THE REGION ON MAY 18. THEN, ON MAY 19, MAY 20, AND MAY 21, HIGH TEMPERATUR
• Heat in Illinois, May 18 to 19, 19962 deaths · 1 eventChicago had its first heat wave of the season on the 18th and 19th of May with high temperatures around 90 and high humidity. There were 2 heat-related deaths. Both were elderly people in a nursing home.
• Heat in Maryland, May 18 to 21, 19962 injured · 13 eventsAn early-season four-day heat wave, following a period of cool and generally cloudy weather, took it's toll on outdoor enthusiasts who were unprepared for the dramatic temperature swing. Two persons suffered heat stroke in Washington Co (MDZ003), requiring hospitalization.
• Heat in District of Columbia, May 18 to 21, 19961 injured · 1 eventAn early-season four-day heat wave, following a period of cooler than normal weather, took it's toll on outdoor enthusiasts who were unprepared for the dramatic temperature swing.
• Wildfire in Arizona, May 18 to 25, 19961 eventA wildfire, called the Horseshoe Fire, began at the sight of an old slashpile burn and was driven by gradient winds, estimated at 60 mph. In 7 days the Horseshoe Fire destroyed 8650 acres of public and private land. No damage estimate was available.
• Heat in Alaska, May 19, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 46 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Pennsylvania, May 19 to 21, 19961 death · 4 injured · 10 eventsThe first and for many locations the only heat wave of the season occurred during the end of May. For many locations this heat wave contained the hottest temperatures of the year. One heat related death occurred within Philadelphia. A 74-year-old man died on the 21st.
• Heat in New Jersey, May 19 to 21, 199616 events
• Heat in Maryland, May 19 to 21, 19965 eventsThe first and for many locations the only heat wave of the season occurred during the end of May. For many locations this heat wave contained the hottest temperatures of the year. No heat related deaths or injuries were reported.
• Heat in Delaware, May 19 to 21, 19964 eventsThe first and for many locations the only heat wave of the season occurred during the end of May. For many locations this heat wave contained the hottest temperatures of the year. No heat related deaths or injuries were reported.
• Heat in New Jersey, May 20, 19964 eventsThe first and for many locations the only heat wave of the season occurred during the end of May. For many locations this heat wave contained the hottest temperatures of the year. Even along the shore, west winds on the 20th brought record breaking temperatures.
• Heat in Alabama, May 21, 19961 eventA new record high of 94 was set at Tuscaloosa.
• Heat in Oklahoma, May 22 to 23, 199612 eventsBetween 1830 and 1930 CST, an area of thunderstorms over southwest Oklahoma began to collapse and evolved into a massive heatburst with severe straight-line winds that spread over a large part of southwestern Oklahoma and into parts of central Oklahoma.
• Heat in Alabama, May 23, 19964 eventsA number of record highs were set or tied. These include: Anniston 94 New record Birmingham 95 Tied Huntsville 93 New record Tuscaloosa 96 New record
• Heat in Alabama, May 24, 19966 eventsA number of new record highs were set including: Anniston 96 New record Birmingham 96 New record Huntsville 96 New record Montgomery 96 New record Muscle Shoals 96 New record Tuscaloosa 97 New record
• Heat in Alabama, May 25, 19961 eventA new record high of 93 was set at Muscle Shoals.
• Heat in Alabama, May 26, 19962 eventsA new record high temperature of 95 was set at Tuscaloosa while the record high of 94 was tied at Huntsville.
• Heat in Alaska, June 1, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 76 set at the Valdez city site.
• Heat in Georgia, June 1 to 30, 199616 eventsBelow normal rainfall continued through June along with hot and humid temperatures. The hot and dry conditions were significantly impacting agricultural operations across southeast Georgia.
• Heat in South Carolina, June 1 to 30, 19969 eventsBelow normal rainfall continued through June along with hot and humid temperatures. The hot and dry conditions were significantlyimpacting agricultural operations throughout the south cosatal counties of South Carolina.
• Drought in Texas, June 1 to 30, 1996$14 million · 24 eventsDespite periodic thunderstorms this month, the long drought continued across the extreme southern Texas Panhandle, the South Plains, and the Low Rolling Plains. The very dry weather adversely impacted the early cotton crop that dominates this area.
