Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for January 3, in any year, each linked to its full record.
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Ningxia, China. It killed 50,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Membij, Aleppo, Dimashq (Damascus), Syria. It killed 5,700 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Union, Calhoun, Bradley counties, Arkansas and tracked 40.2 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 55 and injuring 435. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Warren, AR.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Patlanala, Cozautlan, Puebla, Veracruz, Mexico. It killed 648 people and injured 167.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Alma-Ata, Turkestan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. It killed 450 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
The 1952 Hasankale earthquake occurred at 08:03 local time on 3 January in Hasankale in Erzurum Province, Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. 8 and a maximum felt intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale, causing 41 casualties.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Lenkoran, Niar, Ardabil, Azerbaijan, Iran. It killed 500 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Billion-dollar disasters
A winter storm disaster that cost $1.3 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 22, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 3, 2018 to January 5, 2018.
Tsunamis
A tsunami with a source recorded as questionable earthquake struck Celebes Sea, Philippines. It killed 100 people.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Pasinler (Hasankale), Erzurum, Turkey. It killed 103 people and injured 250.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Impahl, India. It killed 13 people, injured 100 and did $75 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck NE Khurasan Province, Iran. It killed 50 people, injured 300 and destroyed 100 houses.
43 on January 3, oldest first.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pike County, Alabama and 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Josie/NE Banks, AL.
An F2 tornado touched down in Dougherty County, Georgia and tracked 5.2 miles, 75 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Albany, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Montgomery County, Alabama and tracked 0.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Montgomery, AL.
An F2 tornado touched down in Grant Parish, Louisiana and 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Montgomery, LA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Union, Calhoun, Bradley counties, Arkansas and tracked 40.2 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 55 and injuring 435. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Warren, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Union County, Arkansas and tracked 11.6 miles, killing 2 and injuring 18. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hopewell to N El Dorado, AR.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lincoln Parish, Union Parish, Louisiana and tracked 20.2 miles, killing 1 and injuring 14. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Choudrant to E Farmersville, LA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Webster Parish, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana and tracked 25.3 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Cotton Valley to Gordon, LA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Wilson, Neosho, Allen counties, Kansas and tracked 13.4 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Altoona to SW Petrolia, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Allen, Anderson counties, Kansas and tracked 24.8 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Iola to E Bush City, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Dallas, Cleveland, Grant counties, Arkansas and tracked 22.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 7. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Bunn/Farindale/Grapevine, AR.
A deadly tornado outbreak produced at least 14 destructive tornadoes across Kansas, Louisiana, and Arkansas on Monday, January 3, 1949. The worst of the outbreak was a deadly, devastating and violent (estimated) F4 tornado that tore though Warren, Arkansas.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Saint Louis, Madison counties, Missouri and tracked 9.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Montgomery County, Illinois and tracked 3.6 miles, 130 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Newton County, Mississippi and tracked 11 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 17.
Strong wind gusts damaged a screened pool enclosure.
A squall line from the Gulf of Mexico moved inland across the south Florida Peninsula. A bow echo developed along the squall line as it approached the western suburbs of Miami, and a tornado formed in conjuction with the bow echo. The tornado first touched down near S.W.
The same thunderstorm cell that produced the F1 tornado in Dade, 33 minutes earlier, produced an F0 tornado in eastern Pembroke Pines. Maximum winds gusts are estimated near 70 mph. The tornado touched down near S.W.
An F3 tornado touched down in Daviess County, Kentucky and tracked 7 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 18.
An F3 tornado touched down in Crittenden, Webster counties, Kentucky and tracked 24 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Yalobusha, Lafayette, Union counties, Mississippi and tracked 43.2 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
The tornado first touched down near the community of Rome, just southwest of Owensboro, and entered the city near the southern boundary of Owensboro Airport. The tornado tracked northeast through the heart of Owensboro before dissipating on the east side of town.
Although the tornado tracked about 15 miles through the county with estimated top winds of 160 MPH, damage was relatively light due to the rural nature of the land.
The tornado first developed just south of Highway 315 in the community of Hawkins Crossing and moved northeast across the northeast corner of Yalobusha county. The tornado continued into southwest Lafayette county and continued to travel northeast ending in Union county.
Trees down
This strong tornado nearly destroyed a cinder-block convenience store. One house received major damage as its roof was thrown about fifty yards away.
