Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for October 17, 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 8.1 earthquake struck Lima,huacho,huaura, Chancay,supe,san Nicolas, Peru. It killed 110 people, injured 3,000 and did $35 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Central Peru, with a maximum water height of 3 meters. It killed 110 people, injured 3,000 and did $35 million in damage.
Earthquakes
m. PDT, the Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on the Central Coast of California.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Floods
The Great October FloodIn advance of a very slow-moving upper level trough of low pressure over West Texas, a cold front drifted slowly southeastward into West Central Texas during the evening of Friday, October 16th.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Berat, Albania. It killed 400 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Pucheng, Henan Province, China. It killed 50 people.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Dinah reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Ivan reached its peak of 160 kt (185 mph) with a central pressure of 905 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Joan reached its peak of 160 kt (185 mph) with a central pressure of 915 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Megi reached its peak of 160 kt (185 mph) with a central pressure of 903 mb, a category 5 storm.
Floods
The London Beer Flood was an accident at Meux & Co's Horse Shoe Brewery, London, on 17 October 1814. 7 m) wooden vats of fermenting porter burst.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Floods
Flooding along the Guadalupe RiverThe Guadalupe River at New Braunfels crested at 35.1 feet, with flood stage at 7 feet. This was over three feet higher than the disastrous flood of May 12, 1972.
48 on October 17, newest first.
Strong thunderstorms pushing offshore of the Brevard and Treasure Coasts produced severe weather, including a tornado.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Scott County, Mississippi and tracked 7.59 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, injuring 1.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Newton County, Mississippi and tracked 6.77 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest.
A vigorous, fast-moving, early autumn storm system brought severe weather to portions of the ArkLaMiss region from the evening of October 17th, 2012 into the early morning hours of October 18th.
Thunderstorms erupted ahead of a strong cold front on the afternoon and evening of the 17th. Isolated storms became severe, and two tornadoes occurred.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Monroe County, Missouri and tracked 4.07 miles, 90 yards wide at its widest, killing 2.
Elevated convection developed north of a warm frontal boundary that extended from just southwest of Kansas City to just south of Columbia then into southern Illinois near Sparta. Numerous reports of wind damage were received as well as 4 tornadoes.
Warm, moist, and very unstable air was in place across eastern Oklahoma ahead of the dry line, which moved into central Oklahoma during the afternoon.
Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico advanced rapidly northward on October 17th. A warm front moved into Arkansas and sparked a number of severe thunderstorms during the afternoon. One of these storms spawned an EF1 tornado west of Star City.
Thunderstorms produced isolated tornadoes, hail, and significant straight line wind damage from Wednesday afternoon, October 17th, through early Thursday morning October 18th.
A potent storm system developed across the central sections of the country and brought two rounds of severe weather to the region. The first occurred during the evening of the 17th and the second during most of the day on the 18th.
Isolated severe thunderstorms developed over sections of southeast Louisiana ahead of a developing strong upper level trough.
A tornado associated with Hurricane Irene touched down one mile north of Weeksville. This tornado touched down near the intersection of Toxey Road and N.C. Route 34. The tornado moved due north for about two tenths (0.2) mile with a path width of 50 yards.
An F2 tornado touched down in Navarro County, Texas and tracked 3.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4.
Two tornadoes touched down in the Caldwell area causing substantial damage. Twenty-two homes were completely destroyed, 37 sustained major damage, and 101 homes with minor damage. Caldwell Middle School also had major damage.
A very small and short-lived tornado struck briefly near Elgin. It destroyed a mobile home and knocked over several trees before lifting back into the parent thunderstorm. The only reported injury was to a baby in the mobile home.
Utility poles downed and roof damage on the outskirts of Bryan College Station.
A brief tornado downed trees and powerlines.
Isolated severe thunderstorms produced 3 tornadoes in northcentral Oklahoma. In Alfalfa County, two brief tornados caused minor damage to a barn 5 miles southwest of Aline and destroyed a cow shed and corrals 4 miles WSW of Carmen.
A strong downburst with F1 wind damage had a path three miles long and quarter mile wide through Brownwood. The worst damage included a roof blown off two rooms at the Holiday Inn, a cinder block wall blown down, a freight trailer blown over, and a roofing company was "unroofed".