• Drought in Texas, June 1 to 30, 199623 eventsContinuation of drought from May. Rainfall was above normal in portions of Southeast Texas, especially near the coast. Areas inland and to the west continued to be extremely dry.
• Drought in Texas, June 1 to 30, 19961 eventAn increase in the number of rain events in North Central Texas during the month of June helped some agricultural interests, as soil moisture improved. The improvement was not widespread however, as the rains came in their typically spotty summertime fashion.
• Drought in Texas, June 1 to 30, 1996$60 million · 33 eventsDrought persisted through June across South Central Texas. Monthly damages are based on the estimated annual loss to agriculture across all of Texas through this year. Property damages do not include business or commercial revenue losses.
• Drought in New Mexico, June 1 to 25, 19961 eventDespite several days with severe thunderstorms in the east, hot temperatures and the worst drought in nearly 30 years gripped the state during much of June.
• Wildfire in Alaska, June 2 to 12, 1996$10 million · 1 eventApparent fire works touched off one of the most expensive fires to affect the state. On June 2nd, a small fire began. It "blew up" on Sunday at around 1030 pm as brisk north winds developed (very unusual for this time of year).
• Heat in Alaska, June 3, 19961 eventHigh temperature record 54 at Saint Paul.
• Heat in Alaska, June 3, 19961 eventRecord high of 59 reported at Cold Bay...beating old record of 58 (1990).
• Wildfire in Alaska, June 7 to 12, 19961 eventAnother fire of unknown origins, developed near Tustumena Lake on the Kenai Peninsula on June 7. It became known as the "Crooked Creek" fire...and, as of June 12, had burned around 23,000 acres.
• Heat in Delaware, June 8, 19968 injured · 1 eventThe combination of high temperatures near 90F and excessive humidity levels caused eight persons to suffer heat exhaustion during a day-long country music festival in Frawley Stadium near Wilmington.
• Heat in Alaska, June 13, 19961 eventRecord low of 30 at Cold Bay (tied the entire month of June record low).
• Heat in Missouri, June 18 to 25, 19961 eventHigh temperatures running in the lower to middle 90s caused 11 people to be treated for heat related illnesses in the city of St. Louis from June 18 - 24. Two people were admitted for overnight stays while the rest were treated and released.
• Wildfire in Arizona, June 20 to 30, 19961 eventWildfire outbreak described in Coconino County entry.
• Wildfire in Arizona, June 20 to 30, 19961 eventWildfire outbreak described in Coconino County entry.
• Wildfire in Arizona, June 20 to 30, 19961 eventWildfire outbreak. Two days of numerous dry thunderstorms, June 20 and 21, started over 120 lightning-caused fires. By the end of June, over 82,000 acres of private and public land was burned.
• Wildfire in Arizona, June 20 to 30, 19961 eventWildfire outbreak described in Coconino County entry.
• Wildfire in Arizona, June 20 to 30, 19961 eventWildfire outbreak described in Coconino County entry.
• Heat in South Carolina, June 22, 19961 death · 1 eventA 31 year old man died of heat stroke.
• Heat in Missouri, June 22, 19961 death · 1 eventA 61 year old man died of heat related causes.
• Heat in South Carolina, June 23, 19961 death · 1 eventA man died of heatstroke while relaxing beside his pool.
• Heat in Wisconsin, June 29, 199670 injured · 1 eventA minimal heat wave produced air temperatures of 95 degrees and dewpoints in the lower to mid 70s, and heat indices of 105 to 110 for one day. The lowest air temperature in Milwaukee on the 29th was 74. A large crowd attended the Summerfest event on Milwaukee's lakefront.
• Heat in Missouri, June 30, 19961 death · 1 eventAn 81 year old woman died of heat related causes. The date of death was estimated.
• Heat in Texas, July 1 to 9, 19966 deaths · 1 eventSeveral elderly people died from heat related problems during the heat wave.
• Heat in Texas, July 1 to 9, 19962 deaths · 1 eventA ridge of high pressure developed over the Southern Plains during the first week of the month. A dry air mass, dry soils, light downslope winds and strong solar heating contributed to temperatures at or above 100 degrees for 7 consecutive days across much of North Texas.
• Heat in Texas, July 1 to 9, 19961 death · 1 eventAn elderly woman died from heat related problems in her home.
• Drought in Texas, July 1 to 31, 19967 eventsContinued lack of rainfall over much of area resulted in driest first half of year on record.
