Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for August 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 8 earthquake struck Ica, Pisco, Lima, Peru. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 596 people, injured 1,292, destroyed 93,708 houses and did $600 million in damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck S. Peru, with a maximum water height of 10.05 meters. It killed 596 people, injured 1,292, destroyed 93,708 houses and did $600 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck India-China. It killed 1,530 people and did $20 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck India-China, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters. It killed 1,530 people and did $20 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 52 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Celebes Sea, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 7.2 meters. It killed 52 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Tojo, Sulawesi, Indonesia. It killed 48 people.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Marshall, Sargent counties, South Dakota and tracked 14.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Newark, SD.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Sepat reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 918 mb, a category 5 storm.
Volcanoes
Oku Volcanic Field, Cameroon erupted. It killed 37 people. The eruption caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano, earthquake and landslide struck Lake Monoun, Cameroon, with a maximum water height of 5 meters. It killed 37 people.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Pawnee, Richardson counties, Nebraska and tracked 14 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Pawnee City/W Humboldt, NE.
40 on August 15, oldest first.
An unrated tornado touched down in Capitol Planning Region County, Connecticut and tracked 5.9 miles, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: New Britain/Newington/Wethersfield, CT.
An F1 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Arkansas and tracked 2.2 miles, killing 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Pine Bluff, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Marshall, Sargent counties, South Dakota and tracked 14.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Newark, SD.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pawnee, Richardson counties, Nebraska and tracked 14 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Pawnee City/W Humboldt, NE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Swift County, Minnesota and tracked 2.5 miles, killing 2 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Holloway/Fairfield Township, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Sheridan County, North Dakota, killing 2 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Denhnoff, ND.
An F2 tornado touched down in Divide County, North Dakota and tracked 12.2 miles, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Noonan, ND.
An F3 tornado touched down in Charles Mix County, South Dakota and tracked 9.8 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Geddes to Lake Andes, SD.
An F3 tornado touched down in Logan County, Colorado and tracked 2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Mercer, Rock Island counties, Illinois and tracked 6.4 miles, 77 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in St. Lawrence County, New York and tracked 0.2 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 3.
An F2 tornado touched down in Otter Tail County, Minnesota and tracked 1 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8.
Winds knocked out windows and damaged a gutter at a house. Eight trees were uprooted, farm buildings were damaged.
A severe thunderstorm produced a tornado that produced substantial damage in a residential area east-northeast of Latrobe along the foothills of the Chestnut Ridge. The tornado first touched down 1 mile west of Derry.
Large trees were downed around New Rockford, some falling on power lines. One tree fell on a house, damaging the roof. Several signs were also damaged.
A supercell thunderstorm developed over Emmons county in south central North Dakota and moved northeast producing an F1 tornado in open county 12 miles northeast of Napoleon in Logan county.
The storm survey was completed by NWS Grand Forks. The tornado started in Barnes county 1.5 miles southwest of Litchville, moved across far northeast LaMoure county, and dissipated in Ransom county 6 miles north of Lisbon. The total path length was 20 miles.
A strong low level jet, remnants of a morning complex of storms from Iowa, and increasing instability all combined to create favorable conditions for damaging winds and isolated supercells.
An area of low pressure moved north of central Indiana allowing the region to remain in tropical air.
There were three tornadoes this day in McLean County, all near Ruso and in less than a one hour period of time. Thunderstorms developed along a variety of weak surface boundaries over southwest and central North Dakota as a weak short-wave trough passed through the area.
10 on August 15, oldest first.
The 1812 Louisiana Hurricane was a major hurricane that struck New Orleans, Louisiana, during the War of 1812. It was the worst storm of the early history of New Orleans and was very likely the hurricane which made the closest landfall known to affect the city.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Ocean Springs, MS as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph). The 1901 Louisiana hurricane was the first hurricane to make landfall in Louisiana in the month of August or earlier since 1888. The fourth tropical cyclone and second hurricane of the season, this storm developed southwest of the Azores on August 2.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 1 hurricane, 65 kt (75 mph).
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 2 hurricane, 95 kt (110 mph).
