Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for October 20, 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 8.5 earthquake struck Lima, Peru. It killed 5,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck S. Peru. It killed 5,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Pakistan. It killed 231 people.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $2.1 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 2, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from October 20, 2019 to October 20, 2019.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Lynn reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 930 mb, a category 5 storm.
Tornadoes
Thunderstorms erupted across the DFW Metroplex as a strong upper level system and a cold front impacted the region on the evening of October 20 through the early morning hours of October 21st.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Oscar crossed the coast near Baracoa, Guantanamo Province, Cuba as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph), central pressure 984 mb. It killed 8 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Oscar was a compact tropical cyclone that had the smallest hurricane-force wind field on record for an Atlantic hurricane. Oscar made landfall on Grand Turk Island and in eastern Cuba in late October 2024, where it caused moderate damage.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Malang, Java, Indonesia. It killed 8 people, injured 1,856 and destroyed 95 houses.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 934 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Trix reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 965 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Jean reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Ida reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 930 mb, a category 4 storm.
31 on October 20, newest first.
Thunderstorms erupted across the DFW Metroplex as a strong upper level system and a cold front impacted the region on the evening of October 20 through the early morning hours of October 21st.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Dallas County, Texas and tracked 15.76 miles, 1,300 yards wide at its widest.
Thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma during the early evening of the 20th, along and just ahead of a cold front moving into the area. The atmosphere ahead of the front was very unstable.
76 miles through the densely populated areas of North Dallas and Richardson in Dallas County, Texas, United States, inflicting widespread damage to numerous structures. 55 billion (2019 USD) in damages, making it the second-costliest tornadic event in Texas history, and the sixth-costliest tornado in United States history.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across the region from the late evening of the 20th to the pre-dawn hours of the 21st as a cold front and negatively-tilted upper trough moved across the region.
Thunderstorms developed over central Oklahoma during the early evening of the 20th, along and just ahead of a cold front moving into the area. The atmosphere ahead of the front was very unstable.
A longwave trough dug south into the Southern Plains during the daytime hours of October 20th, with southerly winds increasing ahead of the trough helping to return low level moisture north from the Gulf of Mexico.
A strong upper wave and a cold front initiated numerous thunderstorms with a variety of severe hazards on the evening of the 20th.
A longwave trough dug south into the Southern Plains during the daytime hours of October 20th, with southerly winds increasing ahead of the trough helping to return low level moisture north from the Gulf of Mexico.
A longwave trough dug south into the Southern Plains during the daytime hours of October 20th, with southerly winds increasing ahead of the trough helping to return low level moisture north from the Gulf of Mexico.
The remnants of tropical storm Nestor spawned a tornado in Myrtle Beach.
Heavy rains caused flooding from a north to south line of thunderstorms. Damage was caused by a tornado, thunderstorm winds and a lightning strike.
A waterspout/tornado moved on shore just south of the Cape Canaveral Coast Guard Station and moved east along the north shore of Port Canaveral to just east of the Trident Pier inlet. The F1 tornado overturned several vehicles including a bus and damaged the roof of a building.
A weak tornado briefly touched down near the community of Carolina, west of Libertyville. The tornado blew down several trees and also did minor roof damage to several homes. No injuries were reported.
Trees and TV antennas were blown down by thunderstorm winds. A flat bed trailer was blown onto car. A house was unroofed, and two other houses had roof damage.
On this day in 1963, an F2 tornado ripped across west-central Oklahoma, crossing eight farms in northern Kingfisher County. A barn, as described by an eyewitness, seemed to explode. Nine farm buildings were destroyed, and 11 were heavily damaged.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An F3 tornado touched down in Otero County, Colorado and tracked 11.9 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Jackson County, Kansas and tracked 6.1 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Hoyt, KS.
An F2 tornado touched down in Marion County, Florida and tracked 0.9 miles, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Oak/Ocala, FL.
An unrated tornado touched down in Summit County, Ohio and 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Stow, OH.
An unrated tornado touched down in Davie County, North Carolina and 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Salisbury, NC.
21 on October 20, newest first.
