Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for September 21, in any year, each linked to its full record.
← September 20TodaySeptember 22 →
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Earthquakes
7 Mw earthquake which occurred in Jiji (Chi-Chi), Nantou County, Taiwan on September 21, 1999, at 01:47:12 local time. 2,415 people were killed, 11,305 injured, and NT$300 billion worth of damage was done.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Georges crossed the coast near Saint John’s, Saint John Parish, Antigua and Barbuda as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 966 mb. It killed 827 people in all. Hurricane Georges was a powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone which caused severe destruction as it traversed the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in September 1998, making seven landfalls along its path. Georges was the seventh tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in Kossuth, Hancock, Winnebago counties, Iowa and tracked 50.6 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, killing 14 and injuring 100. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Whittemore, IA to Kiester, MN.
Billion-dollar disasters
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $23 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 86, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from September 21, 1989 to September 22, 1989.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Kossuth, Hancock, Winnebago counties, Iowa and tracked 39.6 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 25 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Wesley to NE Hanlontown, IA.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Eau Claire, Clark, Taylor counties, Wisconsin and tracked 64.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 18 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: ESE Augusta to N Chelsea, WI.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Hurricane Fiona reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 939 mb, a category 4 storm.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Mower counties, Iowa and tracked 59.9 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 17 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Mason City, IA to Leroy/Spring Valley, MN.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Bayfield, Ashland counties, Wisconsin and tracked 25.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Sanborn, WI.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Mitchell, Howard counties, Iowa and tracked 25.3 miles, killing 5 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Osage to WSW Cresco, IA.
Tornadoes
An F4 tornado touched down in Van Buren, Jefferson, Henry counties, Iowa and tracked 45.9 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Brighton to SE Cotter, IA.
Tornadoes
An F3 tornado touched down in Lincoln, Oneida counties, Wisconsin and tracked 35.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Tomahawk/S Rhinelander/W Starks to Three Lakes.
49 on September 21, oldest first.
An F5 tornado touched down in Kossuth, Hancock, Winnebago counties, Iowa and tracked 50.6 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, killing 14 and injuring 100. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Whittemore, IA to Kiester, MN.
An F4 tornado touched down in Kossuth, Hancock, Winnebago counties, Iowa and tracked 39.6 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 25 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Wesley to NE Hanlontown, IA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Cerro Gordo, Mitchell, Mower counties, Iowa and tracked 59.9 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 17 and injuring 60. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NE Mason City, IA to Leroy/Spring Valley, MN.
An F4 tornado touched down in Mitchell, Howard counties, Iowa and tracked 25.3 miles, killing 5 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Osage to WSW Cresco, IA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Palo Alto County, Iowa and tracked 12.6 miles, killing 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Emmetsburg/N Cylinder, IA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Muskingum County, Ohio and tracked 11.9 miles, injuring 2. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Zanesville/Philo, OH.
An F4 tornado touched down in Eau Claire, Clark, Taylor counties, Wisconsin and tracked 64.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 18 and injuring 50. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: ESE Augusta to N Chelsea, WI.
An F4 tornado touched down in Bayfield, Ashland counties, Wisconsin and tracked 25.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Sanborn, WI.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lincoln, Oneida counties, Wisconsin and tracked 35.6 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 6 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Tomahawk/S Rhinelander/W Starks to Three Lakes.
An F3 tornado touched down in Barron County, Wisconsin and tracked 8.4 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SE Rice Lake to N Campia, WI.
An F2 tornado touched down in Barron, Rusk, Sawyer counties, Wisconsin and tracked 40.3 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Chetek/W Couderay, WI.
An F4 tornado touched down in Van Buren, Jefferson, Henry counties, Iowa and tracked 45.9 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Brighton to SE Cotter, IA.
An F3 tornado touched down in Rock, Jefferson, Waukesha counties, Wisconsin and tracked 54 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Orfordville/S Footville/E Leyden/N Rome to Nashotah, WI.
An F2 tornado touched down in Labette, Cherokee, Crawford counties, Kansas and tracked 55.3 miles, 30 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Oswego/Scammon, KS/Iantha, MO.
An F3 tornado touched down in Terrell County, Texas and tracked 10 miles, 10 yards wide at its widest.
25 tornadoes were recorded on September 21, 1967, in Florida, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania.
An F3 tornado touched down in Webster County, Iowa and tracked 2.3 miles, 143 yards wide at its widest.
