Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for March 16, in any year, each linked to its full record.
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Talifu, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 5,800 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Leflore, Carroll, Grenada counties, Mississippi and tracked 110.2 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 63 and injuring 500. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: O'Tuckalofa/Baldwin, MS.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Peoria, Marshall, Putnam counties, Illinois and tracked 35.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 70. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Lacon, IL.
Tornadoes
25 tornadoes were recorded on March 16, 1942, in Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, 7 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 148 people.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Jiayi, Taiwan. It killed 1,258 people, injured 145, destroyed 6,769 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Issaquena, Washington, Sharkey counties, Mississippi and tracked 45 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 24 and injuring 80. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Mayersville to SE Moorhead, MS.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in McNairy, Chester, Henderson counties, Tennessee and tracked 35.8 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 15 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Bethel Springs, TN.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Champaign, Vermilion counties, Illinois and tracked 52.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 11 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Alvin, IL.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Grayson, Hardin counties, Kentucky and tracked 29.4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Caneyville, KY.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Lee, Prentiss counties, Mississippi and tracked 4.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Baldwyn, MS.
Floods
On 16 March 2019, a flash flood struck Jayapura Regency in the province of Papua, Indonesia due to torrential rain, with a separate landslide occurring in the city of Jayapura several hours later. At least 113 people were killed in the two events.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Franklin Parish, Richland Parish, Madison Parish, Louisiana and tracked 65 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 17 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Bakers/E Delhi, LA/S Mayersville, MS.
80 on March 16, oldest first.
An F3 tornado touched down in Brown County, Texas and 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Santa Anna, TX.
An F2 tornado touched down in Crawford, Monroe, Bibb counties, Georgia and tracked 9.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Montpelier Springs, GA.
An F2 tornado touched down in Bibb, Shelby counties, Alabama and tracked 8.6 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 25. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Piper/Gurnee Junction, AL.
An F2 tornado touched down in Greene County, Alabama and tracked 0.9 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 12. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Eutaw, AL.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lawrence County, Tennessee and tracked 5.6 miles, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Dunn, TN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lee County, Mississippi and tracked 4 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Verona, MS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Issaquena, Washington, Sharkey counties, Mississippi and tracked 45 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 24 and injuring 80. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Mayersville to SE Moorhead, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Franklin Parish, Richland Parish, Madison Parish, Louisiana and tracked 65 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 17 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Bakers/E Delhi, LA/S Mayersville, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Benton, Tippah counties, Mississippi and tracked 8.7 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Blue Mountain/SE Ripley, MS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Leflore, Carroll, Grenada counties, Mississippi and tracked 110.2 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 63 and injuring 500. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: O'Tuckalofa/Baldwin, MS.
An F5 tornado touched down in Peoria, Marshall, Putnam counties, Illinois and tracked 35.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 70. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Lacon, IL.
25 tornadoes were recorded on March 16, 1942, in Illinois, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, 7 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 148 people.
An F4 tornado touched down in McNairy, Chester, Henderson counties, Tennessee and tracked 35.8 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 15 and injuring 200. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Bethel Springs, TN.
An F4 tornado touched down in Champaign, Vermilion counties, Illinois and tracked 52.1 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 11 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Alvin, IL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Grayson, Hardin counties, Kentucky and tracked 29.4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Caneyville, KY.
An F4 tornado touched down in Lee, Prentiss counties, Mississippi and tracked 4.9 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Baldwyn, MS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Elkhart County, Indiana and tracked 10 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 53. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Goshen, IN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky and tracked 9.6 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 11 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Greenville/Browder, KY.
