This Day in National/World Weather History ...
18 May 1898 → In Marathon County, WI, 30 miles of farms and forest were leveled by what was likely an F5 tornado. Seventeen people were killed, including 5 people from one family. The tornado was one of five violent twisters that hit the middle and upper Mississippi Valley during a two-day outbreak on May 17-18, 1898. At least 55 people were killed across the region.
18 May 1902 → 100 buildings were obliterated in Goliad, TX by an F4 (estimated) tornado. 114 people were killed.
18 May 1980 → Mount Saint Helens, WA, erupted, spewing ash and smoke nearly 63,000 feet into the air. Heavy ash covered the ground as small particles were carried by the winds all the way to the Atlantic coast.
18 May 1995 → Near Ethridge, TN 6 TVA high-tension electric transmission towers were destroyed by an F4 tornado and were never found. Northern Alabama was hard hit as well, especially in the Anderson Hills area near Huntsville. Anderson Hills would be hit hard again during the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak.

This Day in Weather History Archive

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                   Weather History...


August 19, 1899:

An estimated F3 tornado passed 3 miles north of Clear Lake. A man was killed by flying debris as five homes and many barns were destroyed.

August 19, 1983:

Between 0155 and 0330 CST, thunderstorm winds blow through Brown County. At 0155, an estimated 64 mph wind guest was observed on the southeast corner of Warner. A 60 mph wind gust was measured at the Aberdeen Airport at 0218. By 0330 and estimated wind gust of 75 mph was observed in Ordway.

August 19, 1986:

Hail, over one inch in diameter, caused damage in Westport and in Aberdeen. This hail damaged buildings, vehicles, and broke windows. Baseball size hail also fell just south of the Brown and Spink County line and covered the ground.

August 19, 1991:

A thunderstorm produced about five inches of rain, strong winds, and hail in Ridgeview, Dewey County. Three grain bins were blown over. One of the bins hit a house causing considerable damage. Wind gusts were estimated to be 60 mph. Strong winds continued into Sully and Hughes Counties.


Record Highs: Record Lows:
Aberdeen: 103 (1976) Aberdeen: 34 (2004)
Kennebec: 105 (1948) Kennebec: 36 (2004)
Mobridge: 103 (1959) Mobridge: 35 (2004)
Pierre: 104 (1948) Pierre: 43 (2004)
Sisseton: 104 (1976) Sisseton: 37 (1956)
Timber Lake: 103 (1948) Timber Lake: 36 (1950)
Watertown: 99 (1976) Watertown: 38 (2004)
Wheaton: 104 (1976) Wheaton: 42 (1967)

Record Precipitation:
Aberdeen: 2.72" (1930)
Kennebec: 1.26" (1952)
Mobridge: 0.73" (1996)
Pierre: 0.82" (1912)
Sisseton: 0.93" (1975)
Timber Lake: 0.87" (1996)
Watertown: 0.86" (1989)
Wheaton: 1.94" (1926)

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