Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for March 2, 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
An earthquake struck Blida, Algiers, Algeria. It killed 7,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Sanriku, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 3,022 people, destroyed 6,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Sanriku, Japan, with a maximum water height of 29 meters. It killed 3,022 people, destroyed 6,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Volcanoes
Awu, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 2,806 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. The eruption caused a tsunami and was accompanied by an earthquake.
Earthquakes
4. The associated tsunami caused widespread devastation.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Sangihe Pulau (Volcanic), Indonesia. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2,806 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Sangihe Island, Indonesia. It killed 2,806 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Lauderdale County, Mississippi and tracked 11.2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 23 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Meridian, MS.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $4.3 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 42, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from March 2, 2012 to March 3, 2012.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Cyclone Mahina was the deadliest cyclone in recorded Australian history, and also potentially the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Mahina struck Bathurst Bay, Cape York Peninsula, colonial Queensland, on 4 March 1899, and its winds and enormous storm surge combined to cause the deaths of more than 300 people.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $2.9 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 25, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from March 2, 2020 to March 4, 2020.
Tornadoes
From the late evening hours on March 2 into the early morning hours on March 3, supercell thunderstorms developed and spawned tornadoes across southeast Missouri, southern Kentucky, Tennessee, and central Alabama.
82 on March 2, oldest first.
An F4 tornado touched down in Casey County, Kentucky and 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Rich Hill/Mount Olive, KY.
An F4 tornado touched down in Lauderdale County, Mississippi and tracked 11.2 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 23 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Meridian, MS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Lawrence, Morgan counties, Alabama and tracked 3.1 miles, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Trinity, AL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Johnson, Pope counties, Illinois and tracked 11.6 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Vienna to W Glendale, IL.
An F3 tornado touched down in Humphreys, Dickson counties, Tennessee and tracked 34.4 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 22. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Bakerville to W Stayton, TN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Warrick County, Indiana and tracked 4.1 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Boonville, IN.
An F2 tornado touched down in Vanderburgh County, Indiana and tracked 9.4 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 19. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Evansville, IN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Osborne, Mitchell, Cloud counties, Kansas and tracked 38.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pike, Barbour counties, Alabama and tracked 23.8 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Clarke County, Alabama and tracked 4.9 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Stephens County, Oklahoma and tracked 4.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Mason County, Texas and tracked 7.1 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
A small tornado briefly touched down in the northern part of Stanton. Most of the damage occurred between Maple and Church Streets. A few trees were downed, and several houses and business sustained roof damage. Two greenhouses and a barn were heavily damaged or destroyed.
An F3 tornado touched down in Newton, Jasper counties, Texas and tracked 12 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 6.
The strongest tornado of the evening developed a mile northwest of Holly Springs. Moving southeast at 50 mph, this fast moving storm damaged or destroyed over 25 homes and a church.
This tornado travelled on the ground for two miles, slicing through the center of Jeanerette. Over twenty buildings were destroyed and an additional 75 buildings were damaged. The mayor reported one-third of the town was damaged.
The Holly Springs tornado moved into Newton County, tearing up the Baptist Encampment community. A mobile home was flipped over 100 feet, ejecting three people. One young girl escaped with no injuries after being thrown over 50 feet from the home.
The damage was 150 yards wide that began in a rural area, 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Hwy 95 and FM 1878. Damage consisted of a chimney blown down, a large cedar tree snapped in half then blown 20 yards from the stump.
This was a continuation of the Nacogdoches tornado. Damage was mainly forestry consisting of numerous trees fallen and limbs snapped. Three homes had major roof damage and a carport was completely destroyed.
A strong tornado moved into rural Calcasieu Parish between DeQuincy and Starks, tearing up trees in its path. At least one home was destroyed 12 miles northwest of Sulphur.
This was a segment of a tornado which traversed Nacogdoches and San Augustine Counties. Damage was mainly forestry however a large did crushed a mobile home with moderate damage.
An upper-level storm system and associated cold front affected much of northwest Oklahoma on this day back in 2008. Several supercell thunderstorms developed along a dry line ahead of the cold front, while an additional line of storms developed along the cold front. One small tornado, rated F0, touched down in Blaine County and 4.25-inch hail was reported in the town of Buffalo, in Harper County.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Upper level disturbances triggered numerous thunderstorms over north Texas. This resulted in several reports of large hail and high winds.
