Tsunamis
1752July 21, 1752 Tsunami at Latakia, Syria
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Latakia, Syria. It killed 20,000 people.
- When
- July 21, 1752
- Magnitude
- 7
- Deaths
- 20,000
- Where
- Latakia, Syria
Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for July 21, 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.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Latakia, Syria. It killed 20,000 people.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Palestine, Syria, Israel. It killed 20,000 people.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Tianshui, Gansu Province, China. It killed 10,400 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Knossos, Crete, Greece. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 5,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck Crete, Greece. It killed 5,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Dingxi, Min, Gansu, China. It killed 95 people, injured 887, destroyed 123,000 houses and did $466 million in damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Dodge, Olmsted counties, Minnesota and tracked 14.5 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Dodge Center to SE Douglas, MN.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Minnehaha, Rock, Nobles counties, South Dakota and tracked 36 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Dell Rapids, SD to N Adrian, MN.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Anjar, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Kandla, India. It killed 156 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 7, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from July 21, 2003 to July 23, 2003.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China. It killed 16 people, injured 584, destroyed 264,878 houses and did $75 million in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Kern County, California, United States. It killed 12 people, injured 200 and did $60 million in damage.
45 on July 21, oldest first.
An F4 tornado touched down in Dodge, Olmsted counties, Minnesota and tracked 14.5 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Dodge Center to SE Douglas, MN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Olmsted, Wabasha counties, Minnesota and tracked 6.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Elgin, MN.
An F4 tornado touched down in Minnehaha, Rock, Nobles counties, South Dakota and tracked 36 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Dell Rapids, SD to N Adrian, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Warren County, Indiana and tracked 23.9 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Polk County, Nebraska and tracked 25.2 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An F2 tornado touched down in Kent County, Delaware and tracked 1 miles, 20 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 9.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ocean County, New Jersey and tracked 0.2 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F2 tornado touched down in Allegan County, Michigan and tracked 13.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F4 tornado touched down in Teton County, Wyoming and tracked 24.3 miles, 2,550 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Griggs County, North Dakota and tracked 1 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
S. state of Wyoming.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Washington County, Colorado and tracked 12 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, injuring 6.
This affected mainly open country. On ground for six to 12 minutes. Metal shed destroyed. The width was estimated. Lifted off ground one mile northwest of Waverly.
Two supercell thunderstorms moved across northeast Montana causing a path of damage that extended from southern Phillips county to the North Dakota border. The hardest hit was the community of Glasgow where 4.5 inch hail fell damaging cars, roofs, windows and trees as it passed.
Another in a series of hail storms pummeled parts of south-central Nebraska. This time the area hit was mainly northwest of Grand Island. Golf ball size hail was driven by 65 mph winds in an area from west of Ord to south of Loup City.
An F3 tornado touched down in Potter County, Pennsylvania and tracked 2.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
A team from the National Weather Service office in State College surveyed damage and interviewed residents and emergency management officials in McKean county.
A large upper air trough dug across the western Great Lakes on Monday, July 21. At the surface, a deep low pressure area moved across the eastern Great Lakes, driving a warm front across eastern New York and adjacent New England.
26 tornadoes were recorded on July 21, 2003, in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Nebraska, Vermont, Kansas.
Thunderstorm winds downed two large tree limbs.
Boats, campers, and vehicles sustained body and windshield damage from the hail.
A team from the National Weather Service office in State College surveyed damage and interviewed residents and emergency management officials in Potter county. The team determined that an F3 tornado touched down in Potter county around 4:00 pm Monday July 21 2003.
A mid and upper level trough moving southward across Florida on July 21st destabilized the atmosphere and set the state for severe afternoon thunderstorms across Southeast Florida.
Thunderstorms associated with a persistent upper level low produced heavy rain and flash flooding through the morning on July 21.
Thunderstorms developed in a highly unstable environment ahead of an approaching cold front. Several discrete cells initially formed across the area, producing numerous reports of large hail.
A strong warm advection pattern set up over Iowa during the evening of the 21st into the morning hours of the 22nd. Strong moisture transport pooled moisture over the state with precipitable water values increasing to 2 to 2.3 inches over the north half of the state.