This weak tornado nearly destroyed a mobile home and a barn. Numerous trees were snapped off or blown down.
This tornado move into south central Newton County from north central Jasper County. It caused significant damage to a few barns. Numerous trees were blown down.
A round of severe thunderstorms developed during the afternoon of January 3rd as a upper level disturbance moved east across the northern Gulf of Mexico.
During the afternoon of January 3rd, a strong upper level low was moving through the central Plains and a cold front began to move into the region.
A strong upper level low moved from the Midwest into the Mid Atlantic from January 2nd into the 3rd.
26 tornadoes were recorded on January 3, 2023, in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Illinois, Georgia.
A strong developing system over brought moist southerly winds across the north and central Georgia, creating isolated severe thunderstorms and flash flooding on the afternoon and evening of January 3rd.
A line of storms produce damaging winds and tornadoes.
A long-duration severe weather event occurred from the late morning hours of Tuesday, January 3rd to the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 4th.
A quasi-linear convective system progressed east through north Alabama and southern middle Tennessee from the late morning through the middle afternoon hours. A supercell within the line produced an EF-1 tornado in Franklin County northwest of Russellville.
2 on January 3, oldest first.
A powerful winter storm which tracked south of New England dumped heavy snow on western, central, and northeast Massachusetts and produced significant coastal flooding along the eastern Massachusetts coastline.As much as 1 to 2 feet of snow fell over a large area, from the east…
Tropical Depression Auring was a weak tropical cyclone that caused floods in the Philippines in early January 2009. It formed as a tropical disturbance late on December 30, 2008, to the southeast of Manila in the Philippines, and gradually developed over the next few days.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
22 on January 3, oldest first.
The oldest known weather records in Oklahoma began at Fort Gibson in January 1824, in what is now Muskogee County. The records included data on temperatures and rainy days, but not on precipitation amounts. True rainfall records did not begin until July 1836. The earliest records were kept not by any type of weather organization, but by the U.S. Army Medical Department. After the start of weather record keeping by Fort Gibson, other forts soon began keeping their own records. Fort Towson, now in Choctaw County in January 1833, Fort Arbuckle in 1850, Fort Sill in 1870, Fort Supply in 1873, and Fort Reno in 1883.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Subtropical moisture brought heavy rains to southwest Utah to kick-off the new year. Washington county had hundreds of reports of flood damage. Most Streets and basements were flooded in the towns of St. George and Bloomington.
A 33 year old male dove into the high water of the Sonoma Creek to avoid the police and drowned.
Heavy rains over the Espiritu Santo river basin in Rio Grande produced a water crest that swept down the river a swimmer.
With cold air in place along the surface, as a strong low pressure system moved northeast across the Great Lakes, a second low formed over the Mid-Atlantic States and moved northeast across Long Island during Sunday afternoon, January 3rd.A light intermittent mix of sleet and…
Thunderstorms during the early morning hours produced 3 to 5 inches of rain, which saturated the ground. Another round of storms arrived during the late afternoon, producing another inch or two of rain in an hour.
A slow-moving band of thunderstorms with torrential downpours affected most of the Pennyrile region of West Kentucky.
Trees and large limbs knocked down.
Very heavy rainfall caused flooding of many roads across the county. Specifically, flooding of roads occurred in Covedale, Evendale and on Interstate 75.
Trees knocked down.
All of the snow cover from the historic pre-Christmas 2004 snow storm melted by New Year's Day 2005 as the dew point temperatures rose into the 50s. Lowland flooding occurred along the East Fork White River in Jackson County.
Heavy rain and runoff from snowmelt caused extensive flooding in Holmes and Wayne Counties during the first half of January. The flooding was most severe along and near Killbuck Creek which went into flood around midday on January 3rd.
An elderly couple was returning to their home and found a low water crossing on Rush Creek flooded. They decided not to try and cross in their truck. They got out of the truck and attempted to cross the creek on foot at an old road bed that crossed the creek nearby.
Major flooding of the White River occurred, prompting local emergency declarations in Gibson and Pike Counties. Floodfighting activities included the National Guard, which reinforced levees.
A complex area of low pressure intensified as it slowly moved off the Mid Atlantic coastline on January 2nd. It continued to reorganize (975 mb) and move south of Cape Cod on the 3rd.