Hurricane Oscar crossed the coast near Baracoa, Guantanamo Province, Cuba as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph), central pressure 984 mb. It killed 8 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Oscar was a compact tropical cyclone that had the smallest hurricane-force wind field on record for an Atlantic hurricane. Oscar made landfall on Grand Turk Island and in eastern Cuba in late October 2024, where it caused moderate damage.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Olaf reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 938 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Kajiki reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 937 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Jose crossed the coast near Saint John’s, Saint John Parish, Antigua and Barbuda as a category 1 hurricane, 80 kt (90 mph), central pressure 982 mb. Hurricane Jose was the fourteenth tropical cyclone, tenth named storm, and seventh hurricane of the annual hurricane season that caused moderate damage in the Lesser Antilles in October 1999. Jose developed from a tropical wave several hundred miles east of the Windward Islands on October 17.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Jose reached the northern Leeward Islands Wednesday night, October 20. As Jose continued to move to the northwest it weakened and by 1100 am Thursday morning Jose was downgraded to Tropical Storm.
Hurricane Jose reached the northern Leeward Islands Wednesday night, October 20. As Jose continued to move to the northwest it weakened and by 1100 am Jose was downgraded to Tropical Storm. The center of Hurricane Jose passed just to the east and northeast of St.
Hurricane Babs reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 4 storm.
A very slow moving coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced very heavy rains (up to 19 inches along the coast) and persistant strong onshore winds.
A very slow moving coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced very heavy rains (up to 13 inches along the coast) and persistant strong onshore winds.
A very slow moving coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced very heavy rains (up to 19 inches along the coast) and persistant strong onshore winds.
Hurricane Trudy reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 924 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Lynn reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 930 mb, a category 5 storm.
Cottonwood Creek, in the Guthrie area, reached a record crest of 29.6 feet at 11:01 PM, on October 20th, 1983. The flooding resulted from the torrential rains caused by the remnants of Hurricane Tico. West sections of Guthrie flooded, requiring the evacuation of more than 500 people. A four-foot-deep wall of water reportedly moved across the rapidly rising water, and washed cars and trucks off the streets. One man, who was holding onto a car, was swept away and drowned. The flooding resulted in about $2.5 million in damages.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Hurricane Ida reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 930 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Jean reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Trix reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 965 mb, a category 4 storm.
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 934 mb, a category 4 storm.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 35 kt.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 55 kt.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 2 hurricane, 90 kt (105 mph), central pressure 973 mb.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 1 hurricane, 80 kt (90 mph).
27 on October 20, newest first.
A major fall storm quickly pushed across northern Alaska between October 20th and 23rd, with the low itself moving all the way inland. The storm brought coastal flooding, high winds, heavy precipitation, and a mix of precipitation, including a rain-snow mix and freezing rain.
Storm Babet (known as Storm Viktor in Germany) was an intense extratropical cyclone which affected large parts of northern and western Europe. The second named storm of the 2023–24 European windstorm season, Babet was named by the UK's Met Office on 16 October 2023.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
External feeding bands and moisture field from hurricane Tammy moving well east and north of the region reached the local islands. Additionally, a nearby TUTT and remnants of T.C. Sean also helped promote rain activity.
Remnant low pressure of Tropical Storm Nestor tracked northeast across eastern North Carolina and off the southeast Virginia coast during Sunday, October 20th. This storm produced heavy rain which caused some minor flooding across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
A potent cold front pushed into an unseasonably warm and humid air mass, generating widespread showers and thunderstorms. There was a considerable amount of both low level and deep layer shear, and some of the storms produced damaging winds.
Thunderstorms developed ahead of and along a strong cold front the afternoon and evening of the 20th. While heavy rains of 2 to 4 inches in 24 hours were reported across the region, only isolated flash flooding was reported.
The deep low pressure system that brought severe weather to New Mexico on the 19th continued churning slowly eastward toward the state on the 20th.
A warm front with a developing triple point and occlusion resulted in heavy rain and a few embedded thunderstorms.
Wet antecedent conditions and more heavy rain over a three day period led to major flooding on the Mohawk River at Utica. The Mohawk River at Utica crested at 407 feet above mean sea level which is 4 feet above flood stage.
Heavy rain of two to three inches in a short period of time brought urban and small stream flooding to Manhattan.
Rainfall of around 4 inches brought at least 6 inches of fast flowing water across rural roads just north of Scranton. Roads were barricaded.
The second in a series of October storms brought with it heavy rain, thunderstorms, flash flooding, and funnel clouds. Very heavy rain upwards of 9 inches in the mountains caused serious flash flooding and debris flows in parts of the San Bernardino Mountains.