A cold front moved into the Devils Lake region during the evening of the 21st and progressed into the Red River Valley around midnight.
During the late afternoon of July 21st, a stationary boundary set up across northeast North Dakota. Temperatures north of the boundary were generally in the low to mid 80s, while to the south they were in the mid 80s to low 90s.
A long duration convective event along a stalled boundary occurred. This resulted in a major heavy rain and flooding event from 3 to over 8 inches of rain falling. Some storms become severe with damaging winds over 60 mph and isolated large hail.
A stationary frontal boundary triggered several rounds of showers and thunderstorms on July 21st. One cluster of storms tracked through east-central Illinois during the late morning, blowing down a few trees and power lines across portions of Piatt and Champaign counties.
36 tornadoes were recorded on July 21, 2026, in West Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia.
7 on July 21, oldest first.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Surfside Beach, TX as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph). The 1909 Velasco hurricane was an intense tropical cyclone that devastated areas of the Texas coast in July 1909. The fourth tropical storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season, it formed from an area of disturbed weather east of the Leeward Islands on July 13, 1909.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 60 kt, central pressure 993 mb.
Hurricane Polly reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 965 mb, a category 4 storm.
Typhoon Gloria, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Gloring, was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that impacted Southeast Asia during July 1996.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Fengshen reached its peak of 145 kt (165 mph) with a central pressure of 892 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Dolly crossed the coast near Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico as a tropical storm, 45 kt, central pressure 1007 mb. Hurricane Dolly was a strong tropical cyclone that made landfall in Deep South Texas in July 2008. Dolly was the fourth tropical cyclone and second hurricane to form during the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Dora reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 929 mb, a category 4 storm.
23 on July 21, oldest first.
Severe flash flooding occurred after torrential rains fell on western north Texas on July 21, 1961. The heaviest rain, amounting to between five and nine inches, fell near the Oklaunion and Harrold communities, in Wilbarger County. Floodwaters covered Highway 287 with seven feet of water, and a nearby county road was under nine feet of water.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Two young women drowned when their car was swept off a flooded low water bridge. The bridge was covered by 2 feet of water.The current took the car about a half-mile downstream.
Isolated severe thunderstorms developed in eastern Oklahoma during the evening of July 21st. Strong thunderstorm winds downed trees and power lines in Cleveland and 5 miles southeast of Ponca City, and trees were blown down in Osage and 6 miles north northwest of Skiatook.
SKYWARN SPOTTER REPORT.
Thunderstorms dumped two to four inches of rain on portions of Trumbull County during the afternoon hours. The most severe flooding occurred in Warren, Howland, Braceville and Brookfield Townships with many evacuations reported.
Heavy rain began falling during the morning hours and continued into the afternoon. Rainfall rates exceeded two inches per hour during the early afternoon hours. Spotters reported 2.5 inches of rain in Saegertown between 1:00 and 2:30 p.m.
Runoff from very heavy thunderstorm rains caused the Cuyahoga River to leave it's banks late on the 21st. The river crested at 12.64 feet at Old Portage around 10 p.m. on the 21st. The river fell back below it's flood stage of 9 feet just after midnight on the 24th.
Heavy thunderstorm rains on July 21st caused the Mahoning River to go into flood at Youngstown. The river went above the flood stage of 10.0 feet at 11 p.m. on the 21st. The river crested at 17.49 feet at 7 a.m. on the 23rd and fell back below flood state at 10 p.m. on the 25th.
Training thunderstorms moved across northern Kentucky and south central Ohio beginning during the late evening hours and continuing into the overnight hours.
On July 21st, a developing surface low across the Great Lakes traveled along a stationary boundary draped across the North Country. Surface conditions became increasingly unstable during the afternoon with temperatures in the 80s and dewpoints in the 60s and lower 70s.
Thunderstorms caused damaging winds, heavy rain with flash flooding, and one report of marginally large hail in northwest Iowa from just before midnight on July 21st to a few hours after midnight on July 22nd.
