Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for April 12, in any year, each linked to its full record.
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Edwards, Real counties, Texas and tracked 36.4 miles, 1,600 yards wide at its widest, killing 74 and injuring 205. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rocksprings, TX.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma and tracked 27.9 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 69 and injuring 353. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Antlers, OK.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Ningxia, China. It killed 10,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Muskogee County, Oklahoma and tracked 3.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 13 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Muskogee, OK.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $4.2 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 35, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from April 12, 2020 to April 13, 2020.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Logan, Johnson counties, Arkansas and tracked 49.9 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 10 and injuring 70. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Paris, AR.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and tracked 20 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Oklahoma City, OK.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Cua, Charallave, San Diego, Venezuela. It killed 400 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An EF4 tornado touched down in Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones counties, Mississippi and tracked 67.43 miles, 3,960 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 98.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of April 12, 2018 was ranked category 4, Crippling, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from April 12, 2018 to April 17, 2018.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Osage County, Oklahoma and tracked 12.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Barnsdall, OK.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Marion County, Alabama and tracked 5.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hackleburg, AL.
134 on April 12, oldest first.
On April 12, 1856, a strong derecho struck the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the morning hours, Philadelphia was experiencing high westernly winds, with little rain and humid air.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Tunica, DeSoto counties, Mississippi and tracked 35 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 10 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Commerce/NW Hernando, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Tunica, DeSoto counties, Mississippi and tracked 14.2 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 13 and injuring 100. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Robinsvonville, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Monroe County, Michigan and tracked 7.9 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rea/WNW Dundee, MI.
An F2 tornado touched down in Catahoula Parish, Tensas Parish, Louisiana and tracked 40.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 12. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Waterproof/Lake St. Joseph/Newellton, LA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb counties, Michigan and tracked 12.7 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Royal Oak/N Warren, MI.
An F2 tornado touched down in Muskogee County, Oklahoma and 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Muskogee, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Alcorn, Prentiss counties, Mississippi and tracked 18 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Baldwyn, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Douglas County, Illinois and 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Atwood, IL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Osage County, Oklahoma and tracked 12.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Barnsdall, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in McIntosh County, Oklahoma and tracked 14.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Cecotah, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jackson, Brown counties, Kansas and tracked 23.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Netawaka/N Whitin/N Horton/S Hiawatha to SE Robinson, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Craig, Cherokee, Jasper counties, Oklahoma and tracked 32.9 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Melrose/NW Galena, KS/NE Joplin, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma and tracked 4.8 miles, killing 1 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Okmulgee/Taft, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Douglas County, Kansas and tracked 7.8 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Lawrence, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lincoln County, Oklahoma and tracked 8.9 miles, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Meeker/Payson to SE Chandler, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Crawford County, Arkansas, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Mountainburg, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, killing 1 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Sallisaw, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Holt County, Nebraska and tracked 6 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Redbird Creek/Eagle Creek/N O'Neill, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Holt County, Nebraska and tracked 5.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E O'Neill, NE.
An F4 tornado touched down in Union, Stanly counties, North Carolina and tracked 32 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Monroe to Norwood, NC.
An F5 tornado touched down in Edwards, Real counties, Texas and tracked 36.4 miles, 1,600 yards wide at its widest, killing 74 and injuring 205. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rocksprings, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Haskell, LeFlore counties, Oklahoma and tracked 10.5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 18. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S McCurtain to Bokoshe, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in LeFlore, Sebastian counties, Oklahoma and tracked 3.9 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 13. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Arkoma, OK to Fort Smith, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Uvalde County, Texas, killing 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Uvalde, TX.
S. state of Texas.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wallace County, Kansas and tracked 15.4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Sharon Springs to Sharon Springs, KS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Marion County, Alabama and tracked 5.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hackleburg, AL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cullman County, Alabama and tracked 9.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 14. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Vinemont, AL.
S. state of Alabama.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F5 tornado touched down in Pushmataha County, Oklahoma and tracked 27.9 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 69 and injuring 353. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Antlers, OK.
An F4 tornado touched down in Muskogee County, Oklahoma and tracked 3.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 13 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Muskogee, OK.
An F4 tornado touched down in Logan, Johnson counties, Arkansas and tracked 49.9 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 10 and injuring 70. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Paris, AR.
An F4 tornado touched down in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma and tracked 20 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Oklahoma City, OK.
