Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for April 15, 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.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Oita, Japan. It killed 273 people, injured 2,809, destroyed 43,386 houses and did $20 billion in damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Marion, Cass, Bowie counties, Texas and tracked 111.7 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 59 and injuring 300. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Marion Co. TX to Pike Co., AR.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Montenegro, Balkans NW. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 131 people, injured 1,001 and did $2.7 billion in damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Montenegro, with a maximum water height of 3 meters. It killed 131 people, injured 1,001 and did $2.7 billion in damage.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Sale, Cape Cantin, Morocco. It killed 3,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of April 15, 1920 was ranked category 5, Extreme, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from April 15, 1920 to April 19, 1920.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Alabama and tracked 21.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 25 and injuring 200.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Frio County, Texas and tracked 23.3 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 12.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, Mexico. It killed 84 people and did $2 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Mexico. It killed 84 people and did $2 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Batang, Sichuan Province, China. It killed 11 people, injured 42 and did $164 million in damage.
Tornadoes
124 on April 15, oldest first.
An F3 tornado touched down in Marshall County, Kansas and tracked 4.2 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Waterville/SW Maryville, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Harris, Meriwether counties, Georgia and tracked 16.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Chipley/Warm Springs, GA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Belmont, Ohio counties, Ohio and tracked 14.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: St. Clairsville/Martins Ferry, OH.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hansford County, Texas and tracked 10.5 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hansford, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cherokee, Crawford counties, Kansas and tracked 5.9 miles, 30 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Scammon/NW Cherokee, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Faulk County, South Dakota and tracked 9.9 miles, killing 2 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Burkmere/W Faulkton/Millard, SD.
An F3 tornado touched down in Harvey County, Kansas. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Putnam, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Monroe, Wilcox, Butler counties, Alabama and tracked 25.2 miles, killing 1 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Pineville/Awin, AL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Marion, Cass, Bowie counties, Texas and tracked 111.7 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 59 and injuring 300. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Marion Co. TX to Pike Co., AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pope County, Arkansas and tracked 3.1 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Appleton, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Scott, Yell counties, Arkansas and tracked 5.3 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Gravelly, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Cass, Bowie counties, Texas and tracked 19.8 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N O'Farrell/SW Texarkana, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Pike County, Mississippi, killing 1 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Fernwood, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Noxubee, Lowndes counties, Mississippi and tracked 42.3 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Macon/E Columbus/Steens/E Caledonia, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lawrence County, Mississippi and tracked 8.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 12. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Sontag, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Gosper, Frontier counties, Nebraska and tracked 7.9 miles, 60 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Eustis, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Bandera County, Texas and tracked 4.2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Pipe Creek, TX.
An F4 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Alabama and tracked 21.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 25 and injuring 200.
The 1956 McDonald Chapel tornado was a deadly tornado that struck the Greater Birmingham area in Jefferson County, Alabama, with damage most severe in McDonald Chapel, during the afternoon hours of April 15, 1956. The tornado killed 25 people and injured 200 others.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F4 tornado touched down in Polk County, Florida and tracked 0.1 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
An F3 tornado touched down in Saint Lucie County, Florida and tracked 14.8 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, injuring 20.
An F3 tornado touched down in Saint Johns County, Florida and tracked 3.6 miles, 73 yards wide at its widest, injuring 9.
An F3 tornado touched down in Miami, Cass counties, Kansas and tracked 8.4 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cumberland County, Tennessee and tracked 6.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Bradley County, Tennessee and tracked 10.4 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, injuring 50.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jackson, DeKalb counties, Alabama and tracked 9.6 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F4 tornado touched down in Frio County, Texas and tracked 23.3 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 12.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hale County, Texas and tracked 7.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 26.
An F3 tornado touched down in Navarro County, Texas and tracked 3.8 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Runnels County, Texas and tracked 9.9 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lake County, Florida and tracked 3 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7.
A cluster of thunderstorms associated with an old meso-low pressure system left over from the previous day and early morning hours re-intensified as it moved rapidly from central Georgia into the southern part of the upstate.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hamilton, Bradley, Meigs counties, Tennessee and tracked 15 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 9.
A brief touchdown was reported, damaging a portable building and blowing down some trees.
33 tornadoes were recorded on April 15, 1994, in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Mississippi and more. They killed 3 people.
An F2 tornado touched down in Harris County, Texas and tracked 5 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 20.
