December 26 in Weather History

196 events on record, 856 to 2025

Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for December 26, in any year, each linked to its full record.

← December 25TodayDecember 27 →

December 26 on the map

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

  • Tornadoes
  • Hurricanes and tropical storms
  • Floods
  • Severe storms
  • Winter storms and snow
  • Cold
  • Wildfires
  • Earthquakes
  • Volcanoes
  • Tsunamis
  • Other weather

The most significant

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

Earthquakes

20042004 Indian Ocean earthquake

3 earthquake struck with its epicenter off the west coast of Aceh, in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea megathrust earthquake, known in the scientific community as the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake, was caused by a rupture along the fault boundary between the Burma plate and the Indian plate, and reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX in some areas.

Where
Kenya
Countries
Kenya, France, Indonesia, South Africa, India, Yemen, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Chagos Archipelago
Magnitude
9.3
Deaths
227,898

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Tsunamis

2004December 26, 2004 Tsunami at Off W. Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck Off W. Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 50.9 meters. It killed 227,899 people and did $10 billion in damage.

When
December 26, 2004
Magnitude
9.1
Water height
50.9 m
Deaths
227,899
Damage
$10 billion
Where
Off W. Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia

The full record

Earthquakes

20032003 Bam earthquake

An earthquake struck the Kerman province of southeastern Iran at 01:56 UTC on December 26, 2003. 6 strike-slip shock had a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme).

Where
Iran
Country
Iran
Magnitude
6.6
Deaths
37,000

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Earthquakes

856856 Damghan earthquake

The Damghan earthquake or the Qumis earthquake occurred on 22 December 856 in Khorasan province, Abbasid Caliphate. 9, and a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale.

Where
Damghan
Country
Iran
Deaths
200,000

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Earthquakes

1939December 26, 1939 Earthquake in Erzincan, Turkey

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Erzincan, Turkey. It killed 32,700 people, injured 100,000, destroyed 120,000 houses and did $20 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.

When
December 26, 1939
Magnitude
7.8
Deaths
32,700
Damage
$20 million
Where
Erzincan, Turkey

The full record

Tsunamis

1939December 26, 1939 Tsunami at South Black Sea, Turkey

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck South Black Sea, Turkey, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters. It killed 32,700 people, injured 100,000, destroyed 120,000 houses and did $20 million in damage.

When
December 26, 1939
Magnitude
7.8
Water height
0.5 m
Deaths
32,700
Damage
$20 million
Where
South Black Sea, Turkey

The full record

By kind

Tornadoes

28 on December 26, oldest first.

1875F3 tornado, Lake, Obion, Fulton counties, Tennessee

An F3 tornado touched down in Lake, Obion, Fulton counties, Tennessee and tracked 49.2 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Reelfoot Lake, TN to Matfield, KY.

Rating
F3
Deaths
5
Injuries
15
Path
49.2 mi
Width
300 yd

The full record

1916F4 tornado, Grant, Jefferson, Pulaski counties, Arkansas

An F4 tornado touched down in Grant, Jefferson, Pulaski counties, Arkansas and tracked 86.1 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 12 and injuring 72. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Leola to Cotton Plant, AR.

Rating
F4
Deaths
12
Injuries
72
Path
86.1 mi
Width
800 yd

The full record

1916F3 tornado, Jefferson County, Arkansas

An F3 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Arkansas and tracked 20.3 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Pinebluff, AR.

Rating
F3
Deaths
5
Injuries
30
Path
20.3 mi
Width
400 yd

The full record

1916F2 tornado, Washington County, Mississippi

An F2 tornado touched down in Washington County, Mississippi and tracked 15.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 12. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Estill, MS.

Rating
F2
Deaths
1
Injuries
12
Path
15.3 mi
Width
200 yd

The full record

1942F2 tornado, Nacogdoches, Rusk counties, Texas

An F2 tornado touched down in Nacogdoches, Rusk counties, Texas and tracked 13.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 13. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Appleby/Arlam/Caledonia, TX.

Rating
F2
Deaths
5
Injuries
13
Path
13.7 mi
Width
100 yd

The full record

1942F3 tornado, Titus County, Texas

An F3 tornado touched down in Titus County, Texas and tracked 7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Cookville, TX.