The July 2012 Beijing flood was part of a series of 2012 flooding events across China that began in late spring of 2012 and continued during the summer. In July, the areas of southwestern China, including Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and northeastern China including Beijing, Hubei and Liaoning were worst-affected.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Subtropical moisture continued to move into Utah, creating scattered showers and thunderstorms across much of the state. However, the strongest storms were located over southern Utah, where flash flooding and strong thunderstorm winds were both observed.
The daily potential for flash flooding was relentless through the middle of July, with multiple flash floods during this period resulting in property damage.
A strong summer disturbance in the winds aloft moved up the Ohio Valley during the morning. It combined with the muggy air to produce local downpours during the late afternoon.
A round of thunderstorms moved across northeast Iowa during the morning and afternoon of July 21st. These storms dropped locally heavy rains that produced some flash flooding in Fayette and Chickasaw Counties.
Two rounds of thunderstorms moved across southwest Wisconsin during the evening of July 21st into the early morning hours of the 22nd. Both rounds of storms produced heavy rains with totals of 4 to 8 inches estimated by radar over the southern half of Grant County.
Heavy rainfall of 3 to over 12 inches over significant areas from 20 to 22 July in southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois moved downstream causing the Rock River to rise well above major flood stage levels just downstream of Freeport down to the Mississippi at Moline.
A series of short waves moving through an unseasonably strong northwesterly upper-level flow pattern brought several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia.
Low pressure over west central Indiana moved slowly east in Ohio on the afternoon and evening of the 21st. The boundary slowed to a stationary front across central Ohio, becoming a catalyst for storm development.
While thunderstorm coverage was not as widespread compared to the previous day, July 21, 2022, was still a very active monsoon day for northern New Mexico in part due to the training of thunderstorms along the Hermits Peak and Calf Canyon burn scar.
A MCS over Tennessee during the morning hours of July 21 pushed an outflow boundary into north Alabama in the afternoon. The air mass was very unstable south of the outflow boundary with surface based CAPE 3500-4500 J/kg and DCAPE 1300-1500 J/kg.
A largely ridge-dominated pattern persisted, resulting in anomalously warm temperatures. These hot temperatures resulted in at least one instance of a heat related fatality.
24 on July 21, oldest first.
Major damage to homes, especially roof damage.
July 21st was one of the hottest days of the summer in southeast Michigan, as temperatures soared into the middle to upper 90s. An extremely humid airmass was also in place, with dew points in the upper 70s.
Scattered thunderstorms developed in an unstable atmosphere over southcentral Wisconsin in the early afternoon hours. These storms quickly became severe and merged over Walworth County.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a 27-year old male was struck by lightning while mowing a lawn. The thunderstorm was not directly over the location at the time, but was nearby in Lawrenceville. The young man was pronounced dead on arrival at a local medical center.
Several homes reported blown off zinc roofs. Small hail was reported in Aguadilla and Hatillo.
Nickel size to tennis ball size hail combined with 70 mph winds caused extensive and widespread damage in Bismarck. The larger hail fell on the north side of the city where most of the damage occurred. Numerous homes and vehicles damaged.
Golfball to baseball size hail combined with 50 mph winds caused extensive damage to homes and vehicles. One hundred (100) vehicles at an automoble dealership sustained heavy damage.
Widespread very damaging winds, estimated around 90 MPH by a National Weather Service damage surveyor, raked most of Jefferson County. The city of Mount Vernon was especially hard hit, where about 14 percent of all homes received at least minor damage.
Trees down on Jennings Creek Highway.
Severe thunderstorms brought damaging winds, large hail, and frequent lightning strikes to the Mass Turnpike corridor.Early in the afternoon, simultaneous lightning strikes in Bedford ignited two fires which caused considerable damage.
A bowing line of severe thunderstorms, known as a Derecho, raced across Iowa and Illinois during the early morning hours of July 21 producing|widespread wind damage in about a 60 mile wide swath just south of Interstate 80.
A very unstable situation set up during the afternoon and evening of the 20th as a frontal boundary and remnants of the outflow boundary was established across southern Iowa. Temperatures warmed into the low to mid 90s across southern Iowa along and just south of the boundary.
During the early- to mid-evening hours, the Storm Prediction Center upgraded central, and much of southern, Indiana to a moderate risk for severe weather and issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area effective until 3 AM EST.