An upper level storm system moved from the northern and central Rocky mountains toward the southern plains early on the 2nd. Ahead of this system, a cold front moved toward northern Oklahoma.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Washington, Clark, Scott counties, Indiana and tracked 46.6 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 11.
70 tornadoes were recorded on March 2, 2012, in Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia and more, 2 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 41 people.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Grant, Kenton counties, Kentucky and tracked 9.85 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 8.
During the afternoon and evening hours of March 2nd, 2012, an historic tornado outbreak occurred in eastern Kentucky. Tornadoes struck Menifee, Morgan, Bath, Wolfe, Laurel, Johnson and Martin Counties causing a combined 16 deaths in those counties.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Menifee, Morgan, Johnson counties, Kentucky and tracked 84.99 miles, 1,580 yards wide at its widest, killing 10 and injuring 118.
A surface Low over Missouri early in the afternoon of March 2nd strengthened to below 990mb as it moved north into Michigan by the evening hours. Around dawn, a warm front moved north of the Ohio River, accompanied by scattered elevated thunderstorms that produced small hail.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Campbell, Pendleton, Clermont counties, Kentucky and tracked 20.41 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 13.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Ripley County, Indiana and tracked 8.69 miles, 350 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 5.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Magoffin, Wolfe, Johnson counties, Kentucky and tracked 49.04 miles, 1,320 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 37.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Laurel County, Kentucky and tracked 7.15 miles, 310 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 40.
Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.
Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Hamilton, Bradley, Polk counties, Tennessee and tracked 41 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 44.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Haralson, Paulding counties, Georgia and tracked 29.02 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Limestone, Madison counties, Alabama and tracked 33.99 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Trimble County, Kentucky and tracked 3.26 miles, 75 yards wide at its widest.
A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from the Mid Mississippi Valley through the Great Lakes initially driving a warm front northward through the Southern Appalachian region during the afternoon. The associated cold front swept across the area late Friday night.
A deepening low pressure system was lifting northeast out of central Illinois around midday on Friday, the 2nd. It reached southern Michigan by evening. By late afternoon its associated warm front had pulled north into central Ohio and into central West Virginia near Charleston.
On Friday, March 2nd, as a warm and moist surface based air mass occurred across Middle Tennessee in advance of a strong surface cold front, and a deep upper level trough moved closer to the mid state with strong winds aloft, a significant severe weather outbreak occurred across…
An EF2 tornado touched down in Tallapoosa, Chambers counties, Alabama and tracked 34.04 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4.
The cold front that stalled across central Georgia on March 1st began advancing back north as a warm front the morning of March 2nd.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Adams County, Ohio and tracked 11.07 miles, 330 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
Thunderstorms developed during the afternoon in a high wind shear environment ahead of a strengthening low pressure system. Many of these storms became severe, with large hail, damaging thunderstorm winds, and tornadoes all being the main threats.
On March 2, 2012, a strong cold front moved through Central Alabama. Severe thunderstorms developed along and ahead of this front. Some of these thunderstorms were supercells. These supercells produced damage across southern and eastern sections of the area.
A surface Low over Missouri early in the afternoon of March 2nd strengthened to below 990mb as it moved north into Michigan by the evening hours. Around dawn, a warm front moved north of the Ohio River.
On March 2, 2012, a powerful, long-lived and deadly tornado tore across eastern Kentucky and western West Virginia in the eastern United States, through the Cumberland and Allegheny Plateau regions of the western Appalachian Mountains. It was one of several tornadoes rated EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita scale during a large and deadly tornado outbreak across the Ohio River Valley.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
S. state of Kentucky.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
In the evening hours of March 2, 2012, during a widespread and deadly tornado outbreak in the Ohio Valley region, a short-lived yet fatal EF2 tornado struck portions of Laurel County, Kentucky, notably in the East Bernstadt area to the north of London. This tornado caused significant damage, with estimated winds of up to 125 mph (201 km/h).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
On March 2 and 3, 2012, a large and deadly tornado outbreak occurred over a large section of the Southern United States into the Ohio Valley region, spawning up to 70 tornadoes in its wake. A moderate risk of severe weather was issued for March 2 a day in advance for a large area from near Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Dayton, Ohio as an intense storm system tracked across the region in a very high shear environment, and intense tornadoes were possible.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Two supercell thunderstorms entered the North Carolina mountains during the evening hours. One of the storms produced a strong tornado in the town of Murphy in Cherokee County.