Rating
F3
Injuries
15
Path
7 mi
Width
100 yd

The full record

20152015 Garland tornado

On the night of December 26, 2015, a violent EF4 tornado struck the Dallas suburbs of Sunnyvale, Garland, and Rowlett, located in Texas. It caused $20–26 million in damages, killed 10 people, making it the deadliest tornado in the United States in 2015, and injured 468 others.

Where
United States
Country
United States

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2018Tornado and Hail in Texas, December 26, 2018

Following a mild Christmas, unusually moist air streamed north early this morning complete with some thunderstorms. This moisture deepened through the day on very breezy southeast winds all ahead of a mature upper level trough and Pacific cold front.

Damage
$35,000
Strongest
EF0
Events
5

The full record

Hurricanes and tropical storms

1 on December 26, oldest first.

Floods

22 on December 26, oldest first.

19961997 California New Years Floods

The 1997 California New Years Floods resulted from a series of winter storms, from December 26 to January 3 of 1997, fed with tropical moisture by an atmospheric river. It impacted Northern California, resulting in some of the most devastating flooding since the Great Flood of 1862.

Ended
January 31, 1997
Where
California
Country
United States

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1996Flooding in Oregon, December 26 to 31, 1996

Heavy rains caused 16 rivers in Northwest Oregon to flood during the last week of December and continued into early January. Dozens of homes were flooded on various rivers and numerous highways were rendered impassable.

Damage
$200,000
Events
5

The full record

1996Heavy Rain in Nevada, December 26 to 27, 1996

Rain on top of snow put enough pressure on a roof of a furniture store in Carson City, causing it to collapse. The fallen roof buried about 1,000 pieces of furniture, causing considerable damage. Damage was also done to the sprinkler system.

Damage
$100,000
Events
1

The full record

2008Flooding in Indiana, December 26 to 31, 2008

Precipitation was above normal for the first time in all of central and southern Indiana since July. Towards the end of December, river flooding developed for the first time in more than five months. Northern Indiana received significant snow and ice on the 18th and 19th.

Damage
$18,000
Events
16

The full record

2018Flooding and Hail in Texas, December 26 to 27, 2018

A vigorous upper level trough developed over the Four Corners Region on December 26th, before taking on a negative tilt as it ejected northeast across Northwest and North Texas and much of Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 27th.

Damage
$20,000
Strongest
1 in hail
Events
35

The full record

2022Flooding and High Wind in California, December 26 to 30, 2022

Deep-layer westerly flow occurring along a zonally oriented quasi-stationary frontal boundary yielded a multi-day atmospheric river event across Northwest California during late December. Widespread impacts due to heavy rain and strong winds were observed across the region.

Injuries
3
Damage
$61,000
Strongest
59 kt wind
Events
79

The full record

Severe storms

18 on December 26, oldest first.

1998High Wind in Florida, December 26, 1998

A wind shift line that had been generated by thunderstorms in the eastern Gulf of Mexico propagated east across Lake Okeechobee with wind gusts near 40 knots. A bass fishing boat in 16 feet of water just east of Lake Port capsized and two persons drowned.

Deaths
2
Damage
$15,000
Events
1

The full record

1998Damaging Wind in Florida, December 26, 1998

A 77 year-old male died from the combined effects of a heart attack and hypothermia when his 21 foot fishing boat was overturned by two estimated 18-20 foot waves, approximately 10 miles southwest of Venice, Florida.

Deaths
1
Damage
$30,000
Events
1

The full record

1999Cyclone Lothar

Cyclone Lothar is regarded as the worst European windstorm recorded during the 20th century. Crossing France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany between 25 December and 27 December 1999, Cyclone Lothar's average winds reached up to 115 km/h inland (Orly), but with gusts exceeding 150 km/h, almost equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane, resulting in 110 deaths and more than €15 billion in damage, becoming the costliest European windstorm ever recorded.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1999Strong Wind in Wisconsin, December 26 to 27, 1999

Stong gusty northwest winds of 40 to 50 mph on Dec 26th across southern Wisconsin eventually caused a 30-foot rip in the 62,000 square-foot inflatable vinyl roof of the Madison Urban Links Golf Dome (Dane Co.), about 4 miles southwest of the capital square.

