Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for February 20, 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.
Volcanoes
During the night of 20 February 1979, the Sinila volcano of the Dieng Volcanic Complex erupted on the Indonesian island of Java in Central Java province. Over 175 people died, mainly due to gas poisoning in villages on the plateau near the Sinila crater.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Volcanoes
Dieng Volcanic Complex, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. It killed 149 people.
Volcanoes
Michoacan-Guanajuato, Mexico erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. It killed 103 people.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Louisiana and tracked 15.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Shreveport/Abner, LA.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Eastern Sicily, Italy. It killed 72 people.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Concepcion, Chile. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 53 people, left 30 missing, injured 500 and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Central Chile, with a maximum water height of 24 meters. It killed 53 people, left 30 missing, injured 500 and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Acireale, Catania, Calabria, Italy. It killed 72 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Winston reached its peak of 155 kt (180 mph) with a central pressure of 907 mb, a category 5 storm.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Kayseri,develi, Turkey. It killed 37 people.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of February 20, 2015 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Southeast. It lasted from February 20, 2015 to February 22, 2015.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Sidi Abid,sidi Touil (La Medja),cailloux, Tunisia. It killed 13 people and injured 96.
38 on February 20, oldest first.
An F2 tornado touched down in Clarendon, Williamsburg counties, South Carolina and tracked 11 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Foreston/N Lane, SC.
An F3 tornado touched down in Caddo Parish, Bossier Parish, Louisiana and tracked 15.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Shreveport/Abner, LA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana and tracked 15.6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Homer/S Camp/Colquitt, LA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Christian, Greene, Webster counties, Missouri and tracked 31.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 11. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Ozark/SE Marshfield to NE Marshfield, MO.
An F2 tornado touched down in Clay County, Alabama and tracked 1.5 miles, killing 1 and injuring 9. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Cragford, AL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi and tracked 0.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Colbert County, Alabama and tracked 0.1 miles, 20 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8.
An F1 tornado touched down in Logan County, Arkansas and tracked 5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 3.
An F1 tornado touched down about 5 miles west of Booneville, just south of Highway 10. The tornado travelled approximately 5 miles north-northeastward before it lifted. Several homes sustained substantial damage, as well as a number of outbuildings.
A tornado that was embedded in very heavy rains destroyed four hangars and overturned an airplane at the Eldorado airport. The tornadic winds also toppled a grain silo on a farm ten miles north of Eldorado.
During the afternoon of the 20th and into the early morning hours of the 21st, a large part of the central United States experienced severe weather.
34 tornadoes were recorded on February 20, 2014, in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and more.
A rapidly deepening area of low pressure tracked from near Kansas City to southwest Wisconsin by the evening of February 20th.
A strong storm system moving through the eastern United States spawned a QLCS that moved across Middle Tennessee during the evening hours on February 20. Widespread damaging winds and one tornado were reported with the QLCS, along with a few reports of large hail.
A quasi-linear convective system rolled across the region during the evening and overnight hours of the 20th into the 21st producing eight tornadoes in north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee and numerous reports of wind damage.
A strong cold front pushed through the Mid-South during the afternoon and evening hours of February 20th, 2014. A couple of supercell thunderstorms developed in advance of the front over the Missouri Bootheel spawning a couple of EF-1 tornadoes, large hail and damaging winds.
A strong cold front moved through the region, triggering showers and thunderstorms. There were several reports of damaging winds and large hail. Also, four tornadoes occurred in our area.
A potent area of low pressure pushed a strong cold front across central Indiana during the evening of February 20. Ahead of the front, very warm and moist air surged north. This melted much of the snow cover across the area, resulting in some flooding.
Thunderstorms organized into line segments and isolated supercells as a cold front moved east from Missouri. The storms strengthened within a corridor of weak to moderate instability just ahead of the eastward-moving cold front.
A cold strong front crossed the region during the evening of February 20 into the early morning of February 21. Strong winds just off the surface increased the potential for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes along a line of showers just ahead of the front.
Thunderstorms organized into short lines and isolated supercells as a cold front approached from Missouri. The storms strengthened within a corridor of weak to moderate instability just ahead of the eastward-moving cold front.
A strong cold front crossed the region the evening of February 20. Strong winds just off the surface increased the potential for damaging winds and isolated tornadoes along a line of showers just ahead of the front.
