Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for January 5, 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.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of January 5, 1988 was ranked category 5, Extreme, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South. It lasted from January 5, 1988 to January 9, 1988.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Khvoy (Khoy), Iran. It killed 800 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Billion-dollar disasters
A winter storm disaster that cost $2.9 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 16, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 5, 2014 to January 8, 2014.
Billion-dollar disasters
A winter storm disaster that cost $2.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 16, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 5, 1998 to January 9, 1998.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Vance, Warren counties, North Carolina and tracked 20 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Henderson/N Norlina, NC.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Fayette, Clayton counties, Georgia and tracked 16.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Fayetteville/Orrs/S Jonesboro, GA.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Susan reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 900 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Ron reached its peak of 145 kt (165 mph) with a central pressure of 900 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Heta reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 921 mb, a category 5 storm.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of January 5, 2017 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Southeast. It lasted from January 5, 2017 to January 8, 2017.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Lima, Yauyos, Peru. It killed 10 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Winter storms and snow
Snowstorm of January 5, 1989 was ranked category 3, Major, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from January 5, 1989 to January 8, 1989.
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An F3 tornado touched down in Fayette, Clayton counties, Georgia and tracked 16.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Fayetteville/Orrs/S Jonesboro, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Chambers, Randolph counties, Alabama and tracked 15.3 miles, killing 3 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Milltown/S Roanoke, AL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Vance, Warren counties, North Carolina and tracked 20 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Henderson/N Norlina, NC.
An F1 tornado touched down in Mecklenburg County, Virginia and tracked 2.2 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Boydton, VA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Okaloosa County, Florida and tracked 2.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 30.
A mobile home was lifted off its foundation and demolished. A small utility trailer was thrown some distance into a plowed field.
A tornado touched down north of Newville, knocking a small wood frame house off its blocks. Two miles further east the tornado caused extensive damage to a home and destroyed another unoccupied home. A barn was destroyed and several vehicles were damaged.
A rare winter tornado touched down on a farm on Baumgartner Road, throwing a 40 x 80 foot machine shed through the roof of a barn 300 feet away. A house trailer was knocked off its foundation and the garage door of the house was damaged.
HP Supercell developed along a quasi-stationary front and moved northeast. This Supercell produced a family of three tornadoes, numerous microbursts and giant hail. A meso was detected by dopplar radar with the HP supercell. In this supercell an F2 tornado was produced.
A brief tornado touchdown was reported.
A line of thunderstorms moved rapidly across the upstate. The line produced damaging winds and a few non-supercell tornadoes.
An intense negatively-titled upper low moved rapidly from central/south TX during the early morning hours of the 5th into Georgia by the evening hours of the 5th.
A vigorous cold front swept through California on January 5th bringing widespread rainfall and gusty winds.
A potent weather system moved across the region on January 5th and produced a round of severe storms across the region into the early morning hours of the 6th. These storms produced damaging winds and tornadoes.
A line of thunderstorms developed late in the morning on January 5th ahead of an eastward advancing cold front extending across eastern Oklahoma into northeast and central Texas.
A deep area of low pressure tracked across the Central Plains during the early morning hours of January 5, 2025. A warm front surged north across the Mid-South allowing for ample moisture return.
A potent weather system moved across the region on January 5th and produced a round of severe storms across the region into the early morning hours of the 6th. These storms produced damaging winds and tornadoes.
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Hurricane Drena reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 945 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Susan reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 900 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Ron reached its peak of 145 kt (165 mph) with a central pressure of 900 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Ando reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 935 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Heta reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 921 mb, a category 5 storm.
During 2022, tropical cyclones formed in seven major bodies of water, commonly known as tropical cyclone basins. Tropical cyclones were named by various weather agencies when they attained maximum sustained winds of 35 knots.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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The arctic cold front that moved into North Texas on the 4th remained stationary over the area through the 7th. Rich gulf moisture remained in place and periods of heavy rain and thunderstorms occurred as several upper level disturbances translated across the area.
Heavy rain of three to five inches occurred over portions of extreme southeast Louisiana, including the greater New Orleans area, during the morning hours.
Around eight inches of rain fell across Lafayette Parish, resulting in serious flooding in Carencro. 41 homes received flood damages, of which 14 had major damage. Several businesses also were damaged by the floods. Several roads in the city of Lafayette were also flooded.
Numerous roads were flooded. Several homes were flooded with one to three feet of water.