An F2 tornado touched down in Chester County, South Carolina and tracked 3 miles, 73 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4.
A few trees were knocked down.
A mobile home was destroyed by high winds, probably from a microburst. The 63-year-old male owner was killed outdoors at the site when he was struck by debris from the roof during the event. He died of head injuries. Trees were downed and large hail also fell.
The Brunswick Police Department reported large hail.
On the evening of the 14th, and the early morning hours of the 15th, numerous thunderstorms moved across the Mississippi River bringing with them isolated wind and hail storms.
Power lines were downed.
Winds gusted to 70 mph at Trimble. Half-inch hail was also reported.
The second is a series of three tornadoes began about 100 yards to the SE of where the first tornado began (off Hwy 64 in Wendell). The storm was initially less than 25 yards wide asit moved NNE and twisted trees and blew shingles off several houses.
The storm moved into Franklin county and destroyed a cement block building 1 mile SW of the community of Pilot. The storm then crossed over Hwy 64 where numerous trees were twisted and downed. Several outbuildings were also destroyed.
Tornado on Williamson Road ripped the roof off one trailer and totally destroyed another trailer. Three people were slightly injured.
Eyewitnesses saw a tornado as it destroyed 3 hog houses on NC11 south of Kenansville. Travelled NE downing trees which blocked the highway and struck another hog farm about a mile away destroying 4 hog buildings.
Three turkey barns totally destroyed and the roof of a vacant house was partially blown off on NC50. Thousands of baby turkeys were killed.
Tornado ripped the roof off a church on NC903. Sanctuary was left intact. The tornado crossed a field and totally destroyed a modular home on Gray Road one-half mile NE of the church. Family had left the house and sought refuge at a relatives home.
A severe thunderstorm, which originated in eastern Missouri, travelled to the east across southern Illinois. It produced numerous tornadoes. When it moved into our county warning area, it produced two tornadoes over Clay County.
Trees were blown down at Manchester. A large tree fell at the corner of Main and Church Streets near the First United Methodist Church and knocked out electricity.
Six houses sustained major damage in Cravat. One house was moved about 10 feet off of its foundation with the back portion of the house destroyed. One truck and some farm machinery were tossed 50 feet. Several small barns and outbuildings were destroyed.
The tornado destroyed two large barns and five or six smaller outbuildings. Significant damage occurred to two farm houses. Several trees and power poles were snapped off. Some two-by-fours and a large saw blade were embedded in homes.
A tornado which formed in Jefferson County near Cravat moved northeast into Marion County at Walnut Hill. Witnesses who saw the tornado noted a twin structure; two vortices very close to one another.
An F3 tornado touched down in Dooly County, Georgia and tracked 14.5 miles, 700 yards wide at its widest, injuring 28.
An F2 tornado touched down in Robeson County, North Carolina and tracked 0.3 miles, killing 1 and injuring 4.
A spotter reported quarter size hail.
As a thunderstorm raced ENE near 50 mph into Western Robeson County, downburst winds destroyed two mobile homes and injured a person in the Hidden Valley area near Maxton. The storm continued on, causing damage to power lines in Pembroke.
On the night of April 15, 1999 several tornadoes touched down. One multi-vortex tornado touched down in Duplin County about a half mile south of Kenansville.
Another tornado on the evening of April 15, 1999 caused havoc in Onslow county. The tornado touched down about a mile south of Richlands and tracked across Highway 258 and disipated in the Hofmann Forest.
Tornado ripped the end off one mobile home, caused moderate damage to a house and practically destroyed seven other mobile homes. Another mobile home was flipped several times and ended up on the bottom of a nearby pond. Two persons were in this mobile home.
An F2 tornado destroyed 20 acres of watermelons and rolled over a large tractor several times. Numerous trees and powerlines were down along the track.
An F1 tornado touched down in the Neuse River just southwest of Bridgeton and moved northeast across the town. The tornado caused substantial roof damage to several homes and buisnesses near and along Highway 17. Two Buisnesses were destroyed.
A tornado had an intermittent track from 8 miles south southwest of Neosho, to 3 miles southwest of Boulder City. A log home and a drilling company were completely destroyed, plus numerous outbuildings, sustained considerable damage.
A tornado developed southeast of Redings Mill and continued east of business Highway 71, or about 5 miles east southeast of Redings Mill. Damage was widespread along the track of the tornado.
