Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for October 23, in any year, each linked to its full record.
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Shanxi Province, China. It killed 13,000 people, destroyed 20,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Ercis, Van, Turkey. It killed 604 people, injured 2,608, destroyed 5,739 houses and did $1.5 billion in damage.
Earthquakes
The 2011 Van earthquakes occurred in eastern Turkey near the city of Van. The first earthquake happened on 23 October at 13:41 local time.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. It killed 68 people, injured 4,805, destroyed 3,175 houses and did $28 billion in damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Wuding, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 81 people, injured 800, destroyed 200 houses and did $80 million in damage.
Earthquakes
The Chūetsu earthquake occurred in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, at 17:56:00 JST on 23 October 2004. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) officially named it the "Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Chūetsu Earthquake" .
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Patricia crossed the coast near Cihuatlán, Jalisco, Mexico as a category 4 hurricane, 130 kt (150 mph), central pressure 932 mb. Hurricane Patricia was the most powerful tropical cyclone on record worldwide in terms of maximum sustained winds. 69 inHg).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Patricia reached its peak of 185 kt (215 mph) with a central pressure of 872 mb, a category 5 storm.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Ferruzano, Italy. It killed 158 people. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Ionian Calabria, Italy. It killed 158 people.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Dali, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 200 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Roslyn crossed the coast near Tuxpan, Nayarit, Mexico as a category 3 hurricane, 105 kt (120 mph), central pressure 961 mb. It killed 3 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Roslyn was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 2022. The nineteenth named storm, tenth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, Roslyn formed on October 20, from an area of low pressure that developed off the southwestern coast of Mexico.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
41 on October 23, newest first.
On 23 October 2022, Storm Beatrice spawned multiple severe thunderstorms across parts of Europe, including tornadic supercells in parts of France and embedded circulations in the mesoscale convective system that impacted parts of England. Fourteen tornadoes were confirmed as a result of the outbreak, some of which were strong and caused major damage.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Low pressure over upstate New York moved east-southeastward across northern Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts during the afternoon and early evening.
Low pressure over upstate New York moved east-southeastward across northern Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts during the afternoon and early evening.
A band of rain showers along and ahead of a strong cold front quickly intensified during the afternoon across Upstate South Carolina, then moved quickly northeast into the North Carolina foothills and far western Piedmont.
A band of rain showers along and ahead of a strong cold front quickly intensified during the afternoon across Upstate South Carolina.
An upper level storm system moving toward the region from the south would interact with a closed upper level low moving through the Tennessee Valley. At the surface, a fast moving cold front moved into the region where a highly sheared environment was in place.
An upper level storm system moving toward the region from the south would interact with a closed upper level low moving through the Tennessee Valley. At the surface, a fast moving cold front moved into the region where a highly sheared environment was in place.
This nocturnal severe weather event was characterized by strong dynamics aloft as a negatively tilted mid-level trough moved across the area. Instability was modest, but shear values were high.
This nocturnal severe weather event was characterized by strong dynamics aloft as a negatively tilted mid-level trough moved across the area. Instability was modest, but shear values were high.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds and one tornado across portions of central and south central Virginia.
A cold upper trough with vertical wind shear produced thunderstorms across Southwest Washington and Northwest Oregon.
A large area of showers and thunderstorms developed ahead of an approaching shortwave trough from the Big Bend area of Texas. Most of the severe weather occurred in a convective line across the southeastern half of north Texas.
Thunderstorms moving northeast blew down trees and power lines in Butler and Crenshaw counties during the early morning hours of October 23. A couple of homes in Crenshaw county suffered roof damage. A weak tornado also caused minor damage along I-65 in Butler county.
A long-lived tropical rain band rotating thunderstorm from Hurricane Wilma moved north through Brevard County and briefly touched down in north Rockledge and Cocoa.
Several trees were knocked down.
This is the continuation of the Rocky Mount, Missouri tornado that moved 15 miles east across central Morgan County before lifting south of Eldon.