Several factors led to severe hail development across portions of Minnesota Tuesday afternoon, July 21st.
Scattered thunderstorms developed during the afternoon and evening across eastern North Carolina as the sea breeze shifted inland and interacted with a very unstable air mass. A few storms become severe producing strong winds and frequent lightning strikes.
Although only a small fraction of South Central Nebraska experienced severe weather on this Thursday evening, the one severe storm that formed was one of the most intense individual storms of the mid-to-late summer within the area.
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred during July 21-23 with a few storms becoming severe. In addition, a few people were struck by lightning on a farm in Decatur county, resulting in 1 fatality and 2 injuries.
Tornado Watch number 426 and Severe Thunderstorm Watch number 427 were both in effect during this event. Very high instability with CAPE around 5000 J/KG set the stage for severe thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening.
A series of short waves moving through an unseasonably strong northwesterly upper-level flow pattern brought several rounds of strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia.
Scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms occurred across the area. This was an unusual, well organized severe weather event given the time of year.
Afternoon thunderstorms produced localized gusty winds across Citrus County knocking down trees in the area. Additionally, 8 people on Clearwater Beach were struck by lightning by a developing thunderstorm.
A hot and humid airmass was in place across the northeastern United States ahead of an approaching cold front with these ingredients resulting in numerous showers and thunderstorms across New Hampshire and western Maine.
An upper level short wave trough moving through the region resulted in severe thunderstorms developing over south central North Dakota.
29 on July 21, oldest first.
A 78 year-old woman died in her home in Guthrie due to the excessive heat. Reports indicated she rejected numerous offers of an air conditioner.
Heat related death (no a/c).
An elderly women (exact age unknown) was overcome by excessive heat. She lived in Springfield, MO (Greene County) and had a history of health problems.
A moderate heat wave began in the Chicago metropolitan area on July 21 and continued through July 25.
An excessive heat watch was issued on Friday, July 20th and an excessive heat warning was issued on Saturday, July 21st. The high temperature at Ohare Airport was 93 on both July 20th and 21st, 95 on July 22nd, 92 on July 23rd and 90 on July 24th.
The second mini Heat Wave of the month hit from July 21 through July 24. Temperatures rose to the middle to upper 90s with St. Louis hitting 99 degrees, the hottest of the summer thus far. The maximum Heat Index ranged from 105 to 115 degrees.
The first, significant round of excessive heat for the summer of 2001 affected parts of south-central and southeast Wisconsin. Medical examiner reports indicated that two people died from heat exposure in Milwaukee County - a female (52), and a male (34).
Several days of excessive heat and humidity caused two fatalities and a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. In Cape Girardeau, two residents of a home without air conditioning died. The windows were closed because one of the victims suffered from asthma.
Oppressive heat and humidity was observed across the area from July 21st to July 25th. Afternoon heat indices ranged from 105 to 110 degrees. A 78 year old female from Bonner Springs in Wyandotte county died from heat related causes on July 23rd.
Several days of excessive heat and humidity caused a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. A 46-year-old construction worker from Livingston County suffered a heart attack in which heat was a factor, but heat was not the direct cause of death.
Several days of excessive heat and humidity caused a significant increase in heat-related illnesses. Hospitals reported that a majority of those treated were outdoor workers. The heat index peaked around 110 degrees each afternoon, and dropped to only around 80 degrees at night.
Strong high pressure centered over the southwest United States and monsoon moisture during the last half of July led to numerous daily high minimum and high maximum temperature records, some of which were all time records.
An 11-year-old boy died of heat stroke during football practice. A 12-year-old boy died a few days earlier during football practice but the cause was undetermined.
Heat advisory conditions settled over the North Bay Valleys on July 21st and persisted for 5 days. High temperatures ranged from 108 to 113 and elevated humidity levels at night kept low temperatures in the 70s. One fatality was reported in Napa County.
A heat wave re-established itself on 21st and lasted through the 26th. Numerous heat related illnesses or emergencies were reported. A Huntsville area ambulance service reported at least 20 heat emergency responses during this long period of hot weather.
