August 18 in Weather History

223 events on record, 1493 to 2026

Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for August 18, in any year, each linked to its full record.

← August 17TodayAugust 19 →

August 18 on the map

Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.

  • Tornadoes
  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
  • Floods
  • Severe storms
  • Heat and drought
  • Wildfires
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanoes
  • Tsunamis
  • Other weather

The most significant

By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

2017Hurricane Harvey makes landfall near Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados

Hurricane Harvey crossed the coast near Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados as a tropical storm, 40 kt, central pressure 1004 mb. It killed 107 people in all. Hurricane Harvey was a powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that made landfall in Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, causing widespread flooding and more than 100 deaths. It is tied with 2005's Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record, inflicting $125 billion in damage, primarily from catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding in Greater Houston and Southeast Texas; this made the storm the costliest natural disaster recorded in Texas at the time.

Wind at landfall
40 kt
Pressure
1004 mb
Peak wind
115 kt
Deaths
107
Damage
$150 billion

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Billion-dollar disasters

1991Hurricane Bob (August 1991)

A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $3.5 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 18, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from August 18, 1991 to August 20, 1991.

Losses (2024 dollars)
$3.5 billion
Kind
Tropical Cyclone
Deaths
18

The full record

Hurricanes and tropical storms

1969Hurricane Camille makes landfall near Waveland, MS

Hurricane Camille crossed the coast near Waveland, MS as a category 5 hurricane, 150 kt (175 mph), central pressure 900 mb. 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).

Wind at landfall
150 kt
Pressure
900 mb
Peak wind
150 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Hurricanes and tropical storms

1916An unnamed storm makes landfall near Sarita, TX

An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Sarita, TX as a category 4 hurricane, 115 kt (130 mph), central pressure 932 mb. The 1916 Texas hurricane was an intense and quick-moving tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage in Jamaica and South Texas in August 1916. A Category 4 hurricane upon landfall in Texas, it was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the United States in three decades.

Wind at landfall
115 kt
Pressure
932 mb
Peak wind
115 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Severe storms

2022August 2022 Corsica derecho

The 2022 European derecho was a violent derecho which resulted in strong winds on the French island of Corsica and in parts of northern Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and the southern Czech Republic on 18 August 2022 which traveled over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi). The event resulted in 12 fatalities, and at least 116 others were injured.

Where
Italy
Countries
Italy, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Slovenia
Deaths
12
Injured
106

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

By kind

Tornadoes

38 on August 18, oldest first.

1907F2 tornado, Hennepin County, Minnesota

An F2 tornado touched down in Hennepin County, Minnesota and tracked 20 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Maple Plain/Armstrong, MN.

Rating
F2
Deaths
1
Injuries
15
Path
20 mi
Width
100 yd

The full record

2001Tornadoes and Hail in Illinois, August 18, 2001

A tornado briefly touched down 5.3 miles north of Mason City. It ripped off a large top of a tree and carried it 100 feet. One small tree was snapped. All gutters on a house were lifted off, as well as a table being blown into a open garage door (facing south).

Injuries
6
Strongest
F0
Events
38

The full record

2005Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, August 18, 2005

The largest single-day tornado outbreak in Wisconsin recorded history for south-central and southeast Wisconsin occurred on August 18, 2005. Sixteen tornadoes were documented on this day in south-central and southeast Wisconsin, a new single-day record.

Deaths
1
Injuries
23
Damage
$37 million
Strongest
F3
Events
36

The full record

2007A strange and unique event occurred on this day back in 2007

A strange and unique event occurred on this day back in 2007. Tropical Storm Erin was moving onshore the previous day, eventually dissipating into a tropical depression as it moved into Texas. As the depression moved northeast into southwest Oklahoma, low-level wind shear north and east of Erin increased throughout the evening with multiple tornadoes reported across western Oklahoma. Only minor damage was reported. As a strong low-level jet strengthened through the evening hours, Tropical Depression Erin strengthened as well, bringing torrential rainfall and sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 80 mph. Rainfall rates in excess of three inches per hour was not uncommon throughout the area with multiple Flash Flood Warnings issued. Rainfall totals from this storm ranged from five to ten inches over a vast area. Many people reported wind damage to their homes and dozens were rescued by helicopter due to the rising waters. Sadly, six people lost their lives in this event from flash flooding, with an estimated $5 million in property damage.