A tornado briefly touched down one mile north of Kimberling City. It caused a steel roof from a boat and marina shop to be removed, plus several large boats inside were damaged or destroyed.
A tornado was first reported by the Reydon Emergency Manager and viewed by several storm chasers. Shortly after forming, the tornado caused damage to several houses and downed power lines six to seven miles south-southeast of Reydon.
Strong thunderstorm wind blew down trees in town.
This tornado began in Hardeman County, Texas producing F2 damage before moving northeast and crossing the Red River at 1829 CST into extreme western Jackson County, Oklahoma then moving into Harmon County, Oklahoma where it dissipated.
This tornado formed about 6 miles west of Wymore at 433 pm CDT (1533 CST), tracked northeast to around 4 miles east of Beatrice where it caused f2 damage, then tracked just south of Adams and crossed into Johnson county 2 miles southeast of Adams around 515 pm CDT.
Straight line winds damaged several buildings, and knocked down trees and power lines in Netawaka. This storm had also produced a weak F0 tornado on the northwest side of Netawaka which caused no damage in the immediate area.
First tornado of the DeKalb County storm touched down south of US-36, but north of the Clinton County line. This tornado crossed US-36 east of Stewartsville and quickly occluded. No damage was noted.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Sumter County, South Carolina and tracked 19.04 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5.
Phasing of jet streams allowed for a rapidly developing low pressure system. Large scale dynamics and instability allowed for several low topped supercells to develop primarily along and ahead of a cold front over portions of western counties of our area.
A surface low rapidly deepened over NC during the early morning hours of April 15, 2007, as the parent upper level trough phased with the surface feature.
75 tornadoes were recorded on April 15, 2011, in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Missouri, Illinois, Georgia, Kentucky. They killed 10 people.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Greene, Washington counties, Mississippi and tracked 18.3 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 28.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Autauga County, Alabama and tracked 9.29 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 4.
A potent storm system, which wreaked havoc across the eastern half of the United States on April 14-16, produced a significant and historic tornado outbreak across Central Alabama on April 15. Forty tornadoes, 30 of which touched down in Central Alabama, occurred in the state.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Marengo County, Alabama and tracked 15.33 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4.
Numerous supercell thunderstorms developed in the late morning through the evening hours across Mississippi and Alabama.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Hinds County, Mississippi and tracked 16.53 miles, 528 yards wide at its widest, injuring 10.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Neshoba, Kemper, Sumter counties, Mississippi and tracked 48.52 miles, 1,760 yards wide at its widest, injuring 5.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Greene, Tuscaloosa counties, Alabama and tracked 18.37 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
Numerous supercell thunderstorms developed in the late morning through the evening hours across Mississippi and Alabama.
A significant severe weather event and tornado outbreak affected portions of central Mississippi, southeastern Arkansas, and northeastern Louisiana on April 15th. This event evolved slowly and brought multiple rounds of severe storms to the region between 3 am and 9 pm.
An EF1 tornado touched down in Pulaski County, Arkansas and tracked 3.94 miles, 475 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 2.
A strong closed upper level low pressure moved across the Ohio valley, producing a variety of extreme weather across southwest Virginia. In advance of this system,|strong southeast winds produced wind damage across the higher elevations.
A deep, slow moving, negatively tiltled and highly diffluent upper trough was sweeping from the south central into the southeast U.S. during the April 15th and 16th period. A strong Pacific cold front accompanied the upper-level trough.
A vigorous upper-level disturbance interacting with an approaching cold front triggered severe thunderstorms across central and southeast Illinois during the afternoon and evening of April 15th. The airmass ahead of the front was moderately unstable and highly sheared.
Windy conditions prevailed ahead of an approaching cold front, with gusts of 30 to 40 mph common. As the front moved in, thunderstorms developed. Isolated severe weather, including one tornado, resulted.
This page documents notable tornadoes and tornado outbreaks worldwide in 2016. Strong and destructive tornadoes form most frequently in the United States, Bangladesh, Brazil and Eastern India, but they can occur almost anywhere under the right conditions.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An EF3 tornado touched down in City of Lynchburg, Campbell, Amherst counties, Virginia and tracked 20.4 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, injuring 12.
A strong upper low moved from Iowa across the Lower Great Lakes region, with a deep trough taking on a negative tilt while swinging into North Carolina.