Hurricane Cleo reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 947 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Camille crossed the coast near Guane, Pinar del Rio, Cuba as a category 2 hurricane, 95 kt (110 mph). Hurricane Camille was one of the most powerful hurricanes to make landfall in the United States when it hit southern Mississippi in August 1969. A devastating tropical cyclone, Camille was one of four Atlantic hurricanes to strike the United States as a Category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson scale, the highest category corresponding to maximum sustained winds of at least 157 mph (253 km/h).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Betty reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 920 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Danny crossed the coast near Gueydan, LA as a category 1 hurricane, 80 kt (90 mph), central pressure 987 mb. Hurricane Danny produced 13 significant (F2+) tornadoes in the Southern United States during August 1985, the most spawned by a tropical cyclone until Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The fourth named storm and third hurricane of the season, Danny developed from a tropical wave in the northwestern Caribbean Sea on August 12.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Phanfone reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 904 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Sepat reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 918 mb, a category 5 storm.
35 on August 15, oldest first.
Some of the worst flooding that ever occurred in western north Texas happened on August 15, 1971. Heavy rain began on the 14th, but the worst of the rain and most of the flooding was on the 15th. On that day, rainfall averaged four to 11 inches. At least 10 families were forced to evacuate their homes along the Wichita River as the water rapidly rose. The river rose so high that its swift-flowing waters undercut several streets, causing them to collapse. The official rainfall at the National Weather Service Office in Wichita Falls on the 15th was 4.52 inches, making this the wettest August day ever observed in the city.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
For the second consecutive night a flash flood hit Spartanburg. This time the primary flood occurred along Fairforest Creek and the communities affected were the west side of the city, Arcadia, Una, and Reidville Road.
Roof blown off house and power lines down.
The Gilmer county 911 center reported that Georgia Highway 52 was flooded with several inches of water flowing over the road.
Route 152 flooded near Smithfield. County roads 4, 7, 8, 11,17, 18, and 21 flooded in Dillonvale and Wells Twp and elsewhere. At least 20 homes suffered flood damage. 15 families were evacuated. Asphalt on some county roads was ripped up.
Severe flooding in Death Valley National Park caused extensive flooding along CA Highway 190 and Route 127. The flooding completely washed away several miles of roadway and caused damage to several rest areas.
A quick deluge, about 3 inches in less than 1 hour, occurred across a portion of South Jackson during the evening of the 15th. This locally intense rainfall caused about 20 homes to flood along Archer Ave.
A tree was blown down on to power lines.
Heavy rain occurred between 1800 to 1900 PST in the Kern County Desert area that led to flash flooding in California City from Cache Creek and extensive sheet flow through the area.
A 47 year old male passenger drowned when a small vehicle was swept off State Road 75 just east of Dixon. Other cars had stopped when they saw the water running across the roadway. The driver of the small vehicle drove around stopped vehicles into the fast water.
Runoff from heavy rains over the nearby Sierra De Las Uvas Mountains caused the Placitas Arroyo to breach, which sent a wall of water into the town of Hatch. Up to 4 feet of water entered business and residences.
4.00 inches of rain fell overnight.
Tropical wave moved through Puerto Rico and generated scattered to numerous and isolated thunderstorms...which produced intense rains and moderate to severe urban flooding over the San Juan Metro area.
Powerful storms developed over southern Lake Michigan and moved south across northwest Indiana during the evening hours of August 15th.
Very heavy rainfall occurred during the middle to late afternoon hours, resulting in rapid runoff and low land and county road flooding over extreme north central Kit Carson and extreme southern Yuma counties.
Moist and unstable conditions that prevailed over eastern Nebraska during the afternoon and evening hours of August 15th helped set the stage for slow moving thunderstorms that repeatedly developed and tracked across parts of northeast Nebraska.
An extremely warm and moist airmass was in place over the region on the morning of August 15th. Abundant sunshine during the morning hours led to the development of extremely high atmospheric instability by early afternoon.
A return to favorable monsoon conditions, including abundant moisture and a disturbance, brought strong thunderstorms and heavy rain to southern Arizona.
A severe weather outbreak unfolded during the late afternoon and evening of the 15th as thunderstorms developed and intensified along several boundaries over southwest and south central North Dakota.
The low level jet helped focus persistent rainfall with embedded thunder over southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota. Numerous reports of heavy rain and flash flooding were received along with isolated hail.
Several waves of heavy rain, with embedded non severe thunderstorms with torrential rain, moved through western and central North Dakota. There was overland, stream, river and flash flooding, mainly over the southern half of the western and central parts of the state.