Supercells developed and moved across southwest Indiana. The supercells raced east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph as a strong storm system moved northeast from Oklahoma to lower Michigan with it's associated cold front sweeping east across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
A deepening low pressure system was lifting northeast out of central Illinois around midday on Friday, the 2nd. It reached southern Michigan by evening. By late afternoon its associated warm front had pulled north into central Ohio and into central West Virginia near Charleston.
A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from the Mid Mississippi Valley through the Great Lakes initially driving a warm front northward through the Southern Appalachian region during the afternoon. The associated cold front swept across the area late Friday night.
Supercells developed across western Kentucky. The supercells raced east-northeast at 50 to 60 mph as a strong storm system moved northeast from Oklahoma to lower Michigan with it's associated cold front sweeping east across the Ohio and Tennessee valleys.
Several subtle upper level shortwaves affected the area during a three day period between March 1-3 as a broad long-wave upper level trough located west of the area slowly progressed eastward.
A deepening low pressure system moved northeast from the Mid Mississippi Valley through the Great Lakes initially driving a warm front northward through the Southern Appalachian region through the afternoon. The associated cold front swept across the area late Friday night.
March 2012 came in like a lion as a large severe weather and tornado outbreak occurred on March 2nd. This outbreak covered a large amount of real estate across the Ohio, Tennessee, and Lower Mississippi River Valleys.
North Alabama experienced a portion of a much larger outbreak of tornadoes and severe weather from the Ohio Valley south through the Tennessee Valley to the Gulf Coast in advance of a strong cold front. The storms came in two waves.
From the late evening hours on March 2 into the early morning hours on March 3, supercell thunderstorms developed and spawned tornadoes across southeast Missouri, southern Kentucky, Tennessee, and central Alabama.
A small but deadly tornado outbreak affected West and Middle Tennessee on the night of March 2 and into the morning of March 3, 2020, including a high-end EF3 tornado that hit Nashville and Mount Juliet, becoming the 6th costliest tornado in United States history, and a violent EF4 tornado that impacted areas in and just west of Cookeville. A total of 25 people were killed by the tornadoes, with an additional 309 being injured, and more than 70,000 lost electricity.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Benton, Humphreys counties, Tennessee and tracked 18.72 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
A surface low tracked along a warm front stretched just north of the Mid-South. Meanwhile, a potent upper-level disturbance tracked into the region increasing wind fields and triggering thunderstorms along the warm front and south of the front, in the warm sector, during the…
Severe thunderstorms moved across the region on the evening of March 2. A long-track supercell thunderstorm crossed the Mississippi River from the Cairo, IL area.
During the day of March 2nd, southerly warm moist air moved through Kentucky from Tennessee just ahead of an upper trough and cold front.
A potent upper-level trough progressed from the Four-Corners Region into the Texas Panhandle by late in the afternoon on March 2nd. Strong warm and moist air advection was ongoing in advance of the trough earlier in the morning.
An upper level low pressure system moved eastward from the Desert Southwest into the Southern Plains, generating a round of showers and thunderstorms across much of North and Central Texas the evening of Thursday March 2.
2 on March 2, oldest first.
Cyclone Mahina was the deadliest cyclone in recorded Australian history, and also potentially the most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere. Mahina struck Bathurst Bay, Cape York Peninsula, colonial Queensland, on 4 March 1899, and its winds and enormous storm surge combined to cause the deaths of more than 300 people.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Percy reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 898 mb, a category 5 storm.
34 on March 2, oldest first.
Record rainfalls from late Friday evening February 28 through Sunday morning March 2 and additional heavy rainfall on Tuesday March 4 caused the worst flooding on the Ohio River since 1964 and in some spots since 1937.
Record to near record rainfall from early March 1 through March 2 caused the highest flooding on the Kentucky River at Frankfort since 1937 with the river cresting at 45.2 feet at 1 pm est March 3 (flood stage is 31 feet).
Ohio River flooding. See narrative for north central Kentucky counties.