A cold front moved through the area during the 20th. Thunderstorms occurred during the evening with a tornado occurring near Ville Platte. Additional storms occurred a couple days later as the front returned north.
3 on February 20, oldest first.
Hurricane Atu reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 937 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Winston reached its peak of 155 kt (180 mph) with a central pressure of 907 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Emnati reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 939 mb, a category 4 storm.
26 on February 20, oldest first.
Rainfall of up to 8 inches just west of Llano County early in the morning of February 20th produced a very rapid rise and severe flooding along the Llano River.
Heavy rainfall occurred during the period from February 20th to early February 22nd. Between 3 to 4 inches of rain fell over parts of Northern Illinois.
Pecan Creek was out of its banks and all low-lying areas throughout the county remained flooded. Two bridges, one over the Lampasas River and the other over Cowhouse Creek, were washed out. One home sustained severe damage from flooding and several others received minor damage.
Six to eight inches of rain fell across the area causing numerous roads to flood. Sixty percent of the 485 miles of gravel roads across the county were washed away by flood waters.
Heavy rains fell over the area while soils were still partially frozen. These widespread two-to-four inch rains came as area rivers and streams were running high from snowmelt from the previous week.
High water was reported over numerous roads throughout the county with road closures resulting. Several bridges were washed out by flood waters.
Heavy rainfall caused the Ohio River at Portsmouth to overflow its banks. The river crested at 52 feet at 730 am on the 21st. Flood stage is 50 feet. Low land flooding occurred along the river in South Portsmouth.
Flash flooding began in the mid morning and continued into the afternoon as general 1 to 2 inch rainfall was indicated across the county. The flash flooding was made worse by the saturated soils across the county.
A 16 year-old girl was killed after boulders came crashing through her bedroom at the Shadybrook Country Store in Silverado Canyon. Boulders also crashed through the houses next door and caused considerable damage.
An extreme weather event affected Madeira Island in Portugal's autonomous Madeira archipelago on 20 February 2010. The resulting flash floods and mudslides killed 51 people, of whom 6 are still to be found, and injured 250.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Heavy rain brought flash flooding, mainly to the Valley Isle of Maui. There were no reports of serious injuries. The costs of any property damage were not available.
A strong cold front that moved across eastern Kentucky brought severe weather to the area on February 20th and 21st. Numerous trees were felled across the forecast area by thunderstorm wind gusts. Heavy rain also lead to isolated flooding issues for a few locations.
A strong low pressure system moved across the Midwest Feb. 20 bringing showers and scattered thunderstorms to Eastern Iowa, Northwest Illinois, and Northeast Missouri. Some of the storms were severe producing damaging winds and large hail.
A few rivers went into flood across portions of central and southern Iowa as the snow melted across the area.
Potent AR brought copious amounts of rain to the region causing widespread flooding, debris flow, accidents, and over topping of reservoir spillways.
A slow release of a snow pack, containing one to over two inches of water, occurred in the days leading to the event which started the process of river rises in many areas.
A slow release of a snow pack, containing one to over two inches of water, occurred in the days leading to the event which started the process of river rises in many areas.
A slow-moving frontal boundary brought very heavy rainfall to central Illinois from Monday, February 19th through Tuesday, February 20th. Many locations east of I-55 and north of I-70 picked up 3 to 5 inches of rain...with locally higher amounts in excess of 6 inches.
Heavy rainfall over several days caused minor flooding across the Missouri Ozarks. Between four and eight inches of rainfall fell over the course of about a week.
Later in the month, the focus shifted from ice to areas of heavy rain and some severe weather. A front wobbled across the region from the 20th through the 23rd, and a storm system roared through the middle of the country on the 24th.
Periods of rain worked back into eastern Kentucky early on February 20 as a warm frontal boundary lifted north across the Commonwealth.
There were wet antecedent soils, with additional rain near the events. A landslide on Hwy 66 north of New Life Road occurred on the 20th and again on the 24th.
Heavy rain brought more flooding in the latter part of the month of February 2019.
A strong low-level jet ahead of a deep upper-level trough brought a period of strong, gusty winds to the higher elevations of the north Georgia mountains during the early morning hours, resulting in numerous reports of trees blown down.