An F4 tornado touched down in Polk County, Missouri and tracked 7.8 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 16. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Morrisville, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Madison, Carroll counties, Arkansas and tracked 32.7 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Crosses to E Metalton, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Latimer County, Oklahoma and tracked 12.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Wilburton to NE Red Oak, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in McDonald County, Missouri and tracked 13.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Pineville to S Stella, MO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cherokee County, Oklahoma and tracked 4.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hulbert, OK.
An unrated tornado touched down in Sequoyah, Crawford counties, Oklahoma and tracked 10.9 miles, killing 7 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Roland, OK to N Dora, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Taney, Douglas, Wright counties, Missouri and tracked 32.4 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Bradleyville to NE Mansfield, MO.
The 1945 Antlers tornado was a large, extremely violent, and deadly F5 tornado that impacted areas near the town of Antlers, Oklahoma, during the evening hours of April 12, 1945. Part of a significant tornado outbreak across the central United States, the Antlers tornado was the strongest tornado of the outbreak, as well as the strongest of 1945.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Henry County, Georgia and tracked 2.3 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E McDonough, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Troup County, Georgia, injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hogansville, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Harris, Talbot, Meriwether counties, Georgia and tracked 12.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Pine Mountain/Manchester, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Pike County, Georgia and tracked 9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Zebulon, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Anderson County, Texas and tracked 5.6 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
An F3 tornado touched down in Castro County, Texas and tracked 5.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 32.
An F1 tornado touched down in Darlington County, South Carolina and tracked 0.5 miles, 40 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
An F4 tornado touched down in Anderson County, Kansas and tracked 19.4 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 9.
An F4 tornado touched down in Page County, Iowa and tracked 13.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 28.
An F3 tornado touched down in Leavenworth, Platte counties, Kansas and tracked 14 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 22.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cass, Jackson counties, Missouri and tracked 19.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 10.
An F3 tornado touched down in Douglas, Leavenworth counties, Kansas and tracked 33.8 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F2 tornado touched down in Johnson County, Missouri and tracked 10.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Grant County, Arkansas and tracked 4.5 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ascension Parish, Louisiana and tracked 10.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
The Basirhat-Bongaon tornado outbreak occurred on April 12, 1983, specifically in the Gaighata block of Bongaon subdivision in West Bengal near major cities like Basirhat and Bongaon. It was a severe tornado lasting about two minutes with winds estimated around 330 kmph.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Garfield, Grant counties, Oklahoma and tracked 9 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Grant County, Oklahoma and tracked 9.5 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in Harrison County, Mississippi and tracked 2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 16.
Two mobile homes were totally destroyed in the Benville community. One person was injured in one of these mobile homes. Several trees and power lines were blown down.
A tornado destroyed a mobile home, two barns and a cattle feeder.
During the late afternoon of April 13 and into the evening and overnight, a strong spring storm system pushed across the Lower Mississippi Valley region and brought widespread severe weather, a regional tornado outbreak, and flash flooding.
A strong upper level trough generated scattered to numerous thunderstorms across North and Central Texas on Saturday April 13.
A strong cold front moved through central Kentucky on the morning of April 12th. Ahead of the front, temperatures were in the 70, and behind it temperatures dropped into the 50s.
A line of thunderstorms moved east through the region ahead of an advancing cold front.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Jefferson Davis, Covington, Jones counties, Mississippi and tracked 67.43 miles, 3,960 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 98.
73 tornadoes were recorded on April 12, 2020, in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, 2 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 22 people.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Walthall, Lawrence, Marion counties, Mississippi and tracked 22.12 miles, 1,936 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 3.
An outbreak of severe weather occurred on Easter Sunday, 2020. This was a multifaceted event with a few different waves of activity, each of which brought their own unique hazardous weather to the residents of the region.
A powerful Spring storm system resulted in a Severe Weather / Tornado outbreak across much of the Southeast region, including north and central Georgia, beginning on Easter Sunday (April 12th) and lingering into the morning hours of April 13th.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Catoosa, Hamilton, Bradley counties, Georgia and tracked 19.34 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 18.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Murray County, Georgia and tracked 8.88 miles, 860 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 24.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Lawrence, Jefferson Davis, Covington counties, Mississippi and tracked 83.22 miles, 2,041 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
A prolonged convective event with deep moist southerly flow in an unstable environment with strong wind shear generated supercell thunderstorms across Southeast Tennessee and Southwest North Carolina.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana and tracked 8.01 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana and tracked 2.6 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest.