An F2 tornado touched down in Drew County, Arkansas and tracked 1.5 miles, 77 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Carson County, Texas and tracked 2.3 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, injuring 2.
An F3 tornado touched down in Kiowa County, Colorado and tracked 5.6 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Logan County, Kansas and tracked 0.1 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Rawlins County, Kansas and tracked 3.8 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hockley County, Texas and tracked 0.2 miles, 17 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Choctaw County, Oklahoma and tracked 7.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Goodland to Hugo, OK.
15 on October 17, newest first.
Hurricane Norma was one of four tropical cyclones to strike the Pacific Coast of Mexico in October 2023. The seventeenth tropical depression, fourteenth named storm, ninth hurricane and seventh major hurricane of the 2023 Pacific hurricane season, Norma developed from an area of low pressure that formed off the coast of southern Mexico on October 15, 2023.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Koppu reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 926 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Megi reached its peak of 160 kt (185 mph) with a central pressure of 903 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Tokage reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 916 mb, a category 4 storm.
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 988 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Irene was an intensifying Category 1 hurricane at the time of closest approach to the Wakefield county warning area during the overnight hours of Monday October 18th.
Hurricane Irene was an intensifying Category 1 hurricane at the time of closest approach to the Wakefield county warning area during the overnight hours of Monday October 18th.
Hurricane Ivan reached its peak of 160 kt (185 mph) with a central pressure of 905 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Joan reached its peak of 160 kt (185 mph) with a central pressure of 915 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Joan:miriam crossed the coast near Santa Cruz de los Taques, Falcon, Venezuela as a tropical storm, 55 kt, central pressure 997 mb. Hurricane Joan was a long lived and powerful tropical cyclone that caused death and destruction in over a dozen countries in the Caribbean and Central America. Moving on a due west course for nearly two weeks in October 1988, Hurricane Joan caused widespread flooding and over 200 deaths after moving into Central America.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 1975 Porbandar cyclone, also designated Cyclone Sixteen (16A) by Joint Typhoon Warning Center, was a tropical cyclone that affected Gujarat state of India and southern Pakistan from 17 to 24 October 1975. It killed 85 people and caused damages of estimated ₹75 crore (equivalent to ₹23 billion or US$240 million in 2026).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Lola reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 945 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Dinah reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Katie crossed the coast as a category 2 hurricane, 95 kt (110 mph).
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 1 hurricane, 70 kt (80 mph).
33 on October 17, newest first.
Heavy rainfall of three to four inches on top of already saturated ground caused flash flooding over portions of Marquette, Dickinson and Iron Counties from the evening of the 17th into the 18th.
Another round of strong thunderstorms formed across Utah for a few days in the middle of October. Severe wind gusts were observed in northwest Utah, while some flash flooding occurred in southern Utah.
Locally heavy rain from thunderstorms brought low debris and local mudslides to the Butte Fire burn area. Ponding of water on roadways and reduced visibility from heavy rain caused travel difficulties on mountain and foothill roads such as Highways 4, 88 and 50.
An upper level low pressure system brought a round of thunderstorms to the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Significant flash flooding occurred, along with isolated severe weather.
Due to the very heavy rains which fell across the upper reaches of the Nueces River watershed, major river flooding was the result between Asherton and the headwaters of Lake Corpus Christi. The Nueces River at Asherton recorded a crest of 29.70 feet on the 14th.
An upper-level low pressure area brought precipitation and cooler temperatures to interior central California beginning October 16th. Temperatures dropped as much as 14 degrees from the 16th to the 17th, as a strong push of cold air moved into the San Joaquin Valley.
A cold front slid southeast into north central Kansas and triggered scattered thunderstorms, some of which were severe at times. The thunderstorms were centered in the Phillipsburg area and produced nickel to golf ball size hail.
A cold front pushed into Arkansas during the evening hours of October 17th, 2007 into the early morning hours of October 18th, 2007. Showers and thunderstorms developed out ahead of the front. Some of the storms produced damaging winds and flash flooding.
Strong southerly winds brought minor coastal flooding.