From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.

The full record

2008Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Florida, August 18 to 22, 2008

Tropical Storm Fay affected South Florida on the 18th and 19th of August. The storm made landfall early in the morning of the 19th near Cape Romano, and moved over inland sections of South Florida during the morning and afternoon hours of the 19th, exiting the area near Lake…

Deaths
1
Injuries
4
Damage
$4.0 million
Strongest
EF2
Events
23

The full record

2009Tornado in Texas, August 18, 2009

Scattered thunderstorms developed during the morning and afternoon hours across southeast Texas. One of these thunderstorms moving across the northern portions of Beaumont spawned an EF1 tornado which struck the Parkdale Mall area.

Injuries
10
Damage
$20 million
Strongest
EF1
Events
1

The full record

2015Tornadoes in Wisconsin, August 18, 2015

A strong low pressure system moved across the Upper Mississippi River Valley and Great Lakes region. A large area of showers and thunderstorms moved across southern WI and produced 3 tornadoes in southeast WI.

Damage
$156,000
Strongest
EF1
Events
4

The full record

2017Tornadoes and Hail in Iowa, August 18, 2017

A severe thunderstorm with a history of producing tornadoes moved out of southwest Minnesota into northwest Iowa and produced the strongest tornado of the year in the Sioux Falls area of responsibility.

Damage
$465,000
Strongest
EF2
Events
11

The full record

Hurricanes and tropical storms

14 on August 18, oldest first.

1899An unnamed storm makes landfall near Hatteras, NC

An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Hatteras, NC as a category 3 hurricane, 105 kt (120 mph). The 1899 San Ciríaco hurricane, also known as the 1899 Puerto Rico Hurricane or The Great Bahamas Hurricane of 1899, was the longest-lived Atlantic hurricane on record, and the third-longest-lived tropical cyclone globally on record after 1994's Hurricane John in the Pacific Ocean and 2023's Cyclone Freddy in the southern Indian Ocean. It was also one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes in recorded history, with an estimated 3,800 fatalities.

Wind at landfall
105 kt
Peak wind
130 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1916An unnamed storm makes landfall near Sarita, TX

An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Sarita, TX as a category 4 hurricane, 115 kt (130 mph), central pressure 932 mb. The 1916 Texas hurricane was an intense and quick-moving tropical cyclone that caused widespread damage in Jamaica and South Texas in August 1916. A Category 4 hurricane upon landfall in Texas, it was the strongest tropical cyclone to strike the United States in three decades.

Wind at landfall
115 kt
Pressure
932 mb
Peak wind
115 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1951Hurricane Charlie makes landfall near Portmore, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica

Hurricane Charlie crossed the coast near Portmore, Saint Catherine Parish, Jamaica as a category 3 hurricane, 110 kt (125 mph). Hurricane Charlie was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane of the 1951 Atlantic hurricane season, the most powerful tropical cyclone to strike the island of Jamaica until Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, and at the time the worst natural disaster to affect that island. The third named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season, it developed from a tropical wave east of the Lesser Antilles.

Wind at landfall
110 kt
Peak wind
115 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1969Hurricane Camille makes landfall near Waveland, MS

Hurricane Camille crossed the coast near Waveland, MS as a category 5 hurricane, 150 kt (175 mph), central pressure 900 mb. 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).

Wind at landfall
150 kt
Pressure
900 mb
Peak wind
150 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1983Hurricane Alicia makes landfall near Jamaica Beach, TX

Hurricane Alicia crossed the coast near Jamaica Beach, TX as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 962 mb. Hurricane Alicia was a small but powerful tropical cyclone that caused significant destruction in the Greater Houston area of Southeast Texas in August 1983. Although Alicia was a relatively small hurricane, its track over the rapidly growing metropolitan area contributed to its $3 billion damage toll, making it the costliest Atlantic hurricane at the time.