A large complex of sea breeze induced thunderstorms formed across the interior sections of the Florida peninsula. The storms stayed below severe thresholds but still produced gusty winds along with areas of heavy rainfall. Radar estimated 4-6 inches of rain in some spots.
A weak cold front moving through southern New England brought showers and thunderstorms to the region. These storms produced hail and damaging winds as well as some poor drainage street flooding.
A tropical air mass worked north out of the Gulf States as weak low pressure deepened and moved into the western Great Lakes. The high moisture content, combined with very efficient rainfall processes allowed for a period of widespread rain across the forecast area.
Heavy rainfall fell on August 15th-16th The heaviest rains were focused over western Butler and Polk counties. A cooperative weather observer in David City measured 6.01 inches of rain for this event.
Between the afternoon of Tuesday the 15th and the morning of Wednesday the 16th, roughly the northern half of this 24-county South Central Nebraska area saw its most significant heavy rain and localized flooding event of 2017, along with a smattering of severe storms (including…
Southerly flow pulled moisture into the Mojave Desert, fueling scattered thunderstorms. Some storms produced severe weather and/or flash flooding.
A very moist and unstable air mass supported several strong and severe thunderstorms this evening spanning portions of the far southwest Texas Panhandle.
Another round of thunderstorms produced reports of large hail and damaging winds during the middle of the month. Rounds of storms produced the hail and wind August 15 through August 17th. Flash flooding also occurred with some of the storms during this period.
A diffuse and weak mid-level trough drifted across the eastern Great Lakes during the afternoon and evening, with a weak inverted trough at the surface extending from the Middle Atlantic states into western New York.
Thunderstorms resulted in flash flooding over several days, which included Zion National Park.
A narrow band of heavy rain fell across the I-64 corridor during the early morning hours of August 15th. The Charleston airport reported 4.33 inches of rain had fallen since the previous evening, with radar estimates ranging from 2 to 5 inches from Putnam to Fayette Counties.
As the tropical disturbance moves west into the Brush Country on the 15th, bands of showers and thunderstorms produced very heavy rainfall. This caused flash flooding in the Laredo area and over portions of the Brush Country.
A trough and associated cold front interacted with a very hot and humid air mass to result in widespread showers and storms across much of central North Carolina in the afternoon and early evening.
High pressure to the east and a trough to the west advected in a weak push of monsoon moisture, fueling isolated thunderstorms over northwest Arizona. A few produced severe weather and flooding.
24 on August 15, oldest first.
Hail up to nickel-size combined with winds of over 60 mph damaged crops across the county. The crops damaged severely included 3,000 acres of corn, 600 acres of beans, 200 acres of popcorn and 200 acres of alfalfa.
One to nearly three inches of rain fell causing crop damage.
Several trees uprooted from a thunderstorm gust. Shingles blown off several homes and windows were blown out of a bank. Damage was mainly on a five block stretch east of U.S. 301 and U.S. 441, one mile south of Ocala.
Damage occurred on the north side of Dickinson.
Damage path of 15 miles wide and 20 miles long.
Severe thunderstorms early in the evening left a narrow path of wind damage from south of Kearney to the Grand Island area. Wind gusts of 60 to 80 mph damaged buildings, trees and downed several power lines. Some of the more severe damage was north and northwest of Gibbon.
Severe thunderstorms developed across Mellette, Todd, and Bennett Counties during the mid afternoon. Hail to the size of golf balls fell across much of the area. Strong downburst winds caused significant damage near St. Francis.
Severe thunderstorms developed along the Maricopa and northwest Pinal County line, in vicinity of Sun Lakes.
A frontal boundary extended southwest to northeast across Iowa during the early morning hours of the 15th. At the same time, a large MCS developed over northern Nebraska and tracked east into southern Minnesota into northern Iowa.
Isolated severe thunderstorms developed during the heat of the day. The storms were aided by a weak surface trough extending southeast from a weak low near the Iowa/Illinois border.
During the afternoon of August 15th a few isolated severe thunderstorms developed along the piedmont trough resulting in wind damage and several home fires from lightning.
An upper level disturbance moved through North Mississippi during the evening of August 15th, 2008. Showers and thunderstorms developed in association with the disturbance. Some storms became severe and produced damaging winds.
An area of low pressure located in Ontario, Canada and associated occluded frontal system passed through the area during the afternoon and evening hours on August 15, 2010.
Severe thunderstorms over eastern Idaho moved across central and southern sections of the Star Valley. Large hail was observed in and near the communities of Afton, Bedford, Grover, and Auburn. Homes, vehicles, and crops were damaged as the storms rolled east across the valley.