A strong cold front with a negatively-tilted upper level trough approached southwest Virginia. Plenty of wind shear with modest instability made conditions ripe for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
A strong cold front with a negatively-tilted upper level trough approached the North Carolina Piedmont. Plenty of wind shear with modest instability made conditions ripe for large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes.
A strong upper level disturbance combined with strong atmospheric shear, and instability enhanced by diurnal heating, produced a line of thunderstorms, some of which were severe and included embedded tornadoes.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and one tornado across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
Storms developed along the southwest Missouri/southeast Kansas border during the early afternoon and tracked eastward across the area through the early to mid evening. Hail up to four inches in diameter was reported near the town of Arcola, in Dade County.
A closed upper low/trough was over the Central Plains, which brought an increase in atmospheric lift. Moisture and instability increased across the area during the afternoon of the previous day. Wind shear and helicity increased after sunset.
An organized area of low pressure tracked along a stationary over the region and brought lines and clusters of strong thunderstorms and heavy rainfall to southern WI. Flash flooding occurred in spots from Rock County to the Milwaukee area.
13 on April 15, oldest first.
The 1950 Red River flood was a devastating flood that took place along the Red River in The Dakotas and Manitoba from April 15 to June 12, 1950. Damage was particularly severe in the city of Winnipeg and its environs, which were inundated on May 5, also known as Black Friday to some residents.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An intense nor'easter brought heavy rain and flooding to New Jersey that started on the 15th. The worst flooding occurred along the Raritan and Passaic River Basins. It was the worst flooding in the Raritan Basin since Hurricane Floyd in 1999.
A Nor Easter occurred during Sunday and Monday, April 15th and 16th. It brought heavy rain that caused widespread and significant river, stream, and urban flooding of low lying and poor drainage areas.
Low pressure developed over the lower Mississippi Valley on Saturday April 14th, and then moved northeast while intensifying, reaching the southern Appalachians by Sunday morning, April 15th, and then just south of western Long Island by Monday morning, April 16th.
A strong late season Nor'easter impacted the region with a prolonged period of moderate coastal flooding. The low orignated over the southern plains on Friday, April 13, and then reached the mid Atlantic coast Sunday morning, April 15.
An unusually strong and slow moving coastal storm for mid April tracked to western Long Island Sound on April 16th before weakening slowly and drifting offshore.
A prolong rain event began on Saturday morning the 14th. The rain was associated with a developing low pressure system over the southeastern United States.
A stagnant, split upper level pattern allowed a series of short wave troughs to move through South Central Texas. These short waves combined with deep low level moisture to cause slow moving thunderstorms.
Mild temperatures and heavy rains contributed to rapid snow melt and ice movement during mid April. Rising river levels and ice jams led to flooding across portions of northern and eastern Maine.
High temperatures near 80 along with 1 to 2 inches of rain caused the remaining snowpack to quickly melt resulting in widespread flooding. Many roads were flooded and washed out.
Snowmelt from a late season snowpack combined with heavy rain produced widespread flooding across northern and central Vermont.
Snowmelt flooding along the North Dakota Tributaries began in early to mid-April, with a few locations persisting into early May.
Spring snowmelt flooding began in mid to late April in most locations, then persisted into early May.
17 on April 15, oldest first.
A man was crushed and killed in Rome when thunderstorm winds toppled a large pine tree onto the tractor he was driving. Thunderstorm winds downed several large trees and power lines in Rome which caused 1,200 residents to loose electric power for up to an hour. (M61O)
Trees were downed 5 miles northwest of Greencastle, and there was some minor damage to homes in the area. South of Fincastle a roof was blown of a barn.
Strong winds collapsed a small building at a golf course in the northern portion of the county. One man was slightly injured.
Severe thunderstorms affected a large part of western Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 15th before the storms eventually weakened across central Oklahoma.
Spotter reported 2 trees down.
Straight line winds toppled numerous power lines and trees around Joplin. Structural damage occurred to homes and businesses along 32nd street, concentrated in a 3 to 4 block wide area approximately 4 to 5 miles in length.
Four to five trailers were destroyed near the Rocky Comfort area.
Almost all of Utah was overly taxed as a powerful spring storm brought damaging winds and blowing dust to the area. The winds ahead of the cold front toppled semis, caused numerous traffic accidents, closed freeways, whipped up wildfires, and produced widespread power outages.
A tree trimmer was fatally electrocuted in South Kansas City around 3 pm. He was in a tree when a wind gust caused a power line to swing into the tree.