A very heavy rainfall event on the 3rd caused the Cache River to overflow its banks. A potent storm system lifted out of the Southwest during the first few days of the year. An area of low pressure opened up as it entered the southern Plains.
Around two inches of rain fell in southwest portions of central Indiana over a two day period from the 2nd to the 3rd of January. A woman drove into flood waters and drowned in Greene County near Koleen during the evening of January 3rd.
Heavy rainfall at the end of 2015 resulting in flooding on the St. Francis River in Eastern Arkansas into early 2016. A man was swept away by flood waters near Newcastle, Arkansas on January 3, 2016.
The first in a series of three atmospheric river events between January 2 and January 10. Strong winds, flooding, and debris flows occurred throughout this event. Snow was also recorded at higher elevations.
A slow moving low pressure system brought several rounds of rain to western Mississippi from January 2nd through 3rd. Where soils became saturated, minor flooding of roads and streams occurred on the evening of the 3rd.
A powerful atmospheric river brought very strong winds with moderate to heavy rain and renewed flooding of the already elevated waterways. There was flooding of roadways, urban areas, rivers, streams, and creeks.
A powerful winter storm brought heavy rain to Southwestern California. Widespread rainfall totals between 2 and 5 inches were reported. With the heavy rain, there were numerous reports of flash flooding and mud/debris flows.
19 on January 3, oldest first.
Very strong chinook winds gusting to 104 mph (90 kts) blasted across the Front Range Foothills and portions of the Urban Corridor. Three people were injured in separate incidents.
Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines in Apopka and Zellwood.
Thunderstorm wind gusts damaged horse stalls and a pump house and destroyed five large tents at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington.
Thunderstorm winds collapsed an airport hanger roof which damaged an aircraft in storage at the Arcadia Municipal Airport. Also, a few mobile homes incurred major roof damage and several trees and power lines were downed in the Forest Pines subdivision of Arcadia.
Thunderstorm winds estimated between 90 and 100 MPH affected a small area about one-half mile wide and two miles long. The hardest hit areas were along Highway 74 west of Interstate 55, and in the 1200 block of South Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.
A window was blown out of a home in Pocahontas. Trees were knocked down in Ravenden Springs and Pocahontas.
A tree was blown and partially blocked the intersection of Sixth Street and Elm.
Lightning struck a power line on West Main St. resulting in a loss of power to about 1500 residences for 2 hours.
Thunderstorm winds estimated over 100 MPH destroyed a brick home and numerous outbuildings. Several homes were partially damaged from fallen trees. The path of this thunderstorm downburst extended into nearby northwest Williamson County near Cambria.
Thunderstorm winds caused extensive damage in a small area, covering approximately a four square block area on the east side of Evansville. About 25 homes were damaged. Most of the damage was due to trees being blown onto roofs.
Thunderstorm winds estimated near 90 MPH severely damaged a wood frame home and partially unroofed several other homes. This thunderstorm downburst originated just northeast of Carbondale in Jackson County, and caused extensive damage in the Cambria area before dissipating.
A thunderstorm microburst caused extensive damage to a machinery company in Marion. A wind gust estimated near 100 MPH damaged roof sections of two buildings. A survey by National Weather Service personnel indicated the damage path was only about 150 feet long.
A second stronger front followed closely on the heels of the 01/03 front. A High Wind Warning was issued for Oregon zones ORZ021/022 at 03/0333 PST, effective from 04/0400 until 04/1600 PST. The effective time was changed to 04/0100 until 04/0900 PST at 03/1544 PST.
A deep low pressure system produced damaging winds across northeast Oregon and extreme southeast Washington. Wind damage exceeded 1 million dollars Umatilla County, especially in the Milton-Freewater and Adams areas.
Cyclone Andrea was an intense European windstorm that affected western and central Europe in early January 2012.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Low pressure system retreating westward offshore increased offshore winds across the area. Strong offshore winds brought down a tree on a house leading to a fatality.
A band of heavy showers and isolated thunderstorms, associated with a cold frontal passage, moved through the Midlands of SC during the late afternoon and evening of Friday, January 3rd. The activity produced heavy downpours and gusty winds.
An area of low pressure developed along a frontal boundary near the Deep South/Gulf Coast region on Sunday January 2nd, 2022.
As a strong area of upper level low pressure approached the region from the southwest, gravity waves produced a small area of damaging winds across southern Iredell and western Rowan Counties for a brief period.