Heavy rains caused flash flooding in several parts of Yell County. Numerous low water bridges and roads sustained damage as a result of the heavy rains.
Nearly two inches of rain fell on portions of Stark County on the 3rd and 4th of January. Officially, 1.52 inches of rain fell at the Akron-Canton Airport on those days. Widespread stream and lowland flooding occurred in the county on the 5th and 6th.
Separate waves of rain moved along a strong west to east frontal zone in the Ohio Valley, from late on the 3rd into the early morning hours of the 8th. To the south of the boundary, dew points were in the 50 to 55 degree range.
After 1 inch of rain, by 845 AM on 5th, stream flooding had closed Jug Run Rd just north of St Clairsville. Mud slides occurred on Rte 250 near Bridgeport and Rte 40 near Lansing. Businesses were flooded along Rte 40 from Bridgeport to Lansing.
By 10 PM on 5th, Rte 40 near Wheeling began to flood. By 9 AM on 6th, flooding caused numerous mud slides along Rte 2.
By 930 AM on 5th, roads were flooded in Pine Grove. By noon on 6th, flooding from small streams had ended, but then the Ohio River flooded: Hannibal OH was above flood stage (35 ft), from 730 PM on 6th to 230 PM on 8th; it crested 38.3 ft 2 PM on 7th.
Separate waves of rain moved along a strong west to east frontal zone in the Ohio Valley from late on the 3rd into the early morning hours of the 8th. Dew points in the 50 to 55 degree range were in Kentucky and southern West Virginia.
A stationary frontal boundary draped across the Ohio Valley was the focusing mechanism for an extended period of heavy rain across much of central and southern Ohio.
By 545 PM on 5th, Harmon Creek flooded just south of Weirton. By 945 PM on 5th, mud slides closed several roads after 2.5 inches of rain. Road flooding continued through noon on the 6th. A mud slide closed Rte 22 near Weirton.
Record flooding of the Lower Wabash River occurred, prompting state disaster declarations that included Wabash, White, and Gallatin Counties. Floodfighting activities included the construction of temporary sandbag levees.
Moderate to major flooding of the Ohio River and some of its tributaries occurred. A state disaster declaration included Massac, Pope, Hardin, and Gallatin Counties. Floodfighting activities included the construction of temporary sandbag levees.
Record flooding of the Lower Wabash River occurred, prompting local emergency declarations in Posey and Gibson Counties. Floodfighting activities included the construction of temporary sandbag levees. A number of lowland residents were evacuated.
By 10 AM on 5th, Middle and Big Grave Creeks flooded near Moundsville. A mud slide closed Rte 2 near Washington Lands. By 945 PM on 5th, one road was flooded near Viola. By noon on 6th, parts of the three Grave Creeks remained flooded.
A stationary frontal boundary draped across the Ohio Valley was the focusing mechanism for an extended period of heavy rain across east central and southeast Indiana.
By 925 PM on 5th, CR 5 flooded near Mt Pleasant; many other roads were closed by floods and mud slides, including SR 150, 151, 213; and SR 7. Several mud slides closed Rte 7 after 2.5 inches of rain.
By 945 PM on 5th, numerous roads were closed by flooding and mud slides after 2.5 inches of rain. Road flooding continued through noon on the 6th. On the Ohio River, New Cumberland was above flood stage (36 ft), from 1130 AM on 6th to 10 PM on 7th; it crested 49.1 2 PM on 7th.
By 945 PM on 5th, Ambridge and Leetsdale reported flooding; and Barclay Hills Rd west of Vanport flooded after 2 inches of rain. 200 homes flooded in some way. Roads still flooded Noon on the 6th.
By 545 PM on 5th, Little Stillwater Creek flooded Rte 250 near Dennison. By 930 PM on 5th, these routes flooded: 39 near Dover; 93 near Dundee; 212; 258 east of Newcomerstown; 800 near Stillwater. Roads were still flooded on the 12th.
By noon on 5th, small stream flooding was reported county-wide. By 950 PM on 5th, numerous county and township roads remainder flooded, until about 7 PM on 6th. By 8 AM on 6th, Cambridge reported 2.1 inches of rain.
The Governor declared a state of emergency after rain, at times heavy, over a period of about 10 days, caused over 7 million in damage, mainly to transportation infrastructure throughout western Washington.