A slow moving supercell thunderstorm moved northwest to southeast across much of Pottawatomie County during the early afternoon. Numerous reports of large hail and winds of 55 to 65 knots were common with the storm. Heavy rainfall also caused minor low land flooding.
Roof blown off Frazier Elementary School.
Severe thunderstorms developed over much of western and central Oklahoma from late morning through late evening of the 21st, and were responsible for 1 fatality and 18 injuries. Three tornadoes were also sighted.
A tornado destroyed a small, poorly constructed mobile home and damaged some nearby grain bins on the far north side of Sheridan Lake. Some windows were also broken and shingles were ripped off houses.
Hail covered the ground.
The tornado moved NNE along the west side of Russell and damaged two sheds, blew the roof from an oil field pipeline building, and blew the windows out of a home.
A tornado touched down 4 miles south-southwest of Lane and moved east causing some damage before lifting 4 miles east of Farris. The roof of a barn was damaged along with several large oak trees uprooted 4 miles south and 0.5 mile west of Lane.
The same storm system that produced a tornado near Erath dropped down along Coteau Highway. Around ten homes and mobile homes were damaged, including one that was completely destroyed. Eyewitnesses saw the tornado and took protective action to save their lives.
A cold front moving across the region triggered widespread rain showers ahead of the boundary, with little to no lightning observed. Early morning showers and cloud cover strictly limited heating, resulting in low CAPE values.
On the early morning of September 21, 2014, a small storm cell developed along and ahead of a cold front tracking through Southeast Michigan.
A strong and moist Pacific storm brought widespread precipitation and severe weather to Utah. Two tornadoes were reported on September 22, and other significant impacts included strong gusty winds, large hail, and widespread flash flooding.
Thunderstorms with high winds and extremely heavy rain moved across northeast Iowa during the evening of September 21st into the early morning of the 22nd. Winds of 60 to 70 mph occurred near Rockford (Floyd County) and Nora Springs (Floyd County).
A cold front passed through the region in the evening and overnight hours with a line of showers and storms. One storm produced a brief tornado.
27 on September 21, oldest first.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a tropical storm, 50 kt.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph), central pressure 973 mb.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Bayou Vista, LA as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 952 mb. The 1909 Grand Isle hurricane was a large and deadly Category 3 hurricane that caused severe damage and killed more than 400 people throughout Cuba and the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Forming out of a tropical disturbance just south of Hispaniola on September 13, 1909, the initial depression slowly intensified as it moved west-northwest towards Jamaica.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 929 mb, a category 5 storm.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Bellport, NY as a category 3 hurricane, 105 kt (120 mph), central pressure 941 mb. The 1938 New England Hurricane was one of the deadliest and most destructive tropical cyclones to strike the United States. The storm formed near the coast of Africa on September 9, becoming a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale, before making landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on Long Island on Wednesday, September 21.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An unnamed storm crossed the coast near Güines, Mayabeque, Cuba as a category 3 hurricane, 110 kt (125 mph). The September 1948 Florida hurricane (Air Weather Service designation: Easy) was the most intense tropical cyclone to make landfall in the state since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane. The fourth hurricane and third major hurricane of the season, this storm developed from a tropical wave over the Caribbean Sea on September 18.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Gilda reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 935 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Wilda reached its peak of 150 kt (175 mph) with a central pressure of 895 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Della reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 935 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Olivia reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph), a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Norbert reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph), a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Ryan reached its peak of 130 kt (150 mph) with a central pressure of 940 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Nora reached its peak of 115 kt (130 mph) with a central pressure of 950 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Georges crossed the coast near Saint John’s, Saint John Parish, Antigua and Barbuda as a category 3 hurricane, 100 kt (115 mph), central pressure 966 mb. It killed 827 people in all. Hurricane Georges was a powerful and long-lived tropical cyclone which caused severe destruction as it traversed the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico in September 1998, making seven landfalls along its path. Georges was the seventh tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Georges began affecting Puerto Rico about 1200 noon with wind gusts to tropical storm force. By 600 pm most of the east sectors of Puerto Rico were experienced hurricane force winds.
Hurricane Georges began to affect the islands during the morning hours of September 21. The centre of Georges passed a few miles north of St. Croix at about 100 pm while continued to move to the west towards Puerto Rico. At the St.
