Weather trivia for August

Aug 1, 1986
A powerful thunderstorm produced 100 mph winds and large hail in eastern Kansas
and southwestern Missouri causing 71 million dollars damage, and injuring 19
persons. It was one of the worst thunderstorms of record for Kansas. Crops were
mowed to the ground in places and roofs blown off buildings along its path, 150
miles long and 30 miles wide, from near Abilene to southeast of Pittsburg.
IN 1993...High winds from thunderstorms caused roof damage in Holcomb KS, picked
up and carried trash dumpsters over parked vehicles, and blew the windows out of
vehicles. In Deerfield Kansas thunderstorm winds blew off an awning to a gas
station onto two trucks. The wind also blew out windows at some buildings.
Large trees were uprooted in and around the Deerfield area.


Aug 2, 1954
Severe thunderstorms produced golf ball size for thirty minutes in north central
Kansas. One drift measured 200 feet long, seventy feet wide and three feet
deep.
IN 1996...Powerful thunderstorms moved across southwest and south central Kansas
during the evening hours. In Pratt county 8 train cars were blown off the tracks
while the train was moving. This occurred 1 mile west of Cullison. One family was
nearly run over by the derailing train cars. One boxcar ended up about 10 feet
away from their vehicle. Winds were nearly 125 mph. From 3 miles south of Lewis
to Belpre, very strong thunderstorm winds killed calves, blew cars off the highway
and blew down 60 power poles. A large tree was uprooted in Belpre. The tree was
Belpre's historic balsam fir tree, a landmark in the town for 108 years. It also
was the first balsam fir tree planted in Kansas. The tree was planted by a local
blacksmith in 1888 after a trip back from Colorado. In Larned, very strong
thunderstorm winds blew down trees, damaged several buildings and power lines were
blown down. A Midas car care garage door was blown off. One person was injured
when a semi truck was blown over on highway 156 just outside of town. There were
unofficial and unconfirmed reports of 125 mph winds recorded on home stations.


Aug 3, 1885
A tornado hit Philadelphia and Camden along its eight mile path.


Aug 4, 1980
A record forty two consecutive days of 100 degree heat finally came to an end at
the Dallas Fort Worth airport. July 1980 proved to be the hottest month of
record with a mean temperature of 92 degrees. There was just one day of rain in
July, and there was no measurable rain in August. There were 18 more days of
100 degree heat in August, and four in September. Hot weather that summer
contributed to the deaths of twelve hundred people nationally, and losses from the heat
across the country were estimated at twenty billion dollars.


Aug 5, 1995
Near Deerfield KS, hail piled in huge drifts and stripped corn in a two mile wide
swath. Hail drifts were still evident 24 hours later. Rain of over six inches in a
short time caused flash flooding in the Deerfield area. Highway 50 was covered by
three feet of water and was closed for several hours and limited to one way traffic
for 24 hours. Sand was deposited on many streets bringing out heavy equipment to
clear the debris.


Aug 6, 1950
A tornado hit a farm and a home was unroofed 6 miles east of Garden City KS.
IN 1997...Heavy rain fell across Finney county accumulating up to 5 inches. Minor
flooding occurred at the Fair Grounds and in other low lying areas. Five to ten
inches of rain fell about 10 miles northwest of Lakin. Flooding washed out a bridge on
Highway 25 between Lakin and Leoti. A watershed lake filled up to capacity, one that
had not had water in it for over 30 years.


Aug 7, 1904
A flash flood near Pueblo Colorado washed a train from the tracks killing 89
passengers. A bridge, weakened by the floodwaters sweeping through the valley
below, gave way under the weight of the train dashing all but the sleeping cars
into the torrent drowning the occupants. Rail service was frequently interrupted
in the Rocky Mountain region and southwestern United States that summer due to numerous
heavy downpours which washed out the railroad beds delaying trains as much as five
days.


Aug 8, 1882
An August snowstorm was reported by a ship on Lake Michigan. A thick cloud reportedly
burst on the decks covering them with snow and slush six inches deep. Snow showers
were observed at shore points that day.


Aug 9, 1878
The second most deadly tornado in New England history struck Wallingford CT killing
34 persons, injuring 100 others, and completely destroying thirty homes. The tornado
started as a waterspout over a dam on the Quinnipiac River. It was 400 to 600 feet wide,
and had a short path length of two miles.