One of the most oppressive heat waves since mid July 1995 enveloped Eastern Pennsylvania from July 21st through the 24th. The heat was responsible for twenty-five deaths, twenty-two within Philadelphia and dozens of heat related injuries.
An oppressive hot and humid air mass produced excessive heat that resulted in day time temperatures 95 to 105 degrees with night time lows in the 70s and 80s. Heat indices peaked around 115 degrees during Friday afternoon, July 22.
One of the most oppressive heat waves since mid July 1995 enveloped New Jersey from July 21st through the 24th. The heat was responsible for two deaths and hundreds of heat related injuries. Many locations had high temperatures that reached into the 100s.
A portion of the heat ridge that brought record setting heat across much of the eastern two-thirds of the lower 48 states, delivered record heat as well as oppressive dew points to portions of Vermont on July 21st.
An extended period of hot and humid conditions occurred over the region with afternoon highs in the mid to upper 90s and overnight lows in the mid 70s to around 80.
Hot and humid conditions became established across southern WI for several days. Maximum heat index values reach 95 degrees or warmer for the majority of this period. The WI Department of Health Services designated hundreds of cooling centers across WI.
High pressure centered near the Four Corners led to dangerous heat across the Phoenix area. The heat led to 13 fatalities (5 direct and 8 indirect) according to the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.
Temperatures from the mid 90s to around 100 degrees combined with dew points in the 70s to create dangerously high heat index values.
Hot temperatures over 100 degrees were experienced in Pima County July 21st. One heat-related fatality occurred just southwest of Tucson.
Above normal temperatures occurred in southeast Arizona on July 21st with high temperatures just over 100 degrees in central Pima County.
Hot temperatures of 100 to 105 degrees on the Tohono O'odham Nation were experienced on July 21.
Strong high pressure building overhead brought record hot temperatures to portions of the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin.
In the midst of a prolonged heat wave, the combination of dangerous heat and humidity resulted in a fatality in northeastern Mississippi.
Dangerous heat and humidity persisted across the Mid-South. Heat indices ranged between 105 and 110 across West Tennessee as an upper-level ridge continued to build, nudging temperatures and heat indices upwards daily.
2 on July 21, oldest first.
Millsboro recorded 110°F, Delaware’s all-time maximum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Gallipolis (near) recorded 113°F, Ohio’s all-time maximum temperature, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
45 on July 21, oldest first.
The Bridge Fire started on July 21, 1988, in California, and burned 6,776 acres.
The Mendenhall Fire was discovered on July 21, 1994, in Oregon, and burned 6,998 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Dann Fire was discovered on July 21, 1995, in Nevada, and burned 22,890 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Sprite Fire was discovered on July 21, 1995, in New Mexico, and burned 7,691 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Wildcat Fire was discovered on July 21, 1996, in Utah, and burned 5,830 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Many Lakes Fire was discovered on July 21, 1997, in Alaska, and burned 47,300 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The McNally Fire was started by an illegal campfire. It charred 90,500 acres through July 31st and ultimately charred 150,696 acres. The fire was located in Tulare County near the town of Johnsondale and is the largest fire in Sequoia Park history.
The Mcnally Fire was discovered on July 21, 2002, in California, and burned 150,696 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Long Creek Fire was discovered on July 21, 2002, in Alaska, and burned 74,931 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Red Point Fire was discovered on July 21, 2003, in South Dakota, and burned 17,568 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Smoke Fire was discovered on July 21, 2003, in Lassen County, California, and burned 7,790 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Norutak Hills 2 Fire was discovered on July 21, 2004, in Alaska, and burned 17,397 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Rock Creek Fire was discovered on July 21, 2004, in Alaska, and burned 5,750 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Cow Fire was discovered on July 21, 2005, in Mohave County, Arizona, and burned 44,707 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Mission Creek Fire was discovered on July 21, 2005, in Alaska, and burned 33,655 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Big Waldren Fire was discovered on July 21, 2005, in Alaska, and burned 17,123 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Blossom Fire was discovered on July 21, 2005, in Curry County, Oregon, and burned 14,772 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Sunrise Complex (Oak) Fire was discovered on July 21, 2005, in Washington County, Utah, and burned 9,534 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Olive Fire was discovered on July 21, 2006, in Merced County, California, and burned 25,000 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Gran Fire was discovered on July 21, 2006, in Maricopa County, Arizona, and burned 5,245 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Murphy Complex was discovered on July 21, 2007, in Owyhee County, Idaho, and burned 367,785 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Meriwether Fire was discovered on July 21, 2007, in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, and burned 46,298 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Railley Mountain Fire was discovered on July 21, 2007, in Flathead County, Montana, and burned 21,585 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Krassel Complex (Cottonwood Wfu) Fire was discovered on July 21, 2007, in Valley County, Idaho, and burned 14,637 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Wildhorse Complex was discovered on July 21, 2009, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 13,790 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Eagle fire started around 0940 PST on July 21, off Eagles Nest Road and Camino San Ignacio, roughly five miles east of Warner Springs. Only one outbuilding was destroyed, and the fire generally burned in unpopulated areas to a total size of 14,140 acres.