An F3 tornado touched down in Carroll, Henry, Benton counties, Tennessee and tracked 54.9 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 67. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Huntingdon/Mansfield/Manlyville/Springville, TN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Marshall, Benton counties, Mississippi and tracked 17.4 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Holly Springs to NE Spring Hill, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Bullitt, Nelson counties, Kentucky and tracked 15 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Bardstown/Deatsville/Cox's Creek, KY.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lauderdale County, Alabama and tracked 1.8 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Waterloo, AL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Humphreys County, Tennessee and 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hurricane Mills/Bold Spring, TN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Giles, Marshall counties, Tennessee and tracked 20.2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Goodspring/Pulaski to Diana, TN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Logan County, Illinois and tracked 4.7 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Lincoln to N Lincoln, IL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Cheatham, Robertson counties, Tennessee and tracked 9.2 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Cooperstown, TN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lee, Prentiss counties, Mississippi and tracked 5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Baldwyn, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hardeman, McNairy counties, Tennessee and tracked 7.9 miles, injuring 5. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hornsby/Series, TN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Leake County, Mississippi and tracked 24.5 miles, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Ofahoma/Carthage, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Grenada County, Mississippi and tracked 5.8 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Grenada, MS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Bryan County, Oklahoma and tracked 7.6 miles, killing 1 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Old Kemp to Achille, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Wayne County, North Carolina and tracked 6.6 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Gallatin County, Illinois and tracked 0.3 miles, 30 yards wide at its widest.
An F4 tornado touched down in Grant, Kay, Sumner counties, Oklahoma and tracked 82.7 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 7.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hill, Navarro counties, Texas and tracked 11.1 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
On March 16, 1965, a fast-moving tornado touched down several times across Grant and Kay Counties in northern Oklahoma, causing widespread damage. The tornado first touched down southwest of Nash, destroying a church, a parsonage, and a steel granary. Five farmsteads were heavily damaged and one person was injured near Medford. In the Deer Creek area, six farmsteads were destroyed, and a 262-foot microwave tower was downed north of Braman.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Extensive damage in the Oak Grove and Alpine areas in the county. The Overton Co-op Gardening Center was destroyed and several businesses sustained minor damage. 10 homes were destroyed, 12 homes heavily damaged, 46 homes received minor damage, and 6 mobile homes destroyed.
What was believed to be a tornado destroyed two mobile homes and damaged several other buildings between Pisgah and Rosalie in the eastern portion of Jackson County. Two people sustained injuries when the mobile homes were destroyed.
Trees were downed, one mobile home was destroyed injuring a man, and twelve homes sustained some structural damage by what was believed to be a small tornado.
A thunderstorm in Fentress County produced hail and a tornado. The Roof at Allardt Elementary School was damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
A small and short-lived tornado was observed by an Amateur Radio spotter.
A strong weather system produced scattered showers and thunderstorms over Central Texas on the afternoon of Thursday March 16. Funnel clouds were first reported by the public and by the Leander Police Department near 4 pm that afternoon.
An 81-mph thunderstorm wind gust measured at Tyndall AFB (KPAM).
A series of weather systems bringing heavy rain, strong winds, high surf, and a tornado affected the District on March 16-21, 2011. Two deaths occurred during this time.
High pressure ridging became the dominant weather feature during March 8th-10th and brought warm, dry conditions to the area; temperatures were at least several degrees above the seasonal average during much of this period.
A stalled front, combined with a warm and moist airmass, led to the development of showers and thunderstorms across the region. With high atmospheric moisture present, flash flooding occurred across portions of south and central Mississippi.
A strong cold front continued to slowly push through Florida during tthe day causing a tornado in Sarasota County.
Thunderstorms developed along a dryline, and eventually a Pacific cold front, the afternoon of Thursday March 16. Large hail, damaging winds, and a three EF-1 tornadoes all occurred in some of these storms as they pushed east and southeast across the region that evening.
A cold front west of central Pennsylvania slowly began to drift eastward during the morning hours and throughout the day on March 16, 2025 allowing ample lift in an environment with sufficient shear and instability to form a quasi-linear convective system across western…
A strongly forced band of convection developed over West Virginia in the morning ahead of an approaching front, and quickly lifted north-northeastward into Pennsylvania through the early afternoon.