Periods of low to moderate rainfall from several low pressure systems tracking over Southeast Georgia during early to mid February eventually led to an extended period of areal flooding across much of Screven County while waters were slow to runoff or recede.
A strong through moved through the region on the evening of February 20th to bring widespread Flash Flooding over Tutuila. There were multiple reports of homes being inundated from the flooding waters and caused delays to the Hawaiian Airlines flight to/from Honolulu.
27 on February 20, oldest first.
Seven light aircraft at Naples Municipal Airport were damaged by severe thunderstorm winds. Two Cessna 172 aircraft were flipped by the wind, one of which damaged a hangar.
A stregthening low moved by Saint Paul Island, deepening to 970 mbs near the entrance of Kuskokwim Bay late Wednesday morning. The low then moved inland just east of Bethel Wednesday afternoon, beginning to weaken and turn east.
Strong winds occurred in the San Angelo area during a heavy rain and flash flood event. A wind gust to 56 knots (65 mph) was recorded at Mathis Field and a gust to 69 mph was reported at Highland Range near O.C. Fisher Lake.
Thunderstorm winds caused damage to one-half dozen businesses downtown. Most of the damage was due to broken windows and awnings being blown down. The roof of the high school sports storage building was partially blown off.
Back to back wind storms moved over NW Oregon and SW Washington producing widespread high winds and minor to moderate damage. Most damage was due to limbs being blown off trees causing utility outages.
Bakersfield/Meadows Field reported winds sustained at 32 knots and gusting to 43 knots at 1556 PST. California Highway Patrol closed some South San Joaquin Valley roads due to visibilities less than 50 feet in blowing dust.
A mobile home was overturned. Several porches were blown off.
The first severe weather episode of 2007 occurred across southeast Missouri during the evening. A cold front pressed southeast across the region during the afternoon as a wave of low pressure shifted east along the front into the Ozarks of northern Arkansas.
On this date in 2012, severe thunderstorms moved over Oklahoma during the afternoon hours. Hail to the size of golf balls and damaging wind gusts affected areas from Enid down into the Oklahoma City metro. Several power and light poles were blown over in Edmond, and a construction crane was blown into the Devon Tower in Oklahoma City, damaging some of the glass panes. No injuries were reported with these storms. Unfortunately, as the storms built down into southern Oklahoma, an intense microburst occurred just east of Ada, destroying a mobile home and killing one of its occupants.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A potent, quick-moving storm system affected Oklahoma during the afternoon of the 22nd, with strong winds, small hail, and brief heavy rainfall.
Thunderstorms tracked into east Tennessee during late evening on the 20th and continued into the morning hours on the 21st. Numerous trees and powerlines were downed over the area with winds peaking at 63 mph. Several structures were damaged.
Low pressure developed over southwest Kansas during the night of the 19th into the day of the 20th. The low turned northeast through Missouri into east central Iowa by the afternoon of the 20th.
A rapidly deepening low pressure area moved north through Wisconsin with strong west to northwest winds in its wake. The strong winds began with the passage of the occluded front during the evening of February 20th.
A strong area of low pressure developed near the area with an associated cold front which produced strong gusty winds and caused some minor damage.
A few severe thunderstorms developed along a passing cold front during the late evening hours across portions of northeast Arkansas on February 20th.
Strong winds behind a cold front brought down numerous trees across Tazewell county.
In the wake of a cold front on the morning of February 20th, gusty to strong post-frontal wind gusts took hold across West Virginia. This was due to a tightened pressure gradient that formed overhead, creating strong winds aloft that were capable of mixing down to the surface.
A cold front helped force a line of showers and weak thunderstorms that crossed from west to east across East Tennessee.
37 on February 20, oldest first.
Snowstorm of February 20, 1929 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from February 20, 1929 to February 22, 1929.
Snowstorm of February 20, 1947 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Southeast. It lasted from February 20, 1947 to February 24, 1947.
Today marks the anniversary of the beginning of one of the most significant winter storms in Oklahoma history. The blizzard of 1971 began on the evening of February 20th, over northwest Oklahoma, and would go on to produce a state-record storm total snowfall of 36 inches in Buffalo. Other storm totals for this extraordinary event, which left drifts up to 20 feet high, include 25 inches at Gage, 18 inches in Enid, 17 inches in Woodward, and 10 inches in Ponca City. The rest of Oklahoma fared much better, with only 4.9 inches in Oklahoma City, 2.7 inches in Tulsa, and 1 inch in McAlester. Even the western panhandle missed the brunt of this storm. Boise City picked up only a little over 3 inches, and Kenton only 2 inches.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
On February 20, 1987, a severe winter storm struck portions of North Texas. The worst of the storm was felt across Montague and Jack Counties, where up to 8 inches of snow was reported.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Snowstorm of February 20, 1993 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from February 20, 1993 to February 24, 1993.