An area of strong low pressure moved northeast across northern Ohio during the evening hours of January 5th, 2007. Moderate to heavy rainfall accompanied this storm system.
An area of low pressure developed along a stalled frontal boundary across northeastern Alabama. Heavy rainfall and thunderstorms developed along and behind the front as the low moved northeast.
An estimated one inch of rain in combination with frozen ground let to rapid runoff into the Cow Creek Drainage, which went out of its banks and flooded portions of the east side of Genessee. One home reported having water underneath it in crawl spaces.
The Snohomish County Sheriff reports several roads closed due to flooding: 118th Drive Southeast is closed from Three Lakes Road to the end; Norman Road is closed from Marine Drive to Miller Road.
A strong, low latitude jet stream brought a series of storms through Southern California with periods of moderate to heavy rain/snow, thunderstorms, gusty winds, and high surf.
From January 6th through January 10th, a strong South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ) strengthened over the American Samoa islands. WSO Pago Pago recorded 16.33 inches of rain during these 5 days and 21.39 inches of rainfall was measured from Jan 04th through the 10th.
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Strong Santa Ana winds pummelled Southern California. Northeast winds 40 to 60 mph with gusts to 99 mphwere reported. In Shadow Hills, a 55 year-old man was killed when the winds blew down a 70 foot tree ontohim. At Burbank Airport, the winds flipped over several small planes.
A three block area of a neighborhood received extensive damage from a downburst. Major structural damage occurred to 8 homes while 37 other homes received minor damage. Numerous trees were downed. One injury occurred when debris was blown through a window into a child's bedroom.
A three mile path received extensive damage. Numerous buildings were damaged with a trucking company building being nearly destroyed. A trailer was thrown into a fence and several tractor trailers were overturned. High school bleachers were blown 50 feet which caused damage.
One side of a manufacturing building under construction on State Route 53 N. in Fremont was brought down. The store window of a pharmacy in Clyde was blown out.
A tractor trailer was blown over on I-70. The driver was treated with minor injuries. Numerous homes received light structural damage. Several trees were downed.
A church steeple was toppled in Wicksburg in western Houston County. A short time later, trees were snapped and a Sony plant received some roof damage. The storm continued across the northern side of Dothan downing many trees and damaging numerous homes and other buildings.
A thunderstorm moved in from the Gulf of Mexico just before midnight. The storm moved from the Gulf of Mexico across Jessica Way then across U. S. Highway 98, where a strip mall was damaged, then down Whispering Pines Blvd.
The low that brought high winds to Southeast Alaska beginning on Friday night January 3, stalled off shore. A series of frontal waves rotating around the Low swept through the Panhandle on Sunday January 5.
A strong cold front brought high winds to Washington County. The worst hit were the Hurricane and Pintura areas, where shingles blew off roofs and several carports were damaged. Wind gusts reached speeds of 72 mph (63 kts) at White Reef and 70 mph (61 kts) in Ivins.
A strong cold front moved through the Mojave Desert, bringing gusty north winds to much of San Bernardino County California.
A powerful Pacific frontal system with strong winds swept through western Washington beginning the night of January 5th, and continuing the morning of the 6th.
Thunderstorms ahead of a passing cold front produced several areas of wind damage across Central Alabama.
Low pressure intensifying in the maritimes led to blustery conditions across southern New England. While most locations remained below high wind warning criteria (40 mph sustained, 58 mph gusts), winds did damage in other parts of the state as well.
A strong low pressure system moving up the coast from the south brought strong southerly winds across all of northwest Oregon. The strongest winds were recorded along the coast, but winds in the Willamette Valley weren't much weaker than what was observed along the coast.
A strong low pressure system moving up the coast from the south brought strong southerly winds across all of southwest Washington.
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Snowstorm of January 5, 1912 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from January 5, 1912 to January 10, 1912.
Snowstorm of January 5, 1918 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from January 5, 1918 to January 10, 1918.
Snowstorm of January 5, 1944 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South. It lasted from January 5, 1944 to January 9, 1944.
Snowstorm of January 5, 1988 was ranked category 5, Extreme, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South. It lasted from January 5, 1988 to January 9, 1988.
