Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for October 3, 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 7 earthquake struck Burdur, Kilinc, Keciborlu, Isparta, Turkey. It killed 4,000 people, injured 700, destroyed 17,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Joaquin reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 934 mb, a category 4 storm.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana and tracked 1.5 miles, 67 yards wide at its widest, killing 22 and injuring 165.
Tornadoes
The Grand Harbour of Malta tornado was an tornado in Malta, killing at least 600 people. It supposedly began as a waterspout, hitting the Grand Harbour of Malta where it killed hundreds of people who drowned when their ships capsized.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Olmsted, Winona, Buffalo counties, Minnesota and tracked 55.1 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 45. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: St. Charles, MN to Independence, WI.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Adams, Portage counties, Wisconsin and tracked 22.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Bancroft to W Sheridan, WI.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Capitol Planning Region County, Connecticut and tracked 11.3 miles, 1,400 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 500.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Lima, Callao, Peru. It killed 78 people, injured 2,414 and did $10 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 0.92 meters. It killed 78 people, injured 2,414 and did $10 million in damage.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Savanna LA Mar, Jamaica. It killed 300 people. It caused a tsunami.
Floods
Heavy rain in the Midlands...Pee Dee produced flash flooding in across the area. Numerous dams were breached along with numerous bridge and roadways flooded and damaged.
Tornadoes
50 on October 3, oldest first.
The Grand Harbour of Malta tornado was an tornado in Malta, killing at least 600 people. It supposedly began as a waterspout, hitting the Grand Harbour of Malta where it killed hundreds of people who drowned when their ships capsized.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F4 tornado touched down in Olmsted, Winona, Buffalo counties, Minnesota and tracked 55.1 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 9 and injuring 45. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: St. Charles, MN to Independence, WI.
An F4 tornado touched down in Adams, Portage counties, Wisconsin and tracked 22.3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 5 and injuring 40. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Bancroft to W Sheridan, WI.
An F3 tornado touched down in Bureau County, Illinois and tracked 7.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SSE Princeton/W Hollowayville, IL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana and tracked 1.5 miles, 67 yards wide at its widest, killing 22 and injuring 165.
The 1964 Larose tornado was a powerful tornado that formed and dissipated on Larose, Louisiana. , CST.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Worcester, Middlesex counties, Massachusetts and tracked 35.4 miles, 60 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
An F4 tornado touched down in Capitol Planning Region County, Connecticut and tracked 11.3 miles, 1,400 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 500.
The Windsor Locks tornado was a destructive tornado that struck the towns of Windsor, Windsor Locks, and Suffield, Connecticut, and Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, October 3, 1979. 2 km) track.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F3 tornado touched down in Pinellas County, Florida and tracked 2.6 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 75.
An F2 tornado touched down in Pinellas County, Florida and tracked 3 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
A tornado touched down near 41st Street and E 8th Avenue, moved north northwest, then lifted near 46th Street and E 6th Avenue. The roof of Hialeah Fire Department Station No. 2 was damaged with debris falling onto vehicles.
25 tornadoes were recorded on October 3, 2002, in Louisiana, Mississippi.
A weak tornado damaged a TV station studio when a tower collapsed on it. Other homes and businesses in the area had damage from trees falling on them.
A tornado ripped through the Ebenezer community, damaging or destroying around 20 mobile homes and knocking trees down.
NWS storm survey showed a tornado path on the south side of Turkey Creek, where several homes and businesses had roof damage and trees were blown down.
A police officer saw a tornado touch down and cave in the roof of a home.
A short-lived tornado associated with Hurricane Lili moved across Pinhook and Verot School Road. A few trees and power lines were blown down, some landing on homes and businesses.
A tornado associated with Hurricane Lili damaged several homes in the Roberts Cove community.
A small tornado touched down near Estherwood, damaging several homes when trees fell on them.
Trees were blown down, damaging several homes and barns in the Mowata community of Acadia Parish.
The tornado moved across extreme southeast Grant Parish along the northeast eye wall of Tropical Storm Lili.
A somewhat disorganized band of thunderstorms developed, ahead of a fast-moving cold front. These storms crossed Northern Lower Michigan in the late evening and early overnight hours, producing very large hail, some damaging winds, and a brief tornado.
A powerful storm system moved into the central Plains on the 3rd of October and allowed for low pressure developed over the western high Plains. Ahead of this low, unseasonably warm and humid air streamed north from the Gulf of Mexico.