40 on January 3, oldest first.
Snowstorm of January 3, 1916 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from January 3, 1916 to January 5, 1916.
A storm system along the Mid Atlantic coast Tuesday night (1/2/96)intensified and moved northeast and passed south of Cape Cod Wednesday afternoon (1/3/96).
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents, some with injuries.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. Springville reported 16 inches while at the Buffalo airport 11 inches fell. School closings were the rule and there were numerous delays at the Buffalo airport.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. Youngstown reported 13 inches and 12 inches fell in Lockport. School closings were the rule.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. Portageville reported 14 inches and Avon 13. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents, some with injuries.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. At Sherman 14 inches fell. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents, some with injuries.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. Warsaw reported 15 inches. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents, some with injuries.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 12-18 inches of snow fell across the area. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. At Franklinville 12 inches was recorded and at Olean 10 inches fell. School closings were the rule.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 10-15 inches of snow fell across the area. At Wellsville, 13 inches were recorded. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents, some with injuries.
A major winter storm brought heavy snowfall to the area. In general 12-20 inches of snow fell across the area with 18 inches being measured in Batavia. School closings were the rule. The winter road conditions were blamed for many automobile accidents, some with injuries.
A powerful area of low pressure and a deep Arctic High brought all winter elements to Big Stone and Traverse counties. The Winter storm first began with widespread freezing rain, where significant accmumlations of ice occurred on roads, trees, and power lines.
A powerful area of low pressure and deep Arctic high pressure brought almost all winter elements to central and northeast South Dakota from the afternoon of the 3rd to the early morning of the 5th.
During the first week of January, dangerous avalanche conditions prevailed in the mountainous regions of central and eastern Idaho. On January 3rd one avalanche killed a snowmobiler near Island Park.
A slow moving nor'easter moved from the southeast United States early on the 3rd to the Delmarva peninsula that evening. The storm then moved to the southeast New England coast the morning of the 4th.
A slow moving nor'easter moved from the southeast United States early on the 3rd to the Delmarva peninsula that evening. The storm then moved to the southeast New England coast the morning of the 4th.
A low pressure area developed in the Mississippi valley by late on January 2. The storm tracked northward into the southern Ohio Valley, then rapidly redeveloped along the Mid Atlantic seaboard on January 3.
A powerful winter storm began to move across northern Arizona on January 3rd and lingered into early January 5th.
The first week of the month started off an extremely active weather month for Utah. A moist Pacific storm system stayed just west of the area and pushed tropical and subtropical moisture over the Southwest US and into the Great Basin.
Around lunch time the Routt County Sheriffs office was notified that a backcountry skier had been buried on Soda Mountain near Buffalo Pass. Companions quickly found their friend after 8-10 minutes but could not revive the 26-year-old skier.
Another round of freezing rain moved into Iowa during the early morninghours of the 3rd. Warm air remained in place aloft with 850 mbtemperatures in the +5 to +7 C. range.
A weakening area of low pressure centered over the Ohio Valley redeveloped into a coastal low off the Delmarva Coast during the early morning hours of 3 January.
Light precipitation developed over parts of northern Texas before sunrise on the 3rd and moved through parts of southern Oklahoma. The precipitation moved over surface temperatures that were in the upper 20s and lower 30s, which caused it to freeze on contact.
The first major winter storm of the new year arrived on the 4th, and brought heavy snow to the Southern Sierra Nevada, and rain to the San Joaquin Valley.
Light freezing rain spread across south-central and southeast Wisconsin during the overnight hours of January 3rd. Ice accumulations on road and sidewalks ranged from 1/10 to 2/10 of an inch, but there were some isolated 1/4 inch amounts.
A slow moving storm along the California coast brought strong winds to the Central High Plains on the 3rd, while snow fell over much of the west and north on the 4th into the 5th.
A 33-year old Billings man was killed in an avalanche on Scotch Bonnet Mountain near Cooke City. He had gotten stuck and was trying to free his snowmobile when the slide occurred.
Light freezing rain glazed the roads across parts of north central and northeast South Dakota during the mid afternoon hours. Due to slick roads, there was a two car and one semi accident six miles west of Mina on Highway 12 in eastern Edmunds County.
A series of weak low pressure systems and frontal boundaries delivered a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain during the evening of January 3rd and eventually changed to rain during the morning of January 4th.
