Earthquakes
1042August 21, 1042 Earthquake in Tabriz, Iran
An earthquake struck Tabriz, Iran. It killed 40,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
- When
- August 21, 1042
- Deaths
- 40,000
- Where
- Tabriz, Iran
Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for August 21, 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
An earthquake struck Tabriz, Iran. It killed 40,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Dodge, Olmsted, Wabasha counties, Minnesota and tracked 43.2 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, killing 37 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rochester, MN.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Brookings, Lincoln, Lyon counties, South Dakota and tracked 20.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 36 and injuring 225. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SD to Tyler, MN.
Volcanoes
Oku Volcanic Field, Cameroon erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 1,700 people and injured 300. The eruption caused a tsunami.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Laura crossed the coast near Saint John’s, Saint John Parish, Antigua and Barbuda as a tropical storm, 40 kt, central pressure 1007 mb. It killed 47 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. S. state of Louisiana, as measured by maximum sustained winds.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tsunamis
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Lake Nyos, Cameroon, with a maximum water height of 75 meters. It killed 1,700 people and injured 300.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Dean crossed the coast near Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico as a category 5 hurricane, 150 kt (175 mph), central pressure 905 mb. Hurricane Dean was the most powerful and destructive tropical cyclone of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. It ties with Hurricane Mitch for the tenth most intense Atlantic hurricane by atmospheric pressure.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Grace crossed the coast near Papantla de Olarte, Veracruz, Mexico as a category 3 hurricane, 105 kt (120 mph), central pressure 967 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.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and tracked 3.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 75. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Wilkes-Barre, PA.
Tornadoes
The deadliest flash flood to ever affect Middle Tennessee, and one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the state, struck the region on Saturday, August 21, 2021.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Shelby, Cumberland counties, Illinois and tracked 26.9 miles, 77 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 56.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Irene crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 60 kt, central pressure 993 mb. It killed 56 people in all. Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, Irene originated from a well-defined Atlantic tropical wave that began showing signs of organization east of the Lesser Antilles.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
39 on August 21, oldest first.
An F5 tornado touched down in Dodge, Olmsted, Wabasha counties, Minnesota and tracked 43.2 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, killing 37 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rochester, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Olmsted County, Minnesota and tracked 2.9 miles, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Pleasant Grove/S Rochester, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Winona County, Minnesota and tracked 10.8 miles, killing 1 and injuring 19. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N St. Charles to N Lewiston, MN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Kent County, Maryland and tracked 5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 11 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Still Pond, MD.
An F2 tornado touched down in New Castle County, Delaware and tracked 5.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 22. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Wilmington to S Wilmington, DE.
An F3 tornado touched down in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and tracked 3.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 75. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Wilkes-Barre, PA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Brookings, Lincoln, Lyon counties, South Dakota and tracked 20.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 36 and injuring 225. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SD to Tyler, MN.
The 1918 Tyler tornado was a deadly and destructive tornado that devastated the town of Tyler, Minnesota on Wednesday, August 21, 1918. The F4-estimated tornado hit the town at approximately 9:20 pm, killing 36 people and injuring over 100 others.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region County, Connecticut and tracked 0.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, injuring 8.
An F2 tornado touched down in Pettis County, Missouri and tracked 1.3 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 13.
An F3 tornado touched down in Shelby, Cumberland counties, Illinois and tracked 26.9 miles, 77 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 56.
Eyewitnesses indicated that a tornado touched down just northwest of Hammonton Lake which is oriented east-west in a heavily wooded area. The tornado moved east-southeast across the lake, becoming a waterspout.
An isolated thunderstorm spawned a weak tornado in the City of Geneva near Packwood Road and Route 14. The initial touchdown occurred on the west side of Rte. 14 where trees were downed. As the storm crossed Route 14 it destroyed empty grain elevators.
The tornado touched down and remained in open fields north of Venango.
The severer weather and flooding that affected much of south-central and southeast Wisconsin on August 21, 2002, into the pre-dawn hours of the 22nd, was probably the most widespread and significant outbreak for the 2002 warm-season.
A F2 tornado struck eastern Ingham county. The tornado touched down just east of the intersection of Columbia and Kendrick Roads at 7:55 p.m. EST. It moved east and intensified. The tornado began a turn to the northeast as it approached Haywood Road just north of Columbia.
An early morning severe thunderstorm in Leominster downed large tree limbs.Thunderstorms developed again that afternoon and caused damage in parts of eastern Massachusetts.