Strong orographic lifting on the desert slopes of the mountains caused heavy rain and flash flooding at numerous locations in the Coachella Valley during the early morning hours of the 18th.
An intense Bering Sea storm produced west wind gusting to 90 mph across the Pribilof Islands late Sunday night into the early morning hours Monday. The storm bottomed out at 962 MB as it moved northeast into the northern Bering Sea.
Weak low pressure off the Southern California Coast entrained tropical moisture that resulted numerous rainfall report of 2.5 to 3 inches of rain in the Kern County Mountains around Frazier Park from the evening of the 17th into the morning of the 18th.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms flooded streams and several homes in Kalamaula on the isle of Molokai. One resident reported water levels up to 9 feet deep on his property, with 3 to 4 feet of water on the bottom floor of a two-story house.
Peak Flooding occurred approximately between 1500 - 1730 ADT. Actual heights above flood stage are unknown.
A line of nearly stationary thunderstorms developed over Abilene, dumping as much as 7 inches of rain in just 3 hours. Downtown Abilene suffered the heaviest rainfall, causing most city streets to become flooded and impassable.
General rainfall of 2 inches was reported across Bandera County, with widespread totals of up to 5 inches and the maximum amount of just over 7 inches at Tarpley.
The Great October FloodIn advance of a very slow-moving upper level trough of low pressure over West Texas, a cold front drifted slowly southeastward into West Central Texas during the evening of Friday, October 16th.
Flooding along the Guadalupe RiverThe Guadalupe River at New Braunfels crested at 35.1 feet, with flood stage at 7 feet. This was over three feet higher than the disastrous flood of May 12, 1972.
Flooding along the San Antonio River, Cibolo Creek and Geronimo CreekIn Bexar County, the San Antonio River begins just below Olmos Dam where it merges with spring flow.
Flooding along the San Marcos RiverIn Hays County, the flooding along the San Marcos River was most devastating to the eastern part of San Marcos, with many permanent homes flooded and several mobile homes washed from their sites, Homes and apartments were flooded along the San…
Plum Creek at Lockhart crested at 22.2 feet, with flood stage at 15 feet. The Creek was reported to be near a mile wide, flooding Highway 183 near Lockhart.
Flooding along the Medina River, Olmos Creek, Leon Creek, Helotes Creek, and Salado CreekThe Medina River in Bexar County produced moderate lowland flooding from above Lacoste to above the San Antonio gauge at Highway 281.
Flooding along the Comal RiverAt New Braunfels, the Comal River reached well above the flood stage of 15 feet, causing widespread flooding of homes in New Braunfels along Dry Comal Creek. Water rose to the roofs of some of the lowest homes.
Flooding along the Colorado River.The Colorado River at Bastrop reached a crest of 32.3 feet, with flood stage 25 feet, flooding a golf course. At Smithville, the Colorado crested at 34.6 feet, where flood stage is 20 feet.
Flooding along the Blanco RiverAt Wimberley, the Blanco River crested at 26.7 feet, with flood stage at 13 feet. Several businesses in Wimberley were flooded.
Shoal Creek at W 12th Street in Austin crested at 15.4 feet. This level flooded several businesses downstream up to two feet, and put nearly feet of water over Shoal Creek Boulevard just above W 12th Street.
Sandies Creek in Dewitt County crested at 28.6 feet, with flood stage at 21 feet. Flow just barely topped the two- foot high railing at the bridge near Westhoff.
Severe flooding revisited the Houston HSA during the month of October. The event began Saturday afternoon October 17th as train echo development across the northwest HSA.
Flooding along the Lavaca and Navidad RiversThe Navidad River near Sublime at Highway 90A crested at 32.2 feet, with flood stage 24 feet, causing major flooding. Near Speaks at FM 530, the river rose to 28.5 feet, with the flood stage at 24 feet.
October of 1998 was a fairly wet month across Iowa, in sharp contrast to September. According to the data provided by the State Climatologist, Harry Hillaker, October of 1998 was the 4th wettest on record with a statewide average rainfall of 4.82 inches.
Flooding along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers The Sabinal River crested at 14.7 feet Sunday morning, where flood stage is 12 feet, producing moderate lowland flooding from above Sabinal to the Frio River confluence.
