Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for December 12, in any year, each linked to its full record.
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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 7.8 earthquake struck Flores Region, Maumere, Babi, Indonesia. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2,500 people, injured 2,103, destroyed 31,785 houses and did $100 million in damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck Flores Sea, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 26.2 meters. It killed 2,500 people, injured 2,103, destroyed 31,785 houses and did $100 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Off Shore, Pacific Ocean, Colombia. It killed 600 people, injured 20,000, destroyed 10,000 houses and did $8 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Off Shore, Pacific Ocean, Colombia, with a maximum water height of 6 meters. It killed 600 people, injured 20,000, destroyed 10,000 houses and did $8 million in damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Opal reached its peak of 170 kt (195 mph) with a central pressure of 900 mb, a category 5 storm.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Angelina County, Texas and tracked 5.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Zavalla/Sulphur Springs, TX.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Peru-Ecuador. It killed 6 people, injured 20 and destroyed 200 houses. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck N. Peru, with a maximum water height of 1 meters. It killed 6 people, injured 20 and destroyed 200 houses.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Chido reached its peak of 134 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 929 mb, a category 4 storm.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tili, Jalalabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. It killed 5 people, injured 1 and destroyed 100 houses.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 4 earthquake struck Central, Pakistan. It killed 6 people, injured 12 and destroyed 45 houses.
Tornadoes
An F2 tornado touched down in Shelby County, Texas and tracked 10.3 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Center to E Tenaha, TX.
24 on December 12, oldest first.
An F3 tornado touched down in Angelina County, Texas and tracked 5.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Zavalla/Sulphur Springs, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Shelby County, Texas and tracked 10.3 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Center to E Tenaha, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Sabine Parish, De Soto Parish, Louisiana and tracked 14.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Noble to NE Benson, LA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Columbia, Ouachita counties, Arkansas and tracked 43.4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 46. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Waldo/Buena Vista/Camden, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Harris County, Texas and tracked 4.9 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Katy, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Montgomery County, Texas and tracked 6.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in King County, Washington and tracked 3.8 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
The funnel cloud, witnessed by many, persisted for 30 minutes, touching down briefly 2 miles southeast of downtown Oakdale. It damaged a barn roof, removed a center support and door from a garage, and destroyed a calf pen, killing one of the livestock.
An F1 Tornado touched down 5 miles southwest of Brazoria. Several homes in the Lazy Oak Ranch Subdivision on CR 461A had roof damage. A machine shop on CR 461 sustained heavy damage, along with the cars and boats in its parking lot. There were no injuries.
A small tornado touched down in wooded area near DeRidder, turning over an 18 wheeler and blowing down trees and power lines. One home received shingle damage to its roof. This tornado continued into Vernon Parish.
The tornado that originated in Beauregard Parish continued into rural Vernon Parish, blowing trees and power lines down on Planer Mill Road. A couple of homes in Rosepine lost shingles during the storm.
A strong upper level trough moved into the Central and Southern Plains during the morning and afternoon hours of December 12th. This trough ejected into the plains with a slight negative tilt which was indicative of strong jet dynamics in association with this trough.
A strong upper level trough moved into the Central and Southern Plains during the morning and afternoon hours of December 12th. This trough ejected into the plains with a slight negative tilt which was indicative of strong jet dynamics in association with this trough.
Low-topped showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of a strong storm system. Activity moved northward across the area, and multiple cells began to rotate. One of the storms produced an EF-2 tornado that damaged an area in Willis (Montgomery County).
A strong storm system moved from the Southern Rockies into the Plains on the 12th. Very moist, unseasonably warm, and slightly unstable air was in place across northern Texas and southeastern Oklahoma ahead of this system.
3 on December 12, oldest first.
Hurricane Opal reached its peak of 170 kt (195 mph) with a central pressure of 900 mb, a category 5 storm.
A trough of low pressure had been noted for days in synoptic and Quick Scat data betweenthe equator and 10N and from 150E to 160E. By the evening of the 10th a circulation was observed in Quick Scat data near 5N156E.