12-24 inches of snow fell over the central and northern mountains. 6-8 inches were common in the southwest mountains. There were numerous vehicle accidents, including a 20 car/truck pile up on I-70 near Vail.
During the early morning hours of February 20th, and lasting through early afternoon, portions of the region saw periods of freezing rain.
See Central and Northeast Mississippi narrative for complete information.
Warm and moist air in concert with an upper level disturbance, interacting with an arctic airmass over the region resulted in moderate to heavy sleet with thunder and lightning across south-central and southeast Kansas during the early morning hours of February 21st.
A strong cold front moved south early in the day on the 20th, with near or below freezing temperatures behind it. An upper level disturbance moved overhead on the 20th, with scattered areas of light freezing rain developing north of Interstate 40.
A storm system moved out of the Rockies and across the state of Kansas on Sunday, February 21. As this storm system approached from the southwest, a cold airmass with sub freezing temperatures had already moved south across much of the area.
Periodic bouts of light wintry precipitation, including freezing drizzle, sleet, freezing rain and snow affected locations generally along and northwest of the Kansas Turnpike from the predawn hours on the 20th through the evening hours on the 21st.
A big winter storm impacted southeast Michigan, with 5 to 10 inches of snow falling across the majority of the area. Snow turned to ice near the Ohio border, where a major ice storm occured.
An area of low pressure tracked slowly east across the Ohio Valley on February 20th and 21st. A warm front stretching east from this low moved north into northern Ohio on the 20th and caused freezing rain to develop from west to east during the evening hours.
A winter storm came out of the southwest United States and brought freezing rain and a little bit of snow to northeast Iowa from February 20th into the 21st. The freezing rain created ice accumulations that ranged from a tenth of an inch up to a quarter of an inch.
An area of low pressure tracked slowly east across the Ohio Valley on February 20th and 21st. A warm front stretching east from this low caused snow to develop over northwestern Pennsylvania during the late afternoon hours of the 20th.
A strong low pressure system moved out of the southwest U.S. into Iowa during the overnight hours of the 19th through the day on the 20th. A strong push of warm air took place. The warm air was advected across cold air at the surface.
A low pressure system passing by to the northwest of Arkansas brought two rounds of winter weather from the 20th into the 21st. During the morning of the 20th, light snow, occasionally mixed with sleet, broke out in western Arkansas.
Southeast Minnesota was hit by the second blizzard of the winter on February 20th and 21st as an area of low pressure tracked from southern Kansas to Lake Superior.
Low pressure developed over southwest Kansas during the night of the 19th into the day on the 20th. The low turned northeast through Missouri into east central Iowa by the afternoon of the 20th.
A very powerful low pressure system trekked from southeast Kansas to northeast Wisconsin on February 20th.
Snowstorm of February 20, 2015 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Southeast. It lasted from February 20, 2015 to February 22, 2015.
An historic winter storm struck Middle Tennessee just 2 days after a widespread snowfall and only 4 days after another major winter storm affected the area. Light snow moved into the area during the afternoon hours on February 20.
A warm front was located across Southern Arkansas and Central Mississippi during the day on February 20th, 2015. Overrunning precipitation spread north of the front beginning in the morning.
A warm front was located across Southern Arkansas and Central Mississippi during the day on February 20th, 2015. Overrunning precipitation spread north of the front beginning in the morning.
A winter storm brought hazardous conditions to western Kentucky. South of the Henderson/Owensboro area, the precipitation type was primarily heavy sleet and snow at the beginning of the storm, then freezing rain became the primary precipitation type.
A winter storm paralyzed travel across many parts of north Alabama and southern Tennessee on the afternoon and evening of the 20th. Snow and some sleet began during the late morning and early afternoon depositing one half to one and one half inches of snowfall.
