Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for August 17, 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 7.6 earthquake struck Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Turkey. It killed 17,118 people, injured 50,000 and did $20 billion in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Kocaeli, Turkey, with a maximum water height of 2.52 meters. It killed 17,118 people, injured 50,000 and did $20 billion in damage.
Tsunamis
6 struck Kocaeli Province, Turkey, on 17 August 1999. According to official figures, at least 18,373 people died and 48,901 people were injured during the earthquake, and 5,840 people were missing.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck South Central, Chile. It killed 4,000 people and did $100 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Central Chile, with a maximum water height of 3.5 meters. It killed 4,000 people and did $100 million in damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Blue Earth, Nicollet counties, Minnesota and tracked 9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 11 and injuring 100. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Mankato, MN.
Billion-dollar disasters
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $9.4 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 21, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from August 17, 1983 to August 20, 1983.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Karliova, Turkey. It killed 320 people, injured 355 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Faribault County, Minnesota and tracked 6.9 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Wells, MN.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Jamaica Beach, TX as a category 4 hurricane, 115 kt (130 mph), central pressure 940 mb. The 1915 Galveston hurricane was a tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage in the Galveston area in August 1915. Widespread damage was also documented throughout its path across the Caribbean Sea and the interior of the United States.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Tibet (Xizang Province), China. It killed 54 people and destroyed 774 houses.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China. It killed 30 people.
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An F2 tornado touched down in Mississippi County, Arkansas and tracked 6.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Wilson, AR.
An F4 tornado touched down in Blue Earth, Nicollet counties, Minnesota and tracked 9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 11 and injuring 100. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Mankato, MN.
An F4 tornado touched down in Faribault County, Minnesota and tracked 6.9 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Wells, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Warren County, Illinois and tracked 9.8 miles, injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Gerlaw to Mercer County, IL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Horry County, South Carolina and tracked 0.3 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, injuring 46.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wabaunsee County, Kansas and tracked 2 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest.
A tornado touched down just north of Ridgeway and moved to one and a half miles south of Martinsville. The path length was 4.25 miles long and averaged about 200 yards wide. Ten people were injured, 100 homes and 30 businesses were damaged. Total damages came to $8.7 million.
Thunderstorms which had developed in Kansas during the morning hours of the 17th moved southward into portions of northwest and central Oklahoma during the afternoon hours of the 17th.
Strong winds damaged the courthouse roof.
Six mobile homes were damaged. A wall was blown down at a home under construction. Trees and power lines were damaged.
A small tornado touched down about a mile and a half northeast of Paw Paw, WV and moved to the northeast along the southeast side of the Potomac River. It caused widespread tree damage through a very rural area.
Summary of events of the afternoon and evening of August 17, 1997:Severe thunderstorms moved along and south of the Red River, producing large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and two tornadoes in western parts of north Texas.
Numerous trees downed.
Spotters reported two tornadoes touched down briefly in a rural area.
A tornado completely destroyed at least ten houses and heavily damaged several others. The tornado heavily damaged the town school, including taking most of the roof off the school. The only church in town and a telephone company building were also heavily damaged.
Moisture streamed northeast into Iowa ahead of a cold front approaching from the north. Dew point temperatures rose to +15 degrees C. at 850 mb by early evening. At the same time, colder air was moving aloft.
A tornado blew down power lines and poles, caused tree damage, flattened corn, and destroyed two machine sheds on a farm. Equipment inside the machine sheds was damaged.
Tropical Storm Fay moved north from Cuba, through the Florida Straits, and passed north through the Lower Florida Keys during the evening of August 18, 2008.
An upper low over Colorado provided adequate wind shear and instability to produce a severe weather outbreak across central and eastern sections of New Mexico. Several of the storms became tornadic while others produced large hail, damaging winds and flooding rain.
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes in Washington, Weld and northern Lincoln Counties. Two small EF1 tornadoes occurred near Genoa. One Structure, an outbuilding, was destroyed and one house had minor damage.
Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain developed ahead of a weak cold front.
As a strong upper level wave pushed into the western Dakotas during the evening hours, isolated supercellular storms developed across central South Dakota and moved through areas west of the James River.
As a strong upper level wave pushed into the western Dakotas during the evening hours, isolated supercellular storms developed across central South Dakota and moved through areas west of the James River.
Tropical Storm Fred made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on the 16th and lifted steadily north through Georgia and into the southern Appalachians during the 16th and throughout the 17th.