Warm, moist, and unstable air surged north into East Texas, North Louisiana, and Southern Arkansas during the evening through the early morning hours of April 11th-12th, along a warm front that lifted north across much of East Texas into North Louisiana.
On April 12th 2020, a very potent storm system delivered widespread severe weather across the southeast, as a strong cold front met unstable, moist Gulf air causing severe storms across Mississippi.
An EF1 tornado touched down in Bartow County, Georgia and tracked 12.76 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
Warm, moist, and unstable air surged north into East Texas, North Louisiana, and Southern Arkansas during the evening through the early morning hours of April 11th-12th, along a warm front that lifted north across much of East Texas into North Louisiana.
During the late morning hours of April 12, 2020, a short-lived but damaging tornado struck Monroe, Louisiana, as part of a historic tornado outbreak. The tornado touched down at 10:36 CST and dissipated nine minutes later at 10:45 CST.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
During the afternoon hours of Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020, an enormous and powerful high-end EF4 tornado struck the southeastern parts of Bassfield and directly struck the communities of Soso, Moss, and Pachuta, Mississippi, as well as rural areas near Seminary and Heidelberg. 52 km) track, the tornado killed eight people and injured 99 others, causing losses of up to $73 million.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A widespread and deadly tornado outbreak affected the Southeastern United States on Easter Sunday and Monday, April 12–13, 2020. Several tornadoes were responsible for prompting tornado emergencies, including the first one to be issued by the National Weather Service in Charleston, South Carolina.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An upper-level low over the southwest United States evolved into a negatively-tilted shortwave trough as it moved over the southeastern United States. A warm front steadily moved northward during the morning and afternoon hours on Sunday, April 12.
Heavy rainfall occurred across the entire NWS Huntsville County Warning area, as well as damage from thunderstorm winds and a few tornadoes.
An outbreak of severe weather occurred on Easter Sunday, 2020. This was a multifaceted event with a few different waves of activity, each of which brought their own unique hazardous weather to the residents of the region.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Williamson, Bell counties, Texas and tracked 16.55 miles, 770 yards wide at its widest, injuring 23.
Thunderstorms developed along a dryline across the Big Country the afternoon of Tuesday April 12, then spread east across North and Central Texas, producing all modes of severe weather.
28 tornadoes were recorded on April 12, 2022, in Texas, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Arkansas, Minnesota.
Two rounds of severe storms moved across southeast Minnesota on April 12th. The first round occurred in the afternoon as storms producing large hail moved across the area. Quarter sized hail fell from north of Racine (Mower County) east to near Winona (Winona County).
A large upper trough dug through the Southern Plains during the afternoon and overnight hours on April 12th-13th, allowing the dry line to mix east into Central Texas.
Initial storms developed within the warm sector of a surface low that tracked northwest of the area, followed by a strong cold front with associated dry line that produced a quasi-linear (QLCS) storm mode later in the evening.
Severe storms moved across northeast Iowa during the evening of April 12th. These storms produced five tornadoes and damaging wind gusts as high as 72 mph in Nora Springs (Floyd County).
A nearly stationary front began to move slowly northward across South Florida on April 12th, focusing deep moisture over the region.
1 on April 12, oldest first.
Hurricane Sinlaku reached its peak of 154 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 896 mb, a category 5 storm.
17 on April 12, oldest first.
The record setting snowfall in February and March set the stage for flooding in April. During February and March of 2002, north-central and western parts of Upper Michigan received over 100 inches of snowfall. The snow pack held over 11 inches of water.
Rapid snowmelt and heavy rain sent the Montreal River out of its banks, flooding three houses and five businesses in Hurley. The snowmelt and rain caused numerous creeks and streams to flood. Seventy percent of Iron County's roads were closed due to high water.
During the late afternoon and evening hours of Easter Sunday, a large and strong upper level low clashed into an air mass where high levels of moisture were being pulled northward.
The combination of a very significant snowpack that gradually melted and milder temperatures and significant rainfall of one to three inches on April 12 resulted in flooding across portions of west central lower Michigan.
A strong stationary front with a 40 degree temperature gradient setup along the Wisconsin and Illinois border. Numerous strong to severe thunderstorms developed and moved east to northeast across southern Wisconsin.
An upper level low pressure system over the Desert Southwest combined with a stationary front to produce thunderstorms across South Central Texas. Some of these storms produced large to giant hail.