Berry Creek crested at 12.3' at IH 35 near Georgetown, flood stage 11 feet, causing moderate lowland flooding, but with no reports of significant damage.
The London Beer Flood was an accident at Meux & Co's Horse Shoe Brewery, London, on 17 October 1814. 7 m) wooden vats of fermenting porter burst.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
35 on October 17, newest first.
A potent mid level low tracked eastward near the Canadian border during October 16.
High winds occurred behind a deep low pressure.
A powerful and WET Nor'easter intensified explosively from the Delmarva Peninsula on the afternoon of the 16th (998mb) to central New England by daybreak on the 17th(972 mb).|This storm brought 1 to 2 inches of rain for northern NY with portions of the Adirondacks witnessing 2…
The second cold front in three days moved across Massachusetts on October 17th. Gusty southwest winds preceded the front. Winds shifted from the northwest behind the front at night. Wind gusts in the state reached 40 to 50 mph.
A strong jet aloft combined with a rapidly deepening surface low across southern Canada and good mixing brought widespread strong and, at times, damaging winds to Central Montana.
A strong jet stream aloft combined with a cold front brought damaging winds to Northwest Montana and parts of west-central Montana. Mid-level winds between 70 and 80 miles per hour were four standard deviations above normal for this time of year.
A line of thunderstorms moved across Lake Ontario and onshore over Oswego County. The thunderstorms produced damaging winds that downed trees and wires.
A strong upper level disturbance and associated cold front moved through the Mid-South during the evening hours of October 17, 2012.
A strong cold front moved through the region triggering showers and thunderstorms. Some of the thunderstorms produced damaging winds.
Strong low pressure moved across the Dakotas October 17th, and remained over Minnesota through October 18th. This resulted in a prolonged period of strong northwest winds across western and central North Dakota.
An area of low pressure rapidly intensified once it moved east of the northern plains. This strengthening resulted in very strong northwest winds across the region.
An intense upper level system and deep surface low pressure tracked across the region October 17th and 18th. Very strong northwest winds of 35 to 50 mph with gusts exceeding 65 mph occurred.
A strong upper level trough digging across the Midwest with an advancing cold front helped develop a line of strong to severe storms that raced across the Missouri Ozarks and produced sporadic reports of wind damage.
A squall line of thunderstorms swept eastward ahead of a strong 500 mb shortwave trough exiting from eastern Kansas into western Missouri. The squall line occurred along a strong surface cold front. Low level southerly winds in the vicinity of the storms were around 40 knots.
Thunderstorms developed along a cold front during the afternoon and evening of October 17th. A few of the storms produced damaging wind gusts in excess of 60 mph, particularly across portions of Sangamon, Logan, and DeWitt counties.
A vigorous, fast-moving, early autumn storm system brought severe weather to portions of the ArkLaMiss region during the evening of October 17th, 2012.
A strong upper level disturbance and associated cold front moved through the Mid-South during the evening hours of October 17, 2012.
Another highly dynamic system moved across the area on Oct. 17th, 2007. This system lead to the development of a fast moving line of thunderstorms that affected portions of Central and South Central Kansas.
The first of two rounds of severe weather occurred during the early morning hours. This first round was associated with strong low level southwest winds ahead of a deep low pressure center along the Missouri/Nebraska border.
A line of intense thunderstorms tracked across extreme southeast Kansas producing straight line wind gusts up to 85 mph. The hardest hit area was the city of Baxter Springs.
An upper level storm system approached from the southwestern US, with a surface low pressure developing and becoming very organized over eastern Colorado and western Kansas.
Warm, moist, and very unstable air was in place across northwestern Arkansas ahead of the dry line, which moved into central Oklahoma during the afternoon.
A cold front slid south into western sections of south central Nebraska and triggered isolated to scattered thunderstorms. A few thunderstorms were briefly severe and produced hail generally less than one inch in diameter.
A potent storm system developed across the central sections of the country and brought two rounds of severe weather to the region. The first occurred during the evening of the 17th and the second during most of the day on the 18th.