A major Pacific storm system slowly moved east over Utah and brought incredible amounts of rain and snow to most locations. Strong southwest flow ahead of an upper level trough tapped tropical moisture southwest of Hawaii.
Flooding that occurred from Oct 20 to the 23rd included (but was not limited to) the Tolt, Skokomish, Snoqualmie, Snohomish, Satsop, Nooksack, Skagit, Skykomish, Elwha, Dungeness, Bogachiel, Sauk, Hoh, Nisqually, White and Stillaguamish Rivers.
An all time daily record rainfall total was set at Seatac Airport with 5.02 inches. Other daily records were set at Shelton with 7.20", Hoquaim with 5.39" and Olympia with 4.12".
A very deep plume of Pacific moisture impacted the Cascade Mountains beginning on the 19th of October. By the evening of the 20th, two to three inches of rain had fallen over the east slopes of the Cascades.
Flooding occurred along the Taiya and Skagway Rivers due to heavy rain over Oct.19-20. The Haines ASOS measured 4.40 inches of rain in 24 hours. A Park Service Campground near Haines was flooded, and the highways along the rivers near Skagway were damaged due to erosion.
A coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced between 8 and 19 inches of rain throughout the County during a 30-hour period. Many homes and businesses were flooded. Roads and bridges were washed out.
A coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced 8 to 13 inches of rain throughout the County during a 30-hour period. Many homes and businesses were flooded. Roads and bridges were washed out. Several dams were damaged.
A coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced between 7 and 9 inches of precipitation throughout the County during a 30-hour period. Many homes and businesses were flooded. Roads and bridges were washed out.
A coastal storm which was fed tropical moisture by the circulation around Hurricane Lily produced between 8 and 10 inches of rain throughout the County during a 30-hour period. Many homes and businesses were flooded. Roads and bridges were washed out and an area dam was damaged.
An intense storm over the mid-Atlantic states pumped excessive rains all the way back to parts of western New York. Rainfall totals of three to four inches...onto already saturated grounds...were common across the Genesee Valley and Western Finger Lakes region.
On October 19 and 20 a nearly stationary low pressure system over southern New Jersey and southeast Pennsylvania produced heavy rains across much of eastern New York.
39 on October 20, newest first.
Gusty northwest winds developed over much of western North Dakota in the wake of a cold front. The strongest wind gusts of 67 mph were reported at Amidon in Slope County.
A longwave trough dug south into the Southern Plains during the daytime hours of October 20th, with southerly winds increasing ahead of the trough helping to return low level moisture north from the Gulf of Mexico.
Up to this point, there was plenty of rain to talk about, but severe weather was limited. That changed late on the 20th/early on the 21st. Hit and miss thunderstorms popped up quickly in central and eastern Oklahoma.
High wind gusts led to some blowing dust, reducing visibility down to 3 miles for some places.
The passage of a strong cold front and vigorous upper low pressure area produced gusty gradient winds and numerous rain and snow showers for the morning into the early afternoon hours. Gusty winds of 45 to 55 mph occurred and were most prevalent within the precipitation areas.
A strong cold front swept through the middle Ohio River Valley and central Appalachians on the 20th. This brought a round of gusty winds which led to scattered tree damage and power outages. One of the hardest hit counties was Kanawha, where over 14,000 customers lost power.
A strong cold front moved across northern Illinois during the late morning and afternoon of October 20th. This cold front produced snow squalls that reduced visibility to near zero for short periods. Winds gusted as high as 65 mph. Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down.
A strong cold front, supported aloft by a fasting-moving and deep upper level disturbance passing across the central Appalachians, produced a brief but potent round of high winds across the ridges and foothills of the Blue Ridge of southern Virginia.
Strong northwesterly winds developed in the wake of a departing cold front during the afternoon of October 20th. The winds were enhanced as a powerful low-level jet streak mixed to the surface during peak heating, creating widespread gusts in excess of 45mph.
A strong Fall storm system caused strong to severe storms with damaging winds across northern Ohio. Numerous power outages as well as minor structure damage was reported.
A strong cold front, supported aloft by a fasting-moving and deep upper level disturbance passing across the central Appalachians, produced a brief but potent round of high winds across the Highlands of northern North Carolina.