Wind at landfall
100 kt
Pressure
962 mb
Peak wind
100 kt

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2017Hurricane Harvey makes landfall near Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados

Hurricane Harvey crossed the coast near Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados as a tropical storm, 40 kt, central pressure 1004 mb. It killed 107 people in all. Hurricane Harvey was a powerful and catastrophic tropical cyclone that made landfall in Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, causing widespread flooding and more than 100 deaths. It is tied with 2005's Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record, inflicting $125 billion in damage, primarily from catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding in Greater Houston and Southeast Texas; this made the storm the costliest natural disaster recorded in Texas at the time.

Wind at landfall
40 kt
Pressure
1004 mb
Peak wind
115 kt
Deaths
107
Damage
$150 billion

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2026Tropical Storm Gaenari (2026)

The 2026 Pacific typhoon season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation in the western Pacific Ocean. The season runs throughout 2026, although most tropical cyclones typically develop between May and October.

Ended
August 25, 2026

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Floods

33 on August 18, oldest first.

19091909 Western Victorian floods

The 1909 Western Victorian floods consisted of widespread flooding on rivers of the western half of the State of Victoria during the middle of August that year.

Where
Australia
Country
Australia

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1998Flash Flooding in Texas, August 18, 1998

Widespread heavy rainfall began to fall again through the mid morning of the 18th. General 3 to 4 inch amounts were reported with totals nearing 10 inches south and west of Uvalde. Severe flash flooding developed very quickly in Uvalde County.

Injuries
15
Damage
$158,000
Events
3

The full record

1998Flood in Texas, August 18 to 19, 1998

The Leona River which begins just north of the city of Uvalde responded to the rainfall with a rapid rise as it moved south of the Uvalde-Zavala County line. It flooded several homes near Batesville, with additional evacuations and rescues required around the town.

Injuries
5
Damage
$75,000
Events
1

The full record

2000Flood and Hail in North Carolina, August 18, 2000

Thunderstorms erupted in an unstable atmosphere during the late afternoon and early evening. Many of the storms or short line segments evolved into bow echoes, leaving a considerable amount of wind damage in their wake.

Deaths
1
Injuries
2
Damage
$525,000
Strongest
1.75 in hail
Events
20

The full record

2000Flash Flooding in West Virginia, August 18, 2000

The heavy rain fell during the late night hours, ahead of a warm front. The runoff drained into several different river basins, the West Fork, the Tygart Valley, the Little Kanawha, the Elk, and the Greenbrier. The Red Cross and the state, aided residents in flood recovery.

Damage
$1.1 million
Events
6

The full record

2002Flooding and Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 18, 2002

Thunderstorms producing torrential rains developed along a slow moving frontal boundary across southwest Ohio. Measured rainfall amounts up to three and one half inches were recorded across this region during the late morning and afternoon hours.

Deaths
1
Injuries
3
Damage
$19,000
Strongest
50 kt wind
Events
8

The full record

2006Flooding in Alaska, August 18 to 24, 2006

Widespread heavy rain fell over much of central and south central Alaska beginning August 17th and continuing through August 23rd. Heavier rains Friday caused rises on both gauged and un gauged rivers throughout this area.

Damage
$20 million
Events
3

The full record

2007Flooding in Texas, August 18 to 19, 2007

Excessive rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin caused flooding of many rivers, streams, and lakes across portions of the Texas Big Country. Rainfall amounts of 3 to 9 inches were reported, resulting in several road closures.

Damage
$5.0 million
Events
5

The full record

2008Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, August 18 to 19, 2008

An unseasonably strong upper level storm system moved over northern Texas, beginning on the 18th and continuing through parts of the 19th. Abundant moisture was in place ahead of the storm system and even increased as the storm system began moving east over the Red River.

