Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for January 31, 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.
Floods
The North Sea flood of 1953, also known as the Big Flood or East Coast Flood or as the Flood Disaster, was a flood caused by a heavy storm surge in the North Sea that struck low-lying coastal areas of the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. More than 2,000 people were killed on land and hundreds more at sea.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Badakhstan, Baghlan, Laghman, Nagarhar, Afghanistan. It killed 848 people, injured 200 and did $36 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Off Coast, Ecuador. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 1,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Off Coast, Ecuador, with a maximum water height of 5 meters. It killed 1,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Jefferson, Copiah, Simpson counties, Mississippi and tracked 40.6 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Delmar to S Hazelhurst, MS.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of January 31, 1956 was ranked category 4, Crippling, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South. It lasted from January 31, 1956 to February 6, 1956.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Yanacoa, Pampamarca, Peru. It killed 75 people and injured 200.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Geralda reached its peak of 145 kt (165 mph) with a central pressure of 915 mb, a category 5 storm.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana and tracked 6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Glan,glan Padidu,tuyan, S Mindanao, Philippines. It killed 7 people and injured 2. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Celebes Sea, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 1.5 meters. It killed 7 people and injured 2.
11 on January 31, oldest first.
An F2 tornado touched down in Clay County, Mississippi and tracked 3.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Palo Alto, MS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Jefferson, Copiah, Simpson counties, Mississippi and tracked 40.6 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Delmar to S Hazelhurst, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in George County, Mississippi, killing 2 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Lucedale, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana and tracked 5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana and tracked 6 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Texas and tracked 1 miles, 40 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
2 on January 31, oldest first.
Hurricane Geralda reached its peak of 145 kt (165 mph) with a central pressure of 915 mb, a category 5 storm.
Low pressure moved slowly up the mid Atlantic coast late in the day on the 30th and strengthened as it moved into the Gulf of Maine on the 31st. The storm continued to intensify before moving out to sea on February 1st.
22 on January 31, oldest first.
The North Sea flood of 1953, also known as the Big Flood or East Coast Flood or as the Flood Disaster, was a flood caused by a heavy storm surge in the North Sea that struck low-lying coastal areas of the Netherlands, Belgium, and the United Kingdom. More than 2,000 people were killed on land and hundreds more at sea.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Flash flooding developed in and around Hondo with streets under water and some businesses flooded briefly as a result of 2 to 3 inches of rain in just over 2 hours.
Record flooding developed on Wallace Lake in south Shreveport as the lake crested at 159.7 feet. This resulted in nearly 20 inches of water flowing over the spillway (spillway crest height is 158 feet). Some 125 homes were flooded and evacuated along Kingston road.
January 1999 finally broke a string of unseasonably dry months that prevailed throughout the second half of 1998 in New Jersey. On a county weighted average, January monthly precipitation was around 200% to 250% of normal.
Record flooding developed on Wallace Lake in south Shreveport as the lake crested at 159.7 feet. This resulted in nearly 20 inches of water flowing over the spillway (spillway crest height is 158 feet). Some 125 homes were flooded and evacuated along Kingston road.
Heavy rains upstream on the Sabine River in extreme northeast Texas led to river flooding where about 20 homes were flooded from Juaquin Texas to Logansport Louisiana as the river crested at 33.2 feet. Toledo Bend rose to 173.60 feet, some eight inches above full pool stage.
Ice jams moving down the Youghiogheny River produced minor flooding from Boston down to the McKeesport area. The movement of the ice itself caused the main problem, as it tore apart and destroyed 210 boat docks at the McKeesport Marina on its way out into the Monongahela River
Soaking rains on the 30th caused significant rises in area river and creek levels. The rapid rise resulted in an ice jam on Cazenovia Creek in Erie County. In West Seneca, basement and road flooding occurred in the Parkside/Willowdale neighborhood.
A 3-year-old child was killed when her grandmother attempted to carry her across a flooded creek on foot. The grandmother was unable to cross the creek in her vehicle, so she attempted to cross on foot.