Hurricane Chido reached its peak of 134 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 929 mb, a category 4 storm.
11 on December 12, oldest first.
The Truckee Canal that failed in Fernley caused damage to homes and county roads.
The roof of a U.S. Food Mart collapsed under the weight of heavy rain.
Low pressure over Illinois on the morning of the 10th moved northeast and was located just north of Lake Huron by the morning of the 11th. A secondary low formed in southeastern Pennsylvania and moved northeast through Maine to the Gaspe Peninsula by the morning of the 12th.
A cold front moved across eastern New York and western New England on Wednesday, December 10th, ushering a cold airmass into the region. A low pressure system developed over the southeast states Wednesday and Wednesday night.
While a major ice storm affected Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, three to five inches of rain fell in Rhode Island resulting in small stream and some street flooding.
Moderate to locally heavy rainfall occurred across sections of the New Orleans metro area as an upper air disturbance acted on deep moisture in place across the Gulf Coast. The rain fell on nearly saturated ground resulting in some flash flooding.
The second powerful winter storm in a week raced through the region on December 12th and 13th. The storm brought high winds, heavy rain, and caused minor to moderate damage.
The Stillaguamish River reached record level. There were several roads washed out in Kitsap county. 2 homes were damaged from mudslides.
Low pressure moving across southern Canada resulted in rain and high winds across Southern New England. Rain was heavy at times producing minor flooding.
A warm front moved up into southern and central Iowa the evening of the 13th and predominantly stalled across the state. It was oriented roughly from southwest to northeast and proceeded to dump rain over the same areas through the afternoon and evening of the 14th.
Two rounds of heavy rainfall affected the North and Central Texas region as an upper level low approached from the west. The first round affected locations east of Interstate 35 resulting in flooding of mainly roads and along creeks and streams.
34 on December 12, oldest first.
A line of thunderstorms formed near the Texas-New Mexico border and swept eastward across the South Plains and part of the Permian Basin. Tree limbs, large trees, sheds and power poles were knocked over and damaged in towns across the region.
Severe thunderstorms developed in southwest Oklahoma during the late afternoon and evening hours on the 12th moved eastward into portions of central Oklahoma before weakening. These storms produced winds up to 85 miles an hour and hail up to nickel-size.
Thunderstorms associated with a cold front developed over southeast New Mexico late this morning and continued into the afternoon. Power outages were experienced in Roswell when tree branches fell onto power wires and transformers.
Low pressure tracked northeast from the Mississippi Valley, intensifying rapidly as it tracked across Cleveland, OH overnight to Montreal, Canada by Tuesday morning of the 12th.
High winds developed rapidly in an unstable air mass following the passage of a strong cold front across the area. Several measured peak wind gusts were at least 58 mph.
A rapidly intensifying low pressure system and its associated cold front produced high winds across Eastern Pennsylvania during the morning of the 12th. Peak wind gusts ranged between 50 and 60 mph.
A rapidly intensifying low pressure system and its associated cold front produced high winds across New Jersey during the morning of the 12th. Peak wind gusts ranged between 50 and 71 mph in most areas.
Deep low pressure over Ohio tracked northeast across the region. The strong pressure gradient on the back side of the low combined with rapid pressure rises resulted in very strong northwest winds across the region. The damaging winds downed trees and line throughout the area.
Low pressure moved quickly from northeast Ohio early on the 12th to northeast New York at 7 AM. The low dragged a strong cold front through the area during the morning. Winds with and behind the front were 20 to 35 mph sustained with gusts measured to 62 mph.
An area of low pressure developed across the Tennessee Valley late on December 11th. The storm then rapidly deepened as it moved northeast into the Ohio Valley, Saint Lawrence Valley and eventually across the Canadian Maritimes on December 12th.
High winds developed rapidly in an unstable air mass following the passage of a strong cold front across the area. Several measured peak wind gusts were at least 58 mph.
A strengthening area of low pressure and associated cold front swept across the area during the overnight hours, bringing high winds to much of western Pennsylvania.