Damage
$25 million
Events
4

The full record

2008Flash Flood and Flood in Texas, August 18, 2008

A stationary complex of thunderstorms dumped an estimated 8 to 10 inches, with pockets of a foot or more (12 inches) of rainfall, near and just east of Roma between daybreak and noon, producing widespread flash and areal flooding beginning during the mid morning of the 18th, and…

Damage
$1.2 million
Events
4

The full record

2010Flash Flooding in Tennessee, August 18, 2010

Remnants of Tropical Depression 5 moved northward into the Mid-South during the day on August 18th, 2010. Showers and thunderstorms developed in association with the Tropical Depression 5. Some storms produced very heavy rain which caused flash flooding.

Damage
$1.2 million
Events
2

The full record

2011Flash Flooding and Hail in Utah, August 18 to 22, 2011

The flash flooding threat began again in the middle of the month, with the largest flash floods in Capitol Reef National Park and along the Escalante River. Isolated large hail was reported with a couple of storms, and cloud-to-ground lightning struck a couple individuals.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Strongest
0.75 in hail
Events
9

The full record

2011Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Arizona, August 18, 2011

A strong overnight complex in Sonora, Mexico produced an outflow boundary and mesoscale convective vortex that tracked north across southern Arizona. This feature was the focus of strong to severe thunderstorms, including a strong microburst in Eloy.

Injuries
1
Damage
$1.1 million
Strongest
65 kt wind
Events
4

The full record

2011Flash Flood and Hail in Nebraska, August 18, 2011

Large hail caused widespread crop and property damage in most of Dixon and Dakota Counties in extreme northeast Nebraska during the afternoon of August 18th. There were also reports of damaging winds, and one report of flash flooding as the evening began.

Damage
$435,000
Strongest
4.25 in hail
Events
18

The full record

2012Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, August 18, 2012

Numerous showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall over the Dallas/Fort Worth area; resulting in flash flooding in Dallas, Tarrant, and southern Denton County. Rainfall rates up to 2 in 30 minutes were measured during the event.

Deaths
2
Injuries
8
Damage
$836,000
Strongest
52 kt wind
Events
19

The full record

2015Flash Flood and Debris Flow in Alaska, August 18 to 19, 2015

A strong front moved through the Panhandle on the morning of Tuesday August 18th. This system had abundant amount of moisture associated with the cold front as the system originated from the North Pacific and was able to tap into tropical moisture.

Deaths
6
Damage
$3.4 million
Strongest
52 kt wind
Events
4

The full record

2019Flash Flooding and Hail in Pennsylvania, August 18, 2019

Another in a series of weak mid-level shortwaves moved across the upper Ohio Valley during the afternoon hours. The first storms formed near Interstate 80 around noon, with a broken line of convection then forming towards the southwest during the afternoon hours.

Damage
$126,000
Strongest
1 in hail
Events
28

The full record

Severe storms

34 on August 18, oldest first.

1994Hail and Damaging Wind in Iowa, August 18, 1994

Thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa throughout the night. In what appeared to be a downburst situation, high winds struck a farm near Edgewood. A narrow path could be seen in the fields surrounding the farm.

Damage
$725,000
Strongest
50 kt wind
Events
5

The full record

1995Hail and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 18, 1995

An isolated severe thunderstorm produced a wicked wet microburst whose violent winds and large hail did considerable damage in Webster (about $250 thousand). Twenty homes and four businesses sustained window and roof damage from the winds and large hail.

Damage
$500,000
Events
3

The full record

2003Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, August 18, 2003

Severe thunderstorms producing large hail and damaging winds ripped across north central Kansas during the afternoon hours. There were reports of power poles snapped across several counties. Power was out for up to 12 hours in some localized spots.

Damage
$455,000
Strongest
1.75 in hail
Events
9

The full record

2003Damaging Winds in Nebraska, August 18, 2003

Afternoon thunderstorms produced high winds across a small part of south central Nebraska. The strongest winds caused havoc across eastern Clay and far western Fillmore counties. A popcorn field was blown down near Edgar resulting in substantial crop loss.