The Eagle Fire was discovered on July 21, 2011, in California, and burned 14,100 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Miner Paradise Complex was discovered on July 21, 2013, in Park County, Montana, and burned 10,850 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Brown Butte Fire was discovered on July 21, 2013, in Lincoln County, Idaho, and burned 7,300 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Rn Scott Canyon Fire was reported on July 21, 2016, in Gilliam County, Oregon, and burned 31,848 acres.
The Rim Fire was reported on July 21, 2016, in Graham County, Arizona, and burned 8,872 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Forty and One Half Fire was reported on July 21, 2017, in Yukon-Koyukuk County, Alaska, and burned 23,820 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Horn Butte 0594 Rn Fire was reported on July 21, 2017, in Gilliam County, Oregon, and burned 9,357 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Chinn MA Fire was reported on July 21, 2017, in Meagher County, Montana, and burned 7,090 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bear Trap Fire was reported on July 21, 2018, in Grand County, Utah, and burned 12,246 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Obi Fire was reported on July 21, 2018, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 11,656 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Museum Fire started in the Dry Lake Hills 4 miles north of downtown Flagstaff. It was human caused. The fire was hit by heavy thunderstorms rains just two days later that caused ash and debris flow out of the fire area. The final size was 1,961 acres.
The Black Hills Fire was reported on July 21, 2021, in Southeast Fairbanks County, Alaska, and burned 30,305 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Leilani Fire was reported on July 21, 2022, in Hawaii County, Hawaii, and burned 18,600 acres.
The Dodge Springs Fire was reported on July 21, 2022, in Lincoln County, Nevada, and burned 5,644 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Newell Road Fire was reported on July 21, 2023, in Klickitat County, Washington, and burned 60,551 acres.
Several wildfires erupted in July, mainly late in the month. Hawarden fire in City of Riverside did the most damage. The excessive heat caused rapid drying of the vegetation and fuels.
The 2024 Jasper wildfire was a wildfire complex that burned in July 2024 in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada. Fires started north and south of the resort town of Jasper and grew out of control, and on July 22 they forced a mass evacuation of 25,000 residents, workers, and visitors.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Courtrock Fire was reported on July 21, 2024, in Grant County, Oregon, and burned 20,019 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Cow Camp Complex was reported on July 21, 2026, in Malheur County, Oregon, and burned 8,044 acres.
22 on July 21, oldest first.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Knossos, Crete, Greece. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 5,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Lintao, Gansu Province, China. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Tianshui, Gansu Province, China. It killed 10,400 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
An earthquake struck Palestine, Syria, Israel. It killed 20,000 people.
A magnitude 8 earthquake struck Unga Island, Alaska Peninsula, United States. With the tsunami it caused, it killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Solomon Islands, New Caledonia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Kern County, California, United States. It killed 12 people, injured 200 and did $60 million in damage.
