The Strangest Weather Events Ever Recorded

Weather can be extremely unpredictable. Even when meteorologists can give us predictions on certain weather patterns, they aren't 100% accurate. Often, when the forecast called for heavy snow, only a light dusting occurred, or when a sunny day was expected, rain appeared instead. However, advancements in technology have led to more accurate forecasts, but even then, the unpredictability of Mother Nature can wreak havoc, leading to the strangest weather events.

Throughout history, many unexpected weather events have impacted parts of the world. From superstorms and massive droughts to floods and hail, strange weather events can happen anywhere, at any time. While some may be unexpected and inexplicable, there are other weather events that we understand, even if we can't prevent them.

Certain weather phenomena, such as earthquakes or tornados can't always be predicted and sometimes seem to appear from nowhere. Some of the strangest weather events ever recorded include droughts, devastating blizzards, and super tornadoes. As is typical in severe weather, these disasters destroyed homes, buildings, and infrastructure. Many were fatal, with loss of life, and people left stranded for days or weeks.

To create a list of the strangest weather stories ever recorded, 24/7 Tempo consulted sources such as CBS News, The Weather Channel, and the National Weather Service. (Check out 8 times when extreme weather changed the course of history.)

In July of 2018, a storm labeled a "fire tornado" swept across California. During a time when wildfires were rampant, this fire tornado produced winds as strong as 165 mph. This weather event was so extreme that even the weather service was shocked by its impact.

The wind speeds during this event were as strong as an EF-3 tornado, which is two categories away from being the strongest type of tornado.

EF5 tornados are the strongest type of tornado with wind speeds over 200 mph. These tornados are rare but what's even more rare is one location getting hit by two strong tornados on the same day.

During the Super Tornado Outbreak of 1974, two F5 tornadoes hit Tanner, Alabama on the same day. The Super Tornado Outbreak of 1974 was the first time more than 100 tornadoes occurred in one day.

The Great Gulf Coast Snowstorm of 1895 was one of the most irregular snowstorms in history. Although some areas of the country are used to getting large amounts of snow, states like Texas aren't prepared for large snowstorms.

In February of 1895, the Gulf Coast Snowstorm hit Texas and Louisiana. The entire coast received at least 4-8 inches of snow and some areas received over 2 feet of snow.

During the 1930s, the southern plains experienced major drought and dust storms that had such an impact on the region that it altered the course of history. First, major droughts hit the southern plains in 1930 and severe dust storms began in 1931.

Although severe drought was a significant part of what caused the Dust Bowl, the farming methods in the area also contributed to it. Regular rainfall didn't return to that region until almost 1940.

The year 1816 has gone down in history as the "year without a summer." In Indonesia, there was a major volcanic eruption when Mount Tambora erupted in 1815. This eruption is still recorded as the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history.

The eruption of Mount Tambora significantly impacted the climate across the world. Part of this impact was unusually cool summer temperatures for most of the Northern Hemisphere. In parts of the United States, the summer of 1816 was the coldest in history.

The Great Blizzard of 1888 was one of the most severe blizzards in recorded history. This storm hit the East Coast, affecting much of Maine, D.C., and New York. Some areas in the United States were hit with over 50 inches of snow.

During this devastating storm, over 400 people were killed and many more were stranded. The Great Blizzard of 1888 brought strong winds and below-freezing temperatures.

When it comes to extreme weather temperatures, we've seen some of the hottest summers and the coldest winters. However, you don't often expect to see both in the same year. In 1936, two weather records were broken: the coldest February and the hottest July.

The region of the United States that experienced the most extreme temperatures was North and South Dakota. In February of that year, North Dakota reached -60 degrees. In early July of the same year, it reached 121 degrees in North Dakota.

A final weird weather story occurred in 2022 when a photographer in the San Francisco area captured an interesting weather phenomenon. This phenomenon, known as a fogbow or a white rainbow, happens when light is refracted by water droplets in the air.

A white rainbow looks similar to an ordinary rainbow but without all the beautiful colors. The following year, in 2023, the same photographer captured another fogbow in San Francisco. (Don't miss 7 Weather Records We Hope Will Never Be Broken.)