Damage
$415,000
Strongest
62 kt wind
Events
4

The full record

2005Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, August 18, 2005

The first of two rounds of severe weather to affect south-central and/or southeast Wisconsin on August 18, 2005, occurred during the early morning hours. A cluster of thunderstorm cells merged into a line that bowed in Lafayette County.

Damage
$720,000
Strongest
70 kt wind
Events
4

The full record

2006Damaging Wind in South Dakota, August 18, 2006

Thunderstorm winds caused widespread and severe tree, power line, and crop damage. The damage to power lines included several large transmission circuit structures one mile south of Tea being blown down along a half mile stretch.

Injuries
1
Damage
$500,000
Strongest
78 kt wind
Events
1

The full record

2009Hail and Damaging Winds in Pennsylvania, August 18, 2009

An area of high pressure on the 18th was off the Mid Atlantic coast, while a cold front was well off to the west. In between these two systems was a surface trough, which helped to focus showers and thunderstorms within a warm and humid air mass.

Damage
$530,000
Strongest
56 kt wind
Events
9

The full record

2011Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, August 18, 2011

Warm advection took place over Iowa with a 20 to 25 kt low level jet drawing moisture into the area. Precipitable water values increased to 1.8 inches by mid day. A shortwave and cold front was approaching from the northwest as the atmosphere became quite unstable.

Damage
$3.4 million
Strongest
2.75 in hail
Events
10

The full record

2011Hail in Ohio, August 18 to 19, 2011

A storm system affected northern Ohio on August 18th and 19th. Showers and thunderstorms developed across the area during the evening of the 18th and continued through the early morning hours of the 19th. Some of the stronger thunderstorms became severe.

Damage
$650,000
Strongest
2 in hail
Events
31

The full record

2011Hail in South Dakota, August 18, 2011

A supercell thunderstorm developed over far southwestern Jackson County and northeastern Shannon County and moved southeastward. The storm produced hail as large as baseballs across portions of northeastern Shannon and Bennett Counties.

Damage
$945,000
Strongest
2.75 in hail
Events
6

The full record

2019Hail and Damaging Winds in Ohio, August 18, 2019

A northern stream shortwave trough moved across the Great Lakes region. There was a warm and moist flow at the surface with modest mid level deep shear. Several rounds and clusters of thunderstorm developed and moved across northern Ohio with damaging winds.

Damage
$319,000
Strongest
1.75 in hail
Events
64

The full record

2022August 2022 Corsica derecho

The 2022 European derecho was a violent derecho which resulted in strong winds on the French island of Corsica and in parts of northern Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and the southern Czech Republic on 18 August 2022 which traveled over 1,000 kilometres (620 mi). The event resulted in 12 fatalities, and at least 116 others were injured.

Where
Italy
Countries
Italy, Austria, France, Czech Republic, Slovenia
Deaths
12
Injured
106

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2022Hail in Nebraska, August 18, 2022

A cold front brought isolated to scattered severe thunderstorms with large hail to portions of South Central Nebraska on the evening of August 18th. The first signs of thunderstorm development along the cold front showed itself in Valley County between 3 PM to 4 PM CDT.

Damage
$8.2 million
Strongest
2.75 in hail
Events
9

The full record

Winter storms and snow

1 on August 18, oldest first.

1994Residents who were in the path of the 1994 Lahoma storm, awoke on this morning to find a strange world

Residents who were in the path of the 1994 Lahoma storm, awoke on this morning to find a strange world. The devastating wind and hail storm on the previous day had stripped nearly every tree of leaves in the Lahoma and Drummond areas. That, along with plowed fields from harvested wheat, left the August landscape looking eerily more like mid-winter. Hail was still on the ground in some protected areas around Lahoma on the afternoon of the 18th, more than 24 hours after the storm.

From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.

The full record

Heat and drought

8 on August 18, oldest first.