A low pressure system strengthened as it moved northeast across New York State and into Canada. The storm produced high winds across the western mountains and foothills, and strong winds across the remainder of western and mid-coast Maine.
A very strong area of low pressure moved across Lake Erie late on the evening of the 11th. A cold front stretching south from the low moved into extreme northwest Pennsylvania just after midnight on the 12th. Damaging winds occurred along and behind this front.
Low pressure moved quickly from northeast Ohio early on the 12th to northeast New York at 7 AM. The low dragged a strong cold front through the area during the morning. Winds with and behind the front were 20 to 35 mph sustained with gusts measured to 60 mph.
A vigorous cold front crossed the region between 4 AM and 9 AM on the 12th. As the front passed, northwest winds gusted to between 40 and 60 MPH and didn't begin to subside until midday.
A vigorous cold front crossed the region between 4 AM and 8 AM on the 12th. As the front passed, northwest winds gusted up to 45 MPH and didn't begin to subside until midday. In Loudoun County, gusty winds downed power lines north of Leesburg.
A strong cold front brought damaging wind gusts to parts of Massachusetts. Most of the wind damage was concentrated along the coastal plain of eastern Massachusetts, as well as in the higher elevations of Hampden and southern Worcester counties, but there were scattered reports…
A strengthening area of low pressure and associated cold front swept across the area during the overnight hours, bringing high winds to portions of east central Ohio.
An area of low pressure developed across the Tennessee Valley late on December 11th. The storm then rapidly deepened as it moved northeast into the Ohio Valley, Saint Lawrence Valley and eventually across the Canadian Maritimes, on December 12th.
An area of low pressure developed across the Tennessee Valley late on December 11th. The storm then rapidly deepened as it moved northeast into the Ohio Valley, Saint Lawrence Valley and eventually across the Canadian Maritimes on December 12th.
A strengthening area of low pressure and associated cold front swept across the area during the overnight hours, bringing high winds across portions of northern West Virginia. The control tower at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport recorded a 76 MPH wind gust.
An area of low pressure developed across the Tennessee Valley late on December 11th. The storm then rapidly deepened as it moved northeast into the Ohio Valley, Saint Lawrence Valley and eventually across the Canadian Maritimes on December 12th.
1.75 inch hail in Lolita.
An intense low pressure area moved southeast from Winnipeg through the upper Great Lakes during the early morning hours of the 12th, through the day. The low was 985 mb and set up a tight pressure gradient across Iowa.
A strong cold front pushed through Minnesota during the early morning hours of December 12th. By dawn, winds turned to the northwest and increased to 25 to 40 MPH with gusts as high as 70 MPH.
High wind knocked out power to about 16,000 customers in eastern King and Pierce counties. Several roads were blocked from downed trees. At least one house suffered damaged when a tree fell on it, but most of the other damage was due to trees falling on power lines.
Strong, post, cold-frontal winds affected south-central and southeast Wisconsin for about a 9-hour period. Sustained northwest winds were in the 17 to 26 knot range (20 to 30 mph) with gusts of 39 to 49 knots (45 to 56 mph).
An intense early winter storm brought high winds across Eastern Iowa and Northern Illinois. Two rounds of high winds occurred with this system. The first was during the late morning and afternoon hours which was associated with steep lapse rates and a strong pressure gradient.
Strong pressure differences associated with a Pacific frontal system brought high winds to parts of western Washington.
Some damaging wind gusts accompanied the showers located along the cold front in central and southern Delaware early in the morning on the 12th.
A deep and strong low pressure system traveled across the central United States into the lower Great Lakes on December 12th.
On December 12, a cold Canadian air mass pushed into the region. The change of air mass resulted in a tight pressure gradient across the region and brought in gusty winds of 35 to 45 mph.
Gusty winds in the Las Vegas Valley led to an indirect fatality.
51 on December 12, oldest first.
Snowstorm of December 12, 1917 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from December 12, 1917 to December 15, 1917.