A strong...negatively tilted upper atmospheric trough moved into the southern plains and into the four state region from the west. Strong southerly flow and moisture was pumped northward from the Gulf of Mexico.
A deep low pressure system moved into the region bringing non-thunderstorm high winds to the mountains of east Tennessee.
With strong high pressure along the coast and a strong area of low pressure approaching from the west, a strong pressure gradient developed across the region with preferred cross mountain flow helping to mix damaging winds to the surface.
A Rare Mountain Wave high wind event impacted parts of Letcher and Harlan Counties. Southeast winds of 80 to 100 MPH just above the ridgetops was directed down to the vally floor for a short time around Cumberland, resulting in significant tree and structural damage.
A deep low pressure system moved into the region bringing high non-thunderstorm winds to the mountains of extreme southwest North Carolina.
A cold front moved across Grant County Sunday afternoon October 17. Winds to 60 mph caused considerable damage. A hay storage building 2 miles east of Soap Lake was destroyed along with extensive damage to a wheel irrigation system.
Summary of events for October 17 1998:A cold front pushing across northeast Oklahoma and the tail end of an upper level disturbance moving across the northern plains on the afternoon of October 17 helped to kick off a few severe thunderstorms between Tulsa and the Kansas state…
Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous power lines and damaged several homes and businesses. The roof was blown off a church. Three people were injured from tossed debris.
Numerous roads were closed by fallen trees.
The sun room addition of a house had its roof blown off. Damage was estimated at $8,000.
Many birds were victims of a severe thunderstorm that crossed the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge during the early morning of October 17th, 1979. Hail up to one-inch in diameter killed more than 3,500 birds and injured 1,500 to 2,000 others.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
1 on October 17, newest first.
Snowstorm of October 17, 1908 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from October 17, 1908 to October 21, 1908.
2 on October 17, newest first.
With an abnormally dry fall for Middle Tennessee, drought conditions quickly worsened throughout the area. At the beginning of the month of October, only abnormally dry conditions were observed across portions of Middle Tennessee.
Areas of severe (or worse) drought expanded slightly across southern into south-central Oklahoma from the mid to late-month period.
31 on October 17, newest first.
Harvest equipment ignited a fire a mile to the west-northwest of Henderson. The fire was ignited near the intersection of Brothers Avenue and 380th Street. The fire burned 20 acres and destroyed farm equipment.
The Lost Boy Butte Fire was reported on October 17, 2024, in Bowman County, North Dakota, and burned 2,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Lost Boy Butte Fire was reported on October 17, 2024, in Bowman County, North Dakota, and burned 2,500 acres.
The 4 Mile Fire was reported on October 17, 2024, in Sanborn County, South Dakota, and burned 1,120 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Cryer Fire was reported on October 17, 2024, in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,100 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
A fast moving wildfire developed in the foothills of Boulder County. The Cal-Wood Fire started near Jamestown and quickly spread eastward through the foothills of Boulder County.
The Mullen Fire was a wildfire that burned over 176,878 acres (71,580 ha), 28 miles (45 km) west of Laramie, Wyoming. The fire started on September 17, 2020, in the Savage Run Wilderness of Carbon County, and spread to Albany County.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Luna Fire was reported on October 17, 2020, in Taos County, New Mexico, and burned 10,142 acres.
The Calwood Fire was reported on October 17, 2020, in Boulder County, Colorado, and burned 10,106 acres.
The Range Fire was reported on October 17, 2020, in Utah County, Utah, and burned 3,496 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Fire Canyon Fire was reported on October 17, 2020, in Summit County, Utah, and burned 1,670 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
Windy conditions during the afternoon of October 17th spread a number of small wildfires in north Idaho. Several of the fires were caused by previously completed burn piles which were not properly extinguished.
The Wf Perkins Blowout Fire was reported on October 17, 2017, in Jefferson County, Texas, and burned 7,966 acres.
The Binger Fire was reported on October 17, 2017, in Lake County, Montana, and burned 1,206 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Junkins Fire was reported on October 17, 2016, in Custer County, Colorado, and burned 18,762 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Coffe Crossing Fire was reported on October 17, 2015, in Natchitoches County, Louisiana, and burned 1,254 acres.
