Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for December 17, 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.
Tsunamis
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano and earthquake struck Bay of Naples, Italy, with a maximum water height of 5 meters. It killed 4,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Gilda reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 935 mb, a category 5 storm.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Enshunada, Japan. It killed 400 people. It caused a tsunami.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Mendoza, Argentina. It killed 400 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Xinjiang, China. It killed 90 people, injured 32, destroyed 556 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Efate, Port Vila, Vanuatu Islands. It killed 14 people, injured 265 and did $100 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.25 meters. It killed 14 people, injured 265 and did $100 million in damage.
Floods
On 16 December 2021, a tropical depression made landfall on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, bringing torrential downpours throughout the peninsula for three days. The resulting floods affected eight states across the peninsula, and left at least 54 dead and 2 missing.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Johnston, Bryan counties, Oklahoma and tracked 25.7 miles, killing 6 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Ft. Washita/Nids/Brown/SE Armstrong Academy, OK.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. It killed 27 people and injured 200.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of December 17, 2012 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from December 17, 2012 to December 23, 2012.
Tornadoes
An F2 tornado touched down in Caddo Parish, Louisiana and tracked 14.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Shreveport/Dixie, LA.
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An F3 tornado touched down in Johnston, Bryan counties, Oklahoma and tracked 25.7 miles, killing 6 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Ft. Washita/Nids/Brown/SE Armstrong Academy, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Kemper, Sumter counties, Mississippi and tracked 10.5 miles, killing 2 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Scooba, MS/Geiger, AL.
An F2 tornado touched down in Caddo Parish, Louisiana and tracked 14.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Shreveport/Dixie, LA.
Sheriff and public reports of a tornado that destroyed a mobile home.
Tree blown down on Highway 106.
An F2 tornado intermittently touched down along a 2 mile path. Extensive damage was done to the Timberidge subdivision and to other homes and mobile homes along its path. Eight people were injurred, one seriously. There were no deaths.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lawrence County, Missouri and tracked 4 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 17.
Tornado touched down two miles southwest of the Lucky Lady Trailer Park. The tornado then followed a trajectory through the trailer park and points north and east. 34 homes were either damaged or destroyed.
Tornado touched down in a rural area of east central Newton County. One home and four out buildings were destroyed.
A mid-level high over the Gulf brought moist, southwest flow to the area. Meanwhile a strong shortwave moved off the Rockies and into the Central Plains on the 16th, pushing a front toward the Southeast on the 17th.
A strong early winter storm system brought unseasonably warm temperatures to the Midsouth, triggering severe thunderstorms capable of producing weak tornadoes, large hail and wind damage.
As a cold front swept through the state, storms formed along and just in front of the boundary, causing hail, damaging winds, and a single high-end EF1 tornado.
A strong cold front moved through the area with showers and thunderstorms. There were several reports of trees and power lines down, and one storm produced an EF2 tornado that tracked from Irwin into Ben Hill county in Georgia.
A strong cold front moved through the area with showers and thunderstorms. There were several reports of trees and power lines down, and one storm produced an EF2 tornado that tracked from Irwin into Ben Hill county in Georgia.
A strong nor'easter brought coastal flooding, strong winds, and flooding. Record rainfall totals and record low barometric pressure for December observed at 4 climate sites.
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Hurricane Gilda reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 935 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Kit reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 930 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Evan reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 929 mb, a category 4 storm.
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A complex storm system began to evolve on Saturday December 16 across the Mississippi Valley. A surface low tracked north into the Eastern Great Lakes by December 17.
Very heavy rain, totaling 2 to 5 inches of rain, fell across this area from the 16th into the 17th. This combined with snowmelt of up to another inch of water equivalent. Many roads were flooded or washed out. People were evacuated in Jeffersonville.
A storm system in the Ohio Valley on Saturday, December 16th tracked northeast across the St Lawrence Valley during Sunday, December 17th. Heavy rain (around 3 inches) and mild weather resulted in flooding across the county. Flooding in Barre was severe with roads closed.
A low pressure system rapidly intensified as it moved northeast across the Great Lakes as a strong high pressure system northeast of New England moved slowly northeast during Sunday, December 17th. The difference in pressure between these systems caused increasing south winds.
