History of Storm in Timeline

A storm is defined as a disturbed state of an environment, primarily the atmosphere. These disturbances manifest as significant deviations from normal conditions, characterized by various forms of severe weather. Common features include strong winds, tornadoes, hail, thunder, lightning, and heavy precipitation, encompassing rain, freezing rain, and even the transport of substances like dust. Storms represent a wide range of impactful weather phenomena.

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 W. W. Denslow, was originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago. The story chronicles the adventures of Dorothy Gale after being swept away by a tornado.

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

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1900: King Vidor survives Galveston Hurricane

In 1900, Hollywood director King Vidor survived the Galveston Hurricane as a boy.

1900: Accounts of the Galveston Hurricane

In 1900, Numerous accounts of the Galveston Hurricane were made in print and film. Larson cites many of them in Isaac's Storm, which centrally features that storm.

1902: Broadway musical adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

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

1926: The Johnstown Flood silent film release

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

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May 1935: King Vidor publishes "Southern Storm"

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

1939: MGM movie adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

In 1939, the MGM movie adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz increased the popularity of the story.

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1964: Wind shear causes plane crash

Between 1964 and 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 hailstone weight in Coffeyville, Kansas

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

November 1971: Mariner 9 arrives at 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 a planet-wide dust storm, the largest ever observed on Mars, obscuring the surface. Mariner 9's computer was reprogrammed to delay imaging until the dust settled.

1985: Wind shear causes plane crash

Between 1964 and 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, The Great Storm of 1987 occurred on the night of 15–16 October 1987, when 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 (284 years earlier).

1988: FAA mandates wind shear detection systems

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

1991: The Perfect Storm

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

1993: Wind shear detection systems in commercial aircrafts

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

September 1994: Hubble Space Telescope images Dragon Storm

In September 1994, the Hubble Space Telescope, using the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2, imaged storms on Saturn. The storms were generated by an upwelling of warmer air, similar to a terrestrial thunderhead, and were named Dragon Storm.

1995: Reduced 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 the addition of Doppler weather radar units (NEXRAD) on the ground.

1997: Publication of The Perfect Storm book

In 1997, Sebastian Junger's non-fiction book The Perfect Storm was published.

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

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2000: The Perfect Storm film release

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

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June 2003: Record hailstone diameter 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.

2005: Erik Larson excerpts "Southern Storm" in Isaac's Storm

In 2005, Erik Larson excerpted a passage from "Southern Storm" in his book, Isaac's 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 killed 259 people and caused $9.14 billion (2005 USD) in damage.

2005: Hurricane Katrina featured in works of fiction

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina has been featured in a number of works of fiction.

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. The storm was measured 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).