A small cluster of severe thunderstorms produced large hail over Sheffield.
Tropical Storm Fay moved slowly north out of Caribbean Sea, then cut across south and central Florida into the Atlantic Ocean. Fay then slowly curved west and made landfall in the vicinity for Flagler Beach and Daytona Beach on Aug 21st.
A cold front crossed the region bringing thunderstorms to the northern Finger Lakes region during the afternoon hours. Thunderstorm winds, gusting to 65 mph, downed trees and powers lines in Cato and Port Byron. Hail up to an inch-and-a-quarter diameter was reported in Meridian.
An upper level wave moving along a stalled front initiated thunderstorms that produced flash flooding and 2 weak tornadoes.
Multiple severe weather hazards occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of Wednesday, August 21st, 2019, due to a strong upper level shortwave moving into a humid and unstable airmass.
The deadliest flash flood to ever affect Middle Tennessee, and one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the state, struck the region on Saturday, August 21, 2021.
A very hot, humid, and unstable airmass was in place across the Mid-South on August 21, 2021. A weak upper-level disturbance moving through northwest flow aloft provided enough lift to generate isolated thunderstorms across extreme Northeast Mississippi.
15 on August 21, oldest first.
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph), a category 4 storm.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 1 hurricane, 65 kt (75 mph).
The 1950 Atlantic hurricane season was the first year in the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) that storms were given names in the Atlantic basin. Names were taken from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet, with the first named storm being designated "Able", the second "Baker", and so on.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Able crossed the coast near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada as a category 1 hurricane, 65 kt (75 mph). The 1950 Atlantic hurricane season was the first year in the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) that storms were given names in the Atlantic basin. Names were taken from the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet, with the first named storm being designated "Able", the second "Baker", and so on.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Bilis reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 920 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Mawar reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 916 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Dean crossed the coast near Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico as a category 5 hurricane, 150 kt (175 mph), central pressure 905 mb. Hurricane Dean was the most powerful and destructive tropical cyclone of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. It ties with Hurricane Mitch for the tenth most intense Atlantic hurricane by atmospheric pressure.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Dean reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 907 mb, a category 5 storm.
Tropical Storm Fay will be remembered from the catastrophic rainfall that it brought to much of Florida as well as being one of the longer lived tropical systems to affect the U.S. Tropical Storm Fay formed from a tropical wave on August 15th along the east coast of Hispaniola.
Hurricane Vamco reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 933 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Irene crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 60 kt, central pressure 993 mb. It killed 56 people in all. Hurricane Irene was a large and destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August 2011. The ninth named storm, first hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, Irene originated from a well-defined Atlantic tropical wave that began showing signs of organization east of the Lesser Antilles.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Irene was a quite large and impressive tropical wave during most of its journey across the Atlantic Ocean during the week of August 14-20, 2011.
Hurricane Kenneth reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 951 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Laura crossed the coast near Saint John’s, Saint John Parish, Antigua and Barbuda as a tropical storm, 40 kt, central pressure 1007 mb. It killed 47 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. S. state of Louisiana, as measured by maximum sustained winds.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Grace crossed the coast near Papantla de Olarte, Veracruz, Mexico as a category 3 hurricane, 105 kt (120 mph), central pressure 967 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.
28 on August 21, oldest first.
Fields and streets were flooded from rising Coon Creek. Rains fell 2 days earlier. There was crop damage.
After dropping some hail across a part of north central Kansas, severe thunderstorms dumped in excess of three inches of rain in southern Rooks county. This caused the upper reaches of Paradise Creek to overflow and cover a part of U. S. Highway 183 for a time.
Record rainfall amounts were set in several locations throughout western Washington on the 22nd. Nearly a months worth of rain (for aug ~ 1 inch) fell over most of the area with 2 to 5 inches common along the coast and in the mountains.
The first of several rounds of severe storms impacted the northwest Permian Basin during the late afternoon as convective development continued to increase towards the northwest.
A nearly stationary frontal boundary remained draped east to west across Iowa once again. The atmosphere became very unstable during the afternoon with highs reaching the upper 80s to low 90s and dew points in the mid 70s to the south of the front.
Several rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall occurred across parts of northwestern Ohio, beginning early on the 20th and continuing through the 22nd.
A low pressure system moved over northeast Iowa during the late evening hours of August 21. Thunderstorms developed along and ahead of this system, producing rainfall rates of an inch per hour. This caused flooding of roadways across parts of northeast Iowa.