Low level moisture combined with daytime heating and orographic effects to produce scattered to locally numerous showers across the western interior and northwest sections of Puerto Rico. Heavy rainfall led to rapid rises in small stream and rivers across the area.
Low pressure tracked from the Southern Plains into the Lower Mississippi Valley on April 12, 2020. A warm front pushed north through the Mid-South earlier in the day with heavy rain and some flash flooding along with a few severe storms.
A strong cold front extending from a complex surface low pressure system, brought intense thunderstorms which produced damaging winds and very heavy rain on April 12-13. The heavy rains resulted from a deep plume of tropical moisture lifted northward ahead of the cold front.
A strong storm system impacted the Southeast, resulting in an area of widespread heavy rain and embedded strong to severe thunderstorms that moved across western North Carolina during the late night and early morning hours.
A strong cold front extending from a complex surface low pressure system, |brought intense thunderstorms which produced damaging winds and very heavy rain on April 12-13. The heavy rains resulted from a deep plume of tropical moisture lifted northward ahead of the cold front.
A strong storm system and associated cold front approached eastern Kentucky on Easter Sunday, with rainfall beginning during the afternoon.
A cold front brought precipitation to Simpson County on April 11 and 12th. This caused West Fork Drake Creek to rise and flow over a bridge on Saddler Ford Road. A driver tried to cross the bridge, but flowing water pushed his vehicle off the bridge, killing him.
Rapid melting of much above normal snowpack caused widespread, and at times, extensive flooding over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 12th into the 25th.
A historic flash flood event occurred in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and the surrounding areas on April 12, 2023. 6 inches (650 mm) of rain within approximately 12 hours.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Above normal snowpack from the prior winter season in combination with a rapid warming in temperatures resulted in a rapid snowmelt within the Jemez Mountains and the Jemez River Basin.
Heavy rainfall and snowmelt resulted in flooding across the south-central U.P. Many roads were flooded and several closed. The flooding also caused damage at the Escanaba Airport (KESC) due to standing water on the runways and power failure.
31 on April 12, oldest first.
Soft hail, mainly 0.25 to 0.50 inch, fell for nearly 30 minutes, causing significant accumulations, drifts, minor temporary flooding from heavy rains and several fender bender automobile accidents.
Strong winds with a thunderstorm produced scattered damage in the Cedar Bluff area of Cherokee County. A portion of the roof to the Cedar Bluff High School gym was blown off.
Powerful thunderstorms crossed the county causing widespread downed trees and power outages. Some trees were downed on cars and structures. Winds estimated at at least 70 mph partially collapsed an apartment building in Edinboro. Twelve people were injured.
Hail of 1-3/4 to 2 inches diameter was reported along the path of a severe thunderstorm from Reading to near Hudson on the Lenawee County line. Widespread hail damage occurred with windows on west side of buildings broken and vinyl or aluminum siding left with holes and cracks.
Golf ball size hail fell across the southern townships from 5 miles south of Bronson to Quincy. Tree limbs, power lines, and power poles were brought down. Aluminun and vinyl siding on houses was damaged. Siding was torn off in places.
Low pressure intensified over central South Dakota during the day. The pressure gradient was very strong across Iowa. Upper air soundings taken at 0600 CST indicated winds of 70 to 75 kts over Iowa between 3000 and 5000 feet above the ground.
A strong cold front moved across northern Ohio during the morning and afternoon hours. Damaging winds occurred behind the front and caused considerable damage. A 59 year old male was killed by a falling tree in Rocky River (Cuyahoga County) while working outside.
A strong cold front moved across southeast Michigan in the morning. Strong winds were observed across much of the area after the front went through.
A moist upslope easterly flow at the surface following the passage of a cold front combined with a disturbance in the upper atmosphere approaching from the west triggered scattered severe thunderstorms during the late evening and early morning hours across the western and…
An unusually strong pressure gradient developed between small scale high and low pressure systems across central and southern Florida. The high pressure area was caused by a cold pool of air formed from early morning thunderstorms.
The same low pressure system which brought isolated high winds on the 11th caused widespread strong winds and many areas of blowing dust in the Mojave Desert.
The same low pressure system which brought isolated high winds on the 11th caused widespread strong winds and many areas of blowing dust in the Mojave Desert.
Severe thunderstorms which developed across the western Texas Panhandle during the evening hours moved east across the central Texas Panhandle by late evening and the early morning hours.