A squall line moved east through the region during the pre-dawn hours. As the squall line entered northwest Alabama, it produced a swath of damaging winds in the community of Red Bay in Franklin County.
A large area of low pressure was stationed over eastern Montana with shortwaves rotating around it over northern Arizona. This provided dynamic support to an already moist|environment with numerous showers and thunderstorms.
A deep upper trough moved over the Central Plains. A shortwave moved over east central Colorado during the afternoon and CAPE values were highest just to the east of this feature.
During the afternoon hours, multiple waves of thunderstorms moved across Northwest Kansas. These storms generally moved as lines producing thunderstorm wind gusts up to 75 mph with damage in Norton and Decatur counties.
A surface low moved from the southwest to the northeast across the state initiating a line of severe weather in northeast Nebraska. Reports were received for wind speeds between 60 and 80mph with the strongest measured report being 82mph in Fairbury.
18 on October 3, oldest first.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph).
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph), a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Frances crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 45 kt.
Hurricane Flora reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 933 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Hilda crossed the coast near Patterson, LA as a category 2 hurricane, 90 kt (105 mph), central pressure 959 mb. Hurricane Hilda was a powerful tropical cyclone that ravaged areas of the United States Gulf Coast, particularly Louisiana. In addition to its damage inland, the hurricane greatly disrupted offshore oil production, and at its time was the costliest tropical cyclone for Louisiana's offshore oil production.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Virgil reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 948 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Hernan crossed the coast near Cihuatlán, Jalisco, Mexico as a category 1 hurricane, 65 kt (75 mph), central pressure 987 mb. The 1996 Pacific hurricane season was below-normal in terms of tropical cyclone activity due to an ongoing La Niña, which also suppressed activity in the previous season. There were a total of nine storms named by the National Hurricane Center (NHC), of which five became hurricanes.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A low pressure center with a maximum depth of 982 mb tracked from the Chukotsk Peninsula due east across the south Chukchi Sea to beyond Kotzebue by the afternoon of the 4th.
Hurricane Keith crossed the coast near San Pedro, Belize District, Belize as a tropical storm, 60 kt, central pressure 990 mb. Hurricane Keith was a powerful tropical cyclone that formed in September 2000, it caused extensive damage in Central America, especially in Mexico and Belize. It was the fifteenth tropical cyclone, eleventh named storm, and seventh hurricane of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Lili reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Lili made landfall the morning of October 3rd near Intracoastal City in Vermilion Parish as a category one hurricane. Over 48,000 claims were filed with FEMA by homeowners who received damage. along the path of Lili, from southwest Louisiana into central Louisiana.
Hurricane Lili crossed the coast near Abbeville, LA as a category 1 hurricane, 80 kt (90 mph), central pressure 963 mb. Hurricane Lili was the second costliest, second deadliest, and most intense hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season, only surpassed by Hurricane Isidore, which affected the same areas around a week before Lili. Lili was the twelfth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Lili made landfall along the South-Central Louisiana coast during the morning hours of October third as a category 2 system.
Hurricane Lili made landfall along the South-Central Louisiana coast during the morning hours of October third as a category 2 storm.
Hurricane Joaquin reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 934 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Chaba reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 911 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Gamma crossed the coast near Tulum, Quintana Roo, Mexico as a category 1 hurricane, 65 kt (75 mph), central pressure 978 mb. It killed 6 people in all, by the National Hurricane Center’s count. Hurricane Gamma was a tropical cyclone that brought heavy rains, flooding, and landslides to the Yucatán Peninsula in early October 2020. The twenty-fifth depression, twenty-fourth named storm and ninth hurricane of the extremely active 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Gamma developed from a vigorous tropical wave that had been monitored as it was entering the Eastern Caribbean on September 29.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Orlene crossed the coast near El Rosario, Sinaloa, Mexico as a category 1 hurricane, 70 kt (80 mph), central pressure 990 mb. Hurricane Orlene was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused minor damage to the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 2022. The cyclone was the sixteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2022 Pacific hurricane season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
30 on October 3, oldest first.
On October 2 and 3, 2000 a broad area of low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico off the southwest Florida coast moved northeast across central florida and eventually became subtropical depression number 1 then tropical storm Leslie off of the northeast Florida coast.
Two days of periodic heavy rain fell across much of northwest Oklahoma with some areas receiving nearly seven inches.
Heavy rains associated with Hurricane Lili caused water to enter several homes across Acadia Parish, especially south and east of Crowley.