A significant storm system that produce a deadly tornado outbreak over the Southeast U.S. and Mid-Mississippi Valley moved across the Carolinas causing some severe weather.
Yet another QLCS moved through portions of north and central Georgia in the early morning hours of the 16th. Pockets of concentrated winds damage were found mostly in north Georgia where the storms held together best.
A powerful early season cold front spawned multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms. The first round occurred from late morning through mid afternoon, and focused mainly across northern Virginia into north-central Maryland producing scattered wind damage and a brief tornado.
With a strong wind field aloft already in place, showers and thunderstorms developed and formed into a line that moved through Delaware. This convective line brought damaging wind gusts and a tornado to Delaware.
A line of showers and thunderstorms, with embedded strong-to-severe storms moved across western North Carolina through the morning into the early afternoon. Several isolated, weak tornadoes occurred, along with sporadic pockets of damaging wind gusts.
With a strong wind field aloft already in place, showers and thunderstorms developed and formed into a line that moved through the Eastern Shore of Maryland. This convective line brought damaging wind gusts and a tornado to the Eastern Shore.
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Hurricane Hina reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph), a category 4 storm.
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Between 3 and 4 inches of rain fell over the above counties in just under four hours. Maximum rainfall was in eastern Bandera and eastern Kerr Counties, where 6 inches was reported, and in western Bexar and western Comal Counties, where 5 inches was reported.
High water, along with mud and some debris, on roads. A 500 pound propane tank was washed out of a yard and into the creek on Gassaway Road. Gassaway Road was also blocked by a mud slide.
An ice jam on Cazenovia Creek resulted in flooding in West Seneca. Several basements in the Southgate Plaza area were flooded though no evacuations were ordered. At Ebenezer, the creek crested at 11.6 feet. Flood stage is 10 feet.
A narrow, intense band of rain set up along the northern Sacramento Valley. Rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour were observed at times in the Redding area, with total rainfall amounts of more than 4 inches observed in a period of 3 hours.
A very moist Pacific storm system brought heavy rainfall to the northern half of Utah. This rain combined with rapid snowmelt to cause flooding across several basins in Utah's mountain valleys, including portions of Weber and Morgan counties.
A slow moving cold front produced thunderstorms with high winds and heavy rain that caused flooding.
A squall line moved across northwest Florida during the morning hours of March 16th. Although no reports of severe weather were received, lightning did damage a home.
An atmospheric river brought several inches of rainfall to central Idaho which was already soaked from previous rains. This contributed to mudslides that shut down roads and flooding that affected residences and property.
On 16 March 2019, a flash flood struck Jayapura Regency in the province of Papua, Indonesia due to torrential rain, with a separate landslide occurring in the city of Jayapura several hours later. At least 113 people were killed in the two events.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An upper-level low pressure center moved eastward across Central Alabama on Wednesday, March 16th, bringing showers and thunderstorms to portions of the area.
26 on March 16, oldest first.
A severe thunderstorm destroyed two mobile homes near Yancey. No injuries were reported.
Severe downburst winds destroyed two mobile homes, severely damaged two other mobile homes and a lounge, and slightly damaged another two mobile homes and two single family structures.
Large tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Vicksburg by strong gradient wind.
Sheet metal was ripped from several buildings, and power lines were downed in a one block area on Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur.
Official gust to 84 mph at the Lander airport; unofficial gusts to 141 mph and 107 mph in the foothills west of Lander. Considerable damage to trees, roofs, and automobiles in Lander and Ft. Washakie. Property damage amount is estimated. Gusts to 70 mph in the Casper area.
Hail was reported by the public to have damaged cars on I-37 along the south side of San Antonio.
A NWS Storm survey determined that straight line thunderstorm winds produce extensive damage to a trailer park in the northern part of Robeson county. 18 structures in all were damaged.