Major flooding of the lower Ohio River occurred in mid March. The crest near 52 feet at Paducah was the highest since about 1950, and one of the worst floods on record. It was still well below the record 60-foot crest in the Flood of 1937.
Persistent heavy rainfall caused area creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. Numerous roads were closed due to high water. Breaks occurred in Crooked Creek's earthen levee destroying houses, cars, and several restaurants and businesses in Waverly.
Heavy rainfall occurred across Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky on the 1st and 2nd with areas along the Ohio river receiving up to 12 inches of rainfall. The river rose rapidly reaching a crest of 59.8 feet at Portsmouth at 1000 pm on the 4th. Flood stage is 50.0 feet.
Heavy rain fell across the Ohio valley on the 1st and 2nd with some areas upstream over Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky receiving up to 12 inches.
Widespread rainfall amounts around 10 inches in the middle Ohio Valley, from around Louisville to Cincinnati, occurred over a one to three day period. This resulted in a massive flood crest that took a few weeks to travel down the Ohio River.
Heavy rain led to major flooding along Lake D'Arbonne in north central Lousiiana. Three hundred homes were flooded in Farmerville prompting a state of emergency to be issued by the governor.
Heavy rainfall visited the county for the second night in a row causing area creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. Numerous roads were flooded and severely damaged. Also, 6 homes were damaged by high water.
Heavy rainfall on the 1st and 2nd caused the Hocking River at Enterprise to rise out of its banks. U.S. Rte 33 and State Rte. 93 were flooded as well as numerous low lying roads in Sugar Grove. Rockbridge Elementary school and several nearby homes were flooded.
Widespread flooding around the county with many roads closed. About 250 homes and businesses were damaged.
A low pressure system produced heavy rainfall across parts of eastern Wisconsin as it moved through the state late March 2nd and early March 3rd.
The seasons first strong push of warm air moved into Iowa during the overnight hours of the 1st into the 2nd. Temperatures rose through the night with readings soaring into the 60s to around 70 by the afternoon of the 2nd.
March began with very welcome mild weather as temperatures reached 74 at Keosauqua on the 2nd. Iowa entered the month with an extensive and very moisture-rich snowpack over northern areas of the state. Snowmelt, fortunately, was gradual, without any prolonged warm-ups.
Flooding of the Ohio River occurred for most of the month of March. The flooding was considered moderate. The flooding was due to a prolonged active weather pattern that carried over from February.
High Spring tides, also known as King Tides in Majuro, in addition to a large north to north-northwest swell caused flooding across eastern Majuro Atoll, eastern Arno Atoll, and parts of Mili and Kili atolls.
Strong low pressure passed just to the north of eastern North Carolina on March 2nd then continued to deepen while only slowly moving offshore March 3rd and 4th.
Low pressure developed off the New Jersey coast (981mb), on March 2nd before rapidly intensifying well offshore on March 3rd (974mb), producing hurricane force wind gusts in the Gulf of Maine.
Low pressure developed off the New Jersey coast (981mb), on March 2nd before rapidly intensifying well offshore on March 3rd (974mb), producing hurricane force wind gusts in the Gulf of Maine.
16 on March 2, oldest first.
An elevated severe windstorm developed just east of Corsicana and accelerated northeastward at 50 to 60 mph.
The severe windstorm that developed over eastern Navarro County moved into northwestern Henderson County and continued to produce widespread wind damage across a widening path of 4 to 6 miles.
The severe windstorm produced widespread damage across the extreme southeastern corner of Kaufman County. In Mabank, many homes and businesses received minor damage, and trees, power lines and signs were blown down. Twenty-five power poles were also blown down.
Extensive wind damage occurred along Highway 198 from Gun Barrel City to Mabank. The canopy of a convenience store/gas station was destroyed, numerous homes and businesses sustained roof and structural damage, and trees and power lines were blown down.
Four mobile homes were rolled with several injuries occurring to the occupants.
Sustained winds of 35 to 50 mph over all of western Washington knocked out power to 200,000 people. One man died when his car was struck by a fallen tree. Fallen trees also damaged 2 houses and several cars.
A few homes and automobiles received minor damage.
March 2, 2000 - Event NarrativeThunderstorms developed in west Texas overnight March 1-2, affecting Stephens county during the early morning hours, decreasing before sunrise.