A very strong pressure gradient developed as a vigorous area of low pressure moved northeast from the North Carolina coast to off the Long Island coast developing into a nor'easter and high pressure progressed into the area from the midwest.
The combination of strong high pressure building into the region and an intensifying area of low pressure in the western Atlantic, resulted in very windy conditions across southern South Carolina.
A Strong area of low pressure in Oklahoma intensified and moved into the Mid Mississippi Valley on April 15, 2011.
A prefrontal squall line intensified as it moved into east central Florida. An apartment building in Celebration was destroyed by a lightning-induced fire, and severe thunderstorm wind gusts occurred in Brevard County.
A cold upper level system in combination with a stationary boundary across the Florida peninsula led to widespread afternoon thunderstorms across much of South Florida.
As a warm front lifted north across Mississippi on April 15th, several severe thunderstorms developed and produced hail. Some wind damage occurred as well.
A closed upper level low lifted north just to the west of our region, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms. A few severe storms produced damaging winds and small to medium sized hail.
Severe thunderstorms developed over far eastern and southeastern Oklahoma and moved through northwestern Arkansas during the afternoon of the 15th, as a cold front moved into the area.
9 on April 15, oldest first.
Snowstorm of April 15, 1920 was ranked category 5, Extreme, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from April 15, 1920 to April 19, 1920.
A backhoe and its operator, working on a construction project for the new Cordova Electric Cooperative hydroelectric plant, were caught up in an avalanche about noon on Thursday.
One day after thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage in southeast Idaho, a mid-April snowstorm dumped heavy wet snow over the same region. It was the heaviest snow of the season in the Snake River Plain.
A storm system initiated across the southern Rockies on the 12th and moved across the southern Plains on the 13th into the Gulf coast states on the 14th.
Snowstorm of April 15, 2011 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from April 15, 2011 to April 17, 2011.
A large surface low pressure area brought 1 to 2 inches of snowfall resulting in slushy roads and difficult driving conditions across Hamlin County. The poor conditions contributed to a fatal accident.
Snowstorm of April 15, 2013 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from April 15, 2013 to April 20, 2013.
A potent storm system dropped out of the northern Rockies and produced moderate to heavy snow over portions of the mountains, foothills and plains. The heaviest snow fell in and near the foothills north of Interstate 70, and across the plains north of I-76.
A late season snow in the early morning of April 15th left a coating of 1 to 2 inches across much of northeast Illinois. This snow melted on most roadways but accumulated on bridges and overpasses causing them to become icy.
1 on April 15, oldest first.
An out-of-season heat wave affected south-central and southeast Wisconsin thanks to a very warm, moist airmass which settled in for the 4-day period of April 15-18.
1 on April 15, oldest first.
The morning low temperature in Wichita Falls on April 15, 1983, was a chilly 32 degrees. Up until the spring of 2013, this was the latest spring freeze on record at the Falls.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
45 on April 15, oldest first.
The Bison Trap Fire started on April 15, 1987, in South Dakota, and burned 2,602 acres.
The Perez Fire started on April 15, 1992, in New Mexico, and burned 2,663 acres.
The Good Friday Fire was discovered on April 15, 1995, in Nebraska, and burned 6,885 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Panoche Fire was discovered on April 15, 1996, in California, and burned 2,000 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Otay #28 Fire was discovered on April 15, 1996, in California, and burned 1,402 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
Extended dry conditions and strong winds helped fuel a wildfire near Port St. Lucie. Forty eight houses were destroyed as 2,400 acres were scorched.
The Cow House Fire was discovered on April 15, 1999, in Florida, and burned 6,675 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The North River Fire started on April 15, 1999, in North Carolina, and burned 3,053 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 1999, in Jackson County, Mississippi, and burned 2,500 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Dof 232 Fire was discovered on April 15, 1999, in Florida, and burned 1,800 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 1999, in Jackson County, Mississippi, and burned 1,400 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Park Fire was discovered on April 15, 2001, in Okeechobee County, Florida, and burned 17,000 acres; the cause was recorded as railroad operations and maintenance.
The Unnamed Fire started on April 15, 2001, in New Mexico, and burned 4,066 acres.