A mid-atmospheric disturbance moved across a very warm and humid air mass located across much of Vermont during the afternoon of August 21st.
A stationary, backdoor front lingered across northeast Georgia. The remnants of Tropical Depression Number Five (TD5) were making one final revolution through Georgia around a large subtropical ridge across the mid-south.
The first day of flash flooding over the Las Conchas burn scar was widespread as weak upper level disturbances rounded the west side of the upper high. Early in the afternoon, showers and thunderstorms developed over the central and northern portions of the burn scar.
A series of thunderstorms with heavy rain from the late afternoon through the evening on the 21st caused poor drainage and stream flash flooding in southern Monmouth County and northern Ocean County.
Another surge of monsoon moisture led to an outbreak of thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. A low pressure system further enhanced the storms on the 22nd.
A well defined and progressive nearly cutoff low was positioned over east central Indiana during the afternoon of August 21st.
Scattered thunderstorms produced heavy rain and severe winds across northeastern Illinois during the early evening hours. Additional thunderstorms developed overnight producing heavy rain that resulted in flooding.
Scattered thunderstorms produced heavy rain across northwestern Indiana during the early evening hours. Additional thunderstorms developed overnight producing heavy rain that resulted in flooding.
A low pressure system located over southern Ontario along with surface boundaries in the vicinity of northeast Pennsylvania resulted in severe thunderstorms during the late afternoon and evening hours.
During the evening of the 21st, a line of thunderstorms intensified as it moved into northern portions of central Indiana. Hail damage to structures and trees knocked down were common from near Lafayette east through Lebanon and Noblesville to Anderson.
From August 21st through the 22nd, multiple rounds of heavy rain fell, with some of the highest totals observed over the southwestern portions of the Kansas City metro area and other locations south of Kansas City.
Southeasterly flow pulled monsoon moisture up into the eastern Mojave Desert, fueling scattered thunderstorms over Mohave County. Some storms produced flash flooding.
The Snow Glacier Dammed Lake (GDL) on the Kenai Peninsula releases, on average, every other year. The 2019 release was an unusually high amount of water. This release was also earlier than past years, which normally occur later in the water year when water levels are low.
A severe thunderstorm produced hail up to quarter size in Arapahoe, Denver and Jefferson counties. Heavy rain and flash flooding, close to 2 inches in one hour, also accompanied the nearly stationary storms.
A stationary front extended from a low near Amarillo east northeast to just south of Canadian, TX in the afternoon.
A slow-moving upper trough combined with a stalling front, and a large swath of tropical moisture, to produce record and near-record rainfall across parts of North Texas late August 21 through August 22.
Weak surface low pressure slowly moved across northwest Ohio over the southern shore of Lake Erie in north central Ohio during the afternoon and evening hours of August 21st.
Showers and thunderstorms developed near a boundary over central Virginia. Anomalous moisture was present, and the storm motion was slow which led to areas of flooding and flash flooding.
Showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a low pressure system moving through the Ohio Valley.
A thunderstorm developed over the City of Roanoke just before 6:45 pm EDT on August 21st, initially producing rainfall rates to nearly 5 per hour.
A cluster of slow-moving thunderstorms passed across eastern Surry County and western Stokes County during the evening of August 21st. Rainfall rates within some of the stronger storms were observed to be as high as 5 inches per hour.
48 on August 21, oldest first.
On August 21, 1972, a waterspout formed on Lake Ponca, just east of Ponca City. A man standing in hip-deep water was injured when he was picked up by the spout and thrown onto the bank. The waterspout also submerged one boat on the lake and eventually sent 60 mph winds into Ponca City.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Between 3.00 and 7.00 inches of rain fell over a large part of Williams, Divide, Burke, and Mountrail Counties overnight August 21st and 22nd. Water damage from the heavy rains was widespread. A section of Highway 1804 was completely washed out.
A thunderstorm dropped marble-size hail near Palisade (8 miles east of Grand Junction), destroying peach and pear crops of several growers.
Very strong winds damaged roofs and snapped power poles in the northwest part of the city. Street flooding was also reported.
Thunderstorm winds downed a few trees.
Wind damage was widespread across Fallon County.
Increasing winds capsized a sailboat during a boat race on Lake Sunnapee, drowning the captain. The winds, estimated at 50 mph, were apparently associated with a thunderstorm gust front. (M59O)
Damage was reported to roofs with some tree limbs downed as a brief gust struck the city. One roof was lifted and dropped on several cars. The storm also knocked down power lines for several blocks.