2009Drought in Texas, August 18 to 31, 2009

Continued record to near record heat, frequently breezy to windy conditions, low humidity for the time of year, and lack of rainfall allowed the 2009 Drought to peak before the end of August, ensuring massive dryland crop, pastureland, and livestock loss.

Damage
$21 million
Events
4

The full record

2018Heat in Arizona, August 18 to 19, 2018

High pressure over the Desert Southwest allowed for temperatures to climb to dangerous levels on the 18th and 19th of August. Four heat-associated fatalities (three direct and one indirect) were reported by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.

Deaths
4
Events
4

The full record

2024Heat in Arizona, August 18, 2024

Hot temperatures about 3 to 5 degrees above normal were experienced across portions of Southeast Arizona on August 18th. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Safford on August 18.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

Records set

1 on August 18, oldest first.

Wildfires

49 on August 18, oldest first.

1985Barbercyn Fire

The Barbercyn Fire started on August 18, 1985, in Nevada, and burned 13,780 acres.

When
August 18, 1985
Acres
13,780

The full record

1992Porcupine Creek Fire

The Porcupine Creek Fire was discovered on August 18, 1992, in Idaho, and burned 13,925 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 1992
Acres
13,925

The full record

1996Cunningham Fire

The Cunningham Fire was discovered on August 18, 1996, in Utah, and burned 14,854 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 1996
Acres
14,854

The full record

2000City of Rocks Fire

The City of Rocks Fire was discovered on August 18, 2000, in Cassia County, Idaho, and burned 10,587 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2000
Acres
10,586.6

The full record

2001Wildfire in California, August 18 to 25, 2001

The Creek Fire was an arson fire that burned 11,500 acres. There were no fatalities but 11 injuries and 8 structures were lost (4 residences and 4 out-buildings). At one point at least 400 people were forced to evacuate due to the fire and it threatened at least 3000 structures.

Damage
$3.6 million
Events
1

The full record

2001Goodnoe Hills Fire

The Goodnoe Hills Fire was discovered on August 18, 2001, in Klickitat County, Washington, and burned 11,526 acres; the cause was recorded as railroad operations and maintenance.

When
August 18, 2001
Acres
11,526

The full record

2001Creek Fire

The Creek Fire was discovered on August 18, 2001, in California, and burned 11,185 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.

When
August 18, 2001
Acres
11,185

The full record

2001Mollie Fire

The Mollie Fire was discovered on August 18, 2001, in Utah, and burned 8,021 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2001
Acres
8,021

The full record

2002Wanna Fire

The Wanna Fire was discovered on August 18, 2002, in South Dakota, and burned 7,505 acres; the cause was recorded as misuse of fire by a minor.

When
August 18, 2002
Acres
7,505

The full record

2003Wildfire in California, August 18 to 20, 2003

Named the Locust Fire, this wildfire consumed 1889 acres between north Moreno Valley and Redlands before being fully contained. Several homes were threatened and evacuations were ordered. A hiker suffered burns, when he jumped through the fire front.

Injuries
3
Damage
$1.3 million
Events
1

The full record

2008North Minidoka Fire

The North Minidoka Fire was discovered on August 18, 2008, in Minidoka County, Idaho, and burned 31,616 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.

When
August 18, 2008
Acres
31,616.2

The full record

2008Middle Fork Fire

The Middle Fork Fire was discovered on August 18, 2008, in Klamath County, Oregon, and burned 21,125 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2008
Acres
21,125

The full record

2008Rattle Fire

The Rattle Fire was discovered on August 18, 2008, in Douglas County, Oregon, and burned 19,775 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2008
Acres
19,775

The full record

2008Swanson Lake Fire

The Swanson Lake Fire was discovered on August 18, 2008, in Lincoln County, Washington, and burned 19,090 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2008
Acres
19,090

The full record

2010Alkali Fire

The Alkali Fire was discovered on August 18, 2010, in Moffat County, Colorado, and burned 7,917 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2010
Acres
7,917

The full record

2011Pagami Creek Fire

The Pagami Creek Fire was discovered on August 18, 2011, in Minnesota, and burned 92,682 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2011
Acres
92,682