Damage
$100,000
Events
1

The full record

2012High Wind and Strong Wind in Virginia, December 26 to 27, 2012

A series of deep upper low pressure systems and associated intense surface lows tracked across the region during the last two weeks of December bringing winter weather and strong to high winds to southwest Virginia, southeast West Virginia, the adjacent Allegheny Highlands of…

Damage
$58,000
Strongest
60 kt wind
Events
10

The full record

2012High Wind in Tennessee, December 26, 2012

A deep area of low pressure tracked through the region producing high non-thunderstorm wind over the area. The highest wind was reported over the mountains and the foothills. Wind gusts as high as 73 mph were reported. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed by the high wind.

Damage
$48,000
Strongest
63 kt wind
Events
9

The full record

2016Strong Wind in Vermont, December 26, 2016

The combination of strong high pressure departing Maine and Nova Scotia and a strong low pressure system moving across the northern Great Lakes created a strong southerly jet streak across the Champlain Valley during the afternoon and evening of December 26th.

Damage
$60,000
Events
3

The full record

2016High Wind in Wyoming, December 26 to 28, 2016

The combination of a tight pressure gradient, a strong jet stream passing overhead and very strong mid level winds being forced to surface brought a prolonged period of high winds to portions of Wyoming. The Casper area was particularly hard hit.

Damage
$50,000
Strongest
83 kt wind
Events
3

The full record

2018Strong Wind in Louisiana, December 26 to 27, 2018

A wake low pressure developed behind a large area of rain over southeast Louisiana during the evening and overnight hours of the 26th-27th. A brief period of wind gusts to 40 to 50 mph was noted as the system passed any location.

Deaths
1
Damage
$20,000
Events
2

The full record

2018Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, December 26, 2018

An upper low and a cold front generated a round of showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening hours of Wednesday, December 26. A few storms produced wind damage, primarily across the western-most counties of North Texas.

Injuries
3
Damage
$221,000
Strongest
50 kt wind
Events
10

The full record

2018Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, December 26, 2018

An upper level trough was over the Rocky Mountains with a surface trough across southeast New Mexico. This surface trough with southeast surface winds contributed to abundant low-level moisture being transported across the area.

Damage
$58,000
Strongest
1 in hail
Events
5

The full record

Winter storms and snow

59 on December 26, oldest first.

1998Winter Weather in Wyoming, December 26, 1998

One person was killed, when the car she was riding in hit a patch of ice on Interstate 25, 25 miles north of Cheyenne. The car rolled across the highway, throwing the victim partly out of the car and pinning her beneath it. The driver of the car was also injured.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Damage
$12,000
Events
1

The full record

1999Heavy Snow in New York, December 26 to 27, 1999

Locally heavy snowbands set up on a west to northwest wind off Lakes Erie and Ontario. The heaviest snow fell close to Lake Ontario from Orleans to Northern Cayuga Counties with six to nine inches across the Rochester metro area.

Damage
$61,000
Events
6

The full record

2004Ice Storm in Georgia, December 26, 2004

Freezing rain affected a small portion of the eastern sections of middle Georgia, as cold air spread into the area from the east while a low spread east along the Gulf Coast of Florida bringing rain to the region.

Damage
$35,000
Events
3

The full record

2004Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 26, 2004

A mixture of sleet, freezing rain, and snow fell over most of Robeson and Bladen counties, and parts of Columbus county. The northern portion of Robeson county received nearly two inches of sleet and snow, with mainly sleet and freezing rain in Bladen and Columbus counties.

Damage
$30,000
Events
3

The full record

2006Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nevada, December 26 to 27, 2006

A powerful winter storm moved through the northern Sierra and western Nevada the last week of December. Ahead of the system strong winds caused widespread damage across the region on the 26th. Then as the storm moved through on the 27th up to 2 feet of snow fell in the Sierra.

Injuries
4
Damage
$140,000
Strongest
117 kt wind
Events
31

The full record

2006Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, December 26 to 27, 2006

A powerful winter storm moved through the northern Sierra and western Nevada the last week of December. Ahead of the system strong winds caused widespread damage across the region on the 26th. Then as the storm moved through on the 27th up to 2 feet of snow fell in the Sierra.