The remains of Tropical Storm Fred moved across central and north Georgia as a tropical depression during the overnight hours through the morning producing isolated reports of damaging winds in convective bands and several tornadoes.
Tropical Storm Fred made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on the 16th and lifted steadily north through Georgia and into the southern Appalachians during the 16th and throughout the 17th.
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An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 2 hurricane, 90 kt (105 mph).
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph).
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Jamaica Beach, TX as a category 4 hurricane, 115 kt (130 mph), central pressure 940 mb. The 1915 Galveston hurricane was a tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage in the Galveston area in August 1915. Widespread damage was also documented throughout its path across the Caribbean Sea and the interior of the United States.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Diane crossed the coast near Kure Beach, NC as a tropical storm, 60 kt, central pressure 985 mb. Hurricane Diane was the first Atlantic hurricane to cause more than an estimated $1 billion in damage, including direct costs and the loss of business and personal revenue. It formed on August 7 from a tropical wave between the Lesser Antilles and Cape Verde.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Mary reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 950 mb, a category 5 storm.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 50 kt, central pressure 1007 mb.
Hurricane Charley crossed the coast near Gloucester, NC as a category 1 hurricane, 65 kt (75 mph), central pressure 990 mb. It killed 15 people in all. Hurricane Charley was the second hurricane to threaten the East Coast of the United States within a year's timeframe, after Hurricane Gloria of 1985. The third tropical storm and second hurricane of the season, Charley formed as a subtropical low on August 13 along the Florida panhandle.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
One of the most memorable severe thunderstorms in recent history struck north-central and central Oklahoma on August 17, 1994. The communities of Lahoma and Drummond suffered the most damage from an unusually intense supercell storm, that moved south into Oklahoma near Manchester, and continued across Goltry, Lahoma, Drummond, Kingfisher, and Okarche. Widespread severe damage occurred to between 500 and 800 permanent homes and businesses, and between 80 and 120 mobile homes, all the result of very large hail driven by hurricane-force winds. Peak wind gusts in Lahoma were measured at 113 mph, before the wind equipment gave out. Hail reached golf ball to baseball size along the entire storm track. One hailstone that fell between Kingfisher and Okarche was said to look like a football. Several people were treated for hypothermia in the Lahoma area as a result of the large volume of hail, as air temperatures fell from near 100 degrees, down into the lower 50s.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Hurricane Goni reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 933 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Grace crossed the coast near Half Way Tree, Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica as a tropical storm, 50 kt, central pressure 1004 mb. It killed 16 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Grace was the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Grace impacted much of the Leeward Islands and Greater Antilles as a tropical storm, before causing more substantial impacts in the Yucatán Peninsula and Veracruz at hurricane status.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Ernesto crossed the coast as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph), central pressure 972 mb. It killed 3 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Ernesto was a moderately strong Atlantic hurricane that caused significant flooding in Puerto Rico before striking Bermuda as a hurricane, becoming the second-wettest tropical cyclone in the territory on record. The fifth named storm and third hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Ernesto developed from a tropical wave east of the Leeward Islands.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The Great Iran Flood was a catastrophic flood event that took place on 17 August 1954 in Iran. It is one of the deadliest floods in history, with claims of from 2,000 to 10,000 fatalities.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Several different lines or clusters of thunderstorms moved across the region during this Sunday afternoon. Most damage was isolated and relatively minor. The exception was in and around the mid Ohio Valley town of Parkersburg, on east, along the Route 50 corridor.
The city's safety-service director said more than 100 trees were downed in the city. He estimated wind gusts of around 70 mph. Roofs were damaged by fallen trees. Some city residents even reported their vehicles were lifted off the pavement.
Thunderstorms producing very heavy rain, up to 3.5 inches in spots, caused flooding and flash flooding problems in and around the Denver Metropolitan area. In Commerce City, a 37-yr old firefighter drowned while attempting to rescue a stranded motorist.
Rainfall up to one inch in just 15 minutes caused a flash flood that overflowed washes near New River. Arizona Public Service reported 311 customers lost power.
A series of supercell thunderstorms developed along a warm front during the afternoon and evening of August 17 producing a swath of hail as large as tennis balls.
A serious urban flash flood developed when 5 to 6 inches of rain fell in about 2 hours. Sink holes developed, which continued to grow for weeks after the flood. Some flat-roofed businesses collapsed.
Trees were blown down between Castalia and Red Oak.
Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Depression Erin closed many roads across the region. High waters washed away two homes near Elm Creek south of Abilene. Abilene rescue crews carried out about 50 high water rescues due to the rapidly rising waters.
