January 20 in Weather History

188 events on record, 1389 to 2026

Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for January 20, in any year, each linked to its full record.

← January 19TodayJanuary 21 →

January 20 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.

Floods

20252025 Pekalongan flood and landslide

On the evening of 20 January 2025, heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. One of the landslides struck two occupied buildings, while a number of locals fishing were swept away by a flash flood.

Where
Pekalongan
Country
Indonesia
Deaths
25
Injured
13

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Tornadoes

1933F3 tornado, Lamar, Red River counties, Texas

An F3 tornado touched down in Lamar, Red River counties, Texas and tracked 40.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Howland/N Broadway/N Glory/Reno/Blossom/N Post Oak/Manchester, TX.

Rating
F3
Deaths
2
Injuries
30
Path
40.2 mi
Width
100 yd

The full record

Billion-dollar disasters

1985Florida Freeze (January 1985)

A freeze disaster that cost $3.6 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 20, 1985 to January 22, 1985.

Losses (2024 dollars)
$3.6 billion
Kind
Freeze

The full record

Winter storms and snow

2025A category 1 snowstorm begins in the Southeast

Snowstorm of January 20, 2025 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Southeast. It lasted from January 20, 2025 to January 22, 2025.

Category
1, Notable
Index
2.9
Winter deaths filed
17

The full record

Winter storms and snow

2014A category 1 snowstorm begins in the Northeast

Snowstorm of January 20, 2014 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from January 20, 2014 to January 22, 2014.

Category
1, Notable
Index
1.3
Winter deaths filed
13

The full record

By kind

Tornadoes

27 on January 20, oldest first.

1854Unrated tornado, Knox County, Ohio

An unrated tornado touched down in Knox County, Ohio and tracked 10.1 miles, killing 3 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Miller Township, SSW Mount Vernon, Brandon, Gambier, OH.

Rating
Unrated
Deaths
3
Injuries
25
Path
10.1 mi

The full record

1894F2 tornado, Dallas County, Texas

An F2 tornado touched down in Dallas County, Texas and tracked 4.4 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Dallas, TX.

Rating
F2
Deaths
1
Injuries
10
Path
4.4 mi
Width
400 yd

The full record

1933F3 tornado, Lamar, Red River counties, Texas

An F3 tornado touched down in Lamar, Red River counties, Texas and tracked 40.2 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Howland/N Broadway/N Glory/Reno/Blossom/N Post Oak/Manchester, TX.

Rating
F3
Deaths
2
Injuries
30
Path
40.2 mi
Width
100 yd

The full record

2010Tornadoes and Flooding in Florida, January 20 to 21, 2010

A strong storm system tracked across the deep south while the mid and upper level low moved over the Mississippi River Valley. A surface low developed over south Georgia in the afternoon, and a trailing squall line moved across the area in the afternoon and evening.

Injuries
3
Damage
$3.5 million
Strongest
EF1
Events
38

The full record

2010Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, January 20, 2010

A very warm and unstable air mass developed across the region on January 20th. This air mass was accompanied by unusually high dewpoint values for late January with ambient temperatures approaching the 70 degree mark.

Damage
$2.1 million
Strongest
EF3
Events
15

The full record

Hurricanes and tropical storms

3 on January 20, oldest first.

Floods

12 on January 20, oldest first.

1996Flood in District of Columbia, January 20 to 23, 1996

*** Potomac River Flooding ***High dew point temperatures melted the entire snow pack within 12 hours, with liquid equivalents averaging 1 to 2 inches. Snowmelt combined with 1 to 3 inches of rain caused the worst regional flooding in over 10 years.

Damage
$10 million
Events
1

The full record

1996Flooding in West Virginia, January 20 to 22, 1996

Prior to a rain, the extensive snow cover in the western lowlandshad melted during the prior 5 days. Only patches of snow remainedin the wooded areas. Yet, 10 to 20 inches of snow remained overthe mountainous counties. The water content of that remainingsnow was 2 to 3 inches.

Damage
$1.0 million
Events
7

The full record

1997Heavy Rain in California, January 20, 1997

Storm runoff from rainfall the previous day produced a four-foot high wall of water that swept down the Los Angeles River riverbed. Fourconstruction workers, working on the concrete riverbed, were trapped by the water and had to be rescued by helicopter.