Black ice formed during the morning rush hour as road temperatures fell below freezing while light drizzle or rain fell, and dense fog was occurring. This affected south central WI and areas north and west of the Milwaukee area. A few schools were delayed.
Snowstorm of January 3, 2018 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from January 3, 2018 to January 5, 2018.
A surface low intensified off the Carolina coast, resulting in snow occurring over much of Central North Carolina. Bands of heavy snow developed, resulting in snowfall totals of 3 to 6 inches in some locations.
A developing surface low pressure system offshore and an amplifying upper level trough approaching from the west combined with unusually cold air to produce widespread significant winter precipitation across southeast South Carolina.
Rapidly deepening low pressure passing offshore of the coast produced widespread hazardous winter weather across eastern North Carolina from the evening of January 3rd through the morning of January 4th.
Cold northwest winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the late evening hours of January 3rd. The snow showers picked up in intensity during the early morning hours of the 4th.
As an upper level low pressure system was moving east across Oklahoma during the day on the 3rd, the system tapped into gulf moisture and wrapped it northwest toward the back side of the system.
A sharp upper-level trough amplified as it dug through the Northern Plains on January 3. Intensifying low-level wind gradients resulted in a burst of stronger winds for a couple hours, which accompanied snowfall to produce a brief period of dangerous visibility.
A strong winter storm impacted the region from the 3rd to the 5th of January. This produced between 1 to 2 feet of snow in the Tahoe Basin with 2 to 4 feet for the higher elevations.
While somewhat mild by January standards, a moisture rich system brought a period of valley rain and mountain snow, with some higher accumulations noted particularly in portions of Utah's northern mountains.
7 on January 3, oldest first.
Cold high pressure settled over the region with overnight lows falling below freezing temperatures.
Rachael Lavonna Rupert was found unresponsive lying outside her home at 8:00 am. According to the Itasca County sheriff's office, she likely slipped, fell and was unable to recuperate herself and succumbed to the cold. There is no estimate to the time of her fall.
An arctic cold front moved through South Florida on the night of January 2nd, followed by the coldest air of the winter season.
Arctic air and winds of 5 to 10 mph resulted in wind chill temperatures ranging mainly from 15 below to 30 below zero across southern Wisconsin.
A homeless man on the far south side of Chicago died on January 3rd. The low temperature at O'Hare was 29 F.
A woman was found dead on a walking/bike trail about a quarter mile from where she was last seen walking three days earlier. Temperatures around the time of her disappearance were in the teens below zero.
Two people died in Las Vegas of Cold related causes.
8 on January 3, oldest first.
The Unnamed Fire started on January 3, 1986, in Kansas, and burned 1,093 acres.
The Caprock Fire was discovered on January 3, 1997, in New Mexico, and burned 10,240 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on January 3, 1997, in Texas, and burned 2,375 acres.
Gusty Santa Ana winds fueled a brush fire in the San Fernando Valley, north of Granada Hills. Over 600 acres of land was burned, but no injuries or property damage was reported. The Santa Ana winds also produced deadly rip currents across the Southern California coastal waters.
Dry Santa winds caused a discarded cigarette butt in the median of Interstate 8 to grow into a 10,353 acre brush fire. Resources used to fight the fire cost over $8 million and involved 2000 fire fighters, nine helicopters, and nine air tankers.
The Viejas Fire was discovered on January 3, 2001, in California, and burned 10,353 acres; the cause was recorded as smoking.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 3, 2006, in Lipscomb County, Oklahoma, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Rocky Ford Ranch Fire was discovered on January 3, 2008, in Sutton County, Texas, and burned 1,950 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
29 on January 3, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Northern Italy.
An earthquake struck Membij, Aleppo, Dimashq (Damascus), Syria. It killed 5,700 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Ningxia, China. It killed 50,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
The 1739 Yinchuan–Pingluo earthquake rocked the northern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on January 3 with an epicenter in the prefecture-level city Shizuishan. 6 earthquake had a maximum intensity of XI on the Mercalli intensity scale, and killed about 50,000 residents and officials.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An earthquake struck Lenkoran, Niar, Ardabil, Azerbaijan, Iran. It killed 500 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Alma-Ata, Turkestan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. It killed 450 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
The 1911 Kebin earthquake, or Chon-Kemin earthquake, struck Russian Turkestan on 3 January. 0, it killed 452 people, destroyed more than 770 buildings in Almaty, Kazakhstan, and resulted in 125 miles (201 km) of surface faulting in the valleys of Chon-Kemin, Chilik and Chon-Aksu.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Patlanala, Cozautlan, Puebla, Veracruz, Mexico. It killed 648 people and injured 167.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Jiangsu Province, China. It caused a tsunami.