Severe thunderstorms developed between Custer and Hermosa; producing large hail, gusty winds, very heavy rain, and flash flooding.
Severe thunderstorms developed and remained stationary over the northeastern slopes of the Black Hills, producing very large hail and heavy rain. The most extensive damage was in the Piedmont area, where the hail broke windows and damaged roofs.
A stationary frontal boundary was located from the Texas panhandle, into west central and central Oklahoma Oklahoma during the late afternoon hours. Very unstable air was in place along and south of the boundary.
The remnants of a tropical depression interacted with a stationary front in Middle Tennessee, resulting in excessive rainfall across several counties east of Interstate 65 corridor.
A boundary across the region triggered isolated slow moving thunderstorms over the area resulting in flooding in a few locations. One person was swept away in flood waters and drowned.
A complex of heavy showers and thunderstorms developed around 5 am and tracked slowly northward through northeast Alabama. Thunderstorms and intense rainfall repeatedly regenerated over the same area, especially from Scottsboro northward through the Hytop area.
A nearly stationary front in Arkansas touched off thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening of the 17th. On the 18th, some storms occurred during the morning, followed by another round of storms from the afternoon into the evening.
In the moist and unstable air ahead of a cold front, showers and thunderstorms developed across the middle Ohio River Valley on the afternoon of the 17th. The storms were not overly strong, however they did contain brief downpours.
Very few locations were spared from the severe storms that moved across the area at various times the 17th and 18th. Winds up to 70 mph and hail to golf ball size were noted along with locations of very heavy rain.
An active monsoon surge brought thunderstorms producing heavy rain, damaging wind gusts, and hail across the state.
Monsoonal flash flooding brought a variety of impacts to southern Utah, including flash flooding in Capitol Reef National Park that prompted evacuation of a campground and road closures.
Thunderstorms brought gusty winds to much of Utah and flash flooding to southern Utah.
A series of thunderstorms brought torrential rainfall and widespread flooding to much of the Chicago metro area, namely the south and west suburbs and up into the city of Chicago. Several Oswego District 308 schools received water and storm damage.
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Several mobile homes were overturned and outbuildings damaged.
Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong cold front, one that put an end to a two-day period of oppressive heat and humidity.
Clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed in very unstable hot humid air during the afternoon and evening of the 17th. Some areas were hit repeatedly, while others received nary a drop of rain.
A late night thunderstorm developed over southern Chaves county and then moved north just east of Roswell producing golfball size hail and a brief but intense microburst just northeast of the city.
A compact, but severe thunderstorm, caused considerable wind damage in Haverford, Marple and Springfield Townships in Delaware County. Springfield Township suffered the most damage as the roof was ripped off and the windows blown out from Ferraro Cadillac.
Severe thunderstorms packing high winds, heavy rain and some hail ripped across south-central Nebraska throughout the evening hours of August 17. The main wrath from the thunderstorms was strong and damaging winds.
A severe thunderstorm moved through Chase County. The storm was accompanied by very large hail, damaging wind, and several reports of funnel clouds. Bean and corn crops north and west of Imperial were damaged extensively.
An especially severe thunderstorm ripped apart crops and damaged a power plant in Dawson and Gosper counties. The storm packed winds of 70 mph and golf ball size hail. The storms most destructive path stretched from southwest of Cozad to 5 miles east of Johnson Lake.
The Oconee County Emergency Management Director reported that an apparent microburst or downburst associated with a strong thunderstorm blew down at least eight large trees near the intersection of Georgia Highway 53 and Experiment Station Road, or near the Phil Campbell USDA…
A back-door cold front interacting with a tropical air mass produced numerous damaging wind occurrences and a few instances of large hail across Northern Alabama.
Thunderstorms developed out ahead of a shortwave trough tracking across Wyoming during the afternoon hours of the 17th. A weak differential heating boundary located in the vicinity of the Kansas/Nebraska border also served as a focus for convective development.
A vigorous upper air disturbance in the northwest flow behind the cold front still had sufficient moisture to develop strong to severe thunderstorms across Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the afternoon and the evening of the 17th.
An unusual mid-August cold front combined with antecedent very hot temperatures in the 95 to 100 degree range and northwest flow aloft to create a very unstable atmosphere.
A slow-moving cold front encountered a warm...moist and unstable airmass over east-central Pennsylvania during the early afternoon. Thunderstorms developed rapidly and produced large hail ranging from nickel to baseball size and damaging winds.