An upper level disturbance and the triple point of a surface low pressure system passed through the Northeast during the afternoon, producing scattered strong to severe thunderstorms over Passaic County.
An approaching cold front helped trigger scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across New Jersey mainly during the second half of the afternoon and the early part of the evening. One lightning related death occurred in Monmouth county.
A potent upper level low pressure system combined with an unseasonably moist and unstable airmass across Oklahoma to promote severe thunderstorms.
A potent upper level low pressure system combined with an unseasonably moist and unstable airmass across Oklahoma and north Texas to promote severe thunderstorms.
Scattered late afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms developed along a slow moving surface trough across eastern portions of central North Carolina in an unstable atmosphere.
A surface trough along with an upper level wave moved across Central New York during the afternoon and evening of the 15th. This sparked several severe thunderstorms across the area.
Between 11 p.m. CDT on Saturday the 14th and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday the 15th, numerous elevated thunderstorms occurred in various parts of South Central Nebraska, but with the most concentrated activity focused within a narrow, north-south band centered roughly from Arcadia-Elm…
Chuuk was on the edge of the ITCZ, which promoted the development of thunderstorms which created gusty winds and outflow boundaries that propagated away from the thunderstorms at about 35 knots, as estimated by satellite imagery.
A scattered line of thunderstorms moved into a moderately unstable airmass south of I20. Several storms became strong with damaging winds. A few reports of particularly large hail were also noted in East Central GA.
Scattered thunderstorms developed along a boundary over northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas during the afternoon hours on August 15, 2024.
13 on August 15, oldest first.
A 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.
A late summer heat wave hit in mid August, just as many area schools were starting the new school year. As a result, most schools reduced their schedule to a half day while a few closed completely.
A large and strong high in the upper levels of the atmosphere brought a resurgence of triple digit heat. Heat indices again topped 105 degrees on a couple of afternoons.
A carnival worker died at the site of the Wilson County Fair.
A large ridge of high pressure both at the surface and aloft allowed for excessively hot temperatures across northwest Louisiana through much of August.
Two people died of heat stress on days with high temperatures of 106 and 109 degrees.
A woman died due to heat exhaustion while hiking in Capitol Reef National Park.
A heat related death occurred in Vidor.
An upper level ridge of high pressure strengthened over the Intermountain West going into the latter part of August, leading to excessive heat conditions across south-central Arizona.
Temperatures in Southeastern Arizona ranged from 5 degrees below normal to 3 degrees above normal with Low to Moderate HeatRisk. The Pima County Medical Examiner found that heat was a factor in the cause of death for 4 individuals.
Hot temperatures and high humidity combined to yield heat indices in excess of 105 degrees across the western two-thirds of Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of the 15th through 19th.
The hottest temperatures of the year were accompanied by high humidity, combining to produce several days of heat index values over 105 degrees.
The summer heat resulted in high heat index values for a few days in mid August.
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The Houghton Creek II Fire started on August 15, 1984, in Montana, and burned 12,486 acres.
The House Ck Fire started on August 15, 1985, in Idaho, and burned 20,687 acres.
The Ryder Creek Fire started on August 15, 1987, in Oregon, and burned 16,260 acres.
The Hellroaring Fire started on August 15, 1988, in Wyoming, and burned 77,539 acres.
The San Saba Fire was discovered on August 15, 1993, in Texas, and burned 12,892 acres.
The Menard Fire was discovered on August 15, 1993, in Texas, and burned 10,106 acres.
The Little Wolf Fire was discovered on August 15, 1994, in Montana, and burned 10,610 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Koocanusa Complex (North Fork Big Creek) Fire was discovered on August 15, 1994, in Montana, and burned 9,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Mcdonald Fire was discovered on August 15, 1994, in Montana, and burned 7,494 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Midway Fire was discovered on August 15, 1995, in California, and burned 8,845 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Fifty-Eight Fire was discovered on August 15, 1996, in California, and burned 106,668 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Walker Fire started on August 15, 1999, in Wyoming, and burned 10,015 acres.
Maudlow/Toston fire - included southeast Broadwater County, 81687 acres burned, 1 resident destroyed, 1 outbuilding destroyed, human caused, continued past August 31.