Damage
$130,000
Strongest
107 kt wind
Events
26

The full record

2008Avalanche in Colorado, December 26, 2008

Two snowmobilers were killed on the side of Gravel Mountain near Grand Lake. The avalanche occurred when one of the men tried to assist the other, after his snowmobile had become stuck in the snow. Both men were buried by the slide and died at the scene of the accident.

Deaths
2
Events
1

The full record

2008Winter Weather in Ohio, December 26, 2008

Freezing rain blanketed portions of northwest Ohio with a thin sheet of ice during the morning hours of December 26th. Precipitation developed ahead of an approaching warm front, with temperatures generally in the mid to upper 20s as the freezing rain developed.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2008Winter Weather in Indiana, December 26, 2008

Freezing rain blanketed much of northern Indiana with a thin sheet of ice during the morning hours of December 26th. Precipitation developed ahead of an approaching warm front, with temperatures generally in the mid to upper 20s as the freezing rain developed.

Injuries
2
Events
8

The full record

2010Blizzard in New York, December 26 to 27, 2010

A rapidly intensifying low pressure system tracked from off the Southeast US coast on Christmas Day and then past the Mid Atlantic Coast on Sunday December 26th to just east of Long Island by early Monday morning December 27th.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Events
17

The full record

2012Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Virginia, December 26, 2012

An intense upper low and associated surface low tracked from the Tennessee Valley across southwest Virginia and Delmarva region from the 26th into the 27th. A variety of winter weather accompanied the system beginning late Christmas night and continuing into the 26th.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Events
11

The full record

2012Winter Storm in Ohio, December 26, 2012

An area of strong low pressure moved up the Tennessee Valley and then shifted to the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Snow associated with this low spread into northern Ohio during morning hours of the 26th.

Damage
$1.4 million
Events
19

The full record

2012Winter Storm in Vermont, December 26 to 28, 2012

Strong low pressure moved from the Tennessee River Valley on the morning of December 26th to near Long Island, New York by the morning of December 27th, then eventually moved into Nova Scotia by the early morning hours of December 28th.

Damage
$245,000
Events
16

The full record

2012Blizzard in Indiana, December 26, 2012

A strong area of low pressure moved through Tennessee and Kentucky on December 26th. This brought blizzard conditions to central Indiana for much of the daylight hours of the 26th. Much of central Indiana saw over 6 inches of snow, with some areas seeing a foot of snow.

Events
34

The full record

2012Winter Storm in New York, December 26 to 27, 2012

Low pressure over the deep south lifted across the Tennessee Valley to the Delmarva coast. The low spread a general foot to a foot and a half of snow across the entire region. Winds increased to 20 to 30 mph, gusting at times to near 40 mph.

Damage
$214,000
Events
17

The full record

2012Winter Storm in New York, December 26 to 27, 2012

Strong low pressure moved from the Tennessee River Valley on the morning of December 26th to near Long Island, New York by the morning of December 27th, then eventually moved into Nova Scotia by the early morning hours of December 28th.

Damage
$120,000
Events
9

The full record

2013Avalanche in Wyoming, December 26, 2013

A 29-year-old skier was killed in an avalanche on Pucker Face, to the south of and just outside the boundary of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The slide occurred around 1250MST at an elevation of 10,300 feet.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2015Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 26 to 27, 2015

A potent upper level storm system developed over Arizona on Christmas Day then moved slowly east along the Mexico border through the 27th. Snow developed quickly from south to north over New Mexico on the 26th while an arctic cold front raced south and west across the state.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Damage
$401 million
Events
29

The full record

2015Blizzard and Ice Storm in Texas, December 26 to 28, 2015

Following a mild Christmas, a strong cold front arrived early on the morning of the 26th ahead of temperatures falling to freezing territory throughout the course of the afternoon all in advance of a slow-moving upper low in the Desert Southwest and far north-central Mexico.

Deaths
2
Damage
$33 million
Events
24

The full record

2017Winter Weather in Texas, December 26 to 28, 2017

Light freezing rain, sleet and freezing drizzle resulted in a few fatalities across West Central Texas on the morning of December 27. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, roadways became icy across the western half of the region mainly along and west of U.S.