Streams out of their banks. Roads under water or washed out. 1 to 3 inches of rain fell melting the snow on the ground. The snow melt amounted to another half inch to inch of water equivalent. Damage was sporadic with the hardest hit town being Berlin in Wayne County.
A complex storm system began to evolve on Saturday December 16 across the Mississippi Valley. A surface low tracked north into the Eastern Great Lakes by December 17.
A complex storm system began to evolve on Saturday December 16 across the Mississippi Valley. A surface low tracked north into the eastern Great Lakes by December 17.
A storm system in the Ohio Valley on Saturday, December 16th tracked northeast across the St Lawrence Valley during Sunday, December 17th. Heavy rain (around 3 1/2 inches) and mild weather resulted in flooding across the county.
A storm system in the Ohio Valley on Saturday, December 16th tracked northeast across the St Lawrence Valley during Sunday, December 17th. Heavy rain (around 2 inches) and mild weather resulted in flooding across the county.
A storm system in the Ohio Valley on Saturday, December 16th tracked northeast across the St Lawrence Valley during Sunday, December 17th. Heavy rain (between 2 1/2 and 4 inches) and mild weather resulted in flooding across the county.
A complex storm system began to evolve on Saturday December 16 across the Mississippi Valley. A surface low tracked north into the eastern Great Lakes by December 17.
A woman attempted to cross a flooded slab bridge on the Yellow Bank Creek. The automobile stalled and the woman was killed when she exited the vehicle and was swept downstream. Two children in the car were rescued by emergency personnel.
Heavy rain falling on saturated ground caused water levels to rise quickly. After the initial rapid rises, a prolonged period of flooding set in as light to moderate rain continued to fall.
Heavy rains produced widespread flooding over northeast Arkansas. Some homes were flooded. Several bridges were washed out and a few persons were evacauted.
Low pressure developed over north-central North Carolina on the morning of the 17th and moved rapidly northeastward. The low intensified during the day and passed to the west of the state overnight. The low was accompanied by a deep flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico.
A warm front moving north across south Florida during the afternoon and evening hours of December 17th triggered a persistent band of heavy showers which produced severe flooding over sections of southeastern Broward County and northeastern Miami-Dade County.
A series of storms fueled by a tropical moisture tap pounded the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin for several days. Extremely heavy snow and widespread flooding resulted.
The first in a series of low pressure systems, rotating around an upper level low pressure system centered off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, moved through the central California interior, during the night of the 16th into the 17th, bringing copious amounts of moisture to…
High astronomical tides coincided with low pressure to cause record high tide levels throughout Puget Sound. Many homes and yards along the shoreline were flooded.
An atmospheric rain event resulted in river flooding, urban flooding, land slides and sink holes across Northwest Oregon causing catastrophic damage.
A strong low pressure system over the Gulf of Alaska brought a strong cold front through. This generated strong winds across northwest Oregon, and also brought heavy rain which caused flooding on the Tillamook river. Large seas also caused damage in spots along beaches.
On 16 December 2021, a tropical depression made landfall on the eastern coast of Peninsular Malaysia, bringing torrential downpours throughout the peninsula for three days. The resulting floods affected eight states across the peninsula, and left at least 54 dead and 2 missing.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A stalled front interacted with a moist airmass over the region as upper level disturbances moved parallel to the front, producing training thunderstorms over the region through afternoon and evening.
A low pressure system developed over the Gulf of Mexico and tracked northeast across the Florida Peninsula in the early morning hours of December 17th, then strengthened across warm Atlantic waters while passing along the Southeast Coast, bringing impacts in the form of major…
A surface low pressure system developed over the south-central Gulf of Mexico and moved east-northeast across the Florida peninsula, preceded by strong south to southwest winds that lead to elevated water levels during high tide resulting in coastal flooding along the western…
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Numerous trees were blown down.
A strong cold front moved through the area in the early morning with strong gusty winds behind the front. There were many reports of sustained winds 30-40 mph with gusts as high as 60 mph. Damage included a billboard blowdown in Whiteville, Columbus County.