Hurricane Shanshan reached its peak of 135 kt (155 mph) with a central pressure of 925 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Karl reached its peak of 125 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 938 mb, a category 4 storm.
Hurricane Yagi reached its peak of 140 kt (160 mph) with a central pressure of 898 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Igor crossed the coast near Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada as a category 1 hurricane, 75 kt (85 mph), central pressure 950 mb. It killed 4 people in all. Hurricane Igor was a very large tropical cyclone which became the most destructive on record to strike the Canadian island of Newfoundland. It originated from a broad area of low pressure that moved off the western coast of Africa on September 6, 2010.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Lorena crossed the coast near La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico as a category 1 hurricane, 70 kt (80 mph), central pressure 987 mb. S. state of Arizona.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tropical Storm Beta made landfall near Matagorda bay on September 21. As the system pushed slowly inland, portions of SE Texas experienced flash flooding from heavy rain bands, storm surge, and some strong wind gusts.
Hurricane Fiona reached its peak of 120 kt (140 mph) with a central pressure of 939 mb, a category 4 storm.
Tropical Storm Talas was a weak but destructive tropical cyclone which brought record-breaking rainfall to Japan in late-September 2022. The fifteenth named storm of the annual Pacific typhoon season, Talas formed as a tropical depression several hundred miles northwest of the Mariana Islands on September 20.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Tropical Storm Ophelia was a strong but short-lived tropical storm that impacted the East Coast of the United States in September 2023. The fifteenth named storm of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, Ophelia originated from a disturbance off the east coast of Florida before making landfall in North Carolina the next day as a strong tropical storm.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Hurricane Ragasa reached its peak of 144 kt (165 mph) with a central pressure of 911 mb, a category 5 storm.
Hurricane Neoguri reached its peak of 124 kt (145 mph) with a central pressure of 936 mb, a category 4 storm.
42 on September 21, oldest first.
Heavy rain in southwest Oklahoma on September 21 and 22, 1969, caused extensive flooding and damage to pasture and crop land. About 1,500 cattle were trapped by the high water, and many of them drowned. More than 10 bridges were washed out, and fences were removed by the floodwaters. Official rainfall measurements exceeded six inches in some locations, and an unofficial report of 11 inches in 11 hours was received from Hollister. The flooding was thought to be the worst in the area since 1951.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A 30-year man drowned while trying to cross the Hunters Point arroyo on Navajo Tribal lands southwest of Gallup. Two men and their vehicle became bogged in the arroyo. The survivor reported being hit by three waves of water and mud.
Tropical moisture caused continuous showers and thunderstorms that produced 10 to 11 inches of rain on already saturated ground in a 6 to 8 hour period. This combination cauesed flooding in numerous subdivisions in North Charleston and Hanahan.
Four to seven inches of rain fell over the previously saturated soil of southern Lee County and caused flooding of homes and businesses in low-lying areas along the U.S. Highway 41 corridor from Estero south to Bonita Springs.
The White county 911 center, along with a former National Weather Service employee living in the area, reported several trees down, with others snapped off above ground level
The Dawson county Emergency Management Director reported that very heavy rain, upwards of 2 inches in a 30 minute to one hour period washed out a road and six foot culvert to a subdivision in the southeastern portion of the county.
A weak tropical wave entering the Lesser Antilles interacted with mid to upper level low pressure located northwest of Puerto Rico to generate heavy rains , landslides and flash flooding over many municipalities.
Hundreds of houses damaged from wind driven large hail. Numerous car windows shattered. The local newspaper reported that one auto glass replacement company estimated about 200 different jobs were required.
An unseasonably cold early season storm moved south from western Canada, bringing significant weather to sections of Southern California between the 20th and 22nd.
A strong low pressure system brought thunderstorms and heavy rain to the Mojave Desert.
During the three day period of September 21-23, 2008, parts of Puerto Rico suffered from one of the most catastrophic flooding events of the season to date. The flooding affected many municipalities island wide.
Severe storms developed ahead of a cold front in a very unstable environment. Large hail fell from the early storms but damaging winds became the main threat as the initial storms merged into an extensive line.
Severe thunderstorms occurred over a large part of eastern Oklahoma from the early afternoon hours into the evening hours of the 21st. The continued heavy rain across the area resulted in flash flooding.
A persistent upper level low remained near the region from September 22 through September 26. Several rounds of thunderstorms develop over the area producing flash flooding over parts of southwest Tennessee.