Flooding occurred on several rivers, but was worse on the Cowlitz, Carbon and Tolt. It was greater than a 10 year flood on the Cowlitz, and a 2 to 10 year flood on the Carbon and Tolt.
Up to 3 inches of heavy rain caused a cottonwood tree to fall and crush a Ford Pickup truck and cause a small fire. Power was also out for 4 hours for about 100 residents. The rain also caused minor flooding in the Community Park and the mobile park both in Troy and Bovill.
The Lewis River near Woodland crested about 3 feet above flood stage, resulting in significant flooding. The airport and roads near the river were under water, and numerous homes and buildings suffered damages. The Cowlitz River near Kelso crested 1.5 feet above flood stage.
A low pressure system developed off the mid Atlantic coast and then intensified as it passed southeast of Nantucket on 31 January 2006.
Locally heavy rainfall across the Island of Tutuila caused an increase in rising waters and overflow of small streams, especially villages located to the West of the International Airport.
"A landslide destroyed a family's home" in the village of Atu'u, fortunately, no one was hurt.
With flood waters from heavy rainfall during the afternoon and evening of January 30th rapidly running off from higher terrain and collecting in area river basins, many area rivers exceeded flood stage on January 31st.
High south winds preceding a strong cold front resulted in areas of damage and disruptions to power. Heavy rain preceding the front caused flooding of small streams in Rockland County.
A Wednesday afternoon landslide destroyed a home and damaged others on Whidbey Island.
A strong trough moved inland along the California Coast on the 31st. The trough was accompanied by a surface low that rapidly deepened in the Southern California Bight and an exceptionally strong Pacific Cold Front.
Between January 31, 2022 - February 1, 2022, heavy rains in Haiti caused floods. On February 1, five people were killed by the floods, with one more person missing.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A quick-moving cold front came through California on January 31, bringing widespread rain and high winds. A narrow cold frontal rainband (NCFR) developed during the afternoon and evening commute, with moderate to heavy rain across the region as a result.
An advancing low pressure system set forth ample amounts of lift and moisture to round out the month of January.
24 on January 31, oldest first.
Strong winds downed numerous trees throughout the county. Numerous power outages reported due to trees falling on lines. At approximately 5 pm in Parrottsville, a barn on Happy Hollow Road was blown down, temporarily blocking one lane of traffic.
Two businesses were damaged. A few homes had some of their shingles blown off. Most of the damage occurred near the town of Brookland.
About 10,000 customers lost power around Forks and Bellingham. 3 cars were damaged when trees fell on them.
A line of thunderstorms moved across southwest Alabama causing tree and power line damage and producing hail.
A cold front moved through South Central Texas on January 31, 2008 causing strong, gusty winds during the day. Several locations incurred damage from these winds.
A line of thunderstorms moved across southeast Mississippi downing trees, powerlines and causing roof damage.
Another in a series of strong weather systems pushed across the area. This one combined with limited moisture and instability and produced isolated severe thunderstorms across southeast portions of the area.
A very strong and deep upper low in the southern plains swept through the southeast U.S. late on the 31st of January into the 1st of February. The system took on a negative tilt as it rotated through the southeast U.S.
A deep, negatively-tilted upper trough was rotating rapidly through the southeast U.S. from the afternoon of January 31st into the early morning hours of February 1st. A very strong low-level jet of 60-70 mph or greater was noted just above the surface.
Low pressure moved through Saskatchewan and Manitoba, Canada, on January 30 and 31. The cold front associated with the low moved into northwest North Dakota Saturday morning, January 31, with high winds. It moved through the central part of the state that afternoon.
An area of surface low pressure moved across southern Canada, with gusty northwest winds in its wake. Wind speeds were sustained around 40 mph with a few locations experiencing gusts to 58 mph.