A series of thunderstorms rolled through the area and at least one strong downburst was reported to have caused damage to homes and took down power lines.
A supercell thunderstorm developed over Haakon County and moved southeast; producing large hail across northeastern Jackson, Mellette, eastern Todd, and Tripp Counties.
During a four-hour period centered from 630-1030 pm CDT on this Sunday evening, a complex of severe thunderstorms tracked from northwest-to-southeast through primarily the southwestern two-thirds of South Central Nebraska, resulting in numerous reports of damaging winds ranging…
Supercell thunderstorms developed across portions of North Central Nebraska during the late afternoon hours of August 17th. This activity organized into a line of thunderstorms during the early evening hours producing large hail and severe winds.
During a 3.5 hour period centered from 7-1030 pm CDT on this Sunday evening, a pair of strong to severe linear mesoscale convective systems (MCS) affected this six-county North Central Kansas area and merged with each other in the process.
An upper high continued to sit over Southern Arizona with northerly flow across Southern New Mexico. Moderate moisture remained in place across the region with dew points in the lower 50s and a surface trough across the Rio Grande Valley.
A cold front crossed the region with its associated showers and storms. Some of these storms increased to severe levels and produced damaging winds.
An isolated thunderstorm developed over western Blount County ahead of a decaying line of thunderstorms over northwest Alabama. The storm was located in a zone of higher CAPE values near 3000 J/kg and produced wind damage.
Storms formed in the vicinity of a stalled front on the afternoon of the 17th across north Texas into southern Oklahoma.
As a strong upper level wave pushed into the western Dakotas during the evening hours, isolated supercellular storms developed across central South Dakota and moved through areas west of the James River.
A summer cold front helped to ignite thunderstorms primarily along and south of the Interstate 20 corridor on the evening of Wednesday August 17. Damaging wind gusts associated with microbursts accompanied a few of these storms.
A line of thunderstorms moved across North and Central GA through the afternoon and evening hours of the 7th. Generally storm motion was not conducive to tap into shear energy, however a few storms which moved more eastwardly were able to tap into both the instability and shear.
A strong upper level low pressure system was in place across the Great Lakes region heading into the morning hours of Saturday, August 17. From this a cold front draped southwestward, moving towards the state throughout the day.
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A man was found dead in his garage apparently from hyperthermia. Temperatures were in the mid 90s.
Two women died from exposure to excessive heat on the 17th. A 75-year old woman died in her home in Kingston in Marshall County, and an 83-year old woman died in her home in El Reno in Canadian County. Both women owned an air conditioner, however they were inoperable.
Excessive heat caused two Jackson county female residents, aged 85 and 88 to pass away.
Big Horn County Coroner reported that a 3-year-old boy died after being left in a parked car for several hours in Hardin. The boy died during the late afternoon hours when temperatures were in the lower 90s.
Two people died in Las Vegas of heat related causes.
Five people died of heat related causes in the Las Vegas Valley.
Ridging at the surface and aloft led to hot and humid conditions.
Afternoon heat indices between 105 and 112 degrees occurred across much of the region from August 17 through August 21, 2019.
After a small reprieve from the heat (thanks to a weak cold front) during the middle of August, the heat returned on the 17th and continued through August 27. The hottest temperatures of the year in North and Central Texas were recorded in this 10-day stretch.
Hot temperatures and high humidity combined to create dangerous heat indices of 110-115+ degrees across portions of southern, central and northern Oklahoma during the afternoon/evening of the 17th through 21st.
Typical South Texas heat in the summer under a ridge.
Hot temperatures and high humidity combined to create dangerous heat indices (in excess of 105 to 110-degrees) across the western two-thirds of Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening of 17th to 22nd.
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The Jungord Fire started on August 17, 1985, in Nevada, and burned 40,698 acres.
The Eden 1 Fire started on August 17, 1985, in Nevada, and burned 15,728 acres.
The Sheepcyn Fire started on August 17, 1985, in Nevada, and burned 11,319 acres.
The Hotspg Fire started on August 17, 1985, in Nevada, and burned 10,868 acres.
The Powderville Fire was discovered on August 17, 1996, in Custer County, Montana, and burned 62,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Chokecherr Fire was discovered on August 17, 2000, in Elko County, Nevada, and burned 56,010 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Storrie Fire was discovered on August 17, 2000, in California, and burned 55,261 acres; the cause was recorded as railroad operations and maintenance.
The Musick Fire was ignited by an unknown cause and burned 193 acres. The cost to contain was $800K but no fatalities, injuries, or structures were lost.
