Major historical weather events that have occurred on September 10 include hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. The date also falls on the climatological peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, with the highest probability of tropical cyclones forming in the Atlantic basin.
1811: During the hurricane of September 10, 1811, a tornado passed through downtown Charleston, South Carolina, adding to the destruction already caused by the tropical storm. The tornado was responsible for at least 11 deaths and widespread devastation.
Impact in Charleston
Tornado track: The hurricane-spawned tornado moved northwest through the center of the city.
Structural damage: Approximately 60 homes were either destroyed or severely damaged, including several large mansions.
Destruction of infrastructure: The storm caused significant destruction to buildings, wharves, and shipping in the harbor. The foundations of houses shook, and families in low-lying areas had to flee. The Ashley River Bridge was also swept away.
Shipping losses: Several vessels in the harbor were sunk by the combined effects of the storm and the tornado.
Crop destruction: The storm caused extensive damage to crops across the state of South Carolina.
Eyewitness accounts
Contemporary accounts capture the terror of the event. Celebrated Charleston author Caroline Howard Gilman described the immense storm surge, stating, “The sea rose and rose like some living monster preparing itself for a death-struggle”. She also recounted the sight of “moving masses of ruins” floating on the water’s foam.
1960: Hurricane Donna was one of the most destructive and long-lived hurricanes in Atlantic history, causing damage and fatalities from the Lesser Antilles to New England. After a path of devastation in the Caribbean, Donna struck the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm on September 10, 1960.
Pre-Florida path and intensity
Formation and early strengthening: Donna began as a tropical wave off the coast of West Africa on August 29, 1960. It quickly strengthened into a hurricane by September 1 and maintained major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher) for nine consecutive days.
Caribbean impacts: Before reaching the U.S., Donna caused severe destruction in the Caribbean.
In the Lesser Antilles, it killed 12 people on the islands of Saint-Martin and Anguilla and left a quarter of Saint-Martin’s population homeless.
In Puerto Rico, torrential rainfall caused flash flooding that killed 107 people.
In the Bahamas, wind gusts of up to 173 mph were recorded.
Impact on the Florida Keys and mainland Florida
Florida Keys landfall: Donna made landfall on Conch Key, just northeast of Marathon, in the Florida Keys with sustained winds of 145 mph. The storm produced a 13-foot storm surge that submerged parts of the Overseas Highway and destroyed several subdivisions in Marathon. In some areas, up to 75% of buildings were severely damaged.
Florida mainland landfall: After traversing the Keys, Donna moved along Florida’s Gulf Coast, making a second Florida landfall near Naples as a Category 3 hurricane.
Agricultural damage: The storm was devastating for Florida’s citrus crops, destroying 50% of the state’s grapefruit crop and nearly all of the avocado crop.
Widespread destruction: The storm destroyed over 2,000 homes and trailers throughout the state. A large area of mangrove forest in Everglades National Park was also lost.
Florida casualties: At least 14 people were confirmed dead in Florida.
Continued path up the Atlantic coast
Unique track: Donna was a rare storm in that it impacted every state along the U.S. East Coast with hurricane-force winds.
Later landfalls: After exiting Florida, Donna made additional landfalls in North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane and on Long Island, New York, as a Category 2 storm.
New England impacts: Still a powerful storm, Donna produced wind gusts of 145 mph at the Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts. It caused widespread power outages, property damage, and significant damage to apple orchards across New England.
Final dissipation: Donna eventually became an extratropical cyclone over Maine before dissipating over eastern Canada.
Legacy of Hurricane Donna
Due to its devastating impact and long, destructive path, the name “Donna” was retired by the U.S. Weather Bureau following the 1960 season. It was replaced by “Dora” for the 1964 season.
1961: On September 10, 1961, as Hurricane Carla approached the Gulf Coast, its outer bands spawned a devastating F3 tornado in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, which struck the town of Kaplan. The tornado, with a path of nearly 6 miles, was responsible for the majority of the casualties and destruction that occurred in Louisiana from the hurricane.
The Kaplan F3 tornado
Path and timing: The tornado formed about 2 miles southeast of Kaplan around 2:50 p.m. CST, moving northwest through the town. Its 5.7-mile path of destruction carved through 27 city blocks.