A round of late afternoon and evening thunderstorms rolled south from Greeley to Hall county. A part of northwest Howard sustained tremendous crop loss from the wind driven hail. Drifts of hail were still present the next morning. Windows were broken and pivots overturned.
A wind gust knocked down 30 tents injuring 15 people , and knocking down electrical lines.
Early morning thunderstorms dumped hail north of Gibbon for five minutes while uprooting trees in Kearney as well. Severe crop damage occurred in Kearney and Franklin counties as the combination of wind and hail damaged corn and soybeans.
Spotter estimated 60 mph winds.
Tree fell on a house resulting in one fatality. Numerous other trees down in and around Magnolia.
Metal building blown 70 feet with large tree down.
Large trees down.
Penny size hail was observed near Elmore.
A severe thunderstorm produced a microburst with winds estimated at 70 mph in Woonsocket, according to a National Weather Service storm survey. Trees were downed and uprooted in the Jillson Avenue area just south of the Bernon Heights School.
Law enforcement officials reported golfball size hail.
Several trees and numerous limbs took down a few power lines near Oak Vale.
Lightning struck a house causing a fire in the attic.
Mobile home blown over.
Severe thunderstorms produced a widespread area of large hail and high winds from Gosper County to Sherman County. Some of the worst damage was along the Dawson and Gosper counties line.
During the late afternoon and evening hours, the vorticity maximum associated with Erin’s remnants served as a catalyst for organized thunderstorm development as it approached and eventually crossed the area.
Short lines of severe thunderstorms moved east-northeast through south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the overnight hours. Some cell movement exceeded 43 kts (50 mph) to the east.
Thunderstorms fired along a line from North Central Nebraska into eastern portions of Southwest Nebraska. Numerous reports of large hail were received...with the largest being baseball size. Thunderstorm outflow winds also were reported across Frontier County.
A frontal boundary to the northeast, kept an unstable environment over the area during the afternoon of August 21st. An upper disturbance passed overhead which helped to trigger numerous thunderstorms. Some of of these storms were severe with damaging winds and large hail.
A hot and humid air mass was in place on the 21st ahead of a cold front. This resulted in the development of some thunderstorms from west to east, some of which were strong to locally severe during the afternoon.
A deep upper trough, located across the eastern U.S., was helping to push a strong cold front into the southeast U.S. Unseasonably cool air was noted behind the front.
Back on this day in 2010, several small and intense microbursts occurred over central and southern Oklahoma during the late afternoon and early evening hours. One in particular, which struck northeast portions of Norman, took down power poles and trees with 60 to 70 mph wind gusts.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Very hot and humid conditions developed during the afternoon hours on the 21st. As a result, numerous strong and a few severe thunderstorms developed ahead of a cold front during the evening hours.
The approach of a cold front on the 21st triggered thunderstorms in northern and central Arkansas. Some of these storms became severe, causing wind damage.
During the morning to early afternoon on this Sunday, two separate complexes of strong to marginally severe thunderstorms tracked southeast through northern portions of South Central Nebraska, primarily north of state Highway 92.
On the afternoon of August 21st, a cold front supported by a strong mid-atmospheric disturbance moved across a unstable air mass across Vermont. Numerous showers and thunderstorms developed during the afternoon with some containing large hail and damaging winds.
A lee trough developed well ahead of an advancing cold front with numerous shower and thunderstorms forming in early afternoon over the mountains and pushing to the southeast.
A broken line of severe storms developed in an unstable air mass ahead of an advancing cold front. The storms produced large hail and damaging wind gusts, at times in excess of 70 mph.
A disturbance moved east to initiate thunderstorms that intensified to produce hail up to baseball size. As storms became elevated further northeast to produce strong winds and localized wind damage. The hail broke out windows of homes.
A strong subtropical ridge of high pressure aloft was centered along the south central Gulf Coastal region.
Typical summer time storms developed during the late afternoon of the 21st, isolated strong thunderstorms were a part of that activity over portions of Central Mississippi.
Scattered thunderstorms formed across North Central Kansas, along a southwest to northeast line, just after 5 p.m. CDT on this Thursday.
Late this evening, scattered thunderstorms rolled southeast from eastern New Mexico and over parts of the western South Plains.
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms developed near the North Carolina Blue Ridge during the afternoon into early evening. Several storm clusters organized as the storms moved southeast across the foothills and western Piedmont.
With an area of high pressure centered near the Four Corners, drier air began to move into western New Mexico. Meanwhile, an upper-level trough that moved through northeastern New Mexico provided the lift necessary for a round of afternoon thunderstorms.