Injuries
4
Events
1

The full record

2010Flooding and Hail in California, January 20 to 21, 2010

The third in a series of significant storms brought strong winds and heavy rain to the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. This storm, the strongest of the week, developed over the Pacific Ocean with a strong parent low pressure based in the Gulf of Alaska.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Damage
$21 million
Strongest
1 in hail
Events
27

The full record

20252025 Pekalongan flood and landslide

On the evening of 20 January 2025, heavy rains caused flooding and landslides in Pekalongan Regency, Central Java, Indonesia. One of the landslides struck two occupied buildings, while a number of locals fishing were swept away by a flash flood.

Where
Pekalongan
Country
Indonesia
Deaths
25
Injured
13

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Severe storms

11 on January 20, oldest first.

2002High Wind in Wyoming, January 20 to 21, 2002

High winds blew over much of southeast Wyoming over and near the mountains, with unofficialgusts as high as 105 mph reported near Buford, WY. Gusts in the Arlington, WY area were recorded as high as 85 mph.

Damage
$100,000
Strongest
74 kt wind
Events
4

The full record

2002High Wind in Washington, January 20, 2002

Strong southwesterly spread from the top of Mission Ridge to the northeast down Number One Canyon, Number Two Canyon, Pitcher Canyon and the Stemilt Canyon into the Wenatchee Valley. High wind also impacted the Waterville Plateau.

Damage
$40,000
Strongest
66 kt wind
Events
2

The full record

2007Strong Wind in New Jersey, January 20, 2007

Strong northwest to west winds occurred during the daytime hours on January 20th across New Jersey. It was caused by an intense pressure gradient (large difference in surface pressure over a relatively small area) between a powerful low pressure system (960 millibars at 7 a.m.

Damage
$21,000
Events
21

The full record

2013High Wind in New York, January 20, 2013

A deepening storm system moved across the Upper Great lakes. The system brought strong, damaging winds to the entire region late Saturday night into Sunday (20th-21st). Trees, power poles and wires were brought down by the winds.

Damage
$265,000
Strongest
67 kt wind
Events
17

The full record

Winter storms and snow

57 on January 20, oldest first.

1998Heavy Snow in Iowa, January 20 to 21, 1998

A very powerful storm system moved into the Rockies on the 19th and advanced into the Plains during the afternoon of the 20th. Though the moisture was limited with the system, strong dynamics made up for the lack in moisture.

Damage
$230,000
Events
23

The full record

2000Heavy Snow in Delaware, January 20, 2000

A pair of low pressure systems, one that moved from the Northern Plains into western Pennsylvania before dissipating and a second one that developed near Wilmington, North Carolina the morning of the 20th produced a steady, heavy snow across most of Delaware.

Injuries
30
Events
3

The full record

2000Heavy Snow in New York, January 20, 2000

Low pressure moving up the east coast brought a general snowfall to the area. The northerly flow across Lakes Erie and Ontario enhanced snowfall amounts and seven to nine inches of snow fell downwind of the lakes.

Damage
$47,000
Events
5

The full record

2000Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, January 20, 2000

Snow began during the early morning hours on the 20th as an area of low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley. Cold northwest flow behind the low resulted in lake enhanced snow during the afternoon and evening hours.

Damage
$40,000
Events
1

The full record

2001Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 20, 2001

Low pressure moved northeast across the southern Appalachians, bringing light snow to the region. 1 to 3 inches fell in the higher elevations of the mountain counties from Johnson County in the northeast to Monroe County in the southeast. A few spots received around 4 inches.

Events
40

The full record

2007Heavy Snow in Kansas, January 20 to 21, 2007

A strong upper level low pressure system moved rapidly from west Texas through western Kansas Saturday evening and night, January 20th. This brought heavy snow to much of southwest and south central Kansas by Sunday morning, January 21st.

Events
39

The full record

2007Heavy Snow in Iowa, January 20 to 21, 2007

A strong upper level low pressure area moved into the central U.S. from the southwestern states during the night of the 20th into the morning of the 21st. The system came out as a closed upper low, which passed over Iowa.