A series of storm systems brought heavy snow and bitterly cold arctic air to the southern plains during the week of January 4th through 11th, in 1988. A large portion of Oklahoma received at least 10 inches of snow, with North Texas receiving up to 3 inches. Some locations across western Oklahoma measured 16-to-18-inch total amounts over the period, with snow drifts reaching 4 feet. Oklahoma City totaled 12.1 inches of snow over a three-day period, from the 5th to the 7th, which is Oklahoma City’s second highest storm total accumulation. Accompanying the heavy snow were record-breaking cold temperatures. The mercury dropped below the freezing mark on the 4th in Oklahoma City, and stayed there until the afternoon of the 11th. The lowest temperature in Oklahoma City during the period came on the morning of the 8th, when a low of 4 below zero was reached.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Snowstorm of January 5, 1989 was ranked category 3, Major, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from January 5, 1989 to January 8, 1989.
A group of four hikers from Quebec got caught in an avalanche after wandering off a hiking trail on the slopes of Mt. Washington. One hiker was killed while another sustained substantial injuries.
A winter storm produced widespread heavy snow and icy roads across much of New Mexico. Icy roads were the direct cause of numerous auto mishaps as many drivers failed to reduce speed in the early hours of the storm as road conditions deteriorated very quickly.
A severe ICE STORM hit sections of central and southern Maine from January 5 through January 9.
8.5 inches new snow at Cashmere
A strong low pressure system moved across southern Canada, north of Michigan, on the night of the 4th. The system brought light snow to the area, with most places picking up 2 inches or less of new snow.
Freezing rain produced icy roads and caused several accidents during the morning hours in parts of northeast and east central Kansas. A deadly accident occurred 14 miles south of Emporia when a male motorist lost control of his car on an icy road.
For the second time in just over two weeks, a devastating and historic winter storm affected Northern Ohio. Significant ice accumulations occurred over most of the area downing thousands of trees, causing widespread power outages and making travel nearly impossible.
One of the worst ice storms in history to affect the Poconos occurred on January 5th and 6th. As nasty as that storm was, it was exacerbated by another ice storm on January 8th.
Low pressure over Missouri moved rapidly northeast on January 5th. This low tracked across western Pennsylvania early on January 6th and was responsible for producing a prolonged period of wintry precipitation.
After several bouts of precipitation to begin the month, a low pressure system moved through central Indiana bringing heavy rain to the entire area.
The biggest winter storm of the season affected Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri from the evening of 4 January to the morning of 6 January.
Ordinary rain began about 3 AM on 5th; changed to freezing rain about 1 PM on 5th; and back to ordinary rain the afternoon of the 6th. Significant ice accumulated on all exposed surfaces, causing trees and power lines to fall.
An avalanche broke on a 40-degree slope of Taylor Mountain and ran for one mile down 2,000 vertical feet killing one skier and injuring another.
An avalanche was triggered by a skier near a cliff in Rock Springs Bowl just south of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The skier jumped over the cliff to avoid the avalanche, but he suffered massive internal injuries upon impact and was killed.
The month of January began with unseasonably warm temperatures across west Texas, as daytime highs topped out in the 70s during the first three days of the month. Temperatures, however, plunged on the 4th as a shallow cold Canadian airmass invaded the South Plains.
A vigorous upper level system moved over freezing air at the surface, producing rain which froze on contact as it struck trees, fences, and power lines. Around 48,000 people were temporarily without power.
Numerous auto accidents were reported across the Piedmont of Virginia into the New River Valley as a weak wedge of high pressure allowed temperatures across much of the area to fall into the low 30s and upper 20s.
A very strong winter storm dropped 6 - 12 inches of snow across East Central Missouri. Strong northerly winds produced snow drifts of 2 to 5 feet.
A strong area of deepening low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on January 5th. This low moved across northwestern Pennsylvania early on the 6th and then continued rapidly northeast. Snow associated with this low developed over northwestern Ohio around daybreak on the 5th.
A swath of 4 to 7 inches of snow fell from eastern Iowa into east central Illinois. Observers in LaSalle County reported snow totals of 5.5 to 6.5 inches.
Snowstorm of January 5, 2017 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Southeast. It lasted from January 5, 2017 to January 8, 2017.
A clipper type system brought widespread snowfall to eastern Kentucky on the 5th and 6th. Snow started on the morning of the 5th, and tapered off just after midnight early on the 6th. Widespread light snow occurred throughout the event, with several bands of moderate snow.
An area of light snow developed early this morning, bringing widespread accumulations of 1-3 inches across eastern Kentucky through the day. A couple of more intense bands developed during the morning hours.