Heavy rains associated with Hurricane Lil resulted in several homes flooding across Evangeline Parish.
Nearly three inches of rain fell in a short period causing runoff to flow across a county road.
A series of severe thunderstorms moved through northern and southeastern sections of central Indiana during the early evening hours of 4 October 2006. Large hail and heavy rain were the main threats, but isolated areas of wind damage were reported as well.
A moist southerly flow ahead of an upper level trough brought areas of heavy rainfall to east central Utah.
A massive landslide on the east slope of Mount Soledad in La Jolla left two homes destroyed and 15 others uninhabitable. The landslide also knocked down power lines, completely destroyed 200 feet of Soledad Mountain Road, and caused a minor gas leak.
Thunderstorms developed ahead of a slow-moving cold front during the afternoon of the 12th.
A wet weather pattern continued into the month of October. A large rain event occurred on the 2nd, with 2.25 inches of rain falling at New Hampton. The antecedent soil conditions were quite wet, and this helped the East Fork of the Des Moines River to flood quite easily.
A Pacific tap of moisture from the remnants of Pacific Tropical Storm Olaf moved over south central Texas. This moisture moved up and over a dome of cool air and provided widespread rains.
A low pressure circulation over southern California ejected northeast over Arizona in response to a much stronger trough of low pressure moving eastward over the Pacific Ocean.
A cold storm moved from the Gulf of Alaska through the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin, bringing thunderstorms and strong winds, with spotty damage reported. Heavy snow also likely fell on the unpopulated high mountain peaks.
The October 2013 North American storm complex was a massive blizzard and tornado outbreak that affected the Northwest, Rockies, and much of the Midwest in early-October 2013. A total of 22 tornadoes were confirmed as the system moved eastward across the eastern half of the United States, including two that were rated EF4.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A severe thunderstorm moved across the southwest and south suburbs of Chicago producing large hail and strong winds.
Heavy rain in the Midlands...Pee Dee produced flash flooding in across the area. Numerous dams were breached along with numerous bridge and roadways flooded and damaged.
A slow-moving area of upper level low pressure tapped into a tropical moisture feed associated with Hurricane Joaquin (located across the western Atlantic, well off the southeast coast) to produce periods of moderate to heavy rainfall across Upstate South Carolina throughout the…
A slow-moving area of upper level low pressure tapped into a tropical moisture feed associated with Hurricane Joaquin to produce a band of moderate to heavy rainfall across the western Carolinas during the morning hours.
Perigean spring tides that occurred with the full moon led widespread minor to moderate flooding at high tides along the east coast of South Florida during early October. Flooding impacts were exacerbated by strong easterly flow and occasional periods of heavy rainfall.
An upper level low pressure system developed over the Great Basin during the first week of October and delivered another round of widespread showers and thunderstorms to New Mexico.
A strong Pacific low pressure system plus leftover moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Rosa produced thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert. Significant flash flooding and isolated severe weather occurred.
An upper level low pressure system dropped southward along the California coast on October 2 spreading precipitation across the Central California Interior.
A strong Pacific low pressure system plus leftover moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Rosa produced thunderstorms over the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin. Some storms produced flash flooding.
A second tap of abundant moisture in association with the remnants of Tropical Storm Narda moved northeast across western Mexico into the desert southwest on October 3, 2019.
An upper level trough just west of the Mississippi River on October 3rd become stationary and evolved into a closed upper low by October 5th. The closed upper low remained nearly stationary for 48 hours and before finally lifting northward on October 7th.
A shortwave trough approaching the area from the west along with moderate levels of instability (MLCAPE 1000 J/KG) and unseasonably high moisture content above the 90th percentile (PWAT 1-1.3) resulted in a favorable environment for the development of strong thunderstorms.
Continuing with the anomalously deep trough and strong wind shear across the southern Great Plains during this late season event. This day was marked by numerous supercells across the Permian Basin and Lower Trans Pecos.
During the night of 3–4 October 2024, central and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced severe flooding, the worst since the 2014 Southeast Europe floods, due to an atmospheric river formed over the Adriatic Sea. Several central towns were flooded, and numerous towns and villages became inaccessible as roads, bridges, and railways were obstructed by floodwaters and landslides.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Heavy rain over a several day period caused flash flooding for much of the Tooele Valley. Rainfall totals through the event ranged from 2-4 inches.
A large, long-period northerly swell moved across the local Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Passages from late Thursday night on October 2nd through October 6th, creating hazardous marine and coastal conditions across the north-facing beaches of Puerto Rico.