Santa Ana winds blew down electric, telephone, and cable television lines in Fontana and Chino. A semi-tractor trailer was almost blown off an overpass on Interstate 15 near Devore. Blowing dust south of March Air Force Base caused hazardous driving conditions.
An arctic cold front swept south producing sustained winds of 40-45 mph with gusts to 60 mph across the eastern plains and highlands adjacent to the central mountains. Light damage to trees was widespread in the cities and towns across the east during this overnight blow.
A severe thunderstorm moved across eastern Onslow county blowing down a large oak tree that destroyed a trailer.
A line of severe thunderstorms moved northeast across Western Illinois causing sporadic wind damage. As the storms moved into Alsey (Scott Co.) a large power pole was snapped off and fell across Illinois Route 106 on the south side of town.
A strong cold front moved quickly across western South Dakota during the morning. A very tight pressure gradient developed behind the front, allowing northwest winds to become very strong across the South Dakota plains from late morning into the early evening.
High winds knocked out power to about 14,000 residents along the Cascade foothills. Nine homes were struck by falling trees, one causing severe damage.
This was a classic east wind event in the east Puget Sound lowlands with some evidence of flow reversal and mountain waves forming. The surface gradient was also quite strong--strong enough to cause high wind at Tatoosh Island (TTI).
A strong Pacific storm system brought a mixture of weather and high winds to the lower elevations. Several reports of high wind gusts and damage came in from the Tri-Cities area, as this was the area hit hardest.
A pre-frontal squall line interacted with marginal instability and strong unidirectional speed shear that produced scattered severe storms over southeast Georgia during the afternoon.
December 17--strong onshore flow prompted a number of warnings. Only a few of the warnings verified. About 15000 customers lost power in King, Pierce and Thurston counties.
High shear characterized with 70 knots of bulk shear along with low surface based cape set up a high shear, low cape environment ahead of the trough over the southeastern United States.
A strong ridge of high pressure rapidly strengthened the gradient which resulted in high winds for portions of southeast Wyoming. Frequent gusts of 60 to 70 mph were observed.
A low pressure system resulted in strong winds along the Northern and Central Oregon Coast.
A strong cold front moved through Middle Tennessee during the evening hours on December 17 into the early morning hours on December 18, with a line of strong to severe thunderstorms developing along and ahead of the front.
A strong early winter storm system brought unseasonably warm temperatures to the Midsouth, triggering severe thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and wind damage.
Showers and thunderstorms developed in association with a cold front moving through the region. Some of these storms produced damaging wind gusts. Some damage also occurred due to strong gradient winds associated with this frontal system.
Strong northerly winds from a monsoon trough began the morning of Dec. 17th and continued through the afternoon of Dec 18th. These monsoon-induced winds damaged several rooftops of homes and a government infrastructure, including fallen trees on homes.
An upper level shortwave and surface cold front moved across the region during the early evening hours of December 17th. Snow showers organized into a band of moderate to heavy snow with occasional squalls that impacted the region throughout the evening.
A strong area of high pressure pushed inland into central California on December 16.
A strong cold front moved through Idaho Panhandle early morning on December 17. It brought gusts in the range 60 to 72 mph. Numerous of reports of downed trees and powerlines. One fatality was reported in the Fernan Lake Village area from tree falling on house.
A powerful cold front ripped through eastern Idaho on the 17th and included severe thunderstorms along the front and extremely high non thunderstorm winds in the cold sector post cold frontal passage throughout the day. Extensive damage was reported throughout the region.
On Dec. 17, 2025, a historic high wind event driven by a strong cold front undercutting an atmospheric river brought hurricane-force winds to the region, creating a disaster of a magnitude rarely seen in our December climate record across all counties of western Montana.
Mid-December's synoptic regime was dominated by a potent atmospheric river that caused widespread flooding on the west coast and persistent precipitation in the intermountain west.
A historic, record-breaking wind storm wreaked havoc across northeastern Wyoming and western South Dakota on December 17-18, 2025. Wind gusts reached 101 MPH, resulting in significant damage to trees, power lines, and some structures.