The Whitewater Fire was discovered on April 15, 2002, in Valley County, Montana, and burned 1,652 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The RL169 Fire was discovered on April 15, 2002, in Minnesota, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 2003, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and burned 3,200 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Lumbre Fire was discovered on April 15, 2006, in Guadalupe County, New Mexico, and burned 8,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Double U Ranch Fire was discovered on April 15, 2006, in Lynn County, Texas, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 2006, in Lynn County, Texas, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 2006, in Donley County, Texas, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Lincoln Fire was discovered on April 15, 2007, in Marshall County, Minnesota, and burned 1,600 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
A wildfire erupted west of Ordway and strong winds spread the blaze rapidly east northeastward. Highways 96 and 71 were shut down, as 8900 acres of grassland was consumed. Twenty-four structures were destroyed west and north of Ordway. Over 150 power poles were destroyed.
A human caused fire turned into a large wildfire during several days of strong winds. Very dry conditions were present prior to the wildfire due to a lack of precipitation in the preceding weeks.
A wildfire erupted with strong winds across northern Fort Carson. Strong winds rapidly spread the blaze, which eventually consumed 9000 acres. Highway 115 was closed for a time, and 750 residents were evacuated.
The Trigo Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in Torrance County, New Mexico, and burned 13,709 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The TA-25 Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in El Paso County, Colorado, and burned 9,064 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Ordway Crowley Co Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in Crowley County, Colorado, and burned 8,900 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Pratt Sandhills Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in Pratt County, Kansas, and burned 6,400 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in Dimmit County, Texas, and burned 3,500 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Tongue River Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in Dickens County, Texas, and burned 2,600 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Maxwell Pasture Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in McPherson County, Kansas, and burned 2,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on April 15, 2008, in Dimmit County, Texas, and burned 2,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
Several wildfires broke out in the western counties of North Texas from April 15th-19th. It took several days to control these fires. They burned over 18000 acres of land. The largest wildfire was the Bryson Complex in western Jack and eastern Young County.
The Fm 148 & Fm 2332 Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Clay County, Texas, and burned 18,000 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Wichita County Complex was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Wichita County, Texas, and burned 11,785 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Cache Assist Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Oklahoma, and burned 4,500 acres.
The Cement Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Oklahoma, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The East Sidwynicks Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Eastland County, Texas, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Dillard Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Clay County, Texas, and burned 2,000 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The FM2393 & Williams Rd Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Clay County, Texas, and burned 1,850 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Livingston #254 Fire was discovered on April 15, 2011, in Trinity County, Texas, and burned 1,369 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Palsburg Fire was reported on April 15, 2015, in Roseau County, Minnesota, and burned 4,550 acres.
The Log Swamp Fire was reported on April 15, 2023, in Ocean County, New Jersey, and burned 1,607 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Range 127 Fire was reported on April 15, 2024, in El Paso County, Colorado, and burned 1,475 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bee Rock Creek Fire was reported on April 15, 2025, in McDowell County, North Carolina, and burned 2,085 acres.
13 on April 15, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Hamadan, Iran. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
An earthquake struck Sale, Cape Cantin, Morocco. It killed 3,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Turkey.
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico. It killed 8 people. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, Mexico. It killed 84 people and did $2 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Xinjiang Province, China.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Sicily, Italy. It killed 5 people and destroyed 400 houses.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Montenegro, Balkans NW. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 131 people, injured 1,001 and did $2.7 billion in damage.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Batang, Sichuan Province, China. It killed 11 people, injured 42 and did $164 million in damage.
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck W, Honshu, Japan. It injured 12 and destroyed 63 houses.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Guatemala.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kumamoto, Oita, Japan. It killed 273 people, injured 2,809, destroyed 43,386 houses and did $20 billion in damage.
2 on April 15, oldest first.
Unzendake, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 30 people.
Merapi, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. It killed 30 people and destroyed 50 houses.
4 on April 15, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Livorno, Italy.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Mexico. It killed 84 people and did $2 million in damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Montenegro, with a maximum water height of 3 meters. It killed 131 people, injured 1,001 and did $2.7 billion in damage.
1 on April 15, oldest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began April 15, 2025, reached Kp 8- and lasted 33 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 75; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 47 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
1 on April 15, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.4 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from April 15, 2023 to April 15, 2023.
3 on April 15, oldest first.
A 14 year old boy drowned due to a rip current near 25th Ave in Myrtle Beach.
Choppy surf and strong rip currents affected two children, resulting in one injury and a fatality.
A boat capsized resulting in two fatalities on the 15th around noon. Gradient winds were estimated to be around 20 knots.
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.