Home / Disasters and Accidents / A Century of Extreme Weather: From Deadly Blizzards to Raging Wildfires
A Century of Extreme Weather: From Deadly Blizzards to Raging Wildfires
3 Oct
Summary
- Deadliest US hurricane kills 8,000-12,000 in Galveston, Texas in 1900
- Worst blizzard in US history kills 98 in Washington, DC in 1922
- Devastating 1931 China floods kill up to 3.7 million people
In the past century, the world has experienced a staggering number of extreme weather events, from bone-chilling blizzards to devastating droughts and floods. One of the deadliest natural disasters in US history was the Category 4 hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas in September 1900, killing between 8,000 and 12,000 people. The storm's extreme winds, flying debris, and powerful storm surge completely devastated the island city.
Blizzards have also taken a heavy toll, such as the Knickerbocker Storm that hit Washington, DC in January 1922, dumping 28 inches of snow and causing the collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre, killing 98 people. Floods have also proven catastrophic, with the 1931 Central China Flood potentially killing up to 3.7 million people, making it one of the deadliest natural disasters on record.
Other notable events include the 1909 Paris flood, the 1913 Great Lakes Storm that killed 250 people, and the 1931 Belize hurricane that claimed 2,500 lives. Wildfires, droughts, and tropical storms have also wreaked havoc across the globe, demonstrating the sheer power and destruction of extreme weather over the past century.