Several small but fast moving thunderstorms moved north through north central San Juan County with gusty winds and hail. A 49 year old man was slightly injured when winds overturned his tractor-trailer while traveling south on Highway 391.
Severe thunderstorms developed across the southwestern and south-central Texas panhandle producing a tornado over the eastern sections of the city of Amarillo along with flooding rains and large hail across the southwestern Texas panhandle.
A small and short-lived tornado touched down near Culebra and I-35, causing minor damage to the roof of a motel and a police substation. Widespread damage was reported to car windows.
109 houses/businesses sustained damage. This tornado was mostly F0 with some F1 damage.
An F2 tornado touched down around 3 miles southwest of Merryville along Highway 389 at 8:25 pm, and moved directly through the center of the town before dissipating 1 mile northeast of Merryville. Around ninety homes and businesses received some kind of damage.
An F1 tornado touched down near FM 252, around 7 miles southwest of Jasper at 7:30 pm, and moved northeast, ripping down trees and power lines.
One house was move off its foundation, the top of a mobile home was taken off, and several trees were blown down across the road.
An early morning tornado damaged two houses nine miles south of Colorado City. The tornado also destroyed a shed, blew over three gasoline storage tanks, and tore the roof off of a barn.
An F1 tornado touched down in the Ivanhoe subdivision around 6:45 pm, ripping up trees and moved northeast.
A second tornado touched down in Beauregard Parish. This one, an F1, touched down around 8:55 pm in the Mennonite community south of DeRidder. Fortunately, this storm passed over mostly farmland and wooded acreage. Around five homes were damaged, and two barns were destroyed.
A small F0 tornado touched down along Highway165, two miles north of Fenton, and dissipated around two miles south of Elton. Two homes lost shingles from their roofs, and numerous trees and power lines were blown down.
An F2 tornado touched down in Rapides Parish, Louisiana and tracked 18.3 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
An F2 tornado touched down in Nodaway County, Missouri and tracked 13.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Maryville, MO.
The London Tornado of 1091 is the earliest reported tornado in England, occurring in London on Friday, 17 October 1091. It has been estimated by modern assessment as possibly a T8 on the TORRO scale, making it one of the strongest recorded tornadoes in the British Isles, alongside the 1666 Lincolnshire tornado, although this estimate is based on reports written 30 years later.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
15 on October 23, newest first.
Hurricane Norma crossed the coast near Navolato, Sinaloa, Mexico as a depression, 30 kt, central pressure 999 mb.
Hurricane Roslyn crossed the coast near Tuxpan, Nayarit, Mexico as a category 3 hurricane, 105 kt (120 mph), central pressure 961 mb. It killed 3 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Roslyn was a powerful tropical cyclone that struck the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 2022. The nineteenth named storm, tenth hurricane, and fourth major hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, Roslyn formed on October 20, from an area of low pressure that developed off the southwestern coast of Mexico.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
On October 23rd, 2018, a rapidly intensifying low brought a front onshore in the early afternoon. This increased winds around Prince William Sound above 70 mph, causing some damage in Cordova.
Hurricane Patricia crossed the coast near Cihuatlán, Jalisco, Mexico as a category 4 hurricane, 130 kt (150 mph), central pressure 932 mb. Hurricane Patricia was the most powerful tropical cyclone on record worldwide in terms of maximum sustained winds. 69 inHg).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Patricia reached its peak of 185 kt (215 mph) with a central pressure of 872 mb, a category 5 storm.
Tropical Storm Alpha crossed the coast near Santa Cruz de Barahona, Barahona Province, Dominican Republic as a tropical storm, 45 kt, central pressure 1000 mb. It killed 28 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Tropical Storm Alpha was the 23rd tropical storm of the extremely active 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from Tropical Depression Twenty-Five in the eastern Caribbean Sea on October 22, 2005.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The center of Hurricane Wilma moved northeast from the vicinity of Dry Tortugas northeast through 65 miles northwest of Key West during the night of October 23 to 24, 2005. Hurricane Wilma resulted in at least 2 injuries and at least $33 million in damages to Monroe County.