Gusty trade winds toppled power lines and trees, and tore off portions of buildings in and around Honolulu on the island of Oahu. Costs of damages were not available. Six individuals were injured by falling objects.
A squall line moved across southern Georgia during the afternoon hours of March 16th, producing some reports of straight line wind damage.
Strong low pressure tracked from Central WI to the eastern portion of Upper MI. Strong westerly wind gusts occurred as the low moved to the northeast. Many tree limbs or whole trees were brought down with some snapped or uprooted.
A couple of clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms developed near a warm front extending from central Missouri southeastward to the Tennessee Valley. The primary type of severe weather was large hail.
Very strong S/SE winds developed across the North Carolina mountains early in the morning in advance of a dynamic frontal system.
On March 16, a strong area of low pressure tracked across the Central Great Lakes into southeast Ontario and southwest Quebec.
A strongly forced band of convection developed over West Virginia during the morning of March 16th ahead of an approaching front, and quickly lifted north-northeastward into Pennsylvania through the early afternoon.
A strong area low pressure moved over the Great Lakes region and a warm front lifting north early in the day put the area into the warm sector of the system, ahead of an approaching cold front.
A strongly forced band of convection developed over the upper Ohio Valley in the morning ahead of an approaching front, with largely unidirectional southerly flow and elongated hodographs.
A strong cold front moved through the region during the afternoon and evening. An initial pre-frontal boundary led to the developed isolated strong to severe storms.
With a strong wind field aloft already in place, showers and thunderstorms developed and formed into a line that moved through New Jersey. These storms produced widespread damaging wind gusts.
A strong area of low pressure occluded over the Great Lakes on March 16, pushing a strong cold front towards the region.
A strong cold front moved through the southeast US as a deep mid/upper level trough shifted eastward from the lower Mississippi valley into the deep south. Ahead of the front, there was ample instability, low level helicity, and shear with cool temperatures aloft.
A squall line swept through the tri-state area ahead of a cold front on March 16th. Numerous reports of severe weather were received.
A strong cold front entered into West Virginia during the late night hours of March 15th and brought strong to severe thunderstorms through the state just before dawn on the 16th.
A powerful early season cold front spawned multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms. The first round occurred from late morning through mid afternoon, and focused mainly across northern Virginia into north-central Maryland producing scattered wind damage and a brief tornado.
A strong low pressure system brought a period of strong winds, along with rain, to eastern New York on March 16-17, 2026. Winds started in the southerly direction before switching to the west behind the cold front.
Strong low pressure moved into the Great Lakes on March 16th and into northern Quebec Canada by the morning of March 17th.
A cold front stationed across western Pennsylvania during the morning hours allowed for thunderstorm development to form across the Shenandoah Valley during the late morning hours of March 16, 2026 that began to surge towards southern Pennsylvania.
29 on March 16, oldest first.
Snowstorm of March 16, 1936 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Ohio Valley. It lasted from March 16, 1936 to March 20, 1936.
Snowstorm of March 16, 1965 was ranked category 3, Major, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from March 16, 1965 to March 19, 1965.
Ice storm occurred with anywhere from 1/2 inch of ice accumulation on roadways to several inches of ice accumulations on objects such as radio towers. Every radio station in the area had damage due to the ice accumulation.
Ice storm occurred with anywhere from 1/2 inch of ice accumulation on roadways to several inches of ice accumulations of objects. Every radio station in the area had damage due to the ice accumulation and ice falling off the towers.
Low pressure moving slowly northeast across Oklahoma and southern Kansas induced a strong, sub-freezing northeast surface upslope that, when combined with strong 850-mb warm advection, produced widespread freezing rain across Central and parts of South-Central Kansas.
An extremely intense storm moved up toward the extreme Western Aleutians late Tuesday continuing to just south of Adak as a 946mb center 9pm Wednesday.
A 51-year-old woman from South Berwick was killed when snow and ice slid off the high-pitched roof of her 2-story home and completely buried her.