A powerful winter storm brought a combination of high winds and winter weather, including accumulating snowfall, to the west Texas South Plains region during the evening hours of the 2nd and into the 3rd.
Low pressure moving up the St Lawrence Valley swept a cold front through Massachusetts early the morning of March 2. Behind the cold front, strong west-northwest winds brought colder air to the state.
Intense low pressure spinning off the southern New England coast produced very strong northerly winds across portions of central and eastern Virginia. The very strong winds downed numerous trees, produced structural damage, and caused power outages.
A low pressure system moving eastward from the central United States on Thursday March 1st, intensified rapidly as it moved offshore Thursday night and early Friday, deepening to 974 mb by the evening of Friday March 2nd.
Low pressure moving out of the Ohio Valley passed south of Southern New England on the 2nd and moved out to sea on the 3rd. This storm brought heavy rain and strong winds to much of Rhode Island.
Intense low pressure spinning off the southern New England coast produced strong northerly winds across portions of central Virginia. The strong winds downed several trees, produced some structural damage, and caused scattered power outages.
A deep area of low pressure passed off the coast.
A deepening area of low pressure off the Mid Atlantic coast resulted in windy conditions across central NC, resulting in numerous downed trees and power lines.
25 on March 2, oldest first.
Snowstorm of March 2, 1909 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from March 2, 1909 to March 5, 1909.
Snowstorm of March 2, 1915 was ranked category 4, Crippling, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from March 2, 1915 to March 8, 1915.
Snowstorm of March 2, 1916 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from March 2, 1916 to March 9, 1916.
Snowstorm of March 2, 1917 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northeast. It lasted from March 2, 1917 to March 6, 1917.
The 1956 Punchbowl avalanche was a snow avalanche that occurred on 2 March 1956 on a mountain in Punchbowl, South Korea. The avalanche destroyed a base of the South Korean army.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Snowstorm of March 2, 1989 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest. It lasted from March 2, 1989 to March 5, 1989.
A strong cold front moved through the state dumping criteria snowfall across northern Utah. Snow occurred in the south but remained below warning criteria. In northwest Utah behind the front, snow bands developed over the Great Salt Lake.
A strong arctic cold front began moving into North Texas late night on March 1st, and through all of North Texas by mid morning on March 2nd. Light rain developed behind the front, and changed to a mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow as temperatures fell below freezing.
On its second day to affect the region, a winter storm continued on this day in 2002. During the early morning hours, freezing rain turned to snow over a large part of Oklahoma. The highest amounts of snow were seen over northern Oklahoma, where the freezing rain changed to snow quicker. Up to 5 inches of snow was reported in the Enid area, with just a couple of inches reported over central Oklahoma, southward to the Red River Valley.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
The winter storm system that brought heavy snow to West and Central North Dakota Wednesday February 28th (See Storm Data entries for February) through early Thursday March 1st, intensified as it moved towards and into Wisconsin later Thursday and Friday March 2nd.
A narrow band of moderate to heavy snow fell across central DeKalb County into Kane County and extreme northwest Cook County during the afternoon of March 2nd. Wind gusts ranged between 35 and 45 mph. DeKalb measured 6.0 inches of snowfall, St.
A strengthening low pressure system tracked northeast from the southeast coast on Sunday morning, March 1st, to just southeast of Long Island by Monday morning March 2nd. The low then headed northeast into the Canadian maritimes by Tuesday March 3rd.
A powerful winter storm moved through the northern and central Sierra Nevada and western Nevada.
One of the highest-impact snowstorms in recent memory pounded Northern Michigan on the night of the 2nd. Low pressure tracked from Missouri, to southern Lower Michigan, and on to eastern Canada, while rapidly strengthening.
On the heels of another surge of arctic air, which was a fairly common occurrence in the winter of 2013-2014, a strong upper-level storm approached the region. With temperatures primarily in the teens, a mixture of snow, sleet, and freezing rain spread over Oklahoma and northern Texas on this date in 2014. Because there was a layer of relatively warm and moist air just above the arctic air, scattered thunderstorms also developed. Although most of the storms produced moderate to heavy sleet, a few actually produced hail, with hail 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter observed just south and east of Norman. Thunderstorms are not that rare in early March, but having thunderstorms with surface temperatures in the teens is very rare. A majority of the sleet and freezing rain accumulations were on the light side but northern parts of Oklahoma received 3 to 5 inches of snow.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A student from Colorado State Univeristy was killed in an avalanche near Cameron Pass. Two men were skiing in the backcountry near the Nokhu Crags in an area known as the Paradise Bowl.