Snowstorm of December 12, 1922 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from December 12, 1922 to December 16, 1922.
On December 12th, 1985, a strong winter storm moved across Oklahoma, producing freezing rain and sleet, followed by two to five inches of snow. Winds of 25 mph accompanied the storm, causing the snow to drift across many roads. Many rural schools had to close because the buses could not run their routes.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An arctic air mass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold, surface air mass was overrun by a warm humid air mass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas.
An artic airmass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold surface airmass was overrun by a warm and humid airmass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas. The result was widespread freezing rain.
An artic airmass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold surface airmass was overrun by a warm and humid airmass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas. The result was widespread freezing rain.
A major winter storm dropped 8 to 12 inches of snow in southeast Kansas. The hardest hit areas were in Cherokee County where up to 14 inches fell near Galena and Columbus.
A major winter storm dropped as much as 14 inches of snow across the Missouri Ozarks. The hardest hit areas were along I-44 from Joplin to Lebanon. In these areas, over a foot of snow was reported.
A mixture of sleet and freezing rain, with sleet accumulations up to one inch, affected all of North Central Texas from the afternoon of the 12th until midday on the 13th.
Bitterly cold arctic winds swept down on South Central Texas during the morning and early afternoon of December 12th. Temperatures that had warmed in many locations to the 70s plunged rapidly into the 40s and 50s shortly after the front's arrival.
Summary of winter weather on December 12-13 2000.A powerful winter storm developed over the Southern Plains and produced a mixture of snow...sleet and freezing rain. The precipitation was mostly snow in parts of Northeast Oklahoma near and to the north of Interstate 44.
An artic air mass spilled southward out of the central plains and into the lower Mississippi Valley. This cold, surface airmass, was overrun by a warm and humid air mass which combined with a strong upper level storm system across west Texas.
A very strong cold front moved across the area during the early morning. Gusty northwest winds across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop. Up to 9 inches of snow fell in northern Crawford County.
Fresh snowfall and apparent wind loading occurred during the days before the event. Five people were out on snowmachines in the Cordova area. One snowmachine became stuck, two individuals attempted to dig it out. An avalanche quickly ensued. Two were buried.
A blizzard struck the Grande Ronde Valley, closing roads, schools and several businesses. Interstate 84 was closed from Ontario from Pendleton for 15 hours beginning at 10 pm on the 12th.
An area of low pressure off the South Carolina coast Wednesday morning, December 11th, moved northeast to near Cape Cod by Thursday morning, December 12th. The system continued moving northeast thereafter.
An area of low pressure off the South Carolina coast Wednesday morning, December 11th, moved northeast to near Cape Cod by Thursday morning, December 12th. The system continued moving northeast thereafter.
1 person died and two were injured while snowshoeing near Mount Baker ski area.
A winter storm caused problems across northwest Oklahoma and portions of southwest and central Oklahoma. Northwest Oklahoma received only snow. Snowfall amounts ranged from 1 to 3 inches at most locations in the area.
Multiple lake effect snow bands developed in a cold northwest flow following a strong cold front. Off Lake Erie, the activity was concentrated along higher elevations of Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Wyoming counties.
A strong arctic front pushed through western Montana, bringing a quick burst of snow, strong winds, and reduced visibility due to blowing and drifting snow. Snowfall accumulations ranged from 6 to 12 inches in most valleys, with up to 15 inches over higher terrain.
An intense single lake effect band developed off the relatively warm waters of Lake Michigan. The eastern part of Berrien County and all of Cass County experienced moderate to heavy snow for several hours with 3 to 5 inches of snow falling by the end of the event.
A vigorous cold front and associated low pressure brought dramatic temperature and wind changes to much of western Wyoming on Saturday, December 13. The heaviest snow fell in the mountains and higher valleys of western Wyoming in advance of the arctic cold frontal surge.
An intense area of low pressure tracked from Iowa into the eastern Great Lakes on Sunday, December 12th.