Two snowboarders were buried and killed by a massive avalanche which swept down a steep slope in upper Big Cottonwood Canyon. The two were part of a large group of snowboarders traveling through the backcountry near the Brighton Ski Resort.
Gusty 15-20 knot winds over San Diego Bay and just off Imperial Beach disrupted a Sailing Regatta. Very rough seas were present off the coast, due to the combination of four foot wind waves and an eight foot northwest swells.
Snowstorm of March 16, 2003 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from March 16, 2003 to March 23, 2003.
An area of strong low pressure moved northeast up the Ohio Valley spreading heavy, wet snow across the region. The snow spread from southwest to northeast across northern Ohio during the early morning hours of March 16th and continued through the early evening hours.
A low pressure system strengthened over the mid-Mississippi valley, moved to the Virginias, then tracked northeast along the Atlantic coast. The late season storm produced ten to twenty inches of heavy, wet snow across much of the region.
An area of strong low pressure moved northeast up the Ohio Valley spreading heavy, wet snow across the region. The snow began in northwestern Pennsylvania during the early morning hours of the 16th and then continued through the late evening hours.
Late on the 15th into the 16th, low pressure in the plains moved east as it intensified and became better organized. A stationary front went from this low east to North Carolina. Moisture was spread north into the area where cold air was near the surface.
Late on the 15th into the 16th, low pressure in the plains moved east as it intensified and became better organized. A stationary front went from this low east to North Carolina. Moisture was spread north into the area where cold air was near the surface.
Snowstorm of March 16, 2007 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from March 16, 2007 to March 18, 2007.
A nor'easter caused sleet to fall across the greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area and the Raritan Basin and heavy snow and sleet to fall across northwestern New Jersey. The nor'easter caused thousands of accidents and six known fatalities.
A nor'easter caused heavy sleet to fall across the greater Philadelphia Metropolitan Area, heavy snow and sleet to fall across Berks County and the Lehigh Valley and heavy snow in the Poconos on the 16th into the early morning of the 17th.
Low pressure off the Delmarva Peninsula moved northeast at deepened off Cape Cod. The large low pressure area brought a blanket of heavy snow across the entire region.
An area of low pressure developed along a stationary boundary across the Carolinas on the 16th and moved north along the East coast to Long Island by the morning of the 17th, before it moved into the Gulf of Maine by the afternoon.
A large area of low pressure tracked north along the Mid-Atlantic Coast on March 16th and 17th. The low pressure moved along the New England Coast and then into Canada by the 18th.
An intense snow shower caused near zero visibility and slick roads that were blamed for a massive pileup on both sides of I-40.
Rainfall along a cold front overnight on March 15th gave way to clearing skies during the early morning hours on March 16th. Radiational cooling dropped temperatures to below freezing in some spots in the Spokane Area.
A low pressure system that traversed across the southern United States brought heavy snow to Delaware on the 16th and 17th. Snowfall averaged 3 to 8 inches with the highest amounts in the southern half of the state.
A rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17. An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota.
A series of winter systems associated with an atmospheric river brought an abundance of heavy, wet snow to southwest Colorado. This, paired with periods of warmer temperatures in between the events, resulted in an unstable snowpack.
Low pressure moved to the south and east of the region on the 16th and into the 17th leading to snowfall across the Northland. The heaviest amounts were across southern areas where 3 to 7 inches were received.
A rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17. An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota.
Low pressure moved to the south and east of the region on the 16th and into the 17th leading to snowfall across the Northland.
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Although March 2013 was not an exceptionally warm month for Wichita Falls, there was one record high temperature set. On this date in 2013, a record high temperature was set for the day when the Sheppard Air Force Base weather station reported a high of 88 degrees.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An unusually extreme, early-season heat wave impacted central California during the middle of March, setting several monthly heat records across the region.