Storms were building southward into Texas during the nighttime hours of the 21st and early on the 22nd. Precipitation surged into Arkansas during this time frame. Heavy rain and isolated severe weather occurred with this system.
The wet weather pattern continued as a lingering upper disturbance combined with rich gulf moisture and good instability produced thunderstorms with locally heavy rains and a few severe thunderstorms.
Severe thunderstorms with heavy rain, wind and hail spread into northwest Arkansas from eastern Oklahoma.
A third round of heavy rain in two days over the southern North Carolina Mountains caused the French Broad River to go into flood west of Hendersonville. The prolonged heavy rain also caused many streams to flood, closing several roads across the southern mountains.
A very tropical airmass with dewpoints in the lower 70s interacted with a warm front and a strong low level jet to produce strong thunderstorms with very heavy rainfall. This resulted in flooding rainfall in extreme northeastern Alabama.
A strong weather system moved through the central U.S. from the 21st through the 23rd of the month. Strong convection formed north of a warm frontal boundary lifting north through the state.
A cold front moved southeast across the state during the day on the 21st. The airmass was moderately unstable with CAPE values ahead of the front around 2000 J/kg and lifted indices of -3 to -6 C.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Odile and an associated mid-level circulation were still over the region. The airmass was very moist, and lift was enhanced by upslope low-level winds across southeast New Mexico and the higher terrain of West Texas.
Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Odile continue to rotate around the area under an upper level ridge stretching over the region. The main focus for rainfall was more concentrated over the Trans Pecos and Southeast New Mexico at this time.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Odile and an associated mid-level circulation were still over the region. The airmass was very moist, and lift was enhanced by upslope low-level winds across southeast New Mexico and the higher terrain of West Texas.
A prolonged period of moderate to locally heavy rainfall associated with the remnant moisture from Hurricane Odile impacted much of southern and eastern New Mexico between the 17th and 20th.
One person was killed near Victory (Vernon County) when a house was swept down a hillside by a mudslide during the early morning hours of the 22nd.
Heavy rains from the combination of a stalled frontal boundary and remnant low pressure area that was Tropical Storm Julia from September 19th through September 21st, resulted in the Cashie River exceeding major flood stage.
Several rounds of thunderstorms with heavy rain moved across southeast Minnesota from the early morning hours of September 21st into the morning of the 22nd. The heavy rain led to flash flooding across portions of Mower, Fillmore, Houston and Winona Counties.
An ideal setup was seen across northern and central Iowa for repeated rounds of heavy rainfall and severe weather.
A generally stationary boundary remained oriented roughly west to east across the state through the evening and overnight hours. As a result, storms initiated along and north of the boundary and provided multiple rounds of heavy rainfall from roughly Ames northward.
The combination of a stalled frontal boundary and the remnant low pressure area that was Tropical Storm Julia, produced heavy rain which caused flooding across much of southeast Virginia from Wednesday morning, September 21st into early Thursday morning, September 22nd.
Thunderstorms brought multiple rounds of moderate to heavy rainfall to central Wisconsin on September 21st. The heaviest rain caused flash flooding in Wood County during the evening hours, closing and damaging roads and bridges.
Snow Lake, a glacier-dammed lake in the Kenai Mountains, released on September 16th. The draining of the lake caused the Snow River, Kenai Lake, and the Kenai River to rise significantly.
Tropical, slow moving thunderstorms produced very high rain totals across central and southern Oklahoma on this date in 2018. The Oklahoma Mesonet site in Fittstown, just north and east of Ardmore, recorded 14.20 inches of rain! This amount goes down as the second highest daily rainfall total every recorded in Oklahoma, just behind the 15.68 inches in Enid back on October 11, 1973.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
Another slow-moving storm system provided multiple days of showers and thunderstorms across North and Central Texas. Flash flooding occurred across mainly the northern half of the region in the vicinity of a stationary front.
A slow moving upper and surface trough, an abundance of Gulf of Mexico moisture, and remnants of moisture from a dying Pacific tropical cyclone resulted in devastating flash flooding in part of West Central Texas.
A warm front lifting across Northeast Pennsylvania and Central New York was the focus for several rounds of thunderstorm activity within a very warm and humid airmass.
Deep tropical moisture associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Nicholas was lifted northward ahead of a strong cold front. Precipitable water values ranging from 1.9 to 2.2 inches were carried into southern Virginia during the evening of the 21st.