Deaths
3
Damage
$37,000
Events
10

The full record

2020Avalanche in Colorado, December 26, 2020

A backcounty skier was caught buried and killed in an avalanche in the First Creek Drainage, of Berthoud Pass. The avalanche occurred in an area locally known as Chimney Chute, which is a steep, narrow, north-facing below treeline chute.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2021Winter Weather in Montana, December 26 to 27, 2021

Several traffic accidents occurred over a 2-day period. Two incidents resulted in two fatalities but it is unknown if these were directly weather related. Dense fog occurred during the morning of the 26th and periods of snow fell on the 26th through the 27th.

Deaths
2
Injuries
3
Events
2

The full record

2022Avalanche in Colorado, December 26, 2022

An avalanche caught 4 backcountry skiers, two were buried, one was killed. A large avalanche near the summit of Berthoud Pass in an area locally known as Nitro Chute. Nitro Chute is an east-facing avalanche path around 11,500 feet.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2022Winter Weather in Missouri, December 26, 2022

A surface low pressure center and its parent 500 mb shortwave moved south-southeast from the northern Plains across the middle Mississippi Valley. An area of snow in advance of these features produced an inch or two of accumulation during the late night and early morning hours.

Injuries
3
Events
7

The full record

2022Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 26, 2022

A surface low pressure center and its parent 500 mb shortwave moved south-southeast from the northern Plains across the middle Mississippi Valley. An area of snow in advance of these features produced an inch or two of accumulation during the late night and early morning hours.

Injuries
1
Events
22

The full record

Cold

3 on December 26, oldest first.

2012Cold in Texas, December 26, 2012

Two homeless people in the city of Dallas died from hypothermia as temperatures plunged into the lower 20s and wind chills fell into the teens. A 50-year old woman and a 60-year old man were found in different locations of the city, but both were found outside.

Deaths
2
Events
1

The full record

2024Cold in Arizona, December 26, 2024

Cold morning temperatures near normal across Southeastern Arizona. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that environmental cold exposure contributed in the cause of death an individual in Tucson.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

Records set

4 on December 26, oldest first.

Wildfires

10 on December 26, oldest first.

1993Unnamed Fire

The Unnamed Fire was discovered on December 26, 1993, in Brevard County, Florida, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.

When
December 26, 1993
Acres
1,000

The full record

2005Wewoka Creek Fire

The Wewoka Creek Fire was discovered on December 26, 2005, in Hughes County, Oklahoma, and burned 9,600 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
December 26, 2005
Acres
9,600

The full record

2005Cooke Canyon Fire

The Cooke Canyon Fire was discovered on December 26, 2005, in Eastland County, Texas, and burned 2,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
December 26, 2005
Acres
2,000

The full record

2005Ferguson Rd. Fire

The Ferguson Rd. Fire was discovered on December 26, 2005, in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
December 26, 2005
Acres
1,000

The full record

2007Las Brisas Fire

The Las Brisas Fire was discovered on December 26, 2007, in Texas, and burned 2,500 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.

When
December 26, 2007
Acres
2,500

The full record

20103 Forks (5) Fire

The 3 Forks (5) Fire was discovered on December 26, 2010, in Brevard County, Florida, and burned 13,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
December 26, 2010
Acres
13,000

The full record

2020Wildfire in Hawaii, December 26 to 28, 2020

A wind-whipped fire in leeward West Maui near Olowalu charred more than 750 acres of mainly dry brush, although the blaze also destroyed the Olowalu Community Center, several vehicles and storage units, and partially damaged a residence on Luawau Street.

Damage
$266,000
Events
1

The full record

2021Fm 3181 Fire

The Fm 3181 Fire was reported on December 26, 2021, in Childress County, Texas, and burned 1,158 acres.

When
December 26, 2021
Acres
1,158

The full record

Earthquakes

25 on December 26, oldest first.

856856 Damghan earthquake

The Damghan earthquake or the Qumis earthquake occurred on 22 December 856 in Khorasan province, Abbasid Caliphate. 9, and a maximum intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale.

Where
Damghan
Country
Iran
Deaths
200,000

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

15751575 Valdivia earthquake

The 1575 Valdivia earthquake occurred at 14:30 local time on December 16. 0+ on the Moment magnitude scale and led to the flood of Valdivia, Chile.

Where
Chile
Country
Chile

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

1939December 26, 1939 Earthquake in Erzincan, Turkey

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Erzincan, Turkey. It killed 32,700 people, injured 100,000, destroyed 120,000 houses and did $20 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.