As an upper level low pressure system moved across Middle Tennessee during the early morning hours on Sunday, December 12th through, Monday, December 13th, enough moisture was available across the mid state to produce a widespread snowfall accumulation event across the entire…
The first blast of winter weather followed a strong cold front that swept rapidly east across the Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys. Behind the front, widespread snow showers and very windy conditions produced difficult travel conditions.
On the heels of a cold frontal passage, a strong, closed upper level low pressure system pushed eastward across the Ohio River Valley during the day on the 12th of December.
An area of strong low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on December 12th. This low shifted to New England by early on the 13th.
The first blast of winter weather followed a strong cold front that swept rapidly east across the Mississippi and Lower Ohio Valleys. Behind the front, widespread snow showers and very windy conditions produced difficult travel conditions.
The first significant snow storm of the 2010-11 winter season dumped between 2 and 12 inches of snow on eastern Kentucky on December 12th and 13th. The highest snowfall totals occurred in Bell, Lee, and Leslie, and McCreary counties where 10-12 inches were reported.
An area of strong low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on December 12th. This low shifted to New England by early on the 13th.
The fourth lake effect event of the winter season followed on the heels of storm which brought a cold rain to most of the area. The event was long lasting and featured three sub events.
An area of low pressure brought heavy snow mainly across the higher elevations for a 2 day period. The mountains received up to 16 of snow, while the valley had 1 to 4 inches of snow.
On Saturday December the 11th, a strong low pressure system pushed through eastern Kentucky. A sharp transition after frontal and a prolonged up slope event took place after frontal passage.
Deepening low pressure in the Plains, tracked across Illinois, drawing warm air and rain into southeast Wisconsin.
In the wake of a strong cold front, much colder air blew in during Sunday the 12th. Rain changed to snow early that morning. Banded upslope snow showers persisted into Monday evening the 13th, then diminished overnight.
A truck driver died on US Highway 75 in Sherman when he crashed his semi after losing control on an icy patch. The temperature at the time of the accident was around 23 degrees.
Light snow started to fall over the Washington Palouse during the late evening hours of December 12th. Light slushy accumulations along Highway 195 created slick driving conditions.
The second lake effect event of the season occurred on the heels of the first.|Off Lake Erie, lake effect snow lifted north across the Buffalo metro area on Thursday December 12 during the rush hour commute.
A storm moved from north of Japan and rapidly intensified over the Aleutians, reaching 924 mb near the central Aleutians. This storm brought significant winds to the central Aleutians and 53 foot seas to the Bering Sea.
Bands of locally heavy lake effect snow created difficult travel and whiteout conditions on December 12th.
An energetic clipper system with abundant moisture moved across the eastern Great Lakes, NY and New England during the afternoon/evening of December 12th. A coastal storm developed in the Gulf of Maine that help deliver more precipitation westward into eastern VT.
An energetic clipper system with abundant moisture moved across the eastern Great Lakes, southern NY and New England during the afternoon/evening of December 12th. A widespread 4 to 7 inches of snow fell with some reports up to 9-10 inches.
On Monday, December 11th, 2017 mild conditions allowed for temperatures to reach the upper 40s in Bluefield, WV. The mild conditions, mid 30s to lower 40s, continued into the early morning hours of Tuesday, December 12th, 2017.
One person was killed in a single vehicle accident north of Westgate (Fayette County). The driver lost control on icy roads, crashed into a ditch and was killed when ejected from the vehicle.
At around 9:10 AM PST on 12/12/20, a pickup truck on Highway 97 just north of the OR/CA border crossed the median and hit a southbound semi-truck. The driver of the pickup was killed, and his passenger and the semi-driver were seriously injured.
An upper level low again tracked across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, allowing for several inches of snow across much of the southern half of the CWA with highest reports near the Oklahoma state line.
A winter storm brought 6 to over 8 inches of snow to northern Osceola and much of Clare counties on December 12th. In addition to the heavy snow, there were thousands of power outages across these counties as a result of gusty winds and the weight of the heavy wet snow.
A powerful winter storm moved slowly across the central and northern Plains to the upper Midwest; bringing heavy snow, some mixed precipitation, strong winds, and periods of blizzard or near blizzard conditions across the plains for a multi-day period.
