Weather History Archive

Weather History - August 31st

Local and Regional Events:

August 31, 1977:

High winds accompanying thunderstorms moved across the southern part of Brown County during the early morning hours. A barn was destroyed three miles west of Warner.  Many trees were damaged in the Stratford area.  A large, empty fuel tank, southeast of Watertown was folded inward by strong winds.  High wind damage was also reported in Faulk and Day Counties.

August 31, 2013:

Thunderstorms produced numerous reports of large hail and damaging winds in and near Sioux Falls on the evening of August 31st.  Large hail broke windows and damaged many vehicles, as well as siding and roofs on the west side of Sioux Falls. One automobile dealer with a large temporary outdoor display reported four thousand cars were damaged.  Estimated property damage was listed at four million dollars.  Thunderstorm winds also destroyed several businesses, including a large retail store which was also struck by lightning. The large store lost part of its roof, while the stockroom of the same store and its contents were also damaged. A canopy type tent was destroyed, and a 20-foot retaining wall was blown down. The winds caused extensive tree damage, including several trees blown down, one of which blocked a major intersection when it fell.

U.S.A and Global Events for August 31st:

1886: A magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook Charleston, South Carolina around 9:50 pm on this day. This earthquake is the most damaging quake to occur in the southeast United States. This earthquake caused 60 deaths and between 5 to 6 million dollars in damage to over 2,000 buildings in the southeastern United States. Click HERE for more information, including pictures, from the USGS.

1922: An incredible hailstorm occurred near West Chester, PA dropped so much hail that fields were covered with up to two feet of drifted hail the next day.

The article above is courtesy of the Monthly Weather Review published in 1922.

1935: The most intense hurricane to make landfall was a modest tropical depression on this day. Called the Labor Day Hurricane, this storm went through phenomenal intensification to become a Category 5 hurricane by September 2nd.

Click HERE for more This Day in Weather History from the Southeast Regional Climate Center.