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A man was found unresponsive on a sidewalk in Harvey during the morning hours and later died at a hospital. The low temperature at Chicago O'Hare Airport was 26 degrees.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner reported the death of a woman from hypothermia during the morning. She was found in the driveway of her home and was determined to be intoxicated.
The 2017 growing season began early across Upstate South Carolina, due to an unusually warm February and early March that saw average temperatures of almost 10 degrees above normal.
A late season freeze occurred across the tri-state area on the morning of March 16th. Across Georgia, as much as 80 percent of the blueberry crop was lost.
Late afternoon on the 16th, the Escanaba Public Safety received a report of a 36 year-old male from Wisconsin who went missing. His body was found in the woods along the northern fence line of the Delta County Airport early evening of the 18th.
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The Unnamed Fire started on March 16, 1987, in Minnesota, and burned 2,510 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on March 16, 1988, in Kansas, and burned 1,655 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on March 16, 1989, in Florida, and burned 56,858 acres.
The Tex Fire started on March 16, 1989, in New Mexico, and burned 5,557 acres.
The Dof 208 Fire started on March 16, 1990, in Florida, and burned 1,631 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 16, 1994, in Comanche County, Kansas, and burned 7,000 acres.
The Sylvia Fire was discovered on March 16, 1994, in Kansas, and burned 4,960 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Henrietta Fire was discovered on March 16, 1996, in Texas, and burned 13,702 acres.
The Poolville Fire was discovered on March 16, 1996, in Texas, and burned 12,201 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on March 16, 1996, in Texas, and burned 5,367 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on March 16, 1996, in Texas, and burned 2,913 acres.
The Perez Fire was discovered on March 16, 1997, in New Mexico, and burned 38,000 acres.
The RL3 Fire was discovered on March 16, 1998, in Minnesota, and burned 6,000 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 16, 1999, in Nebraska, and burned 74,500 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Milagro Fire was discovered on March 16, 2000, in Guadalupe County, New Mexico, and burned 12,800 acres; the cause was recorded as railroad operations and maintenance.
The lack of significant rainfall in the Maricao State Forest during the month of March, typical of this time of the year, contributed to the dry conditions which helped fuel a forest fire which burned 296 acres during a period of four days.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 16, 2006, in Edwards County, Texas, and burned 2,100 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Trace Unit 2 Fire started on March 16, 2006, in Mississippi, and burned 1,528 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 16, 2006, in Mississippi, and burned 1,507 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Greenwood Fire was discovered on March 16, 2008, in Midland County, Texas, and burned 5,500 acres; the cause was recorded as smoking.
The Border Fire was discovered on March 16, 2008, in Chaves County, New Mexico, and burned 1,520 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Joe Bob Fire was discovered on March 16, 2009, in Oklahoma, and burned 3,600 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Zweygardt Fire was discovered on March 16, 2011, in Cheyenne County, Kansas, and burned 1,800 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Hooker Fire was discovered on March 16, 2012, in Arizona, and burned 1,980 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Haney Fire was discovered on March 16, 2013, in Oklahoma, and burned 1,606 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Boiling Springs Fire was reported on March 16, 2015, in Woodward County, Oklahoma, and burned 23,488 acres.
The Hall Horn Fire was reported on March 16, 2016, in Osage County, Oklahoma, and burned 2,456 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The White Creek Fire was reported on March 16, 2017, in Burke County, North Carolina, and burned 5,500 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Quassarte Fire was reported on March 16, 2017, in Hughes County, Oklahoma, and burned 2,218 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Carson Midway Fire was reported on March 16, 2018, in El Paso County, Colorado, and burned 3,241 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Brewster Fire was reported on March 16, 2018, in Creek County, Oklahoma, and burned 3,072 acres.
The Ss Casino Fire was reported on March 16, 2018, in Osage County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Merritt Fire was reported on March 16, 2018, in Beckham County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,466 acres.