The 1952 Hasankale earthquake occurred at 08:03 local time on 3 January in Hasankale in Erzurum Province, Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. 8 and a maximum felt intensity of VIII (Severe) on the Mercalli intensity scale, causing 41 casualties.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Pasinler (Hasankale), Erzurum, Turkey. It killed 103 people and injured 250.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck NE Khurasan Province, Iran. It killed 50 people, injured 300 and destroyed 100 houses.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Lingwu, China. It injured 60, destroyed 10,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Gonghe, Qinghai Province, China. It injured 5 and destroyed 56 houses.
A magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck Maheshkhali, India-Bangladesh Border.
m. local time (UTC+11) northwest of Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Near North Coast, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. It killed 5 people, injured 250 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
The 2009 West Papua earthquakes occurred on January 4 local time in Indonesia's Tambrauw Regency in Southwest Papua. 4 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of VII.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Near North Coast, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia. It caused a tsunami.
1 on January 3 at 22:36:28 (UTC). 0 feet was recorded.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Solomon Islands. It destroyed 16 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Solomon Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Impahl, India. It killed 13 people, injured 100 and did $75 million in damage.
m. 7 Mw.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Ambasa, Bangladesh, India. It killed 3 people, destroyed 1,492 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
7 earthquake struck India 20 km (12 mi) east north-east of Ambassa in the state of Tripura on 3 January 2017 with a maximum observed intensity of 6-7 EMS. It struck at 2:39 pm local time, and was centered in an isolated area.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Fiji Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Yibin, Sichuan, China. It injured 774.
3 on January 3, oldest first.
Hekla, Iceland erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4.
Karangetang, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3.
Merapi, Indonesia erupted. It killed 1 person and injured 1.
9 on January 3, oldest first.
A tsunami struck Denmark.
A tsunami with a source recorded as questionable earthquake struck Celebes Sea, Philippines. It killed 100 people.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Jiangsu Province, China.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, with a maximum water height of 0.07 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Near North Coast, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 0.39 meters. It killed 5 people, injured 250 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Near North Coast, Indonesia.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 7.52 meters. It destroyed 16 houses.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.01 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Fiji Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.07 meters.
3 on January 3, oldest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began January 3, 1940, reached Kp 8- and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 47; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 47 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began January 3, 1946, reached Kp 7 and lasted 36 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 70; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began January 3, 1978, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 33 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 89; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
1 on January 3, oldest first.
A winter storm disaster that cost $1.3 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 22, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 3, 2018 to January 5, 2018.
9 on January 3, oldest first.
A husband and wife (both 54 years of age) were snorkeling with their three children (a 26 year old female, a 23 year old male and a 20 year old male). Rough waters dragged them over the reef.
A group of seven illegal immigrants from mainland China jumped from a Taiwanese fishing boat off Apra Harbor's reef at 2000 GLST. A few got caught in the strong swells which resulted in the deaths of two of them.
Dense fog conditions east through south of Bakersfield and on the northern slopes of the Tehachapi Mountains led to instances of multi-vehicle accidents.
Rain that occurred at the last part of December led to the development of extensive fog at the first part of January...and continued through much of January with just a few breaks.
Rip currents affected Southeast Florida beaches over New Year's Weekend 2007.
Winds in excess of 40 mph and seas as high as 16 feet drove a 75-foot sailboat, the Hawaii Aloha, aground in waters west of Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. One crew member from this vessel was lost and presumed drowned.
North northwest swells between 8 to 10 feet affected the north facing coast of Puerto Rico resulting in dangerous Rip Currents and High Surf.
A wave swept a Nevada resident off a rock near Indian Sands Trail, 16 miles north of Brookings Oregon. This occurred around 10 AM PST on 01/03/2018. His body was not found after several days of searching.
A long period west to northwest swell impacted the coastline in early January with breaking waves 20 to 25 feet, locally to 30 feet, forecast. On Sunday January 3rd a family of four was pulled into the ocean at Blind Beach in Sonoma County by a large wave.
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 2026-09-25.