• Drought in Texas, July 1 to 31, 19961 eventDrought conditions continued to slowly improve during the month of July as scattered thunderstorms affected the area throughout the typically dry mid-summer month.
• Drought in Texas, July 1 to 31, 1996$60 million · 33 eventsDrought persisted through July across South Central Texas. Monthly damages are based on the estimated annual loss to agriculture across all of Texas through this year. Property damages do not include business or commercial revenue losses.
• Heat in Louisiana, July 1, 19961 death · 1 eventExcessive heat contributed to the death of a 92 year old woman in her home.
• Heat in Oklahoma, July 1 to 7, 19967 deaths · 5 eventsHigh temperatures topped the century mark in central Oklahoma through the first week of July. On July 1, the high in Oklahoma City (at OKC) reached 102 degrees, then 104 on the 2nd, 103 on the 3rd, 105 on the 4th, 108 on the 5th, 110 on the 6th, and 106 on the 7th.
• Wildfire in Idaho, July 3, 19961 eventEight wildfires were started due to lightning. The largest fire was 30,000 acres 12 miles southeast of Glenn's Ferry. Damage estimates were not yet available.
• Wildfire in Idaho, July 3, 19961 eventLightning ignited a rangeland fire near Dietrich in Lincoln County.
• Heat in Texas, July 5, 19961 death · 1 eventExcessive heat contributed to the death of a man in Marshall, Texas. He suffered from a heat stroke and was found alive in his home but later died in a local hospital.
• Heat in Alaska, July 6, 19961 eventHigh temperature record of 63 at Cold Bay.
• Heat in Missouri, July 7 to 8, 19968 injured · 1 eventEight heat related injuries were reported at local St. Louis hospitals.
• Heat in Alabama, July 11, 19961 death · 1 eventA 34 year old female was found in her vehicle suffering from a heat stroke outside a doctors office. She was estimated to have been in the vehicle for five and one half hours before being found.
• Heat in South Carolina, July 17, 19961 death · 1 eventA young athlete died from a seizure caused by heat following football practice.
• Heat in Kansas, July 18, 19961 eventAn afternoon high temperature of 100 degrees and a dew point of 71 resulted in a record level of electricity consumption on the 18th.
• Heat in Missouri, July 18 to 20, 199611 injured · 1 eventEleven heat related illnesses were reported from July 18th through the 20th.
• Wildfire in Idaho, July 25, 19961 eventThe Picabo and Queen's Crown Fires north of Picabo were caused by lightning.
• Wildfire in Idaho, July 25, 19961 eventLightning caused an 8 acre fire about 6 miles east of Gooding.
• Wildfire in Idaho, July 25, 19961 eventLightning caused a 150 acre fire (Glendale Fire) southwest of Bellevue.
• Drought in Ohio, August 1 to 31, 199630 eventsDry weather persisted throughout the month across northern Ohio. Rainfall averaged from a few tenths of an inch in north central and northwest Ohio to one to two inches in extreme northeast Ohio. August rainfall normally averages between three and four inches.
• Drought in Pennsylvania, August 1 to 31, 19963 eventsDry weather persisted throughout the month across northwest Pennsylvania. Total precipitation for the month averaged from one to three inches. Average rainfall for northwest Pennsylvania is around four inches.
• Drought in Texas, August 1 to 22, 1996$202 million · 23 eventsToward the latter part of August plentiful rains were at last falling over all of the area.
• Drought in Texas, August 1 to 31, 199648 eventsDrought conditions over northern Texas continued the slow but consistent improving trends of the past several months in August as scattered thunderstorm activity during the first three weeks of the month became much more widespread by the month's end.
• Drought in Texas, August 1 to 31, 1996$60 million · 32 eventsDrought persisted through August acrosss South Central Texas. Monthly damages are based on the estimated annual loss to agriculture across all of Texas through this year. Property damages do not include business or commercial revenue losses.
• Drought in New Mexico, August 1 to 23, 1996$2.4 million · 2 eventsSee narrative in Texas, Western section.
• Heat in Alaska, August 2, 19961 eventRecord high at Saint Paul...50.
• Heat in Illinois, August 5 to 7, 19965 deaths · 1 eventThree days of heat indices above 100 degrees, contributed to 4 deaths in Chicago and one in Elmwood Park. On the 5th the high temperature at O'Hare was 89 and Midway was 90 and the heat index was 100 at both locations.