28 on October 3, oldest first.
During the afternoon of October 3, 1994, severe thunderstorms brought strong winds and large hail to parts of Wichita County, Texas. Hail to the size of tennis balls in Iowa Park destroyed vinyl siding, broke windows, and caused extensive roof damage. High winds blew down two large trees and destroyed the press box of the Iowa Park High School stadium.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Large tree limbs and a power line was blown down.
90 mph wind recorded at Chambers County Airport. One aircraft destroyed. Damage to high school roof, mobile home roof lifted, garage destroyed, powerlines down, and minor damage to a miniature golf course.
Walker county 911 reported trees down.
BROWNING...G69 KT 6SW DUPUYER
Late afternoon, a nearly stationary frontal boundary extended from surface low pressure in Central Kansas northeast through Northern Missouri and Central Illinois. Two main areas of thunderstorms developed during the late afternoon and evening.
A small area of very strong thunderstorms developed in west central Illinois during the early evening hours, and moved northeast at 40 mph into north central Illinois.
Scattered trees were blown down across the county. A large tree fell onto a car in Goshen heavily damaging it. Another large tree was downed across C.R. 12 blocking both lanes of travel.
The Glascock County Emergency Management Director reported that a possible microburst downed numerous trees and power lines between Hobbs Road and County Line Road in the extreme northeast part of the county. Two mobile homes were damaged.
Strong winds of 35 to 45 mph fanned fires in rural Hall County near Cairo. The fires started from combines in the fields for harvest. The winds pushed the fire across two different bean fields. The fire damaged a pivot in one field.
A supercell producing hail up to the size of tennis balls affected locations along the Interstate 94 corridor during the evening of October 3. Additional hail storms hit parts of southwest Wisconsin during the early morning of October 4.
A warm frontal boundary over central and southern Minnesota was the catalyst for a rash of severe weather across a portion of the Chanhassen county warning area.
Strong westerly winds occurred during the early morning hours of the 3rd, behind a warm front. Some wind damage occurred near the Lake Michigan shoreline. Gusts of 40 to 50 mph brought down trees in Emmet, Leelanau, and Manistee Counties.
A strong low pressure system and associated cold front brought high winds to the Mojave Desert and southern Great Basin.
A closed low pressure system moving through the Great Basin produced strong winds across much of western Montana. Winds peaked between 50-60 mph, causing damage to trees and power lines, particularly across northwest Montana.
Isolated thunderstorms developed across portions of Imperial county during the afternoon hours on October 3rd. The storms generated strong and gusty outflow winds in excess of 50 mph which were sufficient to blow down a number of trees and power poles.
Thunderstorm outflow winds combined with gradient winds associated with a nearby cold front to produce damage in a rural area of Montezuma County.
Isolated strong to severe thunderstorms flared up in eastern portions of South Central Nebraska on this Thursday evening, primarily affecting Nance, Clay and especially Fillmore counties.
A line of strong to severe thunderstorms moved across Middle Tennessee during the early morning hours of October 3. A few reports of high winds and wind damage were received, with a measured wind gust to 66 mph.
Breezy to locally windy conditions developed over the Jemez Mountains on the afternoon of October 3rd. Various observing stations around the area reported southwest winds of 20 to 30 mph during the early to mid afternoon hours.
Post-frontal high winds developed across portions of south central and southeast Wyoming. Frequent gusts of 65 to 75 mph were observed.
The pressure gradient ahead of a deepening low pressure system in the Great Basin produced strong southwest wind across central Wyoming. Peak wind speeds topped 60 mph at several locations.
A cold front moving through the area produced wind gusts from 50 to 61 mph. The strong winds flipped a bounce toy at a pumpkin patch near Lincoln, NE, injuring 1 child and killing another.
An area of low pressure over the South Dakota/Wyoming border during the morning hours moved quickly northeast through the day to just north of Lake Superior by the evening. This low pulled a cold front through the Minnesota Arrowhead region and northwest Wisconsin.
A weak frontal boundary lingered across the region. This, combined with daytime heating and ample moisture, to bring showers and storms to the region.
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds on 10/3.
A deep upper trough moved over the Central Plains. A shortwave moved over east central Colorado during the afternoon and CAPE values were highest just to the east of this feature.
7 on October 3, oldest first.
A strong cold front moved through the Sierra Nevada and western Nevada and brought strong winds, heavy rain, and mountain snow to the region.