The Toston-Maudlow Fire was discovered on August 15, 2000, in Broadwater County, Montana, and burned 81,220 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Trail Creek Fire was discovered on August 15, 2000, in Idaho, and burned 35,238 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Willey Fire was discovered on August 15, 2003, in Powder River County, Montana, and burned 13,533 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Glacier Creek Fire was discovered on August 15, 2005, in Alaska, and burned 33,065 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Fanny Mountain Fire was discovered on August 15, 2005, in Alaska, and burned 25,803 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Crystal Fire was discovered on August 15, 2006, in Bingham County, Idaho, and burned 220,042 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Charleston Fire was discovered on August 15, 2006, in Elko County, Nevada, and burned 141,707 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Devils Den Fire was discovered on August 15, 2006, in Millard County, Utah, and burned 14,154 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Duffy Fire was discovered on August 15, 2007, in Box Elder County, Utah, and burned 9,529 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Hot and dry conditions throughout South Central Texas were perfect fuel for a quick moving grass fire in Leander that burned 30 acres. The fire destroyed 15 mobile homes and 19 vehicles.
A fire in Bannock County near Chinese Peak was started by juveniles playing with matches. It burned 1,280 acres and destroyed one home and adjacent barn. The fire began at 2 pm MDT on August 15th and was 100 percent contained by August 18th.
The Southsim Fire was discovered on August 15, 2011, in Idaho, and burned 15,775 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Union Fire was discovered on August 15, 2011, in Ada County, Idaho, and burned 10,527 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Okanogan Complex Fire was a wildfire affecting Okanogan County in north-central Washington state. It was composed of five fires that were caused by lightning strikes on August 15, 2015, with two of the fires near Conconully merging days later on August 19.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Wash Fire was reported on August 15, 2015, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 36,555 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Lochsa South Complex was reported on August 15, 2015, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 10,006 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Thunderstorms developed across portions of La Paz county during the middle of the afternoon on August 15th; due to limited moisture and very hot temperatures the storms generated strong and gusty outflow winds as high as 40 mph.
The Tatanka Complex was reported on August 15, 2016, in Park County, Wyoming, and burned 17,529 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Moose Fire was reported on August 15, 2016, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 8,695 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Eclipse Complex was reported on August 15, 2017, in Siskiyou County, California, and burned 78,698 acres.
The Scalp Fire was reported on August 15, 2017, in Flathead County, Montana, and burned 20,810 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Watson Creek Fire was reported on August 15, 2018, in Lake County, Oregon, and burned 59,061 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Stone Fire was reported on August 15, 2018, in Modoc County, California, and burned 39,387 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Hills Fire started on 8/15/2020, in the foothills about 9 miles south of Coalinga, CA. It grew to 2,121 acres before being contained on 8/25/2020. The cause was under investigation. The cost of containment was $3.9 million. No structures were destroyed or damages.
The Dome Fire was reported on August 15, 2020, in San Bernardino County, California, and burned 43,273 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Greenwood Fire was a wildfire in the Arrowhead Region of Minnesota in the United States. First noted near Greenwood Lake in Lake County on August 15, 2021, it is believed to have been sparked by lightning.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Greenwood Fire was reported on August 15, 2021, in Lake County, Minnesota, and burned 26,797 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Twentyfive Mile Fire was reported on August 15, 2021, in Chelan County, Washington, and burned 22,290 acres.
The Ford Corkscrew Fire was reported on August 15, 2021, in Stevens County, Washington, and burned 15,712 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Walkers Fire was reported on August 15, 2021, in Tulare County, California, and burned 8,778 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Lingering moisture from a dissipated tropical system brought dry thunderstorms to Northwest California from the evening of August 14th through the morning of August 15th. Over 1,000 lightning strikes occurred in 24 hours with numerous new wildfires across the region.
On 15 August 2023, a forest fire broke out on the island of Tenerife, in the Canary Islands of Spain. The fire, driven by the wind, heat, and low humidity levels, caused mass evacuations, widespread damage to the island's flora and fauna, as well as power and water supply cuts in some of the affected municipalities.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The McDougall Creek Fire was a wildfire in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Canada as part of the 2023 Canadian wildfires. The fire sparked two other fires, Walroy Lake and Clarke Creek; together they are called the Grouse Complex.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 2023 Deep Fire was a wildfire that burned through Trinity County, California from August 15 to October 2. It was sparked by a lightning strike, and was the 10th-biggest fire to ignite during the 2023 California wildfire season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Smith River Complex was reported on August 15, 2023, in Del Norte County, California, and burned 95,107 acres.