• Wildfire in California, August 12 to 19, 19961 eventLightning started the "Keystone" fire that burned in the jurisdiction of the Tuolumne-Calaveras Ranger Unit of the California Department of Forestry. This wildfire destroyed 20 homes and damaged 7 others. It burned 7000 acres.
• Wildfire in Montana, August 12 to 13, 19961 eventSparks from a logging operation in the Little Belt mountains started a forest fire. Very dry conditions and strong winds caused the fire to expand quickly. By noon the next day, 2600 acres had been burned.
• Wildfire in Oregon, August 13 to 31, 19961 eventOn the morning of August 13th lightning triggered 37 forest fires in the Willamette National Forest near Oakridge, Oregon. These fires, known as the South Zone Complex, burned 3700 acres and smoldered for 4 weeks before being declared out on September 9.
• Wildfire in Idaho, August 13, 19961 event
• Wildfire in Idaho, August 13, 19961 eventThunderstorms with frequent lightning and strong wind set off several fires and downed powerlines. Wind gusting to 60 miles per hour downed lines in Meridian causing a power outage.
• Wildfire in Idaho, August 13, 19961 event
• Wildfire in California, August 14 to 31, 19961 eventLightning started the Rogge wildfire in the Stanislaus National Forest along the Tuolumne River. The wildfire took two weeks to get under control, burning 23,200 acres.
• Wildfire in California, August 14 to September 12, 19961 eventLightning caused a wildfire known as the Ackerson Complex fire. The fire burned 61,070 acres. August was the worst month of the year for wildfire in California. In 1996, 232,984 acres burned throughout the state, or 90 percent greater than the normal acreage of 122,362 acres.
• Drought in Kentucky, August 15 to 31, 199622 eventsThe drought severity index showed extreme drought conditions over much of western Kentucky during the last week of August. The National Weather Service office in Paducah recorded the driest August ever. August of 1996 was the second driest month since 1962.
• Drought in Missouri, August 15 to 31, 199610 eventsOnly 0.11 inches of rain fell at Paducah, KY during the month. This was the driest August on record, and the second driest month. The drought severity index showed extreme drought over parts of southeast Missouri the last week of August.
• Drought in Illinois, August 15 to 31, 19967 eventsThe drought severity index indicated extreme drought conditions over parts of southern Illinois the last week of August. Only 0.11 inches of rain fell at Paducah during the month. This was the second driest month since 1962 at Paducah, and it was the driest August on record.
• Heat in California, August 15, 19964 deaths · 1 eventA week-long stretch of temperatures over 100 degrees, topping at 110 degrees for two days, combined with higher-than-normal relative humidities led to 4 heat-related deaths in Kern County.
• Wildfire in Colorado, August 17, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventKnown as the Chapin 5 Fire, this blaze was the most destructive fire in the 90-year history of Mesa Verde National Park. The fire was evidently started by a lightning strike. It is believed that the fire smoldered for nearly 24 hours before erupting into a major blaze.
• Wildfire in Oregon, August 24 to 31, 1996$1.7 million · 1 eventOn August 24th lightning caused a series of forest fires, known as the Moolack Complex, in the Willamette National Forest east of Oakridge. 11,375 acres were burned with 1.7 million dollars in damage to campgrounds and timber interests.
• Wildfire in Oregon, August 26, 19961 eventWinds gusting to 60 miles an hour ripped through Southeast Oregon in Malheur county downing power lines and trees. Shingles were also blown off of several roofs. In the Vale District around 26000 acres burned due to lightning strikes.
• Drought in Texas, September 1, 1996$32 million · 19 eventsDrought persisted through September across the southwestern part of South Central Texas. Monthly crop damages are based on the estimated annual loss to agriculture across all of Texas through this year. Property damages do not include business or commercial revenue losses.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 1 to 30, 1996$1.7 million · 1 eventThe Moolack Fire Complex was started by lightning on August 24th and burned throughout the month of September. The fire was declared out on October 16.
• Wildfire in Oregon, September 1 to 9, 19961 eventThe series of lightning caused fires known as the South Zone Complex was started on August 13th and continued to burn into September. The fires were declared out on September 9.

Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 1996Tornadoes in 1996

NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.