Events
36

The full record

2007Heavy Snow in Nebraska, January 20 to 21, 2007

An upper level low pressure system moved out of the southwestern U.S. and dropped heavy snow over a large part of eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. Winds during the event were relatively light, which limited the blowing and drifting.

Events
24

The full record

2010Heavy Snow in California, January 20 to 21, 2010

A continued unsettled pattern remained over the CWA in association with a very active upper level jet and El Nino pattern. The California portion of the Medford CWA was on the northern fringe of the area of heavy precipitation.

Deaths
1
Injuries
11
Damage
$2.0 million
Events
3

The full record

2010Ice Storm in Iowa, January 20, 2010

A strong push of warm air aloft took place over the central U.S. with 850 mb temperatures warming well above zero C over much of the state. During the day on the 19th a relatively strong high moved southeast to the east of Iowa.

Injuries
1
Damage
$13 million
Events
45

The full record

2012Winter Weather in Idaho, January 20 to 21, 2012

Subtropical moisture moving into the region ahead of a strong warm front clashed with modified arctic air in the lower-levels. This resulted in a complexity of precipitation types with a mix of light snow and freezing rain experienced across northern areas of the Idaho Panhandle.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Damage
$20,000
Events
2

The full record

2012Winter Weather in Iowa, January 20, 2012

One fatality occurred from an accident that occurred on snow covered roads near Westgate (Fayette County). The accident happened while snow was falling over much of northeast Iowa thanks to an upper level disturbance that tracked over the Upper Midwest.

Deaths
1
Damage
$4,000
Events
1

The full record

2012Winter Weather in Virginia, January 20 to 21, 2012

Low pressure passed through the area during the evening of the 20th into the morning hours of the 21st. There was enough cold air for precipitation to start off as snow, but warmer air eventually wrapped into the system, causing precipitation to change to a wintry mix.

Events
23

The full record

2015Winter Weather in Wisconsin, January 20, 2015

The passing of a weak area of low pressure resulted in areas of freezing drizzle and light snow over portions of south central and southeast WI. There were some slide-offs and accidents, including an indirect fatality in Columbia County.

Deaths
1
Events
2

The full record

2018Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 20 to 22, 2018

A potent Pacific low pressure system tracked east across Wyoming and Colorado and produced widespread moderate to heavy snow. Strong winds of 35 to 55 mph created significant blowing and drifting snow and low visibility throughout much of southeast Wyoming.

Events
46

The full record

Cold

24 on January 20, oldest first.

1930The coldest month on record in Oklahoma City, and much of Oklahoma for that matter, dates back to January, 1930

The coldest month on record in Oklahoma City, and much of Oklahoma for that matter, dates back to January, 1930. The month started fairly mild with highs in the 50s and 60s. Then, the bottom dropped out as an arctic front blasted through the area on the 6th. The bitterly cold air was then reinforced by even colder air several times throughout the month. In fact, the low temperatures in Oklahoma City would dip below zero five times over a two-week span during the middle of the month. The coldest temperatures over the area were seen on the mornings of the 17th and 18th, when the mercury in Oklahoma City plunged to 9 degrees below zero. This is warm compared to the incredibly cold readings in northeast Oklahoma, where Watts recorded a low of minus 27 degrees on the morning of the 18th.

From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.

The full record

2013Cold in Wisconsin, January 20 to 21, 2013

Brisk northwest winds brought bitterly cold arctic air into Wisconsin. A Green Bay man died of hypothermia outside his home early on the morning of January 21st. Temperatures were in the single digits with wind chills of 10 below to 15 below zero.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

20162006 European cold wave

The 2006 European cold wave was an unusual and deadly cold wave which resulted in abnormal winter conditions over much of Europe. Southern Europe saw cold and snow, while places in northern Norway saw abnormally mild conditions.

Where
Europe
Country
Russia

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

2020Cold in Illinois, January 20, 2020

A period of very cold weather occurred across central Illinois from the evening of January 18th through the morning of January 20th. High temperatures remained in the teens on the 19th while overnight lows dipped into the single digits.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2021Cold in Illinois, January 20, 2021

A 57-year old man died as a result of hypothermia after he fell outside his Chillicothe home and could not get back inside. Weather conditions were near normal for the time of year, with early morning lows in the teens and afternoon highs reaching the middle 30s.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2024Cold in Illinois, January 20, 2024

A 1042mb Canadian high centered over the Plains brought very cold air into central Illinois on January 20th. Early morning low temperatures ranged from 0 to 10 below zero everywhere north of I-70 while afternoon highs only reached the teens.