A warm front moved northward across southern New England. This brought a period of mainly rain and warm temperatures. In addition, a strong low level jet (up to 80 kts) resulted in high winds across much of southern New England.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
High south winds preceding a strong cold front resulted in areas of damage and disruptions to power.
Low pressure moved across the lower Great Lakes swinging a strong cold front across the region. In the wake of the front, strong westerly winds overspread the area. The wind downed trees and power lines. Utilities reported scattered outages across the region.
A strong cold front crossed eastern North Carolina during the early morning hours of January 31st, 2013.
High south winds preceding a strong cold front resulted in areas of damage and disruptions to power.
A storm system rapidly intensified across the Great Lakes on January 30th and moved into Quebec province during January 31st. Mild southerly winds on January 30th translated to colder west to northwest winds across northern New York on January 31st.
Strong to high winds occurred across Eastern Pennsylvania through the morning into the afternoon on the 31st. Peak wind gusts reached between 45 mph and 60 mph and downed weak trees, tree limbs and power lines and caused scattered outages.
A warm front moved northward across southern New England. This brought a period of mainly rain and warm temperatures. In addition, a strong low level jet (up to 80 kts) resulted in high winds across much of southern New England.
A warm front moved northward across southern New England. This brought a period of mainly rain and warm temperatures. In addition, a strong low level jet (up to 80 kts) resulted in high winds across much of southern New England.
A 1053 MB arctic high built over the southern Yukon on Jan 31st as a very strong storm force low down to 953 MB approached the area from the Southwest. That's 100 MB difference. The strongest winds were for Downtown Juneau and Douglas.
A prolonged high wind event occurred across southeast Wyoming from 31 January through the 1st of February 2020. Strong winds combined with recent snow fall to create a multiple vehicle accident east of Laramie on 31 January.
An Alberta clipper moved through in the evening and overnight hours with high winds developing in the wake of the cold front. The highest winds were 74 mph in Ward County while in Mountrail and Sheridan counties 73 mph winds were registered.
58 on January 31, oldest first.
Snowstorm of January 31, 1903 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from January 31, 1903 to February 5, 1903.
Snowstorm of January 31, 1916 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from January 31, 1916 to February 8, 1916.
Snowstorm of January 31, 1951 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from January 31, 1951 to February 2, 1951.
Snowstorm of January 31, 1956 was ranked category 4, Crippling, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South. It lasted from January 31, 1956 to February 6, 1956.
Snowstorm of January 31, 1989 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from January 31, 1989 to February 6, 1989.
Low pressure formed in the Gulf States on January 29. This storm tracked northeast along the piedmont of North Carolina, then the DelMarVa Peninsula, coastal New Jersey and Western Long Island on January 30.
Low pressure moving northeastward along the East Coast brought moderate to heavy snowfall to most of northern New England during the morning of the 31st. The snow mixed with or changed to rain along the immediate coast.
Low pressure moving east from the Great Lakes brought a moderate snowfall to the state. The snow fell only a day after a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain caused numerous accidents and treacherous conditions.
A three to five inch snowfall overnight of the 30th-31st turned to freezing rain during the morning hours. Ice accumulations of one-half to three-quarters inch occurred. Hundreds of thousands were left without power as the heavy ice build-up downed trees and power lines.
An avalanche claimed the life of a 29-year-old Heber City man. The avalanche occurred in the Western Uinta Mountains east of Oakley, near Windy Ridge. Six people were skiing in two separate groups when a 5-foot-deep snow slab broke off from the slope above just before 2 pm.
The first major winter storm of the season brought an ice storm to much of Southwest Lower Michigan, Northern Indiana, and extreme Northwest Ohio with ice accumulations from one quarter to over one half inch on trees and power lines, with up to one and one half inches of ice…
Snow spread north across Iowa during the morning of the 31st. The synoptic situation was similar to the previous event, just that the cause was from another upper level system.
A strong intensifying storm in the lower Mississippi Valley moved slowly northeast to be in New York late on February 1st. The storm pumped abundant moisture north ahead of it. The precipitation started as snow then changed over to sleet then freezing rain then finally rain.
