Weather History for September 20
Explore significant weather events that occurred on this date throughout history,
including hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards, floods, and extreme temperature records.
1845 —
A tornado traveled 275 miles across Lake Ontario, New York and Lake Champlain. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)
1909 —
A large and deadly Category 3 hurricane made landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana during the late evening hours. The states of Louisiana and Mississippi showed catastrophic damage resulting in 371 deaths and $265 million in damage
1926 —
A hurricane which hit Miami, FL, on the 18th, pounded Pensacola with wind gusts to 152 mph. Winds raged in excess of 100 mph for four hours, and above 75 mph for 20 hours. (The Weather Channel)
1967 —
Hurricane Beulah moved into South Texas, and torrential rains from the hurricane turned the rich agricultural areas of South Texas into a large lake. Hurricane Beulah also spawned a record 115 tornadoes. (David Ludlum)
1983 —
The temperature at West Yellowstone MT plunged to six degrees below zero, while the temperature at San Francisco CA soared to 94 degrees. (The Weather Channel)
1987 —
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced severe weather in Oklahoma and west Texas. In Oklahoma, a thunderstorm at Seiling produced three inches of rain in one hour, golf ball size hail, and wind gusts to 60 mph which collapsed a tent at the state fair injuring nine persons. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
1988 —
Showers and thunderstorms produced locally heavy rains in central Wyoming, and snow in some of the higher elevations. Casper WY reported 1.75 inches of rain in 24 hours, and a thunderstorm north of the Wild Horse Reservoir produced 1.90 inches of rain in just forty minutes.
1989 —
Hugo jilted Iris. Hurricane Hugo churned toward the South Atlantic Coast, gradually regaining strength along the way. Tropical Storm Iris got too close to Hugo, and began to weaken. A cold front brought strong and gusty winds to the Great Basin and the Southern Plateau Region, with wind gusts to 44 mph reported at Kingman AZ. (The National Weather Summary)
2005 —
Hurricane Rita tracked through the Florida Straits and just south of the Florida Keys. Winds were sustained at tropical storm force at Key West, where peak winds gusted to 76 mph.
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 September 20
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.