Hurricane Verne reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 950 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Wilda reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Rita reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 885 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Judy reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 970 mb, a category 4 storm.
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 941 mb, a category 4 storm.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Peletier, NC as a category 2 hurricane, 90 kt (105 mph), central pressure 963 mb. The Gale of 1878 was an intense Category 2 hurricane which caused extensive damage from Cuba to New England in October 1878. –Baltimore region since hurricane records began in 1851, the system is known to have existed as a cyclone by October 18, then located near Jamaica.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 50 kt.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 2 hurricane, 90 kt (105 mph).
21 on October 23, newest first.
A moist and unstable weather pattern, caused by the passage of Tropical Cyclone Melissa off to the south across the Caribbean Sea, affected the islands and led to periods of intense thunderstorms.
The wet trend continued by the end of the month as another TUTT approaches the area. At first, this mid to upper level feature combined with moisture being pulling from the deep tropics into the region.
A short wave and a weak cold front moved into the region allowing scattered showers and storms to develop. Heavy rain moved across Iberia Parish which caused isolated flash flooding.
Widespread thunderstorms moved across central Indiana during the afternoon and early evening hours of October 23rd. Some of these storms briefly produced isolated damaging wind gusts and large hail with the strongest storms across south central Indiana.
Thunderstorms developed across much of the greater Phoenix area during the afternoon and evening hours on October 23rd.
An upper level low located over southern California helped spawn northeastward moving thunderstorms across southeast Arizona. Storms produced large hail near Rio Rico and Three Points and flash flooding in Nogales.
A strong cold front associated with a negatively tilted shortwave upper trough approached the region on October 23rd.
Abundant moisture along a frontal boundary produced heavy rain in parts of East Tennessee. Additional heavy rain continued to fall post-front with upslope (westerly to southwesterly) winds mainly over the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee.
A widespread elevated thunderstorm event occurred across northern San Diego, Orange, western Riverside and southwest San Bernardino counties lasting up to 24 hours and producing 2500 cloud to ground strikes (4000 total flashes) over the land and California bight waters.
Heavy rain led to flash flooding across portions of North Central Texas on the 23rd and 24th, with residual flooding lasting through at least the 25th. Rainfall totals in flood damaged areas ranged from 5 to 21+ inches within a 36 hour period.
An intensifying, slow moving area of low pressure moved into central Illinois from late on October 22 into October 23. The result was a prolonged period of heavy rain on already saturated ground. Rainfall amounts in a 24 to 30 hour period ranged from 2.00 to 3.50 inches of rain.
Excessive rainfall late on the 22nd resulted in creek flooding downstream from the original heavy rain area.
Moisture trailing from weakening tropical depression Alpha over Hispaniola affected Puerto Rico with showers and thunderstorm as Alpha lifted northward.
Rain began to fall across the Kenai Peninsula October 22nd. The rain continued to fall at moderate to heavy rates through the 24th of October.
Rare, out-of-season severe thunderstorms, with up to golf-ball to baseball-size hail, pelted parts of southern Wisconsin during the overnight hours of October 23, 2001.
Moderate to heavy rainfall developed across the southeastern one-half of the DMX HSA late on the 22nd and early on the 23rd as a complex storm system moved across the region.
On October 22nd and 23rd back in the year 2000, extensive flooding occurred in and around Chickasha, when as much as 10 inches of rain fell across Caddo and Grady Counties. Portions of downtown Chickasha were under at least 5 feet of water. Approximately 30 people were rescued from the roof of cars and homes, and between 200 to 400 people were evacuated from their homes. Although a vast majority of the city was flooded, the worst flooding was concentrated along routes 62 and 81 leading into Chickasha. Damages approached $1.5 Million.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Heavy rain began falling near 0200CST in the San Antonio area, and spread over the following three hours into Kendall, Frio and Medina Counties just to the west and northwest of San Antonio.