A major winter storm impacted nearly all of northern and central New Mexico just a few days after ringing in 2017.
A longwave trough brought widespread light snowfall accumulations to the region. Snow began on the evening of the fifth in the extreme southern Texas Panhandle then spread to the remainder of the South Plains and Rolling Plains during the morning hours of the sixth.
An unstable snow pack in the San Juan Mountains and a group of back country skiers triggered an avalanche in the Upper Senator Beck Basin, northwest of Red Mountain Pass in southwest Colorado.
Storm Filomena was an extratropical cyclone in early January 2021 that was most notable for bringing unusually heavy snowfall to parts of Spain, with Madrid recording its heaviest snowfall in over a century, and with Portugal being hit less severely. The eighth named storm of the 2020–21 European windstorm season, Filomena formed over the Atlantic Ocean close to the Canary Islands on 7 January, subsequently taking a slow track north-eastwards towards the Iberian Peninsula and then eastwards…
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A developing wave of low pressure brought light precipitation to the mid-Atlantic on the morning of January 5, 2022. Warm air advection caused rising temperatures aloft over the region.
Snowstorm of January 5, 2024 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from January 5, 2024 to January 8, 2024.
A major to locally historic winter storm impacted southern Illinois on the 5th with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
A major winter storm impacted central Kentucky on January 5-6, 2025. When all was said and done, the storm had dropped a swath of heavy snow and sleet ranging between 6 and 12 inches across northern Kentucky.
A major winter storm impacted the Ohio Valley on January 5-6, 2025. When all was said and done, the storm had dropped a swath of heavy snow and sleet ranging between 6 and 12 inches across southern Indiana.
A winter storm, with locally major impacts, affected western Kentucky on the 5th with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. A brief wintry mix that fell primarily as freezing rain quickly transitioned to plain rain later that morning and afternoon across much of the region.
A major winter storm impacted southwest Indiana on the 5th with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
A winter storm, with locally major to historic impacts, affected southeast Missouri on the 5th with a mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
A major winter storm brought numerous impacts to Virginia from Sunday January 5th into Monday January 6th.
The first significant winter storm of 2025 brought a mix of heavy snow and significant icing to eastern Kentucky on January 5th and 6th. A deep surface low tracked across southern Kentucky, spreading precipitation across the region.
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An elderly male was found dead on the floor in a tar paper shack. The temperatures in the Jackson area only reached the mid 30s the day before (January 4) and fell to 13 degrees that night. Many cities across the area had record low temperatures for January 5.
Temperatures fell below freezing for up to twelve hours in the winter crop producing counties of Polk, Highlands, Hardee, De Soto, Hillsborough and Manatee caused relatively minor damage.
A freeze occurred throughout the interior sections of south Florida, causing damage to certain crops. Hardest hit were certain vegetable crops with 75% losses in Hendry and east Collier counties and 30% losses in the farming areas of south Miami-Dade county.
Widespread freezing temperatures were observed across most of West Central and Southwest Florida during the pre-dawn and mid-morning hours of January 5th, 2001.In Levy, Sumter, Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties, low temperatures dropped into the upper teens and lower 20s with…
A man found dead in an abandoned building on Nance Street had apparently died due to exposure, according to the coroner. The temperature that morning dropped to 26 degrees.
Bitterly cold temperatures followed a winter storm that struck parts of southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa a few days prior.
A three year old toddler was found dead outside his home at approximately 3:30 am on January 6th. The boy had left his house without winter clothing during the middle of the night.
An elderly couple became stranded in their van after it became stuck in a snow drift on rural 176th Lane in Lincoln Township in Blue Earth County. When rescue workers found the missing vehicle they discovered that the husband and wife had died of exposure.
A strong cold front swept through during the 5th with strong north winds behind the boundary pushing tides below normal and hindering ship traffic. Very cold temperatures also swept into South Louisiana behind the boundary. Two people were reported dead from exposure.
The coldest wind chills in many years moved across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest the week of January 5th, 2014.
Dangerously cold wind chills were observed from late on the night of the 5th through early on the morning of the 7th. Wind chills during this entire period were colder than 10 below zero.
Dangerously cold wind chills were observed from late on the night of the 5th through early on the morning of the 7th. Wind chills during this entire period were colder than 10 below zero.
The coldest wind chills in many years moved across the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest the week of January 5th, 2014.