When
December 26, 1939
Magnitude
7.8
Deaths
32,700
Damage
$20 million
Where
Erzincan, Turkey

The full record

20032003 Bam earthquake

An earthquake struck the Kerman province of southeastern Iran at 01:56 UTC on December 26, 2003. 6 strike-slip shock had a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme).

Where
Iran
Country
Iran
Magnitude
6.6
Deaths
37,000

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

20042004 Indian Ocean earthquake

3 earthquake struck with its epicenter off the west coast of Aceh, in northern Sumatra, Indonesia. The undersea megathrust earthquake, known in the scientific community as the Sumatra–Andaman earthquake, was caused by a rupture along the fault boundary between the Burma plate and the Indian plate, and reached a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX in some areas.

Where
Kenya
Countries
Kenya, France, Indonesia, South Africa, India, Yemen, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Somalia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Chagos Archipelago
Magnitude
9.3
Deaths
227,898

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2004Effect of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake on Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka 2004 disaster was one of the cataclysmic events that took place in the Indian sub-continent countries struck by a tsunami resulting from the Indian Ocean earthquake on 26 December 2004. On 3 January 2005, Sri Lankan emergency authorities had reported 30,000+ confirmed deaths.

Where
Thailand
Country
Thailand

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

20062006 Hengchun earthquake

The 2006 Hengchun earthquakes occurred on December 26 at 20:26 and 20:34 local time off the southwest coast of Taiwan in the Luzon Strait, which connects the South China Sea with the Philippine Sea. 9 on the moment magnitude scale.

Where
Taiwan
Country
Taiwan
Magnitude
7.2

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Volcanoes

3 on December 26, oldest first.

2018December 26, 2018 Eruption of Etna

Etna, Italy erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It injured 28, destroyed 15 houses and did $115 million in damage. The eruption was accompanied by an earthquake.

When
December 26, 2018
VEI
2
Damage
$115 million
Where
Etna, Italy

The full record

Tsunamis

11 on December 26, oldest first.

1861December 26, 1861 Tsunami at Corinth Gulf, Greece

A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck Corinth Gulf, Greece, with a maximum water height of 2.1 meters. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).

When
December 26, 1861
Magnitude
7.3
Water height
2.1 m
Deaths
Few (about 1 to 50)
Where
Corinth Gulf, Greece

The full record

1939December 26, 1939 Tsunami at South Black Sea, Turkey

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck South Black Sea, Turkey, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters. It killed 32,700 people, injured 100,000, destroyed 120,000 houses and did $20 million in damage.

When
December 26, 1939
Magnitude
7.8
Water height
0.5 m
Deaths
32,700
Damage
$20 million
Where
South Black Sea, Turkey

The full record

2004December 26, 2004 Tsunami at Off W. Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 9.1 earthquake struck Off W. Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 50.9 meters. It killed 227,899 people and did $10 billion in damage.

When
December 26, 2004
Magnitude
9.1
Water height
50.9 m
Deaths
227,899
Damage
$10 billion
Where
Off W. Coast of Sumatra, Indonesia

The full record

2006December 26, 2006 Tsunami at Taiwan

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Taiwan, with a maximum water height of 0.12 meters. It killed 2 people and injured 40.

When
December 26, 2006
Magnitude
7
Water height
0.12 m
Deaths
2
Where
Taiwan

The full record

Space weather and aurora

6 on December 26, oldest first.

Billion-dollar disasters

2 on December 26, oldest first.

Other weather

4 on December 26, oldest first.

2024Lightning Strike in Texas, December 26, 2024

An upper-level shortwave trough moved across Texas, and a warm front moved through South-Central Texas from the south. Thunderstorms developed along this front. Lightning caused an oil field tank battery to catch fire.

Damage
$50,000
Events
1

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Sources

Gathered from this site’s archives: the tornado record (NOAA SPC, and Grazulis before 1950), IBTrACS and the National Hurricane Center, NOAA NCEI’s Storm Events Database, Regional Snowfall Index, billion-dollar disasters list, State Climate Extremes Committee and hazard databases, USGS, NIFC, GFZ Potsdam’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0), the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wikidata (CC0), with article leads from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, each credited where it appears. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.