The Upper Willow Fire was discovered on August 17, 2001, in Humboldt County, Nevada, and burned 41,830 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Quartz Mt. Complex (Middle Mountain) Fire was discovered on August 17, 2002, in Okanogan County, Washington, and burned 7,858 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Irish Spring Fire was discovered on August 17, 2007, in Malheur County, Oregon, and burned 47,860 acres; the cause was recorded as other causes.
The Mfc South Fire was discovered on August 17, 2007, in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and burned 23,096 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Under extreme drought conditions, a series of wildfires started in northwest Jasper County near the Ebenezer community. Over 1,600 acres burned, 20 homes were evacuated, and Highway 63 was closed. The flames were 150 feet tall.
Excessive heat and severe drought conditions were all the ingredients needed to cause a grass fire to get out of control in Bowie County. In the Wake Village community, a local family are counting their losses after a brush fire burned up more than 10 acres of family-owned land.
A blaze fanned by strong winds that burned about 50 acres of dry brush in Koloa also destroyed two homes and damaged three others, leaving eight people homeless. County officials believe the fire was started by a lit cigarette, though they doubted it was intentional.
The Rim Fire was a massive wildfire that started in a remote canyon in the Stanislaus National Forest in California's Tuolumne County. The fire ignited on August 17, 2013, amid the 2013 California wildfire season, and burned 257,314 acres in largely remote areas of the Sierra Nevada, including a large portion of Yosemite National Park.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Rim Fire was discovered on August 17, 2013, in Tuolumne County, California, and burned 255,858 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Little Queens Fire was discovered on August 17, 2013, in Elmore County, Idaho, and burned 23,406 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Red Cow Fire was discovered on August 17, 2013, in Elko County, Nevada, and burned 16,184 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Selway/Elk City/Red River Complex was reported on August 17, 2015, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 94,921 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Red River Complex was reported on August 17, 2015, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 41,832 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Thompson Divide Complex was reported on August 17, 2015, in Flathead County, Montana, and burned 21,968 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Snow Peak Complex was reported on August 17, 2015, in Shoshone County, Idaho, and burned 8,107 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Larkin Complex was reported on August 17, 2015, in Clearwater County, Idaho, and burned 7,659 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Laidlaw Fire was reported on August 17, 2016, in Blaine County, Idaho, and burned 39,813 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The South Sugarloaf Fire was reported on August 17, 2018, in Elko County, Nevada, and burned 233,458 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Stubblefield 1008 Rn Fire was reported on August 17, 2018, in Gilliam County, Oregon, and burned 51,727 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Jennies Peak 1039 Rn Fire was reported on August 17, 2018, in Wheeler County, Oregon, and burned 45,537 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Seale 1045 Rn Fire was reported on August 17, 2018, in Gilliam County, Oregon, and burned 23,600 acres.
The Bird Ranch Fire was reported on August 17, 2019, in Cottle County, Texas, and burned 9,931 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Wildfire in United States.
The LNU Lightning Complex fires were a large complex of wildfires that burned during the 2020 California wildfire season across much of the Wine Country area of Northern California – Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, and Yolo Counties, from August 17 to October 2, 2020. The complex was composed of numerous lightning-sparked fires, most of which were small.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wildfire in United States.
The August Complex fire was a massive wildfire complex that burned in the Coast Range of Northern California, in Glenn, Lake, Mendocino, Tehama, Trinity, and Shasta Counties. The complex originated as 38 separate fires started by lightning strikes on August 16–17, 2020.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The August Complex was reported on August 17, 2020, in Glenn County, California, and burned 1,032,648 acres.
The Lnu Lightning Complex was reported on August 17, 2020, in Sonoma County, California, and burned 363,220 acres.
The North Complex was reported on August 17, 2020, in Plumas County, California, and burned 318,935 acres.
The Hennessey Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Napa County, California, and burned 305,651 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Griffin Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Gila County, Arizona, and burned 61,821 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Wallbridge Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Sonoma County, California, and burned 55,209 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Sheep Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Plumas County, California, and burned 29,570 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Waddle Creek Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Sheridan County, Wyoming, and burned 25,590 acres.
The Taylor Pond Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Yakima County, Washington, and burned 24,892 acres.
The Salt Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Gila County, Arizona, and burned 21,670 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The White River Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Wasco County, Oregon, and burned 17,442 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Shissler Fire was reported on August 17, 2020, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 11,197 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Rum Creek Wildfire was started by lightning around 1700 PST on 08/17/22. As of 0530 PST on 09/01/22, the fire covered 14940 acres and was 1 percent contained. 3 structures were lost, and 14.6 million dollars had been spent on firefighting activities.