Between the mid-afternoon of Thursday the 21st and the early morning of Friday the 22nd, fairly widespread thunderstorm activity affected much of South Central Nebraska, but particularly counties between Interstate 80 and the Kansas border.
The 2023 southern New Zealand floods were caused by heavy rain that struck the southern part of New Zealand's South Island on 21 September 2023. This storm caused flooding in several places across the Southland and Otago regions including Gore and Queenstown.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A warm front approaching central Pennsylvania in an environment of sufficient instability and shear allowed for thunderstorm formation during the late afternoon and evening hours, with multiple rounds of severe thunderstorms crossing the northern tier of Pennsylvania.
On the afternoon of September 21, North Texas experienced explosive thunderstorm development due to a shortwave trough and a meandering front interacting with a warm, unstable environment.
36 on September 21, oldest first.
One-inch-diameter hail was reported by a cooperative observer north of Graham.
A strong cold front moved southeast into Iowa in conjunction with strong upper level system. The low level flow had been southerly for several days, transporting moisture north into the central United States.
Hail the size of golf balls broke windows nine miles south of Pratt at 1600 CST.
Low pressure over southern Canada and an associated cold front moving across New York State, produced a lone supercell during the afternoon hours in southern Saratoga county. The supercell then moved into northern Rensselaer county. The storm downed many trees in Mechanicville.
A lightning strike caused a house fire at 2842 Meadowgrove Way in Marietta. The home was pretty much a total loss.
A line of thunderstorms, that formed ahead of a fast moving and powerful cold front , became locally severe as it moved into eastern New York during the early morning hours of September 21. Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines in Frankfort, Herkimer county.
Four people were running crab traps in the Intracoastal Waterway from an aluminum boat when high winds forced water to come over the stern of the boat, capsizing it. Three people were able to swim to safety, but one man died in the accident.
Strong winds occurred over parts of the county warning area through most of the day. Many small limbs and a couple of small trees were downed. Extensive tree and property damage was noted.
This episode of storms dealt with 4 distinct groupings. The first group of storms began near Nashua in southeast Wilkin County (MN) and tracked to the northeast. The second began near Lake Park in western Becker County (MN) and tracked to the east-northeast.
An approaching cold front triggered a line of severe thunderstorms during the late afternoon and early evening of September 21. Law enforcement officials, storm spotters, amateur radio operators and the public reported wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph.
A strong south to southwest flow of moist air was on place across Iowa in advance of an approaching cold front. The cold front moved through the state during the afternoon with a line of thunderstorms forming along the front.
An approaching cold front triggered a line of thunderstorms across northeast Iowa during the late afternoon of September 21. An isolated storm near the Minnesota-Iowa border was severe and produced damaging winds of 60 to 65 mph.
A severe thunderstorm developed during afternoon peak heating and produced strong and damaging winds.
A small complex of thunderstorms became severe across the Twin Cities Metro area, and moved east across portions of west-central Wisconsin during the early morning hours of Tuesday, September 21st.
Strong to severe thunderstorms moved across parts of northern Illinois during the afternoon and evening hours of September 21st.
Severe storms rolled through during the late afternoon and evening hours producing numerous reports of high thunderstorm wind gusts of up to around 75 mph as well as several reports of large hail.
During the afternoon of September 21, a cold front pushed a line of showers and thunderstorms across eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois and northeast Missouri.
A cold front swept through Southeast Michigan producing several severe thunderstorms north of M-59.
Scattered strong thunderstorms developed across south-central Arizona during the afternoon of the 21st, as significant subtropical moisture flowed into the area from the south. The storms generated damaging microburst winds as well as very heavy rainfall.
A large cluster of showers and thunderstorms developed across Iowa and northern Missouri in advance of a cold front during the afternoon of September 21st.
A small complex of thunderstorms became severe across the Twin Cities Metro area, and moved east across portions of west-central Wisconsin during the early morning hours of Tuesday September 21st. The most extensive damage occurred in and around the Balsam Lake area of Wisconsin.
A mini-supercell developed over eastern Illinois on the afternoon of the 21st, intensifying and moving across central Indiana during the evening. The storm produced large hail throughout much of its track across the region, including some reports of hail covering the ground.
Thunderstorms developed and moved westward across parts of the the Ohio Valley ahead of a wave of low pressure during the evening. Some of these storms became organized, producing a threat of damaging winds and isolated sub severe hail.