Aug 10, 1893
There were 2 tornadoes north and east of Bucklin KS. East of Bucklin, one barn
was destroyed by an "exceedingly large funnel cloud."
IN 1996...One mile southeast of Ashland KS, lightning struck a home and caused extensive
damage. South and southwest walls of the house were moved off the foundation and the
carpet was singed. The floor in one room was forced 2 feet upward and several
walls were cracked.
IN 2000...Damaging winds from thunderstorms damaged buildings, broke off light poles and
damaged trees in Dodge City. Gusts tore off part of a roof of a lumberyard and
tossed it across Wyatt Earp Boulevard where it slammed into the side of a sheet
metal company.
IN 2017...
There was a very severe hail and wind storm in Trego County during the early afternoon.
Devastation was extreme. Property was heavily damaged by hail bigger than softballs
accompanied by winds stronger than 70 mph. In addition, there was also a tremendous
toll done to wildlife. The hail was so bad that days after the storm, the scaring of
the ground could easily be seen from a satellite view.


Aug 11, 1908
A tornado moved northeast from southeast of Offerle KS, passing 5 miles west of
Kinsley to just west of town. This tornado appeared as fog rising from the
ground. Barns were destroyed and homes were torn apart.


Aug 12, 1936
The high of 109 degrees set the record high for the month of August at Dodge
City
IN 1955...During the second week of August hurricanes Connie and Diane produced
as much as 19 inches of rain in the northeastern U.S. forcing rivers from Virginia to
Massachusetts into a high flood. Westfield MA was deluged with 18.15 inches of
rain in 24 hours, and at Woonsocket RI the Blackstone River swelled from seventy
feet in width to a mile and a half. Connecticut and the Delaware valley were
hardest hit. Total damage in new england was 800 million dollars, and flooding
claimed 187 lives.


Aug 13, 1936
The high of 109 degrees tied the record high for the month of August at Dodge
City.


Aug 14, 1936
Temperatures across much of eastern Kansas soared above 110 degrees. Kansas
City Missouri hit an all time record high of 113 degrees. It was one of sixteen
consecutive days of 100 degree heat for Kansas City. During that summer there
were a record 53 days of 100 degree heat, and during the three summer months
Kansas City received just 1.12 inches of rain.


Aug 15, 1787
Tornadoes were reported in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New
Hampshire. Wethersfield CT was hard hit by the tornado outbreak.


Aug 16, 1777
The Battle of Bennington, delayed a day by rain, was fought. The rain delayed British
reinforcements, and allowed the Vermont Militia to arrive in time, enabling the
Americans to win a victory by defeating two enemy forces, one at a time.


Aug 17, 1915
A hurricane hit Galveston TX with wind gusts to 120 mph and a twelve foot storm
surge. The storm claimed 275 lives, 42 on Galveston Island, with most deaths
due to drowning. Of 250 homes built outside the seawall (built after the
catastrophic hurricane of 1900), just ten percent were left standing.
IN 1969...Camille, the second worst hurricane in United States history, smashed into the
Mississippi coast. Winds gusted to 172 mph at Main Pass Block Louisiana, and to 190
mph near Bay Saint Louis Mississippi. The hurricane claimed 256 lives, and caused 1.3
billion dollars damage. Several ocean going ships were carrried over seven miles
inland by the hurricane. The hurricane produced winds to 200 mph, and a storm
surge of 24.6 feet. Complete destruction occurred in some coastal areas near the
eye of the hurricane.


Aug 18, 1925
During the late afternoon hours a severe hailstorm struck southeastern Iowa completely
destroying crops along a path six to ten miles wide and 75 miles long. The hail
also injured and killed poultry and livestock, and caused a total of 2.5 million
dollars damage. The hailstorm flattened fields of corn to such an extent that many
had to leave their farms in search of other work. It was one of the worst hailstorms
of record for the nation.


Aug 19, 1969
Never say die Camille let loose a cloudburst in Virginia resulting in flash
floods and landslides which killed 151 persons and caused 140 million dollars
damage. Massies Hill Virginia received 27 inches of rain.