The Rum Creek Fire was reported on August 17, 2022, in Josephine County, Oregon, and burned 21,347 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The SRF Lightning Complex was reported on August 17, 2023, in Humboldt County, California, and burned 50,198 acres.
The Birch Fire was reported on August 17, 2024, in Valley County, Idaho, and burned 17,628 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
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A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Yanyuan, Sichuan Province, China. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands. With the tsunami it caused, it killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
An earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck South Central, Chile. It killed 4,000 people and did $100 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.3 earthquake struck Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States.
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Salina Island, Italy. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China. It killed 30 people.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Karliova, Turkey. It killed 320 people, injured 355 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Tibet (Xizang Province), China. It killed 54 people and destroyed 774 houses.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Solomon Islands. With the tsunami it caused, it did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Kuril Islands, Russia.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck W. Solomon Sea. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Mindanao, Philippines. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Luzon, Philippines. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 16 people, injured 471 and did $2.2 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Near East Coast of Kamchatka, Russia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Honeydew, Whitethorn, Petrolia, California, United States.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Istanbul, Kocaeli, Sakarya, Turkey. It killed 17,118 people, injured 50,000 and did $20 billion in damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 1.6 earthquake struck Utah, United States. It killed 3 people and injured 6.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Bogota, Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Meta,, Colombia. It killed 2 people, destroyed 20 houses and did $30 million in damage.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Off Kamchatka, Russia. It caused a tsunami.
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Yasur, Vanuatu erupted. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000). The eruption caused a tsunami and was accompanied by an earthquake.
Izu-Torishima, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 2 people.
Hekla, Iceland erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.
Iliwerung, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. The eruption caused a tsunami.
Tungurahua, Ecuador erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 6 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Sheveluch, Russia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. The eruption caused a tsunami and was accompanied by an earthquake.
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A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Central Chile, with a maximum water height of 3.5 meters. It killed 4,000 people and did $100 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck Aeolian Islands, Italy. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Desecheo Island, US Territories.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 1 meters. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea, with a maximum water height of 0.6 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Luzon Island, Philippines. It killed 16 people and injured 47.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kamchatka Bay, Russia, with a maximum water height of 0.1 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Kocaeli, Turkey, with a maximum water height of 2.52 meters. It killed 17,118 people, injured 50,000 and did $20 billion in damage.
6 struck Kocaeli Province, Turkey, on 17 August 1999. According to official figures, at least 18,373 people died and 48,901 people were injured during the earthquake, and 5,840 people were missing.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck SW Australia, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia, with a maximum water height of 0 meters.
4 on August 17, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began August 17, 1958, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 21 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 82; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began August 17, 2001, reached Kp 7 and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 42; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began August 17, 2003, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 30 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 108; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began August 17, 2022, reached Kp 7- and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 32; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
2 on August 17, oldest first.
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $9.4 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 21, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from August 17, 1983 to August 20, 1983.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.6 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from August 17, 2011 to August 18, 2011.
12 on August 17, oldest first.
Two persons were killed and six injured by a single lightning strike while picnicing at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area.
A man was struck by lightning while hiking with two others on the Delicate Arch trail in Arches National Park. Lightning from the thunderstorm also started two fires in the park.
A lightning strike ignited a house fire in a Summit Park one floor house, killing the 81 year od woman sleeping inside. The bolt travelled into the home on an electric wire serving an outdoor light fixture.
Lightning struck a Masontown business and started a fire, severely damaging the building and its contents.
A man who entered the surf at the Newport Beach Wedge was suddenly swept away when the surf rose to 10 feet. His body was retrieved about 3 hours later.
A 17-year old male drowned while swimming in Lake Michigan at Warren Dunes State Park. Officials at the scene said that wave heights were up to six feet. A rip current apparently pulled him underwater.
A 16-year-old roofer weas struck and killed by lightning as he was reaching down for the nail gun.
A vigorous upper air disturbance in the northwest flow behind the cold front still had sufficient moisture to develop strong to severe thunderstorms across Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the afternoon and the evening of the 17th.
Lightning sparked a house fire in Tallahassee.
A strong storm near New Zealand produced swell periods of 14 to 16 seconds, which generated high surfs around 14 ft.
Two brothers drowned in rip currents in Gulf Shores.
Strong swells from distant Hurricane Ernesto led to strong rip currents, multiple rescues, and one drowning in southeast North Carolina.
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.