These Unpredictable Weather Events Altered the Course of History

Weather can be extremely unpredictable. We often rely on the weather report to plan our days or specific events, but it can change at the drop of a hat. How often have you based an outing on the sunny skies set for one day only to wake up to a downpour? It seems as though these changes are occurring more often not just in climate but in severity as well. What was once a light breeze is now gale-force winds; that light rain is now torrential downpours. Weather has the power to transform, and these historic moments transformed by extreme weather show us just how powerful nature can be.

From hurricanes and typhoons to tornadoes and earthquakes, there are numerous times throughout history when weather has impacted thousands of people. Even more striking are the times when the weather has changed the course of history, turning the tide in a war, invasion, or plague. Weather can be one of the most devastating factors in a battle since it's out of everyone's control, even in today's world.

To create this list of historic moments transformed by extreme weather, 24/7 Tempo consulted numerous sources including Reader's Digest, the National Weather Service, and The Old Farmer's Almanac. The historical events impacted by the weather are listed below in no particular order. (Check out 20 Weird History Facts You Would Never Believe.)

The Dust Bowl refers to the area affected by major droughts and dust storms during the Great Depression. Shortly after the Great Depression began, the Southern Plains experienced a severe drought, followed by dust storms that destroyed agriculture in this portion of the US. Many families moved out of the area when farming was no longer sustainable while others lost their farms and were faced with extreme poverty.

King Phillip II sent the Spanish Armada to invade England in 1588. The Spanish fleet was attacked before they reached England. If that wasn't enough to send the fleet back to Spain, extreme storms destroyed a good portion of the remaining fleet. Queen Elizabeth believed the weather was caused by divine intervention.

In 1274 and 1281, two tropical cyclones changed the fate of Japan. Before the storms hit, Kublai Khan sent his fleet to invade Japan. Before both attempted invasions, a massive storm destroyed his fleet, leading to two failed attempts at conquering Japan. The name Kamikaze, meaning divine wind, was used to describe the event since the storms were perceived to be an act of divine intervention.

The Battle of Long Island took place during the American Revolutionary War in 1776. Although this battle was a victory for the British against the American Continental Army, many of the American soldiers were saved due to the weather. General Washington was able to withdraw his men from Long Island because of a thick fog that covered the men who were retreating.

Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor of France, decided to invade Russia in 1812. Although it's believed that thousands of French soldiers did make it into Russia, the invasion was unsuccessful. Napoleon's army was able to capture the Russian city of Vilna. However, extreme weather in the form of a hail storm killed many of the French troops.

The Salem Witch Trials, which took place from 1692-1693, started after suspicions of witchcraft spread throughout Salem, Massachusetts. While many factors led to the Salem Witch Trials, extreme weather played a role as well. What we now call the Little Ice Age took place during the trials, bringing extreme temperatures and lots of snow. Many of the Puritans believed that witches could control the weather and blamed the Little Ice Age on those practicing witchcraft.

The cold weather that contributed to the Salem Witch Trials also contributed to the start of the French Revolution. The French Revolution started in the late 1700s, but the economy was already suffering by the 1760s. The Little Ice Age made it even more difficult for farmers to grow crops. This cold weather combined with a volcanic eruption in Iceland and a severe El Niño led to unrest across Europe.

In 1941, Hitler attempted to invade the Soviet Union in an event known as Operation Barbarossa. The timing of the invasion is part of what led to their attack on Russia ultimately failing. Once winter temperatures hit Russia, frostbite started to impact the German troops. The German troops were not prepared to deal with the extreme temperatures. Germany had lost about 730,000 troops by November 1941. (Don't miss 16 Once-Important Wars No One Remembers Now.)