Arctic high pressure brought in a cold air mass to the state. At the same time, a storm system approached from the southwest. Moisture ahead of the system flowed into subfreezing air, resulting in patchy light wintry precipitation during the morning hours on the 20th.
A winter storm brought hazardous conditions to southeast Missouri. The precipitation type was primarily heavy sleet at the beginning of the storm, then freezing rain became the primary precipitation type.
A winter storm brought hazardous conditions to southern Illinois. The precipitation type was primarily freezing rain in most areas. Around one-quarter inch of ice glazed trees and power lines, on top of one-quarter to one-half inch of sleet.
A winter storm brought hazardous conditions to southwest Indiana. The precipitation type was primarily freezing rain. Some sleet and snow was reported at the onset. Around one-quarter inch of ice glazed trees and power lines, on top of one-quarter to one-half inch of sleet.
A snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche in the Sheep Falls area east of Palisades Rerervoir.
A cold upper level low moved into Southern California on February 21st and brought heavy snow, rain and hail. Top snowfall totals were above 8000 feet at locations such as Green Valley Lake, Barton Flats, and Running Springs. These locations received 18-23 inches of snow.
A shortwave moved through Friday evening and into Saturday producing windy conditions Saturday afternoon along with rain and snow showers.
Snowstorm of February 20, 2022 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from February 20, 2022 to February 22, 2022.
After a prolonged winter storm from February 14th to the 19th dumped 3-4 feet of snow on the San Juan Mountains, the snow pack in the region was somewhat unstable.
A surface trough developed over the Great Lakes on February 20th and lingered into February 21st before surface high pressure worked into the region.
1 on February 20, oldest first.
Across Europe and parts of Asia, unusually high-temperatures in the late-winter period were reported from February 20 until February 28, 2021. The onset of the short-lasting winter heat wave was caused by a jet stream of Saharan dust.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
3 on February 20, oldest first.
A 70 year old Chicago man died in his home from hypothermia due to cold exposure. Low temperatures were in the lower to middle 20s.
A deep upper trough over the Great Basin provided for a cold northerly flow over central California for several days beginning on the afternoon of February 19.
An extended period of sub-freezing temperatures that began on the 19th continued into the morning of the 21st as high pressure remained in control.
3 on February 20, oldest first.
Mullan Pass VOR/DME recorded 182 inches, Idaho’s all-time maximum snow depth, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it (a tie with an earlier value).
Meadowlands 1NNW recorded 88 inches, Minnesota’s all-time maximum snow depth, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it (a tie with an earlier value).
Alpine Summit (Ward Mt) recorded 199 mph, California’s maximum wind gust, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
28 on February 20, oldest first.
The Upland Island Fire was discovered on February 20, 1996, in Texas, and burned 3,936 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on February 20, 1996, in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,300 acres.
The 433-H/I/D Fire was discovered on February 20, 1996, in Texas, and burned 1,186 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on February 20, 1996, in Liberty County, Texas, and burned 1,120 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Dead River Fire was discovered on February 20, 2001, in Polk County, Florida, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Vock Cyn Fire started on February 20, 2002, in Arizona, and burned 3,674 acres.
The East I 40 Fire was discovered on February 20, 2004, in Potter County, Texas, and burned 3,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
A fire consumed around 70 acres in a slope area of the Maricao Sate Forest.
The Big Splash Fire was discovered on February 20, 2007, in Okeechobee County, Florida, and burned 1,131 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Prairie Fire was discovered on February 20, 2008, in Okeechobee County, Florida, and burned 4,018 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire started on February 20, 2008, in Florida, and burned 1,047 acres.
The Ma-Kilo Fire was discovered on February 20, 2009, in Riley County, Kansas, and burned 4,800 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The 2 Pounds of Bologna Fire was discovered on February 20, 2009, in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, and burned 4,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Highway 23 and Uncle Sam Fire was discovered on February 20, 2009, in Lipscomb County, Texas, and burned 1,250 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Yellow Creek Fire was discovered on February 20, 2011, in Tishomingo County, Mississippi, and burned 1,344 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Ford Fire was discovered on February 20, 2011, in Alabama, and burned 1,014 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Forest/Wildland Fire was discovered on February 20, 2011, in Willacy County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bridwell/Fortenberry Fire was discovered on February 20, 2011, in Oldham County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
A strong upper level storm system moved across the Southern Plains on the 20th. This system produced high winds and blowing dust over much of West Texas. The highest winds were observed across the extreme southern Texas panhandle into the northern South Plains.