The full record

2011Crooked Complex

The Crooked Complex was discovered on August 18, 2011, in Chaves County, New Mexico, and burned 7,017 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2011
Acres
7,017

The full record

20113A North Fire

The 3A North Fire was discovered on August 18, 2011, in Broward County, Florida, and burned 7,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2011
Acres
7,000

The full record

2012Dense Smoke in Indiana, August 18, 2012

Dense smoke from a farm that was burning hay reduced visibility to less than 30 feet over portions of Interstate 65 near mile marker 227 leading to three separate collisions involving 20 cars between 6:00 AM CST and 6:18 AM CST. Four injuries and one fatality were reported.

Deaths
1
Injuries
4
Events
1

The full record

2012Bagley Fire

The Bagley Fire was discovered on August 18, 2012, in Shasta County, California, and burned 46,011 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2012
Acres
46,011

The full record

2012North Pass Fire

The North Pass Fire was discovered on August 18, 2012, in Mendocino County, California, and burned 41,983 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2012
Acres
41,983

The full record

2012Ponderosa Fire

The Ponderosa Fire was discovered on August 18, 2012, in Tehama County, California, and burned 27,676 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2012
Acres
27,676

The full record

2013Spring Peak Fire

The Spring Peak Fire was discovered on August 18, 2013, in Mineral County, Nevada, and burned 14,230 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2013
Acres
14,230

The full record

2015Kaniksu Complex

The Kaniksu Complex was reported on August 18, 2015, in Pend Oreille County, Washington, and burned 26,125 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2015
Acres
26,125

The full record

2015Municipal Complex

The Municipal Complex was reported on August 18, 2015, in Clearwater County, Idaho, and burned 20,732 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2015
Acres
20,732

The full record

2016Rey CA-LPF-002809 Fire

The Rey CA-LPF-002809 Fire was reported on August 18, 2016, in Santa Barbara County, California, and burned 32,606 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2016
Acres
32,606

The full record

2018Sheep Creek Fire

The Sheep Creek Fire was reported on August 18, 2018, in Lander County, Nevada, and burned 59,742 acres.

When
August 18, 2018
Acres
59,741.5

The full record

2019Levelock Fire

The Levelock Fire was reported on August 18, 2019, in Lake and Peninsula County, Alaska, and burned 9,345 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2019
Acres
9,344.9

The full record

2020Dolan Fire

The Dolan Fire was a large wildfire that burned in the Big Sur region and other parts of the Santa Lucia mountain range in Monterey County, California, in the United States as part of the 2020 California wildfire season. m.

Ended
December 31, 2020
Where
Big Sur
Country
United States

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2020Dolan Fire

The Dolan Fire was reported on August 18, 2020, in Monterey County, California, and burned 124,924 acres.

When
August 18, 2020
Acres
124,924

The full record

2020W-5 Cold Springs Fire

The W-5 Cold Springs Fire was reported on August 18, 2020, in Lassen County, California, and burned 84,817 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2020
Acres
84,817

The full record

2020Cow Canyon Fire

The Cow Canyon Fire was reported on August 18, 2020, in Greenlee County, Arizona, and burned 35,371 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2020
Acres
35,371

The full record

2020Palmer Fire

The Palmer Fire was reported on August 18, 2020, in Okanogan County, Washington, and burned 17,988 acres.

When
August 18, 2020
Acres
17,988

The full record

2020Black Canyon Fire

The Black Canyon Fire was reported on August 18, 2020, in Mohave County, Arizona, and burned 7,897 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2020
Acres
7,897

The full record

2020Carmel Fire

The Carmel Fire was reported on August 18, 2020, in Monterey County, California, and burned 6,905 acres.

When
August 18, 2020
Acres
6,905

The full record

2021French Fire

The French Fire was a wildfire that burned 26,535 acres (10,738 ha) near Shirley Meadows west of Lake Isabella in Kern County, California in the United States during the 2021 California wildfire season. The fire was initially reported on Wednesday, August 18, 2021, and ended around October 24, 2021.