Downslope high wind event along the Front Range of Colorado produced wind damage and critical fire weather conditions. Peak wind gust estimated to reach 109 mph at the NCAR Mesa Lab, with several reports over 80 mph in/near the base of the foothills.
On December 17, 2025, a historic high wind event driven by a strong cold front undercutting an atmospheric river brought hurricane-force winds to North Central Idaho.
Strong northwest winds of 35 to 45 mph with a gusts from 60 to as high as 80 mph occurred across western and north central Nebraska during the mid to late evening hours on December 17th, until the mid afternoon hours on December 18th.
Robust low to mid level flow westerly flow associated with a potent shortwave and attendant cold fronts resulted in a prolonged period of high-end winds and gusts across the entire region Dec 17 into the 18th.
A strong cold front moved through Eastern Washington early morning on December 17. It brought gusts in the range 60 to 72 mph. Numerous of reports of downed trees and powerlines. Minor structure damage was reported as some trees fell on houses.
A strong cold front moved across Wyoming and Nebraska December 17th. Scattered snow squalls were observed along the Interstate 80 and Interstate 25 corridor, some producing visibilities below one quarter mile, gusts over 60 MPH, and flash freezing on Interstates.
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Snowstorm of December 17, 1945 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from December 17, 1945 to December 20, 1945.
A four-day snow and ice storm, described as the worst major ice storm in Oklahoma in more than a decade, ended during the morning on this day back in 1967. The storm affected all but the southeast part of the state, with ice accumulations of 1/2 to 1 inch. Local ice accumulations of 4 inches were reported in Cordell. More than 225 people were treated for injuries after slipping on the ice. At least 170 of these injuries were in the Oklahoma City area.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Snowstorm of December 17, 1973 was ranked category 3, Major, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from December 17, 1973 to December 22, 1973.
One of the most severe arctic outbreaks to affect the Great Plains gripped Oklahoma for more than two weeks in late December 1983. The prolonged cold wave, lasting from the 17th through the 31st, lowered Oklahoma City’s average temperature for the month to a cold 25.8 degrees, the coldest on record. An average December would average 39.5 degrees. Water pipes and mains throughout Oklahoma froze, which left many people without water for more than a week. Periods of freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and snow occurred, but snow depths remained generally less than three inches.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An area of low pressure moved across eastern New England during Thursday, December 17th, 1998 and then into the Canadian maritimes early Friday, December 18th. Light snow fell across the area with the heaviest accumulations in and east of the Green Mountains.
Snow was caused by a cold front aloft, moving across low level arctic air. This event was preceded by an upper elevation/Turnagain Arm wind advisory.This was the second significant snow of 2000 - 2001 winter season.
More snow. As the low moved to the east, arctic air returned to the Great Lakes, changing precipitation back to snow. A strong upper level disturbance enhanced snowfall during the early morning hours of the 17th.
An intense and deep negatively tilted upper-level trough rotating through the southeastern U. S., preceded by an evening of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, brought a quick snow storm to much of north Georgia during the early morning hours.
An area of low pressure over the Ohio Valley Monday, December 17th moved to the New Jersey coast the night of the 17th and then to off the southern New England coast Tuesday morning, December 18th.
A period of freezing rain began across the I-94 and I-96 corridors of central and southern lower Michigan during the late evening hours of the 17th and lifted north overnight.
A low pressure system developed over southwestern South Dakota, intensified and moved northeast to northwestern Minnesotaduring the day on the 17th of December.
An upper level disturbance moved across Lake Erie and into northern Ohio on the evening of December 17th. This caused the light lake effect snow already falling to quickly intensify.
An upper level disturbance moved across Lake Erie and into northwestern Pennsylvania on the evening of December 17th. This caused the light lake effect snow already falling to quickly intensify.
A cold and moist airmass across the Texas panhandle resulted in an extended period of light freezing rain and freezing drizzle and dangerous driving conditions.
A unusually cold storm system brought heavy snow accumulations to northwest Oregon.
A snowboarder was killed by an avalanche.
The next weather system during this extended cold spell brought heavy snow to much of Western Washington.
Just two days after one storm system produced heavy snow in the higher elevations of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, a second storm came through on a track slightly south of the first one.