Snowstorm of October 3, 2009 was ranked category 1, Notable, on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Northern Rockies and Plains. It lasted from October 3, 2009 to October 6, 2009.
A historic blizzard pounded western South Dakota with record-setting snowfall and strong winds for almost 48 hours from the evening of October 3 through the afternoon of October 5.
A potent mid-level cut-off low moved from southwest Idaho to southern Lemhi county, Idaho by 6 am MDT Thursday October 3rd and then tracked southeast into southeast Idaho by Thursday night.
A potent early season winter storm moved into Wyoming early on Thursday, October 3, and continued through much of Friday, October 4. Snow began in the higher elevations of western Wyoming early Thursday morning.
A historic blizzard pounded northeastern Wyoming with heavy snow and strong winds. Snowfall ranged from six inches to more than two feet with blowing and drifting snow reducing visibility to near zero.
A vigorous early season winter storm brought moderate to heavy snowfall and strong northerly winds to much of east central, south central and southeast Wyoming.
4 on October 3, oldest first.
Temperatures dropped into the 20s, except some 30s adjacent to the warmer waters of the major rivers. The coldest reading was 21 degrees from Glady and Marlinton. Bartow and Kumbrabow State Forest both observed 22 degrees. This brought an end to the growing season to many areas.
A cold area of high pressure built across eastern New York during the early morning hours of October 3.
Cold Canadian high pressure pushed the coldest air up through this point in the fall season into southern Illinois. Clear skies and calm winds allowed frost to form, except in the southern tip of the state from Cairo to Metropolis.
Two hikers on the Mount Whitney Trail were treated for hypothermia.
27 on October 3, oldest first.
The Palomar Fire started on October 3, 1987, in California, and burned 10,250 acres.
The Monse Fire started on October 3, 1987, in Washington, and burned 7,659 acres.
The Antelope Fire started on October 3, 1987, in California, and burned 3,237 acres.
The Chrome Fire started on October 3, 1990, in Oregon, and burned 1,489 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on October 3, 1991, in Washington, and burned 1,082 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on October 3, 1993, in Florida, and burned 1,178 acres.
The Fort Fire started on October 3, 1994, in California, and burned 1,045 acres.
The Vision Fire was discovered on October 3, 1995, in California, and burned 12,354 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Coyote Creek Fire started on October 3, 1996, in California, and burned 1,491 acres.
A wild fire fanned by erratic winds quickly grew to over 4000 acres. Seven structures were destroyed: one house and 6 out buildings.
The Shockey Fire was discovered on October 3, 1999, in San Diego County, California, and burned 3,880 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Tierra Blanca Fire was discovered on October 3, 2000, in Texas, and burned 1,500 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Perry Fire was discovered on October 3, 2000, in Oklahoma, and burned 1,000 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The PW-03 Gin Flat Fire started on October 3, 2002, in California, and burned 3,427 acres.
The Berg 3 Fire was discovered on October 3, 2003, in Idaho County, Idaho, and burned 2,102 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Netherland Fire was discovered on October 3, 2005, in Kansas, and burned 1,300 acres; the cause was recorded as smoking.
The Grand Fire was discovered on October 3, 2006, in Bourbon County, Kansas, and burned 1,300 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on October 3, 2006, in Hawaii County, Hawaii, and burned 1,000 acres.
The Sheep Fire started along Sheep Creek Road near Lytle Creek around 1311 PST on October 3rd. The fire spread rapidly towards Wrightwood, scorching a total of 7,128 acres before being contained on October 10th.
A sudden increase in winds with gusts to near 40 mph led to a dust storm on Interstate 90 at milepost 196. Low visibilities in the dust storm contributed to a multi vehicle accident involving five vehicles that were all totaled, along with seven indirect injuries.
The Sheep Fire was discovered on October 3, 2009, in San Bernardino County, California, and burned 7,128 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Wf North Unit/Cabin Easement Fire was discovered on October 3, 2011, in Texas, and burned 1,238 acres.
The Beulah Hill Fire was reported on October 3, 2016, in Pueblo County, Colorado, and burned 5,232 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Cutter Fire was reported on October 3, 2017, in Douglas County, Nevada, and burned 1,682 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Rn Fire was reported on October 3, 2018, in Sherman County, Oregon, and burned 5,877 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
October was dry and warm, with much of the area reporting no measurable precipitation during the month.
The Yogo Fire was reported on October 3, 2020, in Judith Basin County, Montana, and burned 5,309 acres.
19 on October 3, oldest first.