The Bayou LaCroix Fire was reported on February 20, 2015, in Hancock County, Mississippi, and burned 1,178 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Sullivan Park Fire was reported on February 20, 2016, in El Paso County, Colorado, and burned 1,250 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Elliotts Island Fire was reported on February 20, 2022, in Dorchester County, Maryland, and burned 2,000 acres.
The Bully Lane Fire was reported on February 20, 2022, in Le Flore County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,984 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Prolly Fire was reported on February 20, 2022, in Carter County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,664 acres.
The Woodland Fire was reported on February 20, 2022, in Carter County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,100 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Radar Fire was reported on February 20, 2024, in Polk County, Florida, and burned 1,300 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Range 6 Fire was reported on February 20, 2026, in Perry County, Mississippi, and burned 3,525 acres.
The Cluster Fire was reported on February 20, 2026, in Winn County, Louisiana, and burned 1,122 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
24 on February 20, oldest first.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Salento, Italy. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Greece. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).
An earthquake struck Acireale, Catania, Calabria, Italy. It killed 72 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Concepcion, Chile. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 53 people, left 30 missing, injured 500 and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Hawaiian Islands, United States. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Mambajao,catarman, Camiguin Island, Philippines. With the tsunami it caused, it killed few people (about 1 to 50) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Gori, Tiflis, Caucasus, Georgia. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 4 earthquake struck Colima, Mexico. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Kayseri,develi, Turkey. It killed 37 people.
An earthquake struck Corinto,chinandega, Nicaragua.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Eskisehir, Turkey. It killed 4 people.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Sidi Abid,sidi Touil (La Medja),cailloux, Tunisia. It killed 13 people and injured 96.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Ofunato, Tohoku, Japan. It injured 30.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Iwate, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Calabria,cosenza, Italy. It killed 2 people and did $107 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Near S. Coast of Honshu, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Yar Husain, Astor, Afghanistan-Tajikistan. It killed 1 person, injured 11 and destroyed 35 houses.
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Greece-Bulgaria Border Region. It injured 2.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Aceh Province, Sumatera, Indonesia. It killed 3 people and injured 25.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Xinjiang Province, China. It destroyed 331 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Kashmir, Pakistan, India. It injured 44.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Turkey, Syria. It killed 6 people and injured 764. It caused a tsunami.
5 on February 20, oldest first.
Santorini, Greece erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 1 person.
Michoacan-Guanajuato, Mexico erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. It killed 103 people.
During the night of 20 February 1979, the Sinila volcano of the Dieng Volcanic Complex erupted on the Indonesian island of Java in Central Java province. Over 175 people died, mainly due to gas poisoning in villages on the plateau near the Sinila crater.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Dieng Volcanic Complex, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. It killed 149 people.
Sinabung, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.
7 on February 20, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Ionian and Adriatic Seas, Italy.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Eastern Sicily, Italy. It killed 72 people.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck Central Chile, with a maximum water height of 24 meters. It killed 53 people, left 30 missing, injured 500 and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Hawaii, United States.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 4 earthquake struck Mexico, with a maximum water height of 1.13 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Iwate, Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.12 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.16 meters.
2 on February 20, oldest first.
A G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storm began February 20, 1950, reached Kp 9- and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 79; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 42 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began February 20, 1992, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 36 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 69; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
5 on February 20, oldest first.
Higher than normal surf swept four people off of a jetty in San Pedro Bay. Three of the people were rescued. However, the fourth person was pronounced dead after emergency personnel could not find his body.
Waves reaching 15 feet generated strong rip currents. Seven surfers, divers, and swimmers had to be rescued by lifeguards. Heavy surf continued into the following day, but no other rescues were reported.
A thunderstorm which moved across the Chisos Basin of the Texas Big Bend resulted in a lightning fatality. A man who was hiking in the Chisos Mountains died when he was struck by lightning.
Dense fog developed during the afternoon of February 20th. A 20-car pileup occurred on Interstate 57 near Peotone along with clusters of accidents along a stretch of the interstate.
A small northeasterly swell and wind-driven seas caused life-threatening rip currents along the north and east-facing beaches of Puerto Rico during the second half o February.
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.