An intense atmospheric gravity wave brought a period of high winds to central Alabama late in the evening on April 12, lasting into the early morning hours on April 13.
A wave of damaging winds produced widespread and signficant damage to portions of north central and northeast Alabama during the late evening hours of the 12th into the early morning hours of the 13th.
A very warm airmass moved into Iowa on the 11th and 12th of April. By the afternoon of the 12th, temperatures reached the 80s across a large part of Iowa with dewpoint temperatures in the mid 50s to around 60.
Severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts developed near a warm front during the mid afternoon hours of April 12th and continued through the late afternoon and evening hours. There were numerous reports of straight line wind damage with wind gusts of up to 75 to 85 mph.
Severe thunderstorms tracked across the northern tier of counties in Illinois producing large hail and sporadic wind damage.
A back door cold front moved in from the east to near the Rio Grande Valley. Deep moisture behind the front combined with a weak upper trough lifting out of the Baja region to produce severe thunderstorms with large hail around Sierra Blanca.
An unsettled weather pattern during the week of April 12th generated several days of showers and thunderstorms across North and Central Texas, as multiple upper level disturbances moved across the region. A few of these storms produced large hail.
A line of thunderstorms developed late Tuesday morning across southwest Minnesota and quickly moved eastward over southern Minnesota, and into west central Wisconsin by mid afternoon.
A few rounds of severe thunderstorms moved across portions of northeast Louisiana from late in the evening of April 12th through the evening of April 13th. These storms produced wind damage and several tornadoes before a cold front brought an end to storms from west to east.
6 on April 12, oldest first.
Snowstorm of April 12, 1921 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from April 12, 1921 to April 19, 1921.
The 2nd latest winter-spring date OKC has experienced measurable snowfall is April 12. This occurred back in 1957 when seven tenths of an inch were recorded. The latest date is actually April 14, which was experienced in 1953 with eight tenths of an inch were recorded.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Snowstorm of April 12, 2018 was ranked category 4, Crippling, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from April 12, 2018 to April 17, 2018.
April, 2018 was a busy fire weather month across the drought-stricken Southern Plains. Vegetation that had seen abundant growth during 2017 lay very dry and dormant in the early spring of 2018 due to a dry winter and early spring period. From April 12th through the 17th, very warm and dry air combined with the dormant fuels and strong winds to produce fire weather conditions labeled “historic”. Although there were many fires, the two largest began near each other in northwest Oklahoma. The Rhea Fire ignited southwest of Leedey in Dewey County and would go on to consume over 286,000 acres. The 34 Complex Fire began as three separate fires in Woodward and Harper Counties that merged into one, eventually burning over 60,000 acres north and east of Woodward. In all, nearly 400,000 acres burned across the state of Oklahoma, burning dozens of homes and causing tens of millions of dollars in damage. The small town of Martha in Jackson County lost at least 15 homes and over $20 million in cotton and cotton seed alone. Twenty fire-related injuries were reported by area hospitals, mostly due to smoke inhalation. The fires claimed two lives, a 61-year-old man died in Roger Mills County fighting a small fire that began near Leedey, and a woman died in her vehicle near Seiling.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A significant late season storm system dropped heavy snow on portions of southeast Minnesota on Easter Sunday, April 12th. The driver of a car was killed when they collided with a tow truck parked on the shoulder of U.S. Highway 52 in Rochester.
A strong Colorado low lifted slowly through the Northern Plains into the Upper Midwest, resulting in a multi-day blizzard over most of North Dakota.
1 on April 12, oldest first.
On April 12, 1972, the temperature climbed to 100 degrees in Oklahoma City. That is the earliest date in the year that a temperature of at least 100 has ever occurred in the city. The 100-degree high also set a record as the warmest temperature ever observed in April for Oklahoma City. Meanwhile, Wichita Falls also set an April high temperature that day, with a reading of 102 degrees.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
3 on April 12, oldest first.
This was the last of several nights where temperatures dropped below critical levels for most fruit varieties in western Colorado. The majority of stone fruits were destroyed, while most apples and pears survived.
Freezing temperatures led to crop damage in the Yakima Valley. The low temperature at the Yakima Airport dropped to 20 degrees on April 13th, tieing the record low temperature for the month of April.
Record setting temperatures occurred during a large portion of March, allowing for the growing season to start roughly four to six weeks ahead of schedule. Many orchards and other types of fruit farms observed extensive budding and flowering of the plants.
46 on April 12, oldest first.