A cold frontal passage during the early morning hours of December 12, 2024 provided ample lift in an environment with surface-based instability to spawn snow squalls along Interstate 80 in Clearfield County.
From December 13 to 15, 2025, a fast-moving but disruptive winter storm impacted North America and brought the heaviest snowfall accumulations to areas near and within the cities of Philadelphia and New York City since 2022. The system originated near the Canada–United States border on December 12 as a disturbance along an arctic front that was quickly moving southeastwards towards the Great Plains.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
1 on December 12, oldest first.
Rainfall deficits continued to grow across North Texas in the month of December, and thus drought conditions expanded across the region.
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Homeless man, 35, died of hypothermia.
Bitterly cold temperatures persisted over upstate South Carolina during mid-December, eventually reaching dangerous status. A 79-year old male Alzheimer's patient died of susoected hypothermia sometime during the night of the 12th-13th.
Abnormally cold air moved into the Ozarks by the middle of December as the main jet stream carved out a deep trough of low pressure over the eastern 2/3's of the nation. This pattern continued through the early part of January.
After a weekend snow storm and arctic high pressure building across the Upper Midwest, temperatures fell well below normal, with wind chills around -20F the morning of Monday, December 12th. Local authorities identified a woman who froze to death in St. Paul.
Following a frontal passage, cooler weather moved into the region.
1 on December 12, oldest first.
A potent upper level system and surface low approached the region late in the day on the 14th, and then lifted across Colorado during the day on the 15th.
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A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, China. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Chasteuil,taulanne,castellane,taloire, France.
An earthquake struck Pati, Java, Indonesia. It killed some people (about 51 to 100).
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Kachin, Myanmar.
An earthquake struck Off Coast, Peru. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Papua New Guinea. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Rabaul, New Britain, Papua New Guinea. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Peru-Ecuador. It killed 6 people, injured 20 and destroyed 200 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Off Shore, Pacific Ocean, Colombia. It killed 600 people, injured 20,000, destroyed 10,000 houses and did $8 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 4 earthquake struck Central, Pakistan. It killed 6 people, injured 12 and destroyed 45 houses.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Flores Region, Maumere, Babi, Indonesia. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2,500 people, injured 2,103, destroyed 31,785 houses and did $100 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Tili, Jalalabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan. It killed 5 people, injured 1 and destroyed 100 houses.
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Mae Rim, Thailand. It destroyed 5 houses.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Satara, Maharashtra, India.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Off East Coast of Honshu Island, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
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Tolbachik, Russia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.
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A tsunami with a source recorded as questionable earthquake struck S. Peru.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Nicaragua.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Bismarck Sea, Papua New Guinea.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck N. Peru, with a maximum water height of 1 meters. It killed 6 people, injured 20 and destroyed 200 houses.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Off Shore, Pacific Ocean, Colombia, with a maximum water height of 6 meters. It killed 600 people, injured 20,000, destroyed 10,000 houses and did $8 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck Flores Sea, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 26.2 meters. It killed 2,500 people, injured 2,103, destroyed 31,785 houses and did $100 million in damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Off Northeast Coast Honshu, Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.2 meters.
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A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began December 12, 1950, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 39; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began December 12, 1977, reached Kp 6- and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 21; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 57 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began December 12, 1988, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 14; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began December 12, 2004, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 28; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began December 12, 2006, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 27; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began December 12, 2025, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 27; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
3 on December 12, oldest first.
Lightning set fire to a fire station burning it out. The blaze moved quickly through the building destroying two trucks and other fire fighting equipment.
Deep low pressure centered over the Finger Lakes was accompanied by strong winds. The high winds caused water levels at the eastern end of Lake Erie to rise over five feet in a few hours.
A large, long period northerly swells of 7 to 9 feet affected the Atlantic waters. A high surf advisory and coastal flood advisory were in effect for the north facing coasts of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. A small craft advisory was also in effect for all the waters.
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.