A large wildfire developed over western Adams County in southwest North Dakota during the afternoon of the 17th.
Over the course of about four hours, 12 rural fire departments battled this large wildfire that originated in western Fillmore County approximately four miles southeast of Sutton.
The Crookston Fire was discovered on October 17, 2012, in South Dakota, and burned 14,453 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Fillmore County Fire was discovered on October 17, 2012, in Nebraska, and burned 3,500 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
A storm system moving out of the Rockies sent a powerful cold front through the southern Texas panhandle, South Plains, and Rolling Plains during the early evening hours of the 17th. The cold front surged at 55 mph as it moved across the South Plains.
The 2011-108 Fire was discovered on October 17, 2011, in Lubbock County, Texas, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Nm 467 Fire was discovered on October 17, 2007, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and burned 15,000 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
Santa Ana winds caused wind damage in Orange County, downing power lines in Yorba Linda and Huntington Beach. Wind gusts of 60 mph along the Santa Ana River Valley fanned a wild fire into 190 acres before it was brought under control.
A wild fire blew back on firefighters when the wind shifted. Three fire fighters were injured and their firetruck overcome by flames. Winds in the area had been from the east between 33 and 44 mph.
The Herd Fire was discovered on October 17, 1997, in Montana, and burned 2,081 acres; the cause was recorded as smoking.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on October 17, 1995, in Roseau County, Minnesota, and burned 6,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Hide Away Fire was discovered on October 17, 1995, in Idaho, and burned 1,100 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The De Dios Fire was discovered on October 17, 1993, in New Mexico, and burned 3,000 acres.
The Gibbs Fire was discovered on October 17, 1993, in New Mexico, and burned 2,560 acres.
The Hambre Mt Fire started on October 17, 1984, in Washington, and burned 3,031 acres.
13 on October 17, newest first.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Galpon, Argentina. It killed 2 people, injured 30 and destroyed 15 houses.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Murindo, Cali, Colombia. It injured 20.
m. PDT, the Loma Prieta earthquake occurred on the Central Coast of California.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Perugia, Italy. It did $35 million in damage.
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Lima,huacho,huaura, Chancay,supe,san Nicolas, Peru. It killed 110 people, injured 3,000 and did $35 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
The 1966 Peru earthquake occurred on October 17 at 16:42 local time (21:42 UTC). 1.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An earthquake struck Southern Italy.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Thebes, Greece.
An earthquake struck Berat, Albania. It killed 400 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Cook Strait, New Zealand. It caused a tsunami.
The 1737 Kamchatka earthquake occurred on October 17 near the southern tip of present-day Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. The shock was felt at approximately 03:00 local time or 16:00 UTC by residents on the peninsula and Kuril Islands.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Ecuador.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Pucheng, Henan Province, China. It killed 50 people.
2 on October 17, newest first.
Ritter Island, Papua New Guinea erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. The eruption caused a tsunami.
Katla, Iceland erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 4. It killed 2 people.
5 on October 17, newest first.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck Southwest Australia, with a maximum water height of 0.36 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Ritter Island, Papua New Guinea, with a maximum water height of 0.5 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Kitimat Inlet, British Colombia, Canada, with a maximum water height of 2.8 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Central Peru, with a maximum water height of 3 meters. It killed 110 people, injured 3,000 and did $35 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck SW England, United Kingdom, with a maximum water height of 2 meters. It killed 1 person.
3 on October 17, newest first.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 17, 1970, reached Kp 7- and lasted 15 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 39; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 17, 1951, reached Kp 7 and lasted 75 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 91; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began October 17, 1948, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 45 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 94; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
5 on October 17, newest first.
A storm system over the northeastern Pacific sent a series of large ocean waves into northwestern California beginning on Wednesday, October 17.
Heavy rain and Lightning.
Two men were killed and one injured by a lightning strike west of Hunnewell. The 3 men were doing road work near the bridge over the North Fork of the Salt River when the storm approached.
Strong easterly winds resulted in rip currents. 20 year old man was last seen surfing but time of drowning is unknown. Lifeguards reported several rescues.
Lightning struck a farm house, which subsequently burned to the ground.
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 2026-10-01.