A squall line developed over northern Utah and produced widespread severe wind gusts and damage.
A severe thunderstorm produced localized downbursts in Orange County, which resulted in large trees falling into two homes.
A weak mid level disturbance interacted with a moist and unstable air mass over the Sandhills and Coastal Plain and allowed for the development of strong to severe thunderstorms, some of which produced damaging wind gusts.
Scattered thunderstorms developed and moved northwest across southeast Arizona during the afternoon and evening. Wind damage took place in Whetstone and also at Saguaro National Park West where hundreds of saguaros were downed or damaged.
A complex of thunderstorms moving in from the south and west brought severe thunderstorm wind gusts peaking at 66 mph to the Farmington Four Corners Airport.
5 on August 21, oldest first.
The last heat wave of the "summer" hit the area for 2 days. High temperature ranged from the middle 90s to 100 with the Heat Index from 105 to 110. St. Louis hit 100 degrees for the 1st time this summer.
One man died in the Las Vegas Valley due to complications from the heat.
A jogger succumbed to the heat within a Seabrook park.
Heat indices peaked around 105 degrees during the afternoon. A total eclipse of the sun during the afternoon helped to keep temperatures and heat indices from climbing higher. At a music festival near Marion, 15 people had to be treated for heat-related illnesses.
An immense ridge of high pressure over the Central Plains and Mississippi Valley entrenched heat and high dewpoint air across the region, resulting in daily heat indices from 100 to around 120, with very little recovery during the overnight hours.
2 on August 21, oldest first.
Fayetteville recorded 110°F, North Carolina’s all-time maximum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
McEwen recorded 20.73 inches, Tennessee’s all-time greatest 24-hour precipitation, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
45 on August 21, oldest first.
The Fayette Fire started on August 21, 1988, in Wyoming, and burned 29,217 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on August 21, 1992, in California, and burned 10,234 acres.
The Trapper Fire was discovered on August 21, 1992, in Idaho, and burned 9,500 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Erratic winds fanned a wild fire to 1200 acres. Several sheds and barns were burned.
The Trick Fire was discovered on August 21, 2002, in Arizona, and burned 5,550 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Cayuse Lake Complex (Pettibone Creek) Fire was discovered on August 21, 2003, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 11,833 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Kaweah-Kern Complex (West Kern) Fire was discovered on August 21, 2003, in California, and burned 7,963 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Columbia Complex was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Columbia County, Washington, and burned 109,259 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Pueblo Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Harney County, Oregon, and burned 68,224 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Granddad Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Harney County, Oregon, and burned 46,523 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Star Mountain Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Malheur County, Oregon, and burned 43,545 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Craters Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Harney County, Oregon, and burned 10,767 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Frenchie Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Washington County, Idaho, and burned 10,610 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Basque Wells Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Harney County, Oregon, and burned 7,202 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Chubby Spain Fire was discovered on August 21, 2006, in Owyhee County, Idaho, and burned 6,074 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Oden Road Fire was discovered on August 21, 2009, in Washington, and burned 9,607 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
A dry cold front moving across Eastern Oregon and Idaho set off a series of mainly dry thunderstorms generating severe outflow winds in the Treasure Valley, including Boise, and the Snake River plain throughout the evening of the 21st.
The Long Butte Fire was discovered on August 21, 2010, in Elmore County, Idaho, and burned 306,113 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Raven Fire was discovered on August 21, 2010, in Montana, and burned 27,898 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Stump Gulch Fire was discovered on August 21, 2010, in Stillwater County, Montana, and burned 9,870 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bowen Fire was discovered on August 21, 2010, in Power County, Idaho, and burned 6,663 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Squaw Mtn Fire was discovered on August 21, 2011, in Platte County, Wyoming, and burned 14,484 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Bingham Point Fire was discovered on August 21, 2011, in Minidoka County, Idaho, and burned 6,673 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Hole in the Wall Fire was discovered on August 21, 2011, in Wyoming, and burned 6,343 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Wilderness Complex was reported on August 21, 2015, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 20,695 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Henrys Creek Fire was reported on August 21, 2016, in Bonneville County, Idaho, and burned 52,972 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Cherry Road Fire was reported on August 21, 2016, in Malheur County, Oregon, and burned 35,308 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Spokane Complex was reported on August 21, 2016, in Spokane County, Washington, and burned 6,358 acres.