Deaths
1
Events
1

The full record

2025Cold in Missouri, January 20 to 21, 2025

An anomalously cold airmass moved into the Ozarks on January 20th onto the 21st bringing low temperatures around from zero to -5 degree highs in the teens to lower 20s with wind chills in -5 to -15 degree range for some locations.

Events
34

The full record

Records set

3 on January 20, oldest first.

Wildfires

11 on January 20, oldest first.

2005Unnamed Fire

The Unnamed Fire started on January 20, 2005, in Florida, and burned 3,312 acres.

When
January 20, 2005
Acres
3,312

The full record

2005Unnamed Fire

The Unnamed Fire started on January 20, 2005, in Alabama, and burned 1,033 acres.

When
January 20, 2005
Acres
1,033

The full record

2008Unnamed Fire

The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 20, 2008, in La Salle County, Texas, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
January 20, 2008
Acres
3,000

The full record

2009Benson Fire

The Benson Fire was discovered on January 20, 2009, in Texas, and burned 1,288 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.

When
January 20, 2009
Acres
1,288

The full record

2009Government Pond Fire

The Government Pond Fire was discovered on January 20, 2009, in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, and burned 550 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.

When
January 20, 2009
Acres
550

The full record

2010Etchevery Fire

The Etchevery Fire was discovered on January 20, 2010, in Lea County, New Mexico, and burned 6,772 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.

When
January 20, 2010
Acres
6,772

The full record

2012Scrub Pen Fire

The Scrub Pen Fire was discovered on January 20, 2012, in Highlands County, Florida, and burned 455 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.

When
January 20, 2012
Acres
455

The full record

2018Coyote Fire

The Coyote Fire was reported on January 20, 2018, in Prowers County, Colorado, and burned 1,400 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
January 20, 2018
Acres
1,400

The full record

2018Berry Fire

The Berry Fire was reported on January 20, 2018, in Motley County, Texas, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as human.

When
January 20, 2018
Acres
1,200

The full record

20222022 Tierra del Fuego wildfire

The 2022 Tierra del Fuego wildfire was a fire that affected the Chilean commune of Timaukel in the west of Tierra del Fuego Island in southernmost South America. The fire was discovered on January 20 but since no flames could be found it was reportedly believed that it was already extinguished.

Where
Chile
Country
Chile

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

The full record

Earthquakes

19 on January 20, oldest first.

1900January 20, 1900 Earthquake in Mexico

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Mexico. It killed some people (about 51 to 100) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.

When
January 20, 1900
Magnitude
7.3
Deaths
Some (about 51 to 100)
Where
Mexico

The full record

Volcanoes

3 on January 20, oldest first.

Tsunamis

9 on January 20, oldest first.

1900January 20, 1900 Tsunami at Mexico

A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Mexico. It killed some people (about 51 to 100) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.

When
January 20, 1900
Magnitude
7.3
Deaths
Some (about 51 to 100)
Where
Mexico

The full record

Space weather and aurora

3 on January 20, oldest first.

Billion-dollar disasters

2 on January 20, oldest first.

1985Florida Freeze (January 1985)

A freeze disaster that cost $3.6 billion in 2024 dollars, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 20, 1985 to January 22, 1985.

Losses (2024 dollars)
$3.6 billion
Kind
Freeze

The full record

Other weather

4 on January 20, oldest first.

2008High Surf in Guam, January 20, 2008

At about 20:30 GST on January 20th, two crab hunters on a cliff-line ledge at Marine Beach on Saipan were swept into the open ocean by a large wave. One of the men sustained minor injuries but was able to get to shore.

Deaths
1
Injuries
1
Events
1

The full record

2026Dense Fog in California, January 20, 2026

A traffic collision occurred at 7:26 pm on January 20th 2026 in the south bound lanes of Highway 70 by Striplin Road in Sutter County, California. Patchy dense fog was present during the crash. The event was a wrong way driver on the southbound lane of Highway 70.

Deaths
1
Injuries
2
Events
1

The full record

Every day of the year

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.