History of Storm in Timeline

A storm represents a disturbed state within an astronomical body's atmosphere or natural environment. These disturbances manifest as deviations from normal conditions, characterized by severe weather phenomena. Common storm features include strong winds, tornadoes, hail, thunder, lightning, heavy precipitation (rain or freezing rain), and instances of wind carrying substances, such as dust storms. Storms are significant natural occurrences that can cause widespread disruption and damage.

May 1900: Publication of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

On May 17, 1900, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a children's novel by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow, was originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago. The story chronicles Dorothy Gale's adventures in the Land of Oz after being swept away by a tornado.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Illustrated First Edition): 100th Anniversary OZ Collection

Check it on Amazon

1900: King Vidor survives the Galveston Hurricane

In 1900, Hollywood director King Vidor survived the Galveston Hurricane as a boy, an experience that later influenced his work.

1900: Galveston Hurricane

In 1900, the Galveston Hurricane occurred. Numerous accounts of the event have been made in print and in film.

1902: Broadway musical adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

In 1902, a popular Broadway musical adapted from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz led to L. Frank Baum writing thirteen more Oz books.

1926: The Johnstown Flood film released

In 1926, the silent film The Johnstown Flood, featuring the Great Flood of 1889, was released.

May 1935: King Vidor publishes "Southern Storm" in Esquire magazine

In the May 1935 issue of Esquire magazine, Hollywood director King Vidor published a fictionalized account of the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, titled "Southern Storm".

1939: MGM movie adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

In 1939, the MGM movie adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz contributed to the story's widespread popularity in American popular culture.

1964: Start of period of major civil transport aircraft accidents

From 1964 to 1985, wind shear directly caused or contributed to 26 major civil transport aircraft accidents in the U.S. that led to 620 deaths and 200 injuries.

1970: Record-breaking hailstone in Coffeyville, Kansas

In 1970, a hailstone weighing 1.67 pounds (0.76 kg) fell in Coffeyville, Kansas, setting a record for weight at the time.

November 1971: Mariner 9 orbits Mars during planet-wide dust storm

On November 14, 1971, Mariner 9, the first spacecraft to successfully orbit another planet, arrived at Mars. Planetary scientists were surprised to find the atmosphere filled with a planet-wide dust storm, the largest ever observed on Mars, obscuring the planet's surface. Mariner 9's computer was reprogrammed to delay imaging until the dust settled.

November 1982: Death of King Vidor

King Vidor, a Hollywood director who survived the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, died on November 1, 1982.

1985: End of period of major civil transport aircraft accidents

From 1964 to 1985, wind shear directly caused or contributed to 26 major civil transport aircraft accidents in the U.S. that led to 620 deaths and 200 injuries.

October 1987: The Great Storm of 1987

In October 1987, specifically on the night of 15–16 October 1987, The Great Storm of 1987, an unusually strong weather system, caused winds to hit much of southern England and northern France. It was the worst storm to hit England since the Great Storm of 1703.

1988: FAA mandates on-board wind shear detection systems

In 1988, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration mandated that all commercial aircraft have on-board wind shear detection systems by 1993 due to accidents in the 1970s and 1980s.

September 1990: Dragon Storm observed on Saturn

Earlier in September 1990, a storm on Saturn was observed and named Dragon Storm.

1991: The Perfect Storm of 1991

In 1991, the Perfect Storm, also known as the Halloween Nor'easter of 1991, occurred. It was a nor'easter that absorbed Hurricane Grace and evolved into a small hurricane late in its life cycle.

1993: Deadline for commercial aircraft to have wind shear detection systems

By 1993, all commercial aircraft were required to have on-board wind shear detection systems, as mandated by the FAA.

September 1994: Hubble Space Telescope images storms on Saturn

In September 1994, the Hubble Space Telescope, using the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, imaged storms on Saturn. These storms were generated by an upwelling of warmer air, resembling terrestrial thunderheads. The east-west extent of the storm was comparable to the diameter of Earth.

1995: Reduction in civil aircraft accidents caused by wind shear

Since 1995, the number of major civil aircraft accidents caused by wind shear has dropped to approximately one every ten years, due to mandated on-board detection systems and Doppler weather radar units on the ground.

1997: Publication of The Perfect Storm book

In 1997, Sebastian Junger's non-fiction book The Perfect Storm, which features the crew of the Andrea Gail and the Perfect Storm of 1991, was published.

The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea

Check it on Amazon

2000: The Perfect Storm film released

In 2000, Warner Bros. released the dramatic disaster film The Perfect Storm, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, an adaptation of Sebastian Junger's 1997 non-fiction book of the same title.

June 2003: Record-breaking hailstone in Aurora, Nebraska

On June 22, 2003, a hailstone measuring 7 inches (18 cm) in diameter and 18.75 inches (47.6 cm) in circumference fell in Aurora, Nebraska, setting a record for diameter at the time.

2005: Hurricane Katrina featured in works of fiction

Hurricane Katrina (2005) has been featured in a number of works of fiction.

2005: Publication of Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson

In 2005, Erik Larson's book Isaac's Storm excerpted a passage from King Vidor's "Southern Storm".

2005: Hurricane Camille averted drought conditions

In 2005, Hurricane Camille averted drought conditions and ended water deficits along much of its path, though it also caused significant damage and fatalities.

June 2010: Storm discovered on extrasolar planet HD 209458 b

On June 23, 2010, a storm was discovered on the extrasolar planet HD 209458 b, measuring at 6,200 km/h (3,900 mph).

July 2010: Largest hailstone recorded in the United States

On July 23, 2010, the largest hailstone in terms of diameter and weight ever recorded in the United States fell in Vivian, South Dakota. It measured 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter, 18.62 inches (47.3 cm) in circumference, and weighed 1.93 pounds (0.88 kg), breaking previous records.