Low pressure moving east from the upper Ohio Valley and a second low that formed off the New England coast brought moderate to heavy snow to the area. The snow continued until mid-day on Feb. 1.
A low pressure system that moved through Illinois to southern Lake Michigan dropped heavy snow across much of northeast Wisconsin. The snow started during the early afternoon on January 31st and continued into the morning hours of February 1st.
Low pressure over the Ohio valley Thursday evening, January 31st moved northeast into southern Canada during Friday, February 1st. Snow overspread the area during the afternoon of January 31st. The snow mixed with sleet during the night of the 31st.
Low pressure over the Ohio valley Thursday evening, January 31st moved northeast into southern Canada during Friday, February 1st. Snow overspread the area during the afternoon of January 31st. The snow mixed with sleet during the late night of the 31st.
Low pressure over the Ohio valley Thursday evening, January 31st moved northeast into southern Canada during Friday, February 1st. Snow overspread the area during the afternoon of January 31st. The snow mixed with sleet during the night of the 31st.
Low pressure over the Ohio valley Thursday evening, January 31st moved northeast into southern Canada during Friday, February 1st. Snow overspread the area during the afternoon of January 31st. The snow mixed with sleet during the late night of the 31st.
An intense band of lake effect snow moved south into extreme northern Onondaga County the morning of the 31st. Snowfall rates were as high as 5 inches an hour. Snowfall amounts were 10 to 20 inches across this area, which included Syracuse and Baldwinsville.
Although this snow episode produced no more than three inches of snow, temperatures were just cold enough to produce very hazardous driving conditions. Numerous accidents and a number of injuries were reported.
During the day on 1/31, a fast moving storm system dropped widespread 2 to 4 inch, with localized 5 inch, snow amounts across much of south-central and southeast Kansas, and portions of central Kansas.
A strong westerly flow reignited lake effect snows off both Lakes Erie and Ontario Wednesday morning (31st). The activity was very intense off Lake Ontario, focusing near the Oswego-Jefferson County line and extending right across the Tug Hill.
Two to three inches of snow and windy conditions created areas of near zero visibilities in blowing snow...which resulted in a forty-two car accident on Interstate 40. The accident occurred in the eastbound lanes just west of Whitaker Road at 0542 CST.
A deepening surface low pressure system tracked northward from the Lower Mississippi Valley, passing across far western Kentucky. Cold air wrapped southward around the back side of the low, keeping precipitation frozen or freezing over parts of southern Illinois.
A fast-moving, but very potent winter storm moved through the central and parts of the southern Plains. The snow-storm took a track that took it from the central Rocky mountains, across the southern Texas panhandle, and through southern Oklahoma.
The passage of a Canadian cold front and a vigorous storm system combined to produce a brief bout of dangerous winter weather over much of the South Plains region of west Texas early on the 31st.
A powerful storm system moved across the central and southern plains on January 31st. This resulted in a relatively narrow swath of heavy snow across south-central and southeast Kansas.
A storm system tracked along the Gulf Coast on the 31st, with snow developing north of the system. The snow was heavy at times toward the Missouri border where accumulations exceeded 4 inches.
A major winter storm lifted from the southern plains into the Ohio Valley from January 31st into February 1st. This storm produced heavy snow, at least 6 inches, across much of central Illinois.
Following a brief warm spell in late January, winter quickly returned to North Central Kansas on the last day of the month as a large upper level low pressure system carved into the central United States, bringing some of the coldest air of the season with it.
A massive winter storm of historic proportions affected the region from the early morning hours January 31st through the evening hours February 1st.
A powerful winter storm began to take shape during the evening hours of the 31st and continued into the 1st of February. Most of the accumulating snow occurred on February 1, but thunder-sleet and snow did affect many locations after dark on the 31st.
Numerous car accidents resulted early on the morning of January 31st, as light freezing rain created slick roadways in Fleming and Rowan counties.