The 1303 Hongdong earthquake occurred in Yuan dynasty of the Mongol Empire, on September 25. 6 and it had a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (Extreme).
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An earthquake struck Rhodes, Greece. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Lefkada, Greece.
An earthquake struck Savanna LA Mar, Jamaica. It killed 300 people. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Okinawa, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Puebla,veracruz,acultzingo,acatzingo, Mexico. It killed 20 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Xylokastron-Sykia (Corinthia), Greece. It killed some people (about 51 to 100) and destroyed 700 houses. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Burdur, Kilinc, Keciborlu, Isparta, Turkey. It killed 4,000 people, injured 700, destroyed 17,000 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
The 1915 Pleasant Valley earthquake occurred at 22:53:21 on October 2 in north-central Nevada. 7, and a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), it was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the state.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Pleasant Valley, Nevada, United States.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Rabi,tunuloa Mission,suvasavu, Fiji Islands.
A magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck North of, Macquarie Island, Australia.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 50 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Southern, Chile. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Lima, Callao, Peru. It killed 78 people, injured 2,414 and did $10 million in damage. It caused a tsunami.
The 1974 Lima earthquake occurred on October 3 at 14:21 UTC. It was located at about 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of Lima, Peru.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Miyakejima, Oshima, Japan.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Quito, Ecuador. It killed 2 people, injured 5 and destroyed 83 houses.
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Dipayal, Nepal. It killed 1 person, injured 23 and destroyed 334 houses.
1 on October 3, oldest first.
Miyakejima, Japan erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It destroyed 400 houses. The eruption was accompanied by an earthquake.
7 on October 3, oldest first.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Island of Rhodes, Greece, with a maximum water height of 1.8 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Okinawa Island, Japan.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Peloponnesus, Greece. It killed some people (about 51 to 100) and destroyed 700 houses.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands, with a maximum water height of 9 meters. It killed 50 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Southern Chile.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Central Peru, with a maximum water height of 0.92 meters. It killed 78 people, injured 2,414 and did $10 million in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck South Lhonak Lak, Sikkim, India, with a maximum water height of 15 meters. It killed 55 people, left 74 missing, destroyed 84 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
6 on October 3, oldest first.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began October 3, 1937, reached Kp 8- and lasted 12 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 71; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 47 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 3, 1939, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 18 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 51; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 3, 1952, reached Kp 7- and lasted 51 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 69; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 52 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 3, 1959, reached Kp 7 and lasted 24 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 51; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 50 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 3, 1973, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 48; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G3 (strong) geomagnetic storm began October 3, 2002, reached Kp 7+ and lasted 30 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 64; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 48 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
1 on October 3, oldest first.
A flooding disaster that cost $1.6 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 3, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from October 3, 2000 to October 4, 2000.
9 on October 3, oldest first.
Lightning sparked a fire and burned a barn to the ground in Alpine. A separate bolt struck the ham radio antenna of a NWS spotter in Alpine, destroying electronic equipment in his home.
Lightning sparked a fire in 5 apartments in Moss Bluff.
Two people were injured when they were struck by lightning at the Forest Canyon Overlook, at nearly 12,000 feet elevation along Trail Ridge Road. The thunderstorm formed rapidly overhead. One of the victims was badly burned, the other had no visible injuries.
Lightning struck a well outside a home in North Yarmouth and is believed to have followed underground wiring to the home where it ignited a fire in the basement. The fire then completely destroyed the home.
A stalled frontal boundary from over northern Florida and the eastern Gulf of Mexico helped fuel scattered seabreeze showers and thunderstorms across the Florida peninsula. A lightning strike from one of these storms struck and killed an 11 year old boy.
Thunderstorms developed across Iowa during the predawn and morning hours of the 3rd. Lightning from one storm stuck the main lodge of the Honey Creek Resort at Rathbun Lake. There was structural and electrical damage reported from the lightning strike.
Strong onshore winds courtesy of a developing area of low pressure across the Deep South produced gusty winds, rough surf, and rip currents along area beaches. A child at the beach with his family was caught in a rip and drowned.
Widespread dense fog blanketed most of western Kentucky during the early morning hours. Visibility fell below one-half mile over all areas with the exception of the Murray to Hopkinsville corridor.
Widespread dense fog blanketed southern Illinois during the early morning hours. Visibility fell below one-half mile over all areas with the exception of the Pinckneyville to Benton corridor, where clouds lingered the longest.
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 2026-09-28.