Heavy rain continued to spread westward during the morning of Oct 23 into the Texas Hill Country and Edwards Plateau.
A series of slow moving and heavy rain storms moved north over east central New Mexico with 6 hour rainfall of 3 to 6 inches. Severe street and road flooding was reported from Portales north to Clovis during mid-afternoon as drains remained full.
Numerous streets in downtown were closed due to high water.
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A weak upper storm system helped trigger widely scattered thunderstorm activity across Oklahoma and western-north on the evening of the 23rd.
A late season severe weather event brought large hail across southern and central Minnesota. Storms developed during the late morning, and strengthened as they moved across southern Minnesota.
A potent upper-level storm system moving slowly southeast toward NM on October 23, 2022 combined with a deep area of surface low pressure along the Front Range to produce widespread strong winds across the region.
Gusty winds occurred out ahead of and along an unseasonably strong cold front that passed across western Colorado. Widespread gusts of 40 to 50 mph occurred. Some stronger winds occurred as the result of decaying outflow boundaries.
An active weather pattern set up in October, bringing multiple rounds of wind and precipitation to both the lowlands and mountains of western Washington. A particularly stronger system in late October was responsible for stronger winds, heavier precipitation, and high surf.
As a surface low moved northeastward from northern Lake Huron to southwestern Quebec between early afternoon and early evening on October 23rd, the trailing cold front swept eastward and reached north-central and southwestern Ohio by early evening.
A line of strong to severe storms tracked across Southeast Michigan on the afternoon of October 23, 2020 ahead of a strong cold front. The storms led to numerous reports of wind damage (trees downed and damage to outbuildings or roofs) and several instances of hail.
As a shortwave trough moved across the Lower Mississippi Valley region on the evening of October 23, a broken line of thunderstorms developed and moved through Mississippi. Isolated damaging wind gusts occurred with a few of the stronger thunderstorms.
Isolated severe storms resulted in several reports of damaging wind gusts across portions of Eaton, Clinton and Jackson counties.
Deep moisture, mild temperatures and enhanced wind fields led to a high shear/moderate CAPE environment ahead of and along a cold front advancing toward the Southeast Coast.
Strong winds occurred behind deep low pressure.
Strong winds occurred behind deep low pressure.
A deep upper level trough carved its way across the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandle during the afternoon of October 23rd. Ahead of this trough, strong winds were present in the lower and mid levels of the atmosphere.
There was a brief respite before the next upper-level low pressure trough reached California on October 24th. This system tapped into a deep fetch of tropical moisture that extended across much of the northern Pacific Ocean.
A strong pressure gradient across east Tennessee brought windy conditions over the mountains. Three people in a car were injured.
Strong winds knocks out power to about 6500 people in Snohomish County. A tree fell on a shelter next to a home, damaging the roof.
A strong cold front pushed across Wisconsin during the early evening of October 23, generating conditions favorable for brief but strong wind gusts. Gusts of 40 to 64 mph were reported across central and east-central Wisconsin.
Arizona Department of Public Safety reported 5 wrecks due to hail covered road on I-17 near Highway 69. There was one fatality in a wreck on Highway 69 between I-17 and Mayer.
Estimated 50 mph (43 knot) winds at the Dawn Heights mobile home park produced minor damage to awnings, porches, and windows.
Strong west to northwest winds behind a powerful cold front combined with collapsing showers and thunderstorms to produce wind gusts to near 65 MPH. The winds remained strong for 1 to 2 hours before slowly subsiding. The winds produced a 20 minute power outage in Valentine.
A severe thunderstorm dropped 1 inch hail and caused wind damage in the Fredericktown area. The hail accumulated up to 2 to 3 inches on the ground in some areas. Some power lines were downed in Fredericktown.