Two successive upper level storm systems effectively brought a one-two punch to New Mexico. Winter weather began on the 31st of January when an arctic cold front blasted through the eastern plains.
The first true blizzard in many years hit from Central to Northeast Missouri. Up to 20 inches of snow fell along with winds gusting over 40 mph. For many counties it was a record snowfall event. I-70 was shut down from Warren County to just east of Kansas City.
A large upper level system that dropped southeast from the northern Rockies split into two pieces, one tracked across the central plains while the other drifted southwest across the southwestern U.S.
A prolonged snowfall became moderate to heavy on January 31st in Brookings, Lake, and Moody Counties with total accumulations of 6 to 10 inches. There were some areas of blowing snow as winds increased. Lesser amounts of snow fell further west and south in southeast South Dakota.
Following a brief warm spell in late January, winter quickly returned to South Central Nebraska on the last day of the month as a large upper level low pressure system carved into the central United States, bringing some of the coldest air of the season with it.
A number of heavy snow squalls moved across portions of central Indiana during the afternoon of the 31st of January as a weak frontal boundary pushed across the area. One particular snow squall may have been a part of what caused a 40-car pile-up on Interstate 70.
A cold front brought the first snow fall to northern Arizona in over a month. No precipitation had been reported at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport in 39 days.
A 48 year-old man died on February 3rd from injuries he sustained from a weather-related traffic accident on January 31st.
Slick driving conditions caused a fatal accident.
A deep trough across the southwest United States moved into the southern Plains early on January 31st. Ahead of this system deep moisture spread northward across the central Plains.
Snow accumulating up to 8 inches in much of southeast South Dakota was accompanied by blowing snow as a result of northwest winds 20 to 35 mph. The snow and blowing snow began late on January 31st and lasted through much of February 1st.
Periods of light snow began during the very early morning hours before sunrise Saturday, January 31st, primarily along and east of Highway 281. The temperature profile was very marginal, but snow continued to fall through the day.
Periods of freezing drizzle during the afternoon and early evening produced hazardous travel conditions in the foothills from Sturgis to Rapid City and adjacent plains. Numerous traffic accidents were reported due to the icy road conditions.
A strong trough of low pressure moved across Southeast Arizona the night of January 31 into February 1. This produced very strong winds across Southeast Arizona, especially in the mountains with Mt. Lemmon gusting over 100 MPH.
A 57-year-old male was killed in avalanche on Square Top Peak along the Park City ridgeline.
A long-duration winter storm produced widespread snowfall across central Pennsylvania from January 31 to February 2, 2021. Although the snow began on January 31st, warning criteria was not met in any central Pennsylvania counties until February 1st or 2nd.
Closed low pressure slowly tracked into the Ohio Valley on the 31st before transferring its energy to low pressure off the Mid-Atlantic Coast on the 1st of February. The coastal low slowly tracked northeast while intensifying through midday on February the 2nd.
Warm moist air surge into the area atop a shallow cold air damming airmass. This result in some light freezing rain falling across the northern Piedmont of central North Carolina during the morning of the 31st.
Areas of ice were present on roadways around Silverdale, WA at the end of January, which resulted in a fatal car accident.
An ice storm impacted the Southern United States in early 2023, bringing heavy snow and ice across the region. The Weather Channel reported that at least 10 deaths were attributed to the winter storm, which was unofficially named Winter Storm Mara by them.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A quick moving weather system brought a quick round of light sleet, light snow, and patchy freezing drizzle to counties mainly along and south of the Interstate 44 corridor across southern Missouri from around midday through mid to late afternoon on January 31st.
An area of low pressure along the Georgia coast on 31 January intensified as it tracks off the North Carolina coast into the early morning hours of 1 February.
A potent upper-level low tracked south and then southeast from the Upper Midwest to the Southeast during the weekend of Friday January 30th to Sunday February 1st. At the same time, a baroclinic zone set up along the offshore waters of Georgia, westwards to the Deep South.