A strong cold front crossed the Upper Ohio Valley during the afternoon and early evening hours of September 21st. A line of thunderstorms developed ahead of the front. Some segments of the storm became severe and produced damage.
An unusually strong wind field was in place ahead of a well defined cold front. This supported very high effective bulk shear values along with very high levels of helicity.
A line of strong thunderstorms crossed northern Michigan in the early morning hours. Wind gusts in excess of 40 mph were common in eastern upper and far northern lower Michigan, but severe-criteria winds were only seen in a few spots.
Showers and thunderstorms developed along and ahead of cold front which moved across the state. A few storms over southeastern Arkansas became strong to severe, with a couple reports of wind damage and one report of hail.
A southward-advancing cold front combined with unseasonably hot and humid conditions and marginal vertical wind shear late on the 21st to produce a broken line of strong thunderstorms across southern central Indiana.
Throughout much of the day on September 21st, an outflow boundary moved from north to south through the region. As this occurred, storms developed along this boundary and produced large hail and wind damage from the late morning until the evening hours.
A cold front advanced eastward from the Great Lakes into the area, and provided a lifting mechanism for convective development during the afternoon and evening hours of September 21.
A mid-level shortwave and upper jet support promoted the development of scattered thunderstorms across portions of far southern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia during the early to middle afternoon hours of September 21st.
A mid-level shortwave and upper jet support promoted the development of scattered thunderstorms across portions of far southern Pennsylvania and northern West Virginia during the early to middle afternoon hours of September 21st.
During the late afternoon hours on September 21st, an outflow boundary helped develop a supercell thunderstorm in Fillmore County. Soon after it developed it dropped golf ball sized hail two miles east of Whalan.
A digging shortwave trough across the Four Corners set up lee troughing and a weak frontal boundary across western portions of the area.
1 on September 21, oldest first.
An unusually cold storm system brought accumulating snow to the Sierra, impacting travel and closing seasonal passes.
2 on September 21, oldest first.
Deaths were all associated with the evacuation for Hurricane Rita, both before and after Rita's arrival. Rita made landfall just east of the Texas/Louisiana border early Saturday morning, September 24th.
Hot September temperatures were in place when a child was accidentally left in an automobile. Temperatures were above normal but below criteria for heat advisories.
1 on September 21, oldest first.
The second major push of cold air of the season moved into Iowa as the seasons first real Arctic high pressure moved into the central U.S. As skies cleared during the evening of the 20th, temperatures fell quite rapidly.
24 on September 21, oldest first.
The Horse Shoe Fire started on September 21, 1990, in Montana, and burned 2,025 acres.
The Yellowrobe Fire started on September 21, 1991, in South Dakota, and burned 4,679 acres.
The Big Grassy Fire started on September 21, 1991, in Idaho, and burned 2,863 acres.
The Ruby Lake Refuge Fire was discovered on September 21, 1996, in Nevada, and burned 1,917 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Unnamed Fire was discovered on September 21, 1997, in Calhoun County, Florida, and burned 988 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Camelot Fire was discovered on September 21, 1999, in Arizona, and burned 1,264 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Millwood Wildfire burned 238 acres but the ignition cause was unknown.
The Wild Creek Fire was discovered on September 21, 2000, in Oklahoma, and burned 3,640 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Unnamed Fire started on September 21, 2005, in Louisiana, and burned 6,578 acres.
The Unnamed Fire started on September 21, 2005, in Louisiana, and burned 4,932 acres.
The Wooley Fire was discovered on September 21, 2005, in California, and burned 3,225 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Unnamed Fire started on September 21, 2005, in Louisiana, and burned 1,106 acres.
The Wapama Complex (Wapama) Fire was discovered on September 21, 2005, in California, and burned 1,058 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Copper Breaks Fire was discovered on September 21, 2011, in Foard County, Texas, and burned 8,080 acres.
The Ferris Mountain Fire was discovered on September 21, 2011, in Carbon County, Wyoming, and burned 1,400 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Border Fire was discovered on September 21, 2012, in Sheridan County, Wyoming, and burned 5,779 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Carter Springs Fire was discovered on September 21, 2012, in Douglas County, Nevada, and burned 3,461 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Cornstalk Fire was discovered on September 21, 2012, in North Dakota, and burned 2,282 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Winter Valley Fire was reported on September 21, 2017, in Moffat County, Colorado, and burned 7,787 acres; the cause was recorded as human.