Sustained winds 30-40 mph blew across most of western Washington, knocking out power to about 10,000 customers throughout the area. Several trees were also downed by the wind, one that damaged a car, and another that damaged a house.
High winds knocked down trees, kicked up blowing dust and knocked out power to several communities in the Lower Columbia Basin and the foothills of the Blue Mountains during the morning and early afternoon hours.
In the early morning hours, several trees fell on power lines...knocking out power to around 150 customers near Cle Elem Lake.
Strong winds knocked numerous trees onto power lines during the early afternoon in the eastern Yakima Valley. Power was lost to around 5000 customers around 1 pm near the towns of Moxee and Terrace Heights.
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A complex early winter storm moved through the region on October 23rd as a deep low tracked southeast over the region. This kept most of the Inland Northwest on the cold side of the storm bringing low snow levels and temperatures at or below freezing.
On Friday, October 23, Montana was in the crosshairs for a strong early winter snow storm set to begin later that afternoon afternoon and continue through Saturday evening.
Another early season arctic airmass moved into the Billings Forecast Area toward the end of the month. At the same time, a strong upper level disturbance combined with moisture off the Pacific resulted in an overrunning event across south central Montana.
After several weeks of warm, windy and dry weather that fueled the two largest wildfires in the state's history; a powerful storm system brought welcome relief as it produced heavy snow and frigid temperatures to northern Colorado.
A complex early winter storm moved through the region on October 23rd as a deep low tracked southeast over the region. This kept most of the Inland Northwest on the cold side of the storm bringing low snow levels and temperatures at or below freezing.
A strong storm system moving across the region produced snow, heavy at times across portions of southern Colorado.
Unseasonably cold air moving across warm Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the evening of October 23rd. The snow briefly tapered off during the middle portion of the 24th and then picked up again during the afternoon.
Unseasonably cold air moving across warm Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the evening of October 23rd. The snow briefly tapered off during the middle portion of the 24th and then picked up again during the afternoon.
A storm system near Delaware early on October 22nd, moved northeast across east coastal portions of New England on Sunday, October 23rd. Rain on the evening of the 22nd changed to snow during the overnight period and continued into Sunday morning, October 23rd.
Snowstorm of October 23, 1997 was ranked category 2, Significant, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South. It lasted from October 23, 1997 to October 28, 1997.
A strong winter storm system moved through Utah during this time. Scattered thunderstorms with heavy rain and snow showers developed in the southwest flow ahead of the cold front on the 23rd.
Winter storm spanned three days and moved from western Wyoming late on the 23rd to eastern Wyoming on the 25th. Snowfall amounts approached 1 1/2 feet in some locations, with the greatest amounts on northeast-facing slopes and eastern foothills.
Heavy wet snow from a record early season snowfall downed numerous trees still full with foliage and power lines throughout the Kansas City, Independence, Blue Springs and Lee's Summit.
A record setting early season snowfall knocked out power to an estimated 50,000 customers. The heavy wet snow also knocked over numerous trees which were still foliage filled and downed power lines.
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Hot temperatures 9 to 14 degrees above normal caused record-breaking heat across Southeast Arizona. The Pima County Medical Examiner confirmed that heat was a contributing factor in the cause of death for an individual in Tucson.
A strong upper level ridge settled over the region from October 23-25, 2017, before weakening slowly through the 27th. High pressure over the Great Basin brought weak to moderate Santa Winds that contributed dry air and compressional warming.
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High pressure centered over the Ohio Valley led to light winds and excellent radiational cooling conditions early on the morning of October 24, 2025. Temperatures dropped to at or below the freezing mark across much of central Kentucky.
On the morning of October 23rd, the city of Pocatello experienced record cold morning|for the date. Officially, there was a record low of 16 degrees at the office and airport. In town (and the part of Pocatello), temperatures dropped to between 20-25 degrees.
Clear skies and calm winds set the stage for another widespread frost event across eastern Kentucky on October 23. Valley locations experienced the coldest temperatures and therefore had the most widespread and longest lasting frost.