A unique snow setup for South Carolina developed as a strong coastal low strengthening offshore, while a upper level disturbance shifted over our area.
2 on January 31, oldest first.
Courtesy of the warm spell at the start of the month and the lack of any prolonged invasions of arctic air the rest of the month, January 1998 was one of the ten warmest Januarys on record for the state of New Jersey.
Ahead of a storm system in the Mississippi Valley, that brought heavy snow to the Chicago vicinity, afternoon temperatures soared into the 70s and lower 80s. Even the high mountains reached into the 60s.
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Arctic air continued to pour into Southern Wisconsin on northwest winds of 10 to 20 mph.
As temperatures approached 20 degrees below zero, a water main froze and burst damaging several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of furniture in a furniture showroom.
Extremely cold air settled over the area on January 31st, and remained entrenched through February 4th. A new record low temperature for Minnesota was set in the town of Tower on 2/2.
82 year old woman found dead in unheated mobile home in Hodgkins, Cook County. Overnight low temperature was -6F.
86 year old woman found dead in home in Sauk Village, Cook County. House was not heated, although furnace was in working order. Pipes were frozen. Overnight low temperature was -6F.
The third exposure death in the Farmington area of the winter season occurred during the morning of the 31st.
Dangerous wind chill conditions developed across the Northern Plains Monday night January 31st through Tuesday morning February 1st as Arctic high pressure pushed south into the region.
A bitter cold arctic air mass with temperatures in the single digits below zero combined with northwest winds of 20 to 40 mph during the evening hours on January 31st.
Arctic high pressure brought a cold airmass over northeast Wisconsin during the morning hours on Tuesday (1/31) with air temperatures of 5 to 25 below zero. Light winds of 5 to 10 mph allowed wind chills to fall to 15 to 35 below zero during the morning hours on Tuesday (1/31).
A dry, mid-level shortwave aid in the push of another cold front in late January. Another arctic airmass residing behind this boundary resulting in another bitterly cold period.
A winter storm impacted much of southeast South Carolina with significant snow accumulations and very cold wind chill temperatures. An area of low pressure shifted off the Southeast coast while deepening, ushering in a very cold air mass across the region.
A dry, mid-level shortwave aid in the push of another cold front in late January. Another arctic airmass residing behind this boundary resulting in another bitterly cold period.
Wind chill temperatures dropped into the 5 above to 2 below zero range.
4 on January 31, oldest first.
Eagle Harbor recorded 117 inches, Michigan’s all-time maximum snow depth, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it (a tie with an earlier value).
Anna's Hope (St. Croix) recorded 51°F, Virgin Islands (U.S.)’s all-time minimum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Gebhard Woods St.Pk. recorded 41 inches, Illinois’s all-time maximum snow depth, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it (a tie with an earlier value).
Mt. Carroll recorded -38°F, Illinois’s all-time minimum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
21 on January 31, oldest first.
The Morrill Co Fire started on January 31, 1989, in Nebraska, and burned 14,496 acres.
The Franklin Fire started on January 31, 1989, in New Mexico, and burned 1,057 acres.
The St. John's Marsh Command Fire was discovered on January 31, 2001, in Indian River County, Florida, and burned 5,500 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Jones Ranch Fire was discovered on January 31, 2008, in Texas, and burned 6,400 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Kerr County Complex was discovered on January 31, 2008, in Kerr County, Texas, and burned 3,431 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Tower Road Fire was discovered on January 31, 2008, in Texas, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 31, 2008, in Dimmit County, Texas, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 31, 2008, in Medina County, Texas, and burned 1,800 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 31, 2008, in Kerr County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Meissner Fire was discovered on January 31, 2009, in Chouteau County, Montana, and burned 14,490 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Lane Fire was discovered on January 31, 2009, in Lea County, New Mexico, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Cresent Fire was discovered on January 31, 2009, in Logan County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,350 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Circle Fire was discovered on January 31, 2009, in Texas, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Shinkle Fire was discovered on January 31, 2009, in Greenwood County, Kansas, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Arrington Ranch Fire was discovered on January 31, 2009, in Carson County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Ti Valley Fire was discovered on January 31, 2011, in Latimer County, Oklahoma, and burned 3,600 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Smoke Chaser Fire was discovered on January 31, 2012, in Calhoun County, Alabama, and burned 867 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Beaver Mountain Fire was reported on January 31, 2017, in Haskell County, Oklahoma, and burned 5,240 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bear Creek Fire was reported on January 31, 2017, in Searcy County, Arkansas, and burned 1,052 acres.