The Tule #6 Fire was reported on August 21, 2016, in Yakima County, Washington, and burned 6,200 acres.
The Horse Creek Complex was reported on August 21, 2017, in Lane County, Oregon, and burned 33,780 acres.
The Goose Point Fire was reported on August 21, 2019, in Utah County, Utah, and burned 8,908 acres.
The East Fork Fire was reported on August 21, 2020, in Duchesne County, Utah, and burned 89,765 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Rockhouse Fire was reported on August 21, 2020, in Pinal County, Arizona, and burned 19,506 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
Suspected lightning started the Columbus Fire.
Lightning started the Parks Wildfire on August 21. It was added to the NW Pasayten Complex on September 6.
The Hwy31 & 101ST West Fire was reported on August 21, 2022, in Sioux County, North Dakota, and burned 5,289 acres.
The House Draw fire was sparked by by a lightning strike on the afternoon of August 21. Wind gusting to 40 mph spread the fire rapidly to the north and south of the ignition point, eventually consuming around 175000 acres before being mostly contained by August 30.
The House Draw Fire was reported on August 21, 2024, in Johnson County, Wyoming, and burned 174,547 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Flat Rock Fire was reported on August 21, 2024, in Campbell County, Wyoming, and burned 52,421 acres.
The Constitution Fire was reported on August 21, 2024, in Campbell County, Wyoming, and burned 24,630 acres.
The Barber Draw Fire was reported on August 21, 2024, in Big Horn County, Montana, and burned 6,739 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Flat Fire was reported on August 21, 2025, in Jefferson County, Oregon, and burned 23,346 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Dollar Lake Fire was reported on August 21, 2025, in Sublette County, Wyoming, and burned 19,467 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Pickett Fire was reported on August 21, 2025, in Napa County, California, and burned 6,819 acres.
The Camp Creek Fire was reported on August 21, 2026, in Powell County, Montana, and burned 9,725 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
17 on August 21, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Tabriz, Iran. It killed 40,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
An earthquake struck Northern, Algeria. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 5 people.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Imbros (Imroz), Lemnos, Turkey. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Iquique, Chile. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Callao, Peru. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, US Territories. It killed some people (about 51 to 100) and destroyed 100 houses.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Lanao, Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Shirvan, Iran. It killed 30 people.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Hawaii, United States. It injured 2 and destroyed 8 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Southern Italy. It killed 16 people.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Chimbote, Coast, Peru. It injured 100 and destroyed 60 houses.
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck Wuding, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 1 person, injured 406 and did $43 million in damage.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Dunedin,invercargill,te Anau,fiordland, New Zealand. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China. It killed 5 people, injured 127 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck San Marcos, Acapulco, Mexico. It injured 1.
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck Ischia Island, Italy. It killed 2 people and injured 42.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Sucre, Trinidad, Venezuela. It killed 5 people. It caused a tsunami.
1 on August 21, oldest first.
Oku Volcanic Field, Cameroon erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 1,700 people and injured 300. The eruption caused a tsunami.
9 on August 21, oldest first.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Sea of Alboran, Algeria, with a maximum water height of 3.75 meters. It killed 5 people.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Imroz - Aegean Sea, Turkey.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Northern Chile.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck S. Peru.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Illana Bay, Celebes Sea, Philippines. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Hawaii, United States, with a maximum water height of 3.6 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Lake Nyos, Cameroon, with a maximum water height of 75 meters. It killed 1,700 people and injured 300.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck South Island, New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 4 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Sucre, Venezuela. It killed 5 people.
1 on August 21, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began August 21, 1990, reached Kp 7 and lasted 66 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 77; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
6 on August 21, oldest first.
Field worker preparing a field for tomatoes was struck and killed.
A man drowned in a rip current on Miami Beach at 5th Street.
A male Chinese tourist, 38, was taking pictures of his friends on the rocks of the Grotto at Marpi, Saipan. A very large wave came in suddenly, and swept him out over the reef. His body was never recovered. One of the friends was injured, requiring hospital care.
Lightning struck a power pole near the Oxford Cargill Dry Plant on the west edge of town. The charge followed the pole to an electrical box, and the resultant spark ignited a trash can nearby.
Strong rip currents occurred along Padre and Mustang Islands during the late afternoon and evening hours on the 21st. Two adults, in separate incidents, were caught in rip currents and drowned.
Strong rip currents occurred along Padre and Mustang Islands during the late afternoon and evening hours on the 21st. Two adults, in separate incidents, were caught in rip currents and drowned.
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.