Weather History for October 4
Explore significant weather events that occurred on this date throughout history,
including hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, and extreme temperature records.
1777 —
The Battle of Germantown was fought in a morning fog that grew more dense with the smoke of battle, causing great confusion. Americans firing at each other contributed to the loss of the battle. (David Ludlum)
1869 —
A great storm struck New England. The storm reportedly was predicted twelve months in advance by a British officer named Saxby. Heavy rains and high floods plagued all of New England, with strong winds and high tides over New Hampshire and Maine. Canton CT was deluged with 12.35 inches of rain. (David Ludlum)
1969 —
Denver, CO, received 9.6 inches of snow. October of that year proved to be the coldest and snowiest of record for Denver, with a total snowfall for the month of 31.2 inches. (Weather Channel)
1986 —
Excessive flooding was reported along the Mississippi River and all over the Midwest, from Ohio to the Milk River in Montana. In some places it was the worst flooding of record. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)
1987 —
A storm brought record snows to the northeastern U.S. Snowfall totals ranged up to 21 inches at North Springfield VT. It was the earliest snow of record for some locations. The storm claimed 17 lives in central New York State, injured 332 persons, and in Vermont caused seventeen million dollars damage. The six inch snow at Albany NY was their earliest measurable snow in 117 years of records. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) (The Weather Channel)
1987 —
Southern California continued to "shake and bake". An earthquake was reported during the morning, the second in a matter of days, and during the afternoon temperatures soared well above 100 degrees. Highs of 100 degrees at San Francisco, and 108 degrees at Los Angeles and Santa Maria, were October records. San Luis Obispo was the hot spot in the nation with an afternoon high of 111 degrees. (The National Weather Summary).
1988 —
Temperatures dipped below freezing in the north central U.S. Five cities in North Dakota and Nebraska reported record low temperatures for the date, including Bismarck ND with a reading of 17 degrees above zero. Low pressure brought snow and sleet to parts of Upper Michigan. (The National Weather Summary)
1989 —
Unseasonably cold weather continued in the north central U.S., with freezing temperatures reported across much of the area from eastern North Dakota to Michigan and northwest Ohio. Thirteen cities reported record low temperatures for the date, including Saint Cloud MN, which was the cold spot in the nation with a morning low of 19 degrees. (The National Weather Summary)
About Weather History
Weather has always played a significant role in shaping human history. From devastating hurricanes
and tornadoes to record-breaking temperatures and historic blizzards, extreme weather events have
left lasting impacts on communities across the United States and around the world.
This collection documents notable weather events that occurred on October 4
throughout recorded history. These events include tropical storms and hurricanes, tornado outbreaks,
severe thunderstorms, winter storms and blizzards, flooding events, heat waves and cold snaps,
and other significant meteorological phenomena.
Types of Events Documented
- Tropical Systems: Hurricanes, tropical storms, and their impacts
- Severe Weather: Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and damaging winds
- Winter Weather: Blizzards, ice storms, and record snowfall
- Temperature Extremes: Heat waves, cold outbreaks, and record temperatures
- Flooding: Flash floods, river flooding, and coastal flooding
- Other Events: Droughts, wildfires influenced by weather, and unique phenomena
Understanding historical weather patterns helps us appreciate the power of nature and the importance
of weather preparedness. Browse through different dates to discover what weather events shaped history
on any given day of the year.