The Split Trough 2 Fire was reported on January 31, 2018, in Goliad County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The County Road 202 Fire was reported on January 31, 2022, in Tippah County, Mississippi, and burned 1,041 acres.
21 on January 31, oldest first.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Dodecanese, Crete, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Thera Island (Santorini), Greece. It destroyed 52 houses. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Vathy-Chora (Samos), Greece. It killed some people (about 51 to 100).
An earthquake struck Koeta Radja (Atjeh), Indonesia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Zakinthos (Zante), Greece. It killed 2 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Off Coast, Ecuador. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 1,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
The 1906 Ecuador–Colombia earthquake occurred at 10:36:10 (UTC+5) on Wednesday, January 31, 1906, off the coast of Ecuador, near Esmeraldas. 8 and triggered a destructive tsunami that caused at least 500 casualties on the coast of Colombia.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An earthquake struck Caracas, Venezuela. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Tasmania, Australia. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Costa Rica-Panama. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Glan,glan Padidu,tuyan, S Mindanao, Philippines. It killed 7 people and injured 2. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Northern, California, United States.
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Yanacoa, Pampamarca, Peru. It killed 75 people and injured 200.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Ilirska Bistrica,koseze, Slovenia, Balkans NW.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Solomon Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Tajikistan.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Badakhstan, Baghlan, Laghman, Nagarhar, Afghanistan. It killed 848 people, injured 200 and did $36 million in damage.
The 1991 Hindu Kush earthquake severely affected Afghanistan, Pakistan and the USSR on 1 February. 0 mi) beneath the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Baluchistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan. It killed 2 people and injured 15.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Pastaza, Ecuador. It killed 1 person.
1 on January 31, oldest first.
East Epi, Vanuatu erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. The eruption caused a tsunami.
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A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Island of Rhodes, Greece. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami struck Baleares, Spain.
A tsunami with a source recorded as questionable earthquake struck Tasman Sea, Australia.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano and earthquake struck Thera Island (Santorini), Greece. It destroyed 52 houses.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Banda Aceh, Indonesia.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck Off Coast, Ecuador, with a maximum water height of 5 meters. It killed 1,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Bass Strait, Australia.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Costa Rica-Panama.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Celebes Sea, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 1.5 meters. It killed 7 people and injured 2.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 1.5 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck East Epi Volcano, Vanuatu, with a maximum water height of 0.05 meters.
1 on January 31, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began January 31, 1951, reached Kp 7- and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 49; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
4 on January 31, oldest first.
The warmest temperature ever felt in the month of January in Oklahoma occurred on January 31st 1911. On that afternoon, temperatures over the area soared into the 80s at many locations. Oklahoma City set its all-time January high with a reading of 83. Temperatures were even warmer in western Oklahoma, where Weatherford and Cloud Chief topped out at 89 degrees.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Widespread dense fog developed across most of western Kentucky except the Henderson and Owensboro areas. Visibility was below one-quarter mile. There was a report of visibility only near 25 feet at Hopkinsville.
A strong cold front crossed eastern North Carolina during the early morning hours of January 31st, 2013. A strong low level jet accompanied storms along the front with several reports of marine thunderstorm winds gusts.
Areas of dense fog formed once again overnight in the San Joaquin Valley as persistent high pressure brought clear skies, light winds and continued inversion conditions over the valley.
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.