Dawn temperatures ranged from 12 degrees at Greenbank of Pocahontas County to the upper 20s along the banks of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers.
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The 2023 Darling Downs fires was an Australian bushfire that began on 23 October 2023 after emergency warnings were issued for multiple bushfires in the Darling Downs region but particularly concentrated in the Western Downs Region and in Milmerran Woods. More than 40 fires burned across Darling Downs, with two fatalities in the town of Tara.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Collett Ridge Fire was reported on October 23, 2023, in Cherokee County, North Carolina, and burned 5,505 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
This Sunday afternoon-evening featured one of the most concerning fire weather setups of the fall 2022 season within South Central Nebraska, and unfortunately, it came to fruition in the form of several wind-driven wildfires, a couple of which were fairly sizable (several…
A strong low level jet from the southwest across the CWA prevailed ahead of cold front that tightened the pressure gradient significantly 9-10 mb from north to south. Wind gusts up to 60 to 70 mph were reported with a number of wildfires that sparked during the afternoon hours.
The Ness/Ellis County Fire was reported on October 23, 2022, in Ness County, Kansas, and burned 14,342 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Middle Creek Fire was reported on October 23, 2022, in Marion County, Kansas, and burned 2,300 acres.
The Hwy 11 Fire was reported on October 23, 2022, in Grant County, Oklahoma, and burned 1,344 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Kincade Fire was a wildfire that burned in Sonoma County, California in the United States. m.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A series of offshore wind events plagued much of California towards the end of October. Cut off lows (also known as insider sliders) moved into the Great Basin as an upper ridge sat over the eastern Pacific.
The Kincade Fire was reported on October 23, 2019, in Sonoma County, California, and burned 77,758 acres.
A wildfire of unknown cause spread rapidly eastward. It consumed 15 houses and additional out-buildings in the Greenwood Village subdivision. Scores of residences were evacuated during the height of the wildfire.
The Wetmore Fire was discovered on October 23, 2012, in Custer County, Colorado, and burned 1,998 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The James Creek Fire was discovered on October 23, 2010, in Boone County, West Virginia, and burned 1,054 acres; the cause was recorded as fireworks.
The Canyon Complex (Bear) Fire was discovered on October 23, 2008, in California, and burned 1,310 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Poomacha Fire started on the 23rd of October as the result of a house fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation. The fire quickly spread through the reservation and up the southwest facing slopes of Mount Palomar.
The Ammo Fire burned 21,084 acres of mosly rugged terrain on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps base. Six injuries were reported. The Ammo Fire cost $708K to fight and was one of thirteen large, wind-driven wildfires to impact the San Diego CWA in late October.
The Poomacha Fire was discovered on October 23, 2007, in San Diego County, California, and burned 49,390 acres; the cause was recorded as other causes.
The Ammo Fire was discovered on October 23, 2007, in San Diego County, California, and burned 21,004 acres.
The Beetle Fire was discovered on October 23, 2005, in Florida, and burned 4,385 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Piru Fire was discovered on October 23, 2003, in California, and burned 63,720 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on October 23, 2001, in Kentucky, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire started on October 23, 2000, in Arkansas, and burned 3,940 acres.
The Wolfe Fire was discovered on October 23, 2000, in Benton County, Mississippi, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Cane Rock Fire started on October 23, 1991, in West Virginia, and burned 9,010 acres.
The Sea Rim Fire started on October 23, 1990, in Texas, and burned 3,828 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on October 23, 1989, in North Dakota, and burned 4,365 acres.
The Mp 104 Fire started on October 23, 1986, in Idaho, and burned 1,065 acres.
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A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Ercis, Van, Turkey. It killed 604 people, injured 2,608, destroyed 5,739 houses and did $1.5 billion in damage.