A strong Arctic cold front moved through Arkansas on the 2nd and the morning hours of the 3rd. Freezing rain and sleet began to fall in northern Arkansas before dawn on the 2nd, while rain fell over the rest of the state.
An arctic cold front pushed into the Mid-South during the day on March 2nd, 2014. Overrunning precipitation fell through a shallow arctic airmass which produced freezing rain, sleet and snow.
A wintry mix fell across mainly the northern half of the CWA. Some areas north and northeast of the Metroplex received over a half inch of sleet. The highest sleet accumulations were in Hopkins County where 1.5-3 of sleet fell.
Icy roads from previously fallen snow resulted in three fatal accidents in Walworth, Jefferson, and Dodge Counties.
Low pressure moving out of the Ohio Valley passed south of Southern New England on the 2nd and moved out to sea on the 3rd.
A cold front stalled across the region on March 1st. Meanwhile, a wave of low pressure developed along this front in the Ohio Valley and move eastward, explosively deepening just southeast of Long Island on March 2nd.
A cold front stalled across the region on March 1st. Meanwhile, a wave of low pressure developed along this front in the Ohio Valley and move east, deepening just southeast of Long Island on March 2nd.
A complex area of low pressure tracked from the Ohio Valley and southeast United States from the afternoon of the 1st and intensified into a major winter storm over Long Island by the morning of the 2nd.
Intense bursts of snow and wind impacted travel across portions of western Montana as a Pacific cold front passed through the area.
1 on March 2, oldest first.
Two people died in Las Vegas of cold related causes.
35 on March 2, oldest first.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 2, 1994, in Cochise County, Arizona, and burned 1,165 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The 96-97 Fire was discovered on March 2, 1996, in Oklahoma, and burned 1,900 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The GA-2 Fire was discovered on March 2, 2000, in Georgia, and burned 7,800 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Boundary Road Fire was discovered on March 2, 2000, in Florida, and burned 3,000 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 2, 2000, in Lowndes County, Georgia, and burned 2,065 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Bialoco Fire was discovered on March 2, 2006, in Oklahoma, and burned 7,880 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Hunt Mill Hollow Fire was discovered on March 2, 2006, in Adair County, Oklahoma, and burned 3,240 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 2, 2006, in Breathitt County, Kentucky, and burned 1,182 acres.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on March 2, 2006, in Anderson County, Tennessee, and burned 932 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The North Fire was discovered on March 2, 2008, in Martin County, Texas, and burned 5,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Ridenour Ranch Fire was discovered on March 2, 2008, in Clark County, Kansas, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Targa Fire was discovered on March 2, 2009, in Louisiana, and burned 3,440 acres.
The Highland Pen Fire was discovered on March 2, 2009, in Irion County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Turkey Pen Springs Fire was discovered on March 2, 2012, in Searcy County, Arkansas, and burned 1,032 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Kinfolk Rd Fire was discovered on March 2, 2012, in Laclede County, Missouri, and burned 646 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Hopkins Prairie Fire was discovered on March 2, 2013, in Marion County, Florida, and burned 1,918 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Durrance Fire was discovered on March 2, 2013, in Flagler County, Florida, and burned 1,118 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Kaiser 8 Fire was reported on March 2, 2016, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and burned 18,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Guadalupe Pass Fire was reported on March 2, 2016, in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, and burned 6,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Kaiser 8 Fire was reported on March 2, 2016, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and burned 2,800 acres.
The Milsap Fire was reported on March 2, 2017, in Osage County, Oklahoma, and burned 9,636 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Dairy Farm Fire was reported on March 2, 2017, in Hughes County, Oklahoma, and burned 3,265 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Lost Creek Fire was reported on March 2, 2017, in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, and burned 2,135 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Boller Fire was reported on March 2, 2018, in Riley County, Kansas, and burned 1,050 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Dismal CA Fire was reported on March 2, 2020, in Thomas County, Nebraska, and burned 1,555 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bowers Fire was reported on March 2, 2021, in Major County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,759 acres.