Aug 20, 1910
The "big blow up" of forest fires finally came to an end in Idaho. A record dry
August fueled 1736 fires which burned three million acres destroying six billion
board feet of timber. The fires claimed the lives of 85 persons, 75 of which
were fire fighters, and consumed the entire town of Wallace. The smoke spread a
third of the way around the world producing some dark days in the U.S. and
Canada. The forest fires prompted federal fire protection laws.
IN 1997...Severe weather developed across much of southwest Kansas. In Minneola
nearly every window in the small community were broken with siding destroyed on
many homes. Cars received considerable damage too. Shingles were also torn off.
Skylights were broken at the school.


Aug 21, 1883
A tornado hit Rochester MN killing 34 persons and wrecking 1351 dwellings.
IN 1918...A tornado struck Tyler MN killing 36 persons and destroying most of the
business section of the town resulting in a million dollars damage.
IN 1995...In Hays four and one half inches of rain in a short time on the northeast
side of town caused flash flooding. One person was swept into a drainage ditch but
was rescued without injury. A storm that moved through the Wakeeney area left trees
down and took some roofs off area buildings. Outlying areas reported lost barn
roofs and large limbs down.


Aug 22, 1993
Thunderstorm winds caused roof damage on some buildings at the Fort Hays state
historic site. Large trees were uprooted and snapped in the Hays area. A wind
gust to 70 mph was recorded at the Hays airport.


Aug 23, 1906
Thunderstorms deluged Kansas City MO with six inches of rain during the early
morning, including nearly three inches in thirty minutes.


Aug 24, 1989
Thunderstorm winds laid down a path of damage from 8 miles northwest of Ellis KS
to 8 miles southeast of the town. The wind ripped the roof from the Ellis high
school gymnasium and damaged many homes in Ellis. Outbuildings at several
farms southeast and northwest of town were damaged or destroyed. Lightning set
fire to an oil tank battery northwest of town.


Aug 25, 1998
A microburst from a thunderstorm destroyed a mobile home in Richfield KS. An
outbuilding had a tree limb impaled into it.


Aug 26, 1883
Krakatoa volcano exploded in the East Indies. The explosion was heard more than
twenty five hundred miles away, and every barograph around the world recorded the
passage of the air wave up to seven times. Giant waves, 125 feet high and traveling
300 miles per hour, devastated everything in their path, hurling ashore coral blocks
weighing up to 900 tons, and killing more than thirty six thousand persons. Volcanic
ash was carried around the globe in thirteen days producing blue and green suns in
the tropics, and then vivid red sunsets in higher altitudes.


Aug 27, 1893
The first of three great hurricanes that year struck South Carolina drowning more
than 1000 persons in a tidal surge at Charleston.


Aug 28, 1989
Thunderstorm winds caused considerable tree damage in Pratt KS.


Aug 29, 1991
Thunderstorm wind gusts of 65 mph, combined with golfball-size hail, blew out
the windows of a few houses 3 miles west of Dodge City. The large hail also
killed a bunch of sparrows nesting in surrounding trees. In Garden City, lightning
struck service transformers, electric lines, and buildings causing power outages and
several structural fires. Lightning also caused one house fire that resulted in
$20,000 damage. Flooding occured along US Highway 281 near the Kansas Oklahoma border
due to heavy rainfall. Water was up to the tail lights of some cars and the highway
patrol had to stop traffic until the water subsided.
IN 2003...Heavy rains fell during the late morning and early afternoon hours in the Dodge
City area. Avenue D in Dodge City had cars floating down the street and water was rising
up to headlights on cars on some roads. There were reports of seven to ten inches of
rain west of Dodge City. The Dodge City Airport received 3.86 inches the entire day.


Aug 30, 1915
The low of 43 degrees established a record low for the month of August at Dodge
City.
IN 1934...A tornado moved southeast from northeast of Ogallah KS. Barns and outbuildings
were destroyed on a half dozen farms.


Aug 31, 1964
A tornado moved from 7 miles southeast to 5 miles northeast of Hays KS. Barns were
destroyed.
IN 1980...August ended with 9 days of 100 degrees or higher at Dodge City. During
1980, Dodge City hit 100 or higher 6 times in June, 22 days in July, 9 in
august, and finally 2 times in September for a total of 39 days in 1980.

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