The Elliot Fire was reported on August 15, 2023, in Siskiyou County, California, and burned 10,300 acres.
The Cottonwood Peak Fire was reported on August 15, 2025, in Elko County, Nevada, and burned 132,603 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Shoshone Fire was reported on August 15, 2026, in Churchill County, Nevada, and burned 24,514 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
20 on August 15, oldest first.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kos, Greece. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000). It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Istanbul (Constantinople), Turkey. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Sagami, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Peru.
An earthquake struck L'Arnes Syssel, Spain.
An earthquake struck Cumana, Venezuela. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck El Angel, Concepcion, Ecuador. It killed few people (about 1 to 50) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Illapel, Chile. It killed 2 people, destroyed 600 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Ilocos Sur, Luzon, Philippines.
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 52 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Santa Clara, Cuba. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck India-China. It killed 1,530 people and did $20 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Terminal Island, California, United States. It did $3 million in damage.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Taiwan. It killed 16 people, injured 63 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Southern Peru.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Northern India. It killed 15 people.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Tojo, Sulawesi, Indonesia. It killed 48 people.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Ica, Pisco, Lima, Peru. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 596 people, injured 1,292, destroyed 93,708 houses and did $600 million in damage.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Legaspi, Luzon, Philippines.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Arequipa, Peru. It killed 9 people, injured 68 and destroyed 605 houses.
3 on August 15, oldest first.
Asamayama, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 2 people and injured 36.
Oku Volcanic Field, Cameroon erupted. It killed 37 people. The eruption caused a tsunami.
Sheveluch, Russia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4.
12 on August 15, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Island of Kos, Greece. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Thrace, Turkey.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Off Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Cumana, Venezuela.
A tsunami struck Sydney Harbor, Australia.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Central Chile. It killed 2 people, destroyed 600 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Celebes Sea, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 7.2 meters. It killed 52 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Santa Clara, Cuba.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck India-China, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters. It killed 1,530 people and did $20 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano, earthquake and landslide struck Lake Monoun, Cameroon, with a maximum water height of 5 meters. It killed 37 people.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck S. Peru, with a maximum water height of 10.05 meters. It killed 596 people, injured 1,292, destroyed 93,708 houses and did $600 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck North Adriatic, Croatia, with a maximum water height of 2 meters.
3 on August 15, oldest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began August 15, 1947, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 201 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 71; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began August 15, 1959, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 66 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 130; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began August 15, 1993, reached Kp 7 and lasted 33 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 78; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
15 on August 15, oldest first.
Strong northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph produced locally rough seas in Morro Bay. One wave flipped a boat, throwing five adults and two children into the water. Unfortunately, both children drowned.
A 43-year old man was killed by lightning as he stood under a tree.
Lightning set fire to a house.
Lightning struck and killed a 26 year old man while he was working outside.
Lightning sparked a fire that destroyed a 12 unit apartment complex on Manatee Avenue West.
The Pickens County Progress of Jasper reported that lightning struck the Big Canoe Golf Shop. The building was a total loss, including a restaurant, pro shop, locker rooms, and a bar.
Lightning struck a church in the Mount Vernon area. The strike started a fire and the church was totally destroyed by the blaze.
Lightning struck the Mobile National Weather Service office and knocked out most of the communications. It took several hours to change out items that were damaged by the strike and get the office fully operational.
Onshore winds and significant wave action resulted in rip currents on far northern Lake Michigan beaches.
An upper level disturbance moved through the area during the afternoon. With a warm and moist airmass in place, several showers and thunderstorms developed. One brought down a tree and resulted in a lightning fire.
East winds circulating around high pressure produced rough conditions in and around the inlets where permanent jetties occasional produce flash rip currents.
A southwest flow caused hot and humid conditions over the area. A pressure trough triggered showers and thunderstorms, and some produced gusty winds due to the unstable atmosphere.
One person died due to a lightning strike in Gulf Shores, AL.
In the early morning of August 15th, three young men jumped into Lake Michigan near Elder Lane Park Beach in Winnetka. The nearby Wilmette buoy was reporting waves 5 to 8 feet with northeast winds gusting to 30 mph. Two of the men were able to pull themselves out of the water.
A rip current is suspected to have developed at a jetty on Belmar Beach on the evening of Friday, August 15, 2025.
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.