A strong cold front swept through the middle Ohio River Valley on the 20th. This brought a round of gusty winds which led to scattered tree damage and power outages. Several thousand power customers experienced outages in northeastern Kentucky.
A strong cold front swept through the middle Ohio River Valley on the 20th. This brought a round of gusty winds which led to scattered tree damage and power outages. Several thousand power customers experienced outages that evening.
A strong cold front pushed south through central California on October 20 producing the only significant precipitation event across the area for the entire month.
A cold front moved through Utah on October 20, bringing strong gusty winds to northern Utah, with some damage reported along the Wasatch Front.
Severe downslope winds affected the Owens Valley ahead of a cold front.
Severe downslope winds affected the Fish Lake Valley ahead of a cold front.
A wave of low pressure moved along a cold front during the late afternoon and evening. Decent flow ahead of the front combined with afternoon instability to produce showers and thunderstorms.
Unseasonable warmth clashed with an approaching cold front to produce several lines of thunderstorms across central Kentucky during the afternoon hours on October 20. Some of these storms produced large hail.
An area of low pressure was exiting the area on the morning of October 20th. Sufficient low level moisture was in place overnight to allow a severe thunderstorm to track across south-central Mississippi during the early morning hours.
Damaging winds affected portions of western and central Massachusetts behind a strong cold front, as colder air surged into southern New England.
Cold air streaming in behind a powerful cold front produced very strong gusty west to northwest winds during the afternoon of the 20th in New Jersey. Peak wind gusts averaged 40 to 50 mph, with a few higher gusts near the coast.
A small but intense area of low pressure moved northeastward through the Gulf of Maine late on the 20th and into the Canadian Maritimes by the afternoon of the 21st. While most winds across the state were in the 35-45 mph range, winds likely gusted to near 60 mph in many areas.
Cold air streaming in behind a powerful cold front produced very strong gusty west to northwest winds during the afternoon of the 20th in Eastern Pennsylvania. Peak wind gusts averaged around 45 to 50 mph, except around 60 mph over the higher terrain in the Poconos.
A small but intense area of low pressure moved northeastward through the Gulf of Maine late on the 20th and into the Canadian Maritimes by the afternoon of the 21st. While most winds across the state were in the 35-45 mph range, winds likely gusted to near 60 mph in many areas.
A strong cold front brought strong gusty northwest winds of up to 45 mph. Scattered reports of downed tree limbs and power outages were received. All across Frederick County there were scattered power outages and downed powerlines and tree limbs.
Large hail dented roofs and broke windows in mainly the southwest part of Austin. Some home reported holes in their roofs from the hail.
A man was injured and sent to the hospital after his vehicle was struck by lightning.
A logger was killed when a very localized area of high winds caused a tree to fall on him. The tree that fell was not being cut down and other workers attempts to alert the man failed. The very freak accident occurred about 2 miles south of Hematite in Alleghany County.
Two sheds (25x30 and 25x50 ft) blew into the west and north side of a house. As both sheds were moving, they smashed a parked car. Numerous boards were also blown into the same house. Damage was estimated at $75,000. Also, power lines were blown down at the same location.
Roofs were blown off outbuildings and car windows were broken by flying debris.
Strong winds from thunderstorms knock down 50-foot high trees, damaging power poles and law enforcement vehicles.
Severe thunderstorms developed in northeast Oklahoma during the early morning of October 20th and produced large hail. Nickel-size hail fell at Vera, dime- to nickel-size hail fell at Claremore, and dime-size hail fell at Collinsville and 1 mile east of Chouteau.
A downburst from a thunderstorm struck an area 0.25 miles wide and 1.5 miles long north of Frank Road and east of Brown Road. Winds estimated to 80 mph damaged 52 homes, of which 19 were damaged seriously, of which six were left temporarily uninhabitable.
Scattered thunderstorms moving northeast at 30 mph produced large hail two miles north of Benton, four miles west of Plain Dealing, three miles north of Sarepta, four miles north of Mansfield, in Gloster, and Springhill.
Thunderstorm winds downed numerous trees.
7 on October 20, newest first.
An early winter storm produced 6 to 9 inches across portions of central and southern Minnesota during the morning and late afternoon of Tuesday, October 20th. A weak surface trough moved across the Upper Midwest with modest warm air advection ahead of it.
Low pressure traveled along a stationary front across the Champlain Valley on the 20th.