A low pressure system tracked northeast from the Tennessee Valley late Tuesday night December 16th, to Lake Ontario by Wednesday afternoon December 17th, while another low pressure system developed off the Delmarva Peninsula and tracked northeast, passing just east of Cape Cod…
A weak surface low developed across the Great Lakes on December 16th and moved into northern New York by the morning of December 17th. A secondary low formed south of New England during the early morning hours of December 17th and moved east of New England by the evening.
A weak surface low developed across the Great Lakes on December 16th and moved into northern New York by the morning of December 17th. A secondary low formed south of New England during the early morning hours of December 17th and moved east of New England by the evening.
A southwest flow with a relatively shallow moist layer moved over northern Arizona for several days before a cold front swept across the state.
Very cold low pressure remained off the Pacific Northwest coast for several days bringing very heavy snow to the Sierra and periods of strong, damaging winds.
An intense storm brought high wind to the south central region of Alaska and Prince William Sound. Along with the high wind, snow and blowing snow in Portage Valley and Thompson Pass produced blizzard conditions.
Snowstorm of December 17, 2012 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from December 17, 2012 to December 23, 2012.
Several rounds of heavy snow fell across the East Slopes of the Washington Cascades between December 16th and the 24th.
A 23 year old Washington man was killed in a one vehicle rollover on interstate 86 near milepost 56 and the Pocatello Regional Airport in Power County on December 17th at around 6:30 am.
Freezing drizzle developed causing a thin layer of ice to build up on outdoor surfaces. Multiple automobile accidents were reported on I-70 as well as a couple on Highway 83 in Logan county due to the slick road conditions.
Warm and moist air overran an arctic air mass that was in place. This resulted in a period of freezing rain that caused hazardous conditions.
Warm and moist air overran an arctic air mass that was in place. This resulted in a period of freezing rain that caused hazardous conditions.
Light freezing rain fell during the early morning hours across Amherst County, VA. Resultant slick surfaces, and motorists driving too fast for conditions, lead to multiple accidents, one involving a fatality.
An area of low pressure moved northeast across Ohio during the afternoon and evening hours of December 17th spreading rain across the area. As the low moved out over Lake Erie during the evening, a cold front moved east across northern Ohio.
An avalanche near Driggs and Relay Ridge killed two teenage boys at around 2:45 PM on December 17th. It was in a backcountry area with one snow mobiler and one skier killed in the avalanche.
Moderate lake effect snow fell over portions of Marquette and Alger counties from the evening of the 17th into the morning of the 18th.
A fatal accident occurred on December 17th at 715 Pm MST on S 15th St E in Idaho Falls near Sandy Downs. It was suspected weather may have been a factor as low visibility in fog and icy roads may have occurred.
The region saw widespread snow with a strong moist system moving through the Pacific Northwest. It brought near a foot of snow to portions of the Cascades and northern mountains of Washington on December 17 -18. It was followed by gusty winds near 60 MPH Thursday afternoon.
A very strong Alberta Clipper moved through Western and Central North Dakota, producing very strong winds and blizzard conditions.
A strong low-pressure system and a blast of arctic air produced high winds and pockets of localized blizzard conditions across the region.
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Overnight lows dropped to 16 F at O'Hare on December 17th. An elderly man was found dead in his home with hypothermia and cold exposure contributing factors.
The coldest air mass in nearly 3 years overspread the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Saturday night and Sunday morning, December 17th-18th.
A combination of deep snowpack, long December nights, an Arctic airmass and light winds brought extreme cold to portions of western and central Wyoming. A station northeast of Dubois had a low temperature of -45 degrees.
Northerly synoptic flow behind a strong trough that moved southeast through central California allowed freezing air to move southward into the San Joaquin Valley.
After some light to moderate snowfall the previous few days, Canadian high pressure moved southward into the Plains.
After the fresh snowfall from the day before, bitter cold Arctic air built into the region Saturday and Sunday bringing record low temperatures along with extreme wind chills to all of the region.
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The Unnamed Fire started on December 17, 1984, in Florida, and burned 1,624 acres.