The Waikapuna Fire was reported on September 21, 2017, in Hawaii County, Hawaii, and burned 1,645 acres.
The Virgin Mountain Fire was reported on September 21, 2020, in Clark County, Nevada, and burned 1,624 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
A wildfire began from lightning in the Dolores Ranger District, northwest of the McPhee Reservoir.
The Hope Fire was reported on September 21, 2023, in Montezuma County, Colorado, and burned 1,290 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Brigade Fire was reported on September 21, 2024, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 1,812 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
22 on September 21, oldest first.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Seionaikai, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Al Mukha, Yemen.
An earthquake struck Montenegro, Balkans NW. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck Mindanao, Zamboanga, Sulu, Isabela, Philippines. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 13 people, injured 14 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
An earthquake struck Wellington, New Zealand. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Hawaii, United States. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Yunnan Province, China, Myanmar.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Honshu, Japan. It killed 16 people.
An earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Turkey. It killed 41 people.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Iran. It killed 16 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck Sarpir,dorahan,deh Bagh, Iran. It killed 2 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Mexico City, SW Coast. It killed some people (about 51 to 100). It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6 earthquake struck Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States. It killed 2 people and did $7.5 million in damage.
7 Mw earthquake which occurred in Jiji (Chi-Chi), Nantou County, Taiwan on September 21, 1999, at 01:47:12 local time. 2,415 people were killed, 11,305 injured, and NT$300 billion worth of damage was done.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Bangkok, Taungdwingyi, Thailand, Myanmar. It killed 7 people and injured 43.
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Kaliningrad, Svetlogorsk, Suwalki, Russia, Poland. It injured 3.
1. The epicenter was situated at 180 kilometres (110 mi) east of the capital Thimphu, in Monggar District.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Tashigang, Bhutan. It killed 11 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Durres, Albania. It injured 132 and did $45 million in damage.
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Melbourne, Australia.
2 on September 21, oldest first.
Zukur, Yemen erupted. The eruption was accompanied by an earthquake.
Semeru, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2.
10 on September 21, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Osaka Bay, Japan, with a maximum water height of 2 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, with a maximum water height of 1.7 meters. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck Sulu Sea, Philippines, with a maximum water height of 7 meters. It killed 13 people, injured 14 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Wellington, New Zealand, with a maximum water height of 1 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Hawaii, United States, with a maximum water height of 1.2 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Lake Lovatnet, Norway, with a maximum water height of 40 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Kamchatka, Russia.
A tsunami with a source recorded as meteorological struck New Jersey Coast, United States. It did $1.3 million in damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Mexico, with a maximum water height of 1.2 meters.
4 on September 21, oldest first.
A G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storm began September 21, 1946, reached Kp 9 and lasted 60 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 198; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 40 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storm began September 21, 1957, reached Kp 9- and lasted 78 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 164; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 42 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G5 (extreme) geomagnetic storm began September 21, 1963, reached Kp 9- and lasted 42 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 126; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 42 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G4 (severe) geomagnetic storm began September 21, 1982, reached Kp 8+ and lasted 54 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 135; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 43 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
1 on September 21, oldest first.
A tropical cyclone disaster that cost $23 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 86, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from September 21, 1989 to September 22, 1989.
4 on September 21, oldest first.
Moisture from former Hurricane Hilary spread northward into Interior Central California very late on Tuesday, September 21st and over the entire area by Wednesday, September 22nd.
Lightning struck and killed one person and injured another at the Gordon Finch Molasses Pier on the south shore while loading a boat onto a trailer. Thunderstoms left several Saint Croix neigborhoods without power.
A low pressure area south of the Florida Panhandle provided for a deep southerly flow of moist and unstable air, leading to numerous showers and thunderstorms over South Florida.
An upper level low over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico along with moist southerly flow over South Florida produced afternoon thunderstorms across the region.
Gathered from this site’s archives: the tornado record (NOAA SPC, and Grazulis before 1950), IBTrACS and the National Hurricane Center, NOAA NCEI’s Storm Events Database, Regional Snowfall Index, billion-dollar disasters list, State Climate Extremes Committee and hazard databases, USGS, NIFC, GFZ Potsdam’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0), the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wikidata (CC0), with article leads from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, each credited where it appears. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.