The Lamar-DS Rouse Rd/Sun oil Rd Fire was reported on March 2, 2023, in Lamar County, Mississippi, and burned 1,230 acres.
The fire was reported on March 2, 2024, in Laramie County, Wyoming, and burned 2,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Brushy Crossing Fire was reported on March 2, 2024, in Liberty County, Florida, and burned 2,215 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Boggsvillle Fire was reported on March 2, 2024, in Bent County, Colorado, and burned 1,084 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
A fire that started near a storage facility located near Atkinson Road and Freedom Drive in Killeen spread north with winds gusting up to 30 mph. The storage facility and storage boxes were destroyed along with a nearby apartment complex.
The Shoot House Fire was reported on March 2, 2025, in Perry County, Mississippi, and burned 6,082 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Covington Drive Compact Fire was reported on March 2, 2025, in Horry County, South Carolina, and burned 2,059 acres.
The Rough Rock Fire was reported on March 2, 2025, in McIntosh County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,005 acres.
The Hancock - Dickerson Rd Fire was reported on March 2, 2026, in Hancock County, Mississippi, and burned 1,211 acres.
18 on March 2, oldest first.
A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Kyongsang-Do, South Korea. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Blida, Algiers, Algeria. It killed 7,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
An earthquake struck Sangihe Pulau (Volcanic), Indonesia. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2,806 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Smokthine, Velca, Vlore, Albania. It killed 60 people and destroyed 12 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Humboldt County, California, United States.
An earthquake struck Colima, Mexico. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Mindanao Island, Philippines. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Sanriku, Japan. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 3,022 people, destroyed 6,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
4. The associated tsunami caused widespread devastation.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 1952 Tokachi earthquake, occurred at 10:22:41 local time on 4 March in the sea near Tokachi District, Hokkaidō, Japan. 1 on the moment magnitude scale.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck North Island, New Zealand. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck North Island, Whakatani, Edgecumbe, New Zealand. It killed 1 person, injured 25 and did $210 million in damage.
42 pm on 2 March. The hypocentre was at a shallow depth of 8 km.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck Saint-Louis du Nord, Haiti. It killed 4 people.
The Banda Sea is one of four seas that surround the Maluku Islands of Indonesia, connected to the Pacific Ocean, but surrounded by hundreds of islands, including Timor, as well as the Halmahera and Ceram Seas. It is about 1,000 km (620 mi) east to west, and about 500 km (310 mi) north to south.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck Quetta, Pakistan. It injured 1.
8 magnitude earthquake which struck on 2 March 2016 in the Indian Ocean, approximately 800 kilometers southwest of Sumatra in Indonesia. Tsunami warnings were issued for Indonesia and Australia, but were withdrawn two hours later.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Sumatra, Indonesia. It caused a tsunami.
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Awu, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 2,806 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. The eruption caused a tsunami and was accompanied by an earthquake.
Ile des Cendres, Vietnam erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. The eruption caused a tsunami and was accompanied by an earthquake.
Campi Flegrei, Italy erupted. It killed 3 people.
Kilauea, United States erupted. It destroyed 1 house.
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A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Sangihe Island, Indonesia. It killed 2,806 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Albanian Coasts. It killed 60 people and destroyed 12 houses.
A tsunami struck New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 0.6 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Mindanao Island, Philippines.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck Sanriku, Japan, with a maximum water height of 29 meters. It killed 3,022 people, destroyed 6,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 0.9 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck SW. Sumatra, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 0.21 meters.
3 on March 2, oldest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began March 2, 1947, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 63 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 128; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began March 2, 1957, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 33 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 132; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began March 2, 1983, reached Kp 7 and lasted 27 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 86; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
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A severe storm disaster that cost $4.3 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 42, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from March 2, 2012 to March 3, 2012.
A severe storm disaster that cost $2.9 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 25, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from March 2, 2020 to March 4, 2020.
A severe storm disaster that cost $6.2 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 13, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from March 2, 2023 to March 3, 2023.
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A woman drowned at the beach in R o Grande behind the Wyndham Hotel.
A long period northeasterly swell combined with locally generated wind waves produced confused choppy seas and large breaking waves during the first week of March.
An ocean rescue was reported at 10:41 AM on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Gerstle Cove campground in Salt Point State Park. Two men were standing on rocks at the coast when a wave swept one out to sea.
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.