The Skillet 2 Fire started on December 17, 1988, in Florida, and burned 2,143 acres.
The Unit 6 04 1 Fire started on December 17, 2003, in Louisiana, and burned 3,871 acres.
The UNIT6-04-1 Fire was discovered on December 17, 2003, in Louisiana, and burned 1,400 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Wf Goose Gully Fire was discovered on December 17, 2011, in Texas, and burned 1,523 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
In advance of a significant Arctic front plunging south across the South Plains early this morning, strong southwest winds led to temperatures soaring into the low 70s before noon CST over the far southwest South Plains.
A strong cold front brought high wind gusts up to 83 mph across Yuma county through just past midnight on the 18th. A couple wildfires occurred as well due to winds blowing down power lines. The largest fire was near Heartstrong which burned around 12,000 acres.
The 33 Fire was reported on December 17, 2025, in Yuma County, Colorado, and burned 10,102 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
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A magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Enshunada, Japan. It killed 400 people. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Boso, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Kuril Islands, Russia. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Rijeka (Fiume), Croatia, Balkans NW. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Chile.
An earthquake struck Manado, Belang, Sulawesi, Indonesia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Xinjiang, China. It killed 90 people, injured 32, destroyed 556 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Mendoza, Argentina. It killed 400 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Durres, Albania. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Near Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, United States.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Tierra del Fuego, Chile. It killed 3 people. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Tierra del Fuego, Chile. It killed 1 person. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Ningxia, China.
A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck Sasquisili, Pujili, Latacunga, Ecuador. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. It killed 27 people and injured 200.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Chiba Perfecture, Tokyo, Honshu, Japan. It killed 2 people, injured 66 and did $5 million in damage.
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Povadiya, Bulgaria. It destroyed 10 houses.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Northern, Muarasipongi, Sumatera, Indonesia. It killed 7 people, injured 100, destroyed 680 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Ito, Honshu, Japan. It injured 7.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Cocotitlan, Mexico. It killed 2 people.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck New Britain New Ireland, Papua New Guinea. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Efate, Port Vila, Vanuatu Islands. It killed 14 people, injured 265 and did $100 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
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A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Enshunada, Japan, with a maximum water height of 7 meters. It destroyed 400 houses.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano and earthquake struck Bay of Naples, Italy, with a maximum water height of 5 meters. It killed 4,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Boso, Japan, with a maximum water height of 2 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Rijeka, Croatia. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as questionable earthquake struck Aigeus-Mortes, France.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck N. Moluccas Islands, Indonesia.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Southern Chile. It killed 3 people.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Southern Chile. It killed 1 person.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Solomon Sea, Papua New Guinea, with a maximum water height of 0.08 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.25 meters. It killed 14 people, injured 265 and did $100 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, with a maximum water height of 2.5 meters.
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A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began December 17, 1958, reached Kp 7 and lasted 12 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 33; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began December 17, 1962, reached Kp 7- and lasted 15 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 44; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began December 17, 1971, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 36 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 67; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began December 17, 1982, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 36 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 62; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
8 on December 17, oldest first.
Dense fog along the Colorado River Basin from De Beque Canyon to New Castle resulted in several collisions which closed I-70 in both directions for three hours. The visibility in some areas was reduced to 10 feet. Only minor injuries were reported.
Lightning struck the Jefferson Mews Apartments in Westtown Township. The ensuing fire gutted 24 units, but no serious injuries were reported.
A bolt of lightning struck the cupola of the roof of a furniture showroom in Edgewater Park. The ensuing fire damaged the building and destroyed approximately $165,000 in merchandise. No serious injuries were reported.
Lightning struck a Hamilton Township apartment building. The ensuing fire badly damaged one unit before it was extinguished.
Rough surf and strong rip currents claimed the life of a man who drowned in the waters just off Pensacola Beach.
Dense morning fog across St. Landry Parish contributed to a vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 167 about two miles north of Plaisance. The crash between a school bus and car caused minor injuries to 6 children. Visibilities were reported to be near zero in the area.
Large ocean waves from Pacific storms slammed California's west coast causing coastal erosion.
One fatality occurred in Fannin County due to patchy dense fog.
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.