3 on the moment magnitude scale. The main shock occurred at 4:52 am Pacific Daylight Time, killed 12 people, injured hundreds more and caused an estimated $60 million in property damage.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Anjar, Bhuj, Gandhidham, Kandla, India. It killed 156 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
The 1956 Anjar earthquake occurred at 15:32 UTC on 21 July, causing maximum damage in town of Anjar in Kutch, Gujarat, India. 1 on the surface-wave magnitude scale and a maximum perceived intensity of IX on the Mercalli intensity scale.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 1986 Chalfant Valley earthquake struck southern Mono County near Bishop and Chalfant, California at 07:42:28 Pacific Daylight Time on July 21. 7 million in the affected areas.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Chalfant Valley, California-Nevada, United States. It did $1 million in damage.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Gansu, Yongdeng, Baiyin, Dingxi, Jingtai, China. It killed 14 people, injured 60, destroyed 4,500 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Avgold'S Hartebeestfontein Mine, South Africa. It killed 15 people and injured 46.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China. It killed 16 people, injured 584, destroyed 264,878 houses and did $75 million in damage.
The 2003 Dayao earthquake occurred on July 21, at 23:16:33 CST. 9 earthquake was in Dayao County in the mountainous area of central Yunnan, China.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Rasht, Asht, Tajikistan. It killed 12 people.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Dingxi, Min, Gansu, China. It killed 95 people, injured 887, destroyed 123,000 houses and did $466 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Cook Strait, New Zealand. It injured 5 and did $50 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
5 on the Mww scale and was centred in New Zealand's Cook Strait, around 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the town of Seddon in Marlborough. The earthquake struck at 5:09 pm on Sunday 21 July 2013 at a depth of 13 kilometres (8 mi), according to GeoNet.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
6 on the moment magnitude scale struck close to the tourist locations of Kos in Greece and Bodrum in Turkey, killing 2 people and injuring hundreds. Mostly referenced as the 2017 Bodrum–Kos earthquake, this earthquake generated a tsunami which was one of the largest tsunamis in the Mediterranean Sea region.
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A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Solok, Sumatra, Indonesia. It killed 1 person, injured 2 and destroyed 2 houses.
2 on July 21, oldest first.
Midagahara, Japan erupted. It killed 1 person.
Taisetsuzan, Japan erupted. It killed 2 people.
6 on July 21, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck Crete, Greece. It killed 5,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Latakia, Syria. It killed 20,000 people.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8 earthquake struck Alaska Peninsula, AK, United States, with a maximum water height of 30 meters. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Solomon Islands.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Cook Strait, New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 0.07 meters. It injured 5 and did $50 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Askja Lake, Iceland, with a maximum water height of 60 meters.
2 on July 21, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began July 21, 1939, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 36; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began July 21, 1958, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 53; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
1 on July 21, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $1.7 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 7, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from July 21, 2003 to July 23, 2003.
12 on July 21, oldest first.
A Hastings, NE man who died while working on a road construction project was killed by a lightning strike. He was operating an asphalt roller at the time of the strike. He was taken to a Hastings hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Lightning killed a 35-yr old man and seriously injured his wife and young daughter. The family was hiking near the Gore Range Overlook along Trail Ridge Road when the thunderstorm developed, at an elevation of 11,700 feet.
Man went outside to check possible lightning damage to barn. While standing outside of barn was hitby lightning and died shortly after at Hillsdale Community Health Center.
Lightning struck a nearby tree and killed a man while alseep in a tent.
A young man waded into the surf towards dusk when the beach was unmanned by lifeguards. He was not a strong swimmer and got caught in a rip current. His body was found 5 days later, 600 yards offshore and 2.75 miles northwest of where he was last seen.
Midday thunderstorms peppered Grand Teton mountain with lightning causing 17 injuries.
A 62-year-old Wisconsin man drowned near Picnic Rocks in Marquette on the afternoon of the 21st. North wind gusts of 10 to 20 mph enhanced the waves and a longshore current which led to the drowning.
WMBB reported that two people drown in the Gulf of Mexico from rip currents. Panama City Beach police rescued more than 25 people from the water on July 21st. Double red flags were posted that morning. The first drowning victim was at the Boardwalk Beach Resort.
West winds gusting to 20 mph produced considerable wave action on Northern Lake Michigan, and provided a favorable environment for rip currents.
A 67 year old male drowned due to a rip current on Ocracoke Island.
A narrow band of thunderstorms developed along an outflow boundary over eastern Lee County.
A rip current pulled a man offshore and he subsequently drowned.
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.