The Unnamed Fire started on April 12, 1987, in Minnesota, and burned 10,826 acres.
The Ashbrook Fire started on April 12, 1991, in New Mexico, and burned 1,732 acres.
The Cinder Pit Fire was discovered on April 12, 1994, in Idaho, and burned 1,668 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Ponder Fire was discovered on April 12, 1995, in New Mexico, and burned 1,300 acres.
The Owl Creek Fire was discovered on April 12, 1999, in Florida, and burned 2,624 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire started on April 12, 2000, in Nebraska, and burned 2,455 acres.
The RL59 Fire was discovered on April 12, 2002, in Minnesota, and burned 1,971 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire started on April 12, 2003, in Kansas, and burned 4,674 acres.
The Chippewa Prairie Fire was discovered on April 12, 2003, in Chippewa County, Minnesota, and burned 3,191 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Kensel 1 Fire was discovered on April 12, 2003, in North Dakota, and burned 1,760 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Ojo Feliz Fire was discovered on April 12, 2006, in Mora County, New Mexico, and burned 16,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Mckinley Fire was discovered on April 12, 2007, in Kittson County, Minnesota, and burned 2,000 acres.
The Dreggers Fire was discovered on April 12, 2007, in Long County, Georgia, and burned 1,743 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Beard Mountain Fire was discovered on April 12, 2009, in Jeff Davis County, Texas, and burned 3,600 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Unnamed Fire started on April 12, 2011, in Oklahoma, and burned 11,360 acres.
The Windfarm Fire was discovered on April 12, 2011, in Quay County, New Mexico, and burned 3,400 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Bully Fire was discovered on April 12, 2011, in Oklahoma, and burned 2,751 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Indiahoma Wye Fire was discovered on April 12, 2011, in Oklahoma, and burned 2,621 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The 11 East Trapps 2 Sec Fire was discovered on April 12, 2011, in Kansas, and burned 2,269 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Great Fire of Valparaíso started on 12 April 2014 at 16:40 local time, in the hills of the city of Valparaíso, Chile. The wildfire destroyed at least 2,500 homes, leaving 11,000 people homeless.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
From 12 to 16 April 2015, a series of wildfires spread across southern Siberia, Russia. In the Republic of Khakassia, 29 people were killed and 6,000 left homeless.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Several major wildfires were sparked on the 12th. Most significantly (in terms of size/extent) were the Rhea fire (mainly Dewey county, but also affecting Woodward and Custer counties), burning 286,196 acres, causing 1 fatality and 3 injuries (including a burnover of a truck),…
A large area of low pressure over the desert southwest led to strong and gusty southwest to west winds during the afternoon hours on April 12th.
The first day of a two-day strong wind event began on April 12th as an unseasonably deep upper level storm system moved slowly east through the southern Rockies.
The Rhea Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Dewey County, Oklahoma, and burned 286,196 acres.
The 34 Complex was reported on April 12, 2018, in Woodward County, Oklahoma, and burned 62,481 acres.
The 206 Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Lea County, New Mexico, and burned 44,162 acres.
The Diener Canyon Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Cibola County, New Mexico, and burned 9,338 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Shaw Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma, and burned 7,257 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Blue Water Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Cibola County, New Mexico, and burned 3,473 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The 246 Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and burned 3,360 acres.
The Black Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Seward County, Kansas, and burned 2,725 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Clear Creek Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Osage County, Oklahoma, and burned 2,700 acres.
The Canadian River Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Potter County, Texas, and burned 1,500 acres.
The Bower City Fire was reported on April 12, 2018, in Gray County, Texas, and burned 1,450 acres.
The McBride Fire was a destructive wildfire that burned in the Lincoln National Forest near the community of Ruidoso in Lincoln County, New Mexico, in the United States as part of the 2022 New Mexico wildfire season. The fire was named after McBride Road, near where it ignited on April 12, 2022.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Mcbride Fire was reported on April 12, 2022, in Lincoln County, New Mexico, and burned 6,159 acres.
The Berlin Rd Fire was reported on April 12, 2022, in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma, and burned 3,776 acres.
