Weather History for December 15
Explore significant weather events that occurred on this date throughout history,
including hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, and extreme temperature records.
1839 —
The first of triple storms hit Massachusetts Bay. The storm produced whole gales, and more than 20 inches of snow in interior New England. There was great loss of life at Gloucester MA. (David Ludlum)
1901 —
An intense cold front swept across the eastern U.S. The cold front produced heavy rain in Louisiana, and heavy snow in the northeastern U.S. (David Ludlum)
1945 —
A record December snowstorm buried Buffalo, NY, under 36.6 inches of snow, with unofficial totals south of the city ranging up to 70 inches. Travel was brought to a halt by the storm. (14th-17th) (The Weather Channel)
1987 —
A major winter storm hit the Great Lakes Region, intensifying explosively as it crossed northern Illinois. High winds and heavy snow created blizzard conditions in southeastern Wisconsin. Winds gusted to 73 mph, and snowfall totals ranged up to 17 inches at LaFarge. The barometric pressure at Chicago IL dropped three quarters of an inch in six hours to 28.96 inches, a record low reading for December. Up to a foot of snow blanketed northern Illinois, and winds in the Chicago area gusted to 75 mph. O'Hare Airport in Chicago was closed for several hours, for only the fourth time in twenty years. High winds derailed train cars at Avon IN. Light winds and partly sunny skies were reported near the center of the storm, a feature typical of tropical storms. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 —
High pressure in the Pacific Northwest and low pressure in the southwestern U.S. combined to produced high winds from Utah to California. Winds gusting to 70 mph in the San Francisco area left nearly 300,000 residents without electricity. Winds in Utah gusted to 105 mph at Centerville. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1989 —
A couple of low pressure systems spread heavy snow across the northeastern U.S. Up to two feet of snow was reported along Lake Erie in northeastern Ohio, and up to ten inches was reported in Connecticut. Heavy snow squalls developed over Michigan for the third day in a row. Three Oaks MI reported 25 inches of snow in two days. Twenty-six cities in the north central U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date. The low of 10 degrees below zero at Wichita KS was a December record for that location. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
2005 —
Freezing rain and ice pellets fell throughout portions of the southeast U.S. The accumulation of ice caused about 683,000 utilities customers to lose power from northern Georgia northward through the western Carolinas. The power outages were the result of ice accretions of up to three-quarter inch in thickness. The ice storm was blamed for at least four deaths (Associated Press).
2010 —
A winter storm swept across parts of the Southeast U.S., bringing a mixed bag of snow, sleet, and freezing rain, making for treacherous travel conditions. At least eight people were killed in Alabama, Mississippi, and North Carolina in weather-related traffic fatalities. Schools were forced to close and thousands of residents lost power in North Carolina and Virginia. The winter storm also impacted Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington D.C. (NCDC)
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 December 15
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.