Low pressure traveled along a stationary front across the Champlain Valley on the 20th.
As strong cold front produced record breaking snowfall and new daily record low temperatures across sections of north central New Mexico. Santa Fe Plaza had 11 inches of snow in less than 12 hours, breaking the record for heaviest single October snow of 7 inches set in 1965.
The first winter storm of the year moved through Montana and slowed over North Dakota. Unseasonably warm air ahead of the low was replaced by cold arctic air. Snow began falling in the western part of the state on the evening of Sunday, Oct.
A large upper level trough with accompanying upslope flow moved across the area. From the evening of the 20th until midmorning of the 21st, snowfall ranged from El Paso county to Huerfano county, with totals ranging from 3 to 7 inches.
The 1916 Black Friday storm was a large storm that passed over Lake Erie on Friday, October 20, 1916. Dubbed "Black Friday", the "perfect storm" sank four large ships, killing forty-nine people.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
1 on October 20, newest first.
Hot temperatures were experienced on October 20th with high temperatures in the middle to upper 90s in central Pima County.
2 on October 20, newest first.
Cold morning temperatures 7 to 10 degrees below normal across Southeastern Arizona. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that cold was the primary factor in the cause of death for an individual in Tucson.
High pressure over the western Great Lakes with a ridge to Pennsylvania early Thursday, October 20th moved east with the ridge over New England and New York early Friday, October 21st.
3 on October 20, newest first.
Mount Charleston recorded 7.78 inches, Nevada’s all-time greatest 24-hour precipitation, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Portland recorded 13.32 inches, Maine’s all-time greatest 24-hour precipitation, over October 20, 1996 to October 21, 1996, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
Mount Washington recorded 11.07 inches, New Hampshire’s all-time greatest 24-hour precipitation, over October 20, 1996 to October 21, 1996, as the State Climate Extremes Committee lists it.
19 on October 20, newest first.
The Dry Prong Fire was reported on October 20, 2025, in Perry County, Mississippi, and burned 3,842 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Tea Kettle Fire was reported on October 20, 2018, in Gooding County, Idaho, and burned 2,315 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Rl 331 West Road Fire was reported on October 20, 2017, in Beltrami County, Minnesota, and burned 1,328 acres.
The Jacobson Fire was reported on October 20, 2016, in Tulare County, California, and burned 1,702 acres.
The Devil Fire was discovered on October 20, 2012, in Oneida County, Idaho, and burned 1,295 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use. Incident teams reported 1 structure destroyed.
The K10-152 Fire was discovered on October 20, 2011, in Jasper County, Texas, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
Between October 20th and 24th, strong surface high pressure developed over the Great Basin and produced a strong and long-lasting Santa Ana wind event across Southern California.
A large wildfire began approximately twelve miles west southwest of Ware in Dallam County at 1524 CST just south of State Highway 102. The wildfire burned four hundred and sixty-three acres which started in a silage pit where hay was stored.
The Ranch Fire was discovered on October 20, 2007, in Los Angeles County, California, and burned 45,300 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution. Incident teams reported 10 structures destroyed.
The Como Fire was discovered on October 20, 2000, in Douglas County, Nevada, and burned 1,382 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Rough Fire located in the Sierra National Forest, Fresno County, approximately 18 miles east of Pine Flat Dam. It burned 960 acres. No fatalities occurred nor were any structures lost. Fire cost of $365K.
Wild fire fanned by gusty canyon winds near the town of Camino. Named the "Eight Mile FIre" with 150 acres burned. No structures destroyed.
The Grit Road Fire was discovered on October 20, 1997, in Texas, and burned 4,700 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Palermo Fire was discovered on October 20, 1996, in California, and burned 1,300 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Bitter Creek Fire was discovered on October 20, 1992, in South Dakota, and burned 2,443 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Geysers Fire started on October 20, 1991, in California, and burned 4,991 acres.
The Lion Fire started on October 20, 1991, in California, and burned 1,765 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on October 20, 1991, in Kansas, and burned 1,589 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on October 20, 1986, in Florida, and burned 1,196 acres.
20 on October 20, newest first.
A magnitude 5 earthquake struck Gujarat, India. It injured 34 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Central, Peru.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Izmir, Turkey. It killed 1 person and injured 15.
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck Uttar Pradesh, NW, India, Nepal.