The 2011 Van earthquakes occurred in eastern Turkey near the city of Van. The first earthquake happened on 23 October at 13:41 local time.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Izu Islands, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Niigata Prefecture, Honshu, Japan. It killed 68 people, injured 4,805, destroyed 3,175 houses and did $28 billion in damage.
The Chūetsu earthquake occurred in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, at 17:56:00 JST on 23 October 2004. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) officially named it the "Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Chūetsu Earthquake" .
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Cantwell, Denali Natl Park, Alaska, United States.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Wuding, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 81 people, injured 800, destroyed 200 houses and did $80 million in damage.
The 1995 Wuding earthquake occurred on October 23, 1995, at 22:46 UTC. The epicenter was located near Fenduo Village (芬多村), Fawo Township (发窝乡) of the Wuding County, Yunnan, China.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck N Coast, Wewak, Dagua, Papua New Guinea.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck San Marcos, Guatemala. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Assam, India.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Caroline Islands, Micronesia, Fed. States of, Palau.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Hindu Kush, Afghanistan.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Ferruzano, Italy. It killed 158 people. It caused a tsunami.
0 km. in the area of Gerace-Siderno, on the southeast coast of Calabria.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The 1904 Oslo earthquake occurred on 23 October at 11:27 CET, in Oslo, Norway. The earthquake was the second strongest earthquake in Norway until the 2008 Svalbard earthquake.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Shanxi Province, China. It killed 13,000 people, destroyed 20,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Shaanxi Province, China. It killed few people (about 1 to 50) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Dali, Yunnan Province, China. It killed 200 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Nanyang, Henan Province, China. It killed some people (about 51 to 100).
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A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck Izu Islands, Japan, with a maximum water height of 0.16 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck Southwest Australia, with a maximum water height of 0.3 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Guatemala, with a maximum water height of 0.2 meters. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Ionian Calabria, Italy. It killed 158 people.
11 on October 23, newest first.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 2010, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 27; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1999, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 32; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1995, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 19; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1991, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 22; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1983, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 21; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1970, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 29; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1962, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 23; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1957, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 20; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1948, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 33; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1937, reached Kp 6+ and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 34; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 53 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began October 23, 1932, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 22; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
10 on October 23, newest first.
Dense fog formed during the early morning hours on Oct. 23rd over the inland Coastal Plains to Brush Country. A two car head-on accident occurred in Jim Wells County off of Highway 369 and FM 1539, south of Orange Grove.
Typical radiation fog forms when the surface quickly cools at night to become nearly saturated and can become dense when conditions trap more moisture near the surface, usually in the presence of high pressure as what was observed on 10/23.
Areas of dense fog developed across the region after midnight on the 23rd, with widespread visibility below 1/4 mile. The fog dissipated by 10 AM.
A strong cold front approached the area subsequent to record heat across western New York. A pre-frontal trough ignited thunderstorms upstream from lower Michigan through northern Ohio. Thunderstorms overall diminished as they moved toward the area late in the evening.
A series of large swells from the northwest boosted surf into the ranges of 15 to 35 feet along the north-facing shores, and 10 to 20 feet along the west-facing shores, of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, and Maui.
Warm, moist air pooling along the stationary boundary that was the focus for dense fog the night before, spread northward behind the boundary as it slowly lifted north as a warm front.
Thunderstorms developed across southern Minnesota early Tuesday morning, October 23rd, and moved northward across the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. One of the lightning bolts ignited a fire at a home in Maple Grove.
An area of low pressure aloft triggered numerous showers and thunderstorms across Arkansas on the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd.
At 1421 the Coast Guard received a call from the Fish and Wildlife Service about swimmers being swept over the reef at Ritidian Point by strong currents.
Dense fog with visibility lesss than 10 feet moved rapidly onshore, causing a 50 foot sport fishing boat to miss the entrance to Oceanside Harbor and run aground. A rising tide allowed the boat to be towed back to sea within 90 minutes by a Harbor Police Rescue Boat.
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 2026-09-30.