Several wildfires burned through the western counties of the Fort Worth CWA in mid March. Counties that were impacted by fires were: Comanche, Mills, Erath, Hood, Eastland, and Montague.
The Burr Fire was reported on March 16, 2022, in Maverick County, Texas, and burned 4,825 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The 18 Valley Fire was reported on March 16, 2022, in Chautauqua County, Kansas, and burned 4,300 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bookertee Fire was reported on March 16, 2022, in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,310 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Stillwater Fire was reported on March 16, 2025, in Payne County, Oklahoma, and burned 7,639 acres.
The Persimmon Fire was reported on March 16, 2025, in Jefferson County, Texas, and burned 1,691 acres.
The East Stich Fire was reported on March 16, 2025, in Osage County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,660 acres.
The Tiger Mountain Fire was reported on March 16, 2025, in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,458 acres.
The Nineteen Fire was reported on March 16, 2026, in El Paso County, Colorado, and burned 1,600 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
19 on March 16, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Cano Island, Costa Rica. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Pamplona, San Cristobal, Colombia, Venezuela. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck San Marcos, Guatemala. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Java, Indonesia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Morelos,guerrero, Mexico.
An earthquake struck Abra,pangasinan,union, Luzon, Philippines. It killed 2 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Jiayi, Taiwan. It killed 1,258 people, injured 145, destroyed 6,769 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Batna, Algeria. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Talifu, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 5,800 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia.
An earthquake struck Calabria, Italy. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Litani, Lebanon. It killed 148 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Endeh, Flores, Indonesia. It killed 2 people and injured 6.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Quetta, Nushki, Pakistan. It killed 1 person.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Guadeloupe. With the tsunami it caused, it injured 6.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Surigao, Philippines. It injured 55 and destroyed 4 houses.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Iquique, Chile. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Off Fukushima, Japan. It killed 4 people, injured 247, destroyed 217 houses and did $8.8 billion in damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kermadec Islands. It caused a tsunami.
8 on March 16, oldest first.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Cano Island, Costa Rica.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Java, Indonesia.
A tsunami struck Java Sea, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 1.5 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Calabrian Arc, Italy.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Guadeloupe, with a maximum water height of 0.12 meters. It injured 6.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Northern Chile, with a maximum water height of 0.26 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Off Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.31 meters. It killed 4 people, injured 247, destroyed 217 houses and did $8.8 billion in damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck SE Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, with a maximum water height of 0.11 meters.
3 on March 16, oldest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began March 16, 1949, 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 March 16, 1974, reached Kp 7 and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 42; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began March 16, 1989, reached Kp 7- and lasted 30 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 50; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
8 on March 16, oldest first.
Large ocean swell generated by a distant north Pacific storm brought high surf to the Hawaiian Islands.
Two members of a Church Group died after they entered the surf at Monastery Beach in Carmel...attempting to rescue a 13 year old girl who was swept into the water. The young girl was rescued by another man who came out safely.
High surf impacted the California coast on the weekend of March 15-16, 2014. Several rescues were required due to stranded swimmers and one person lost their life in the high surf in Santa Cruz County.
Rapidly deepening low pressure over Wisconsin resulted in very windy conditions affecting the lake shore and near shore waters of Lake Michigan from late morning through the afternoon.
A 14 year old girl was swimming with family members near the South Jetty at Packery Channel on March 16th. They noticed she had been missing for about 10 minutes. She was recovered from the surf. CPR was performed on her until an ambulance arrived.
A couple of tourists swept away and drowned due to rip currents in the beaches of Loiza and Isabela.
There were 24 water rescues performed off the coast of Walton county, including one fatality and one injury. Beach flags were initially single red at 2:30 pm CT and were upgraded to double red at 4:30 pm CT.
A long period northerly swell and wind-driven seas resulted in large breaking waves along the north coast of Puerto Rico during the week of March 16th. Life-threatening rip currents and high surf conditions were observed with this event.
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.