The Fort Lyons Fire was reported on April 12, 2022, in Bent County, Colorado, and burned 2,900 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bents Fort Fire was reported on April 12, 2022, in Otero County, Colorado, and burned 1,677 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Crystal Lake 6.0 Fire was reported on April 12, 2023, in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and burned 4,319 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Juniper Swamp Fire was reported on April 12, 2025, in Liberty County, Florida, and burned 4,986 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Hwy 14 Fire was reported on April 12, 2025, in Sheridan County, North Dakota, and burned 3,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Haoe Lead Fire was reported on April 12, 2025, in Graham County, North Carolina, and burned 3,103 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Potato Hill Fire was reported on April 12, 2025, in Emmons County, North Dakota, and burned 3,000 acres.
The Schwachheim Fire was reported on April 12, 2026, in Las Animas County, Colorado, and burned 1,582 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
20 on April 12, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Santo Domingo (St Domingue), Haiti.
A magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck Copiapo, Chile. It killed few people (about 1 to 50) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Cumana, Venezuela.
An earthquake struck Central, Italy.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Cua, Charallave, San Diego, Venezuela. It killed 400 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Northern, Chile. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck La Rioja, Argentina. It killed 11 people.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Taiwan. It killed 60 people and destroyed 13 houses.
An earthquake struck NE of Darwin, Australia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Ningxia, China. It killed 10,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Solomon Islands.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Sanriku, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck N Sumatera,malay Peninsula, Indonesia-Malaysia. It killed 14 people, destroyed 2,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Tazarj,barghany,madanuiyeh,baraftab,daragah, Iran. It killed 1 person and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Chimbote, Peru. It killed 10 people and did $500,000 in damage.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Bovec, Kobarid, Arnoldstein, Slovenia, Austria. It killed 1 person.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Do Abi-Nahrin, Tajikistan, Afghanistan. It killed 50 people, injured 150 and destroyed 160 houses.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Japan. It injured 24.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Solomon Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Luwuk, Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. It killed 1 person.
8 on April 12, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck Northern Chile, with a maximum water height of 4 meters. It killed few people (about 1 to 50) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Northern Chile.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Northern Australia, with a maximum water height of 2.1 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Sanriku, Japan, with a maximum water height of 1 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Northeast Sumatra, Indonesia. It killed 14 people, destroyed 2,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Norsalv River, Sweden, with a maximum water height of 5 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.05 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Abuyog, Leyte, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 12 meters. It killed 170 people and left 128 missing.
12 on April 12, oldest first.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1941, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 19; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1949, reached Kp 6 and lasted 15 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 28; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1950, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 20; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1951, reached Kp 6 and lasted 27 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 44; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 55 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1975, reached Kp 6- and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 29; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 57 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1980, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 28; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1993, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 16; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 1994, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 30; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 2005, reached Kp 5 and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 30; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 2010, reached Kp 6- and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 19; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 57 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 2011, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 23; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began April 12, 2016, reached Kp 5 and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 25; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
4 on April 12, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.2 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from April 12, 2014 to April 13, 2014.
A severe storm disaster that cost $4.2 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 35, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from April 12, 2020 to April 13, 2020.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.8 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from April 12, 2021 to April 15, 2021.
A flooding disaster that cost $1.1 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from April 12, 2023 to April 13, 2023.
6 on April 12, oldest first.
A winter storm located over the Central Atlantic Ocean produced high seas across the local northern waters. These seas caused strong rip currents at Fajardo Beach where three people were carried away and drowned while they were snorkeling.
A 67-year old Canadian visitor drowned in a rip current at an unguarded section of the beach across from 1151 State Road A1A. Six other people were rescued and hospitalized at various times and locations along the surf beaches of Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
A line of severe thunderstorms moved across Biscayne Bay and the near shore Atlantic waters of Miami-Dade County. Winds and rough seas capsized a small boat near Fowey Rocks.
A rip current at Ocean Beach caught two men off guard resulting in one man's death.
Increasing south southeasterly winds lead to a moderate risk of rip currents along the east coast beaches of South Florida. A woman was pushed by strong waves into a rip current near Jupiter in Palm Beach County, was rescued, but later died from the incident.
As a cold front passed South Florida, there were cautionary conditions across the local waters on April 12th. Seas were in the 3-5 feet range across all local waters with northeasterly winds around 15 kts.
Gathered from this site’s archives: the tornado record (NOAA SPC, and Grazulis before 1950), IBTrACS and the National Hurricane Center, NOAA NCEI’s Storm Events Database, Regional Snowfall Index, billion-dollar disasters list, State Climate Extremes Committee and hazard databases, USGS, NIFC, GFZ Potsdam’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0), the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wikidata (CC0), with article leads from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, each credited where it appears. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.