Where
United States
Country
United States

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2021French Fire

The French Fire was reported on August 18, 2021, in Kern County, California, and burned 26,535 acres.

When
August 18, 2021
Acres
26,535

The full record

2022Wagner Road Fire

The Wagner Road Fire was reported on August 18, 2022, in Whitman County, Washington, and burned 7,381 acres.

When
August 18, 2022
Acres
7,381

The full record

2023Wildfire in Washington, August 18 to 31, 2023

An incoming system brought strong winds and dry air into the Spokane Area. Two wildfires were started by unknown causes and quickly spread through residential areas. A total of 270 structures were lost or damaged.

Deaths
2
Damage
$75 million
Events
2

The full record

2023Oregon Fire

The Oregon Fire was a wildfire that burned in Spokane County, Washington and Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States. As of September 15, 2023, the fire had burned 10,817 acres (4,377 ha) and was 97% contained.

Where
United States
Country
United States

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2023River Road East Fire

The River Road East Fire was reported on August 18, 2023, in Sanders County, Montana, and burned 17,313 acres.

When
August 18, 2023
Acres
17,313

The full record

2023Oregon Fire

The Oregon Fire was reported on August 18, 2023, in Spokane County, Washington, and burned 10,822 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2023
Acres
10,822

The full record

2023Gray Fire

The Gray Fire was reported on August 18, 2023, in Spokane County, Washington, and burned 10,064 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2023
Acres
10,064

The full record

2024Daly Fire

The Daly Fire was reported on August 18, 2024, in Ravalli County, Montana, and burned 11,387 acres.

When
August 18, 2024
Acres
11,387

The full record

2025Mile Marker 39 Fire (06) Fire

The Mile Marker 39 Fire (06) Fire was reported on August 18, 2025, in Broward County, Florida, and burned 48,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.

When
August 18, 2025
Acres
48,000

The full record

2026Crooked Fire

The Crooked Fire was reported on August 18, 2026, in Boise County, Idaho, and burned 10,081 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
August 18, 2026
Acres
10,081

The full record

Earthquakes

19 on August 18, oldest first.

20202020 Masbate earthquake

6 magnitude earthquake struck the island province of Masbate in the Philippines, leaving at least 2 dead and 170 injured.

Where
Philippines
Country
Philippines
Magnitude
6.6

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Volcanoes

2 on August 18, oldest first.

Tsunamis

9 on August 18, oldest first.

Space weather and aurora

1 on August 18, oldest first.

Billion-dollar disasters

1 on August 18, oldest first.

1991Hurricane Bob (August 1991)

A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $3.5 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 18, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from August 18, 1991 to August 20, 1991.

Losses (2024 dollars)
$3.5 billion
Kind
Tropical Cyclone
Deaths
18

The full record

Other weather

13 on August 18, oldest first.

1998Malpa landslide

The Malpa landslide was one of the worst landslides in India. , massive landslide wiped away the entire village of Malpa in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, then in Uttar Pradesh in Kali Valley of Higher Kumaon division of the Himalayas.

Where
India
Country
India

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2002Lightning Strike in Alabama, August 18, 2002

Four fires were started almost simultaneously by lightning strikes. One man died in a fire caused by a lightning strike. This occurred when the Royal Pines apartment complex caught on fire and damaged eight units.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Damage
$100,000
Events
1

The full record

2012Lightning Strike in Minnesota, August 18, 2012

A boy died from injuries sustained from a lightning strike that hit the water near him. Four others in his boating party were injured. The boy was part of a group that were sail boating. As the storm moved in, they boat beached the and rushed ashore.

Deaths
1
Injuries
4
Events
1

The full record

2018Rip Current in Indiana, August 18, 2018

A 10 year old boy was found face down in Lake Michigan about 40 yards from shore near the Indiana Dunes State Park north of Chesterton. Rescuers performed CPR and he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Deaths
2
Events
1

The full record

Every day of the year

Sources

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.