Weather on This Date

Weather on This Date - August 17

8/17/2018

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Photo by me

August 17, 1915
A hurricane hit Galveston, TX, with wind gusts to 120 mph and a twelve foot storm surge. The storm claimed 275 lives, including forty-two on Galveston Island, with most deaths due to drowning. Of 250 homes built outside the seawall (which was constructed after the catastrophic hurricane of 1900), just ten percent were left standing. (The Weather Channel)

August 17, 1969
Camille, the second worst hurricane in U.S. history, smashed into the Mississippi coast. Winds gusted to 172 mph at Main Pass Block LA, and to 190 mph near Bay Saint Louis MS. The hurricane claimed 256 lives, and caused 1.3 billion dollars damage. Several ocean going ships were carried 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. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

August 17, 1982
Thunderstorms dropped up to 8 inches of rain in 8 hours in Dade County causing flash flooding. A 66 year old woman was injured when she was swept away by the flood waters of Lookout Creek. Railroad service was interrupted due to damage to railroad tracks and bridges. At least 10 homes, several businesses, and the sewage treatment plant were flooded in Trenton; several people had to be evacuated by boat. (NWS Atlanta)

August 17, 1987
Evening thunderstorms produced severe weather in the Northern and Central Plains Region. One thunderstorm spawned a tornado near Fairbury NE, along with baseball size hail and wind gusts to 100 mph, causing severe crop damage west of town. Ten cities in the eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. Syracuse NY hit 97 degrees for the first time in twenty-two years. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

August 17, 1988
Fifty-five cities, from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the Middle Atlantic Coast Region, reported record high temperatures for the date. Beckley WV reported an all-time record high of 96 degrees, and Baltimore MD hit 104 degrees, marking their thirteenth day of the year with 100 degree heat. Chicago IL equaled a record with 46 days of 90 degree weather for the year. Thunderstorms produced severe weather from Wisconsin to New Jersey. Thunderstorms in New Jersey produced high winds which gusted to 92 mph at Wrightstown, and blew down a circus tent at Lavallette injuring fourteen persons. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

August 17, 1989
Morning thunderstorms produced three to six inch rains in Oklahoma, and the Arkalatex area of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. Tom OK was soaked with 5.98 inches of rain, and Foreman AR received 5.55 inches. Evening thunderstorms produced high winds in the Wasatch Front of northern Utah. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 66 mph at Salt Lake City, and flash flooding caused up to two million dollars damage to a marina on Lake Powell. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

August 17, 2010
The remnants of Tropical Depression Five brought more than 6 inches of rain to a small part of north Georgia along the Tennessee border. The heavy rain resulted in flash flooding near the merger of Jacks River and the Conasauga River in extreme north Murray County. Several campers and hikers were evacuated from the Alaculsy Valley Campground in the Cohutta Wildlife Management Area. (NWS Atlanta)

Data courtesy of WeatherForYou