A strong push of cold air moved into the central US during the afternoon of the 5th through the early morning of the 7th. Arctic air spilled south. Temperatures were not all that atypical for January, though the last time it has been this cold was in January of 2010.
A period of exceptionally cold and snowy winter weather in January 2017 occurred in Eastern and Central Europe. In some areas, flights and shipping services were suspended, and there was major disruption to power supplies and other essential infrastructure.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office reported a Hypothermia death.
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Taunton recorded -35°F, Massachusetts’s all-time minimum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it (a tie with an earlier value).
River Vale recorded -34°F, New Jersey’s all-time minimum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Smethport recorded -42°F, Pennsylvania’s all-time minimum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Strawberry Tunnel (East) recorded -50°F, Utah’s all-time minimum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Echo Summit Sierra at Tahoe recorded 67 inches, California’s all-time maximum 24-hour snowfall, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
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The Woods Fire was discovered on January 5, 1994, in New Mexico, and burned 7,000 acres.
Santa Ana winds blew over four semi-tractor trailer rigs on Interstates 10, 15, 215 and State Highway 60 between Devore and Ontario, causing a ten hour traffic delay between the AppleValley and the Inland Empire.
Throughout this three day Santa Ana wind event, numerous trees and power poles were blown down. At least 60 communities were affected. Interstates 8, 10, and 15 were blocked for several hours by large trucks blown over.
A grass fire burned 30 acres along Old Agnes Road off Texas 199, about eight miles west of Springtown. Several bales of hay and fences were destroyed. Another fire in Hunt County destroyed one home and burned 300 acres.
The Cattails Fire was discovered on January 5, 2006, in Brazoria County, Texas, and burned 2,982 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
An extended period of offshore flow caused strong to high winds across much of Southern California. The first high wind event occurred during the afternoon and evening hours of the 5th as the upper level support was peaking.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 5, 2007, in Matagorda County, Texas, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
A very large wildfire began about two miles east of Fritch around 1400 CST on Farm to Market Road 687 about one mile north of Texas State Highway 136. The wildfire spread to the east and northeast and ended up close to Farm to Market Road 1319.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 5, 2008, in Carson County, Texas, and burned 3,200 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on January 5, 2008, in Wichita County, Texas, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Antelope Fire was discovered on January 5, 2008, in Hutchinson County, Texas, and burned 2,700 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Flowermound Fire was discovered on January 5, 2008, in Oklahoma, and burned 1,857 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Squirrel Creek Fire was reported on January 5, 2017, in Jefferson County, Oklahoma, and burned 2,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
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An earthquake struck Antakya (Antioch), Turkey. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Tainan, Taiwan. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck SW. Sumatra, Indonesia. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Geraldton, Australia. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Khvoy (Khoy), Iran. It killed 800 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Mongolia.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Santa Isabel Island, Solomon Islands.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Lima, Yauyos, Peru. It killed 10 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Baicheng, S Xinjiang Province, China.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Thabeikkyin, Mandalay, Myanmar.
A magnitude 3.7 earthquake struck S. China Sea. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Colomba, Flores, Costa Cuca, Guatemala.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Solomon Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck Fars Province, Iran. It injured 16.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Southeastern, Alaska, United States. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Sipi, Colombia.
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Kadovar, Papua New Guinea erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2.
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A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck SW. Sumatra, Indonesia. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck South China Sea, with a maximum water height of 0.8 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.03 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck SE. Alaska, AK, United States, with a maximum water height of 1.5 meters.
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A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began January 5, 1953, reached Kp 7- and lasted 12 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 51; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
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A winter storm disaster that cost $2.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 16, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 5, 1998 to January 9, 1998.
A winter storm disaster that cost $2.9 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 16, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from January 5, 2014 to January 8, 2014.
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Dense fog covered most of south-central and southeast Wisconsin from Saturday evening through about sunrise of Monday with visibilities of 1/8 to 1/4 mile. At times Sunday afternoon visibilities were reduced to less than 25 yards due to the cooling effect of melting snow.
A strong storm system tracking slowly out of the Rockies and into the Plains, set up a sustained southerly flow of warmer and increasingly moist air into the area.
Dense fog was a factor in a head-on-collision on highway 14 in the Janesville Township. One fatality and one seriously injured person were reported.
Large northwest swells produced extra large surf that impacted many north and west facing shores across the state. This swell made its way into the west-facing Kona shores of Big Island and generated high surf.
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.