8 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). This thrust event was instrumentally recorded and occurred along the Main Central Thrust in the Uttarkashi and Gharwal regions of the Indian state of Uttarakhand (then still part of Uttar Pradesh).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Tianzhu, Gansu Province, China. It killed 4 people, injured 92, destroyed 87,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Raoul, Kermadec Islands. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Sumbawa Island, Indonesia. It killed 2 people and injured 40.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Kuril Islands, Russia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Malang, Java, Indonesia. It killed 8 people, injured 1,856 and destroyed 95 houses.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Pakistan. It killed 231 people.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck Northern Samar, Philippines.
An earthquake struck Quebec City, Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada. It killed 2 people and destroyed 16 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Miyagi Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. It destroyed 70 houses. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck S. Java Sea, Indonesia. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2 people.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Ancona, Italy. It killed few people (about 1 to 50).
A magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck Lima, Peru. It killed 5,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Menorca (Minorca), Spain. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000).
A magnitude 8.6 earthquake struck Peru.
An earthquake struck Croatia, Balkans NW.
2 on October 20, newest first.
Stromboli, Italy erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 1 person.
Krakatau, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 1. The eruption caused a tsunami.
12 on October 20, newest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Kermadec Islands, New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 0.22 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano and landslide struck Krakatau, Indonesia, with a maximum water height of 2 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck S. Kuril Islands, Russia, with a maximum water height of 15 meters.
A tsunami struck Blacklead Island, Cumberland Sound, Canada.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake and landslide struck Cape Trinity, Quebec, Canada. It killed 2 people and destroyed 16 houses.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Off Miyagi, Japan, with a maximum water height of 3.9 meters. It destroyed 70 houses.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck South of Java, Indonesia. It killed 2 people.
A tsunami struck Pireaus, Greece.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Livorno, Italy.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.5 earthquake struck S. Peru. It killed 5,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Reggio Di Calabria, Italy.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Marmara Sea, Turkey.
3 on October 20, newest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began October 20, 1989, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 72 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 146; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 20, 1981, reached Kp 7 and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 67; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 20, 1948, reached Kp 7- and lasted 27 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 67; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
1 on October 20, newest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $2.1 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 2, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from October 20, 2019 to October 20, 2019.
14 on October 20, newest first.
Rough surf and high intensity rip currents along the Lower Texas coast for several days were present when a man ventured into the surf, unaware of the power of the water. The swimmer, who was from Houston, was quickly moved by the current into deeper water, where he drowned.
Surface trough draped to the west of South Florida and lingering moisture in it's wake helped to spark convection across the east coast of South Florida and adjacent Atlantic and Biscayne Bay waters.
A cold front passed across the waters during the evening hours of October 20th. A band of showers and isolated thunderstorms along the front produced gusty winds across portions of the waters.
A long-period swell from the southern hemisphere produced surf of 6 to 12 feet along the south-facing shores of the all the islands. There were no reports of serious injuries or property damage.
Long period swell from distant Typhoon Haima. Caused dangerous rip currents across the Marianas.
A swell from a strong low far northwest of the islands generated surf of 15 to 20 feet along the north- and west-facing shores of Niihau and Kauai, and 10 to 15 feet along the north-facing shores of Oahu, Molokai, and Maui.
A warm front with a developing triple point and occlusion resulted in heavy rain and a few embedded thunderstorms.
Late-season lightning strikes caused problems in the town of Meredith on the 20th. In one incident, lightning injured three people at a home in Meredith. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
A storm low in the southern hemisphere east of New Zealand generated surf of 6 to 9 feet along the south shores of all the Hawaiian Islands. This episode occurred from 09:00 on the 20th through 15:00 on the 21st. There were no reports of serious injuries or property damage.
A late season lightning strike ignited a fire that burned down a home in Cannan.
High swells from Hurricane Wilma caused minor beach erosion at Cape San Blas, St. George Island, Dog Island, and Alligator Point. After years of punishment from past tropical cyclones, the 153-year-old brick lighthouse on Little St.
Lightning struck a tree which exploded and set a cottage on fire and destroyed it.
11 year old girl caught in rip current drowned
Lightening struck a hilltop soccer field, injuring a 13-year-old player and his adult coach. The boy was taken to the hospital and initially listed in critical condition. He was subsequently released. His coach was treated at the hospital and released.
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.