Casualties: A 4-week-old infant, Nancy Ann Simon, was killed in her home, which was destroyed by the storm. A total of 55 people were injured.
Damage: The tornado destroyed 21 homes and heavily damaged another 55. In addition to residential damage, the tornado also affected several businesses and farm buildings.
Hurricane Carla’s broader impact in Louisiana
Widespread tornadoes: The Kaplan tornado was one of several spawned by Hurricane Carla in Louisiana. Carla produced a total of 11 tornadoes in the state, causing widespread damage, injuries, and six fatalities.
Destruction of property: In Louisiana, Carla’s tornadoes ultimately destroyed 140 homes and 11 other buildings. Major damage was reported for 231 homes and 11 other buildings, and 748 homes and 75 other buildings experienced minor to moderate damage.
Financial cost: The tornadoes and the hurricane’s other effects led to about $25 million in total damage in Louisiana.
Historical context
The tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Carla in Louisiana and Texas were part of the largest tornado outbreak associated with a hurricane on record at that time. Carla’s tornadoes, along with the hurricane’s storm surge and flooding, accounted for half of the storm’s total 43 fatalities.
1988: Based on initial search results, the claim about wildfires in South Dakota on September 10, 1988, appears to contain several inaccuracies. Records indicate that widespread and significant wildfires did occur in South Dakota during the exceptionally dry and hot summer of 1988, but not specifically on September 10. The largest and most famous fire event of 1988 was in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, where extreme drought and high winds fueled multiple blazes.
A fire did impact the Black Hills area of South Dakota in July 1988, but the details in your request do not match historical records.
South Dakota fires during the 1988 season
Rapid City fire: In late July 1988, a forest fire burned into the western edges of Rapid City, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes. The governor of South Dakota, George S. Mickelson, reported the fire was “out of control” as it was whipped by high winds.
Cause: An investigation later revealed that the Rapid City fire, also known as the Westberry Trails Fire, was intentionally set. This fire burned over 2,800 acres, destroyed 15 homes, and caused over $1 million in damage—a much higher figure than the $60,000 cited in your request.
Context of the 1988 season: This was an active fire season across the Western U.S., with notable blazes in Yellowstone, Idaho, and other states.
Discrepancies with the September 10, 1988 claim
Date: Multiple reports confirm the significant South Dakota fires occurred in July 1988, not September.
Location: The largest South Dakota fire was near Rapid City in the Black Hills, not specifically Todd County, which is on the Rosebud Indian Reservation. While it’s possible smaller lightning fires occurred, the major fire was not caused by lightning.
Damage amount: The actual damage from the July fires in South Dakota was substantially more than $60,000.
Correction
The weather event of a lightning-caused fire in Todd County, South Dakota, on September 10, 1988, as described, appears to be an inaccurate or fabricated account. While wildfires did occur in South Dakota during that time, the details do not align with historical reports. The most significant South Dakota wildfire in 1988 was the July arson fire near Rapid City, which caused much greater destruction.
2018: The remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon combined with a cold front and produced torrential rainfall over eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania from approximately September 8 to September 11, 2018. The storm system caused widespread flooding, landslides, and disruption throughout the region.
Path and rainfall
Previous track: After making landfall on the Gulf Coast near the Alabama-Mississippi border, Gordon weakened to a tropical depression. It then lingered over Arkansas for two days before combining with a cold front and moving northeast.
Heavy rains: The combined weather system delivered days of near-constant rain across western Pennsylvania, including the Pittsburgh area.
Exceptional rainfall totals: The heaviest rainfall occurred from Friday, September 7, through Monday, September 10, with some locations receiving more than 7 inches of rain.
The National Weather Service station in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, set a daily rainfall record on September 9 with 3.73 inches.
The Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, recorded an even higher total of 7.5 inches between Friday morning and the morning of Monday, September 10.
Forecast: Before the rains began, forecasters predicted the system would bring heavy rain, with up to 5 inches expected in parts of southern Pennsylvania between Sunday and Monday.
Flooding and damage
Widespread flooding: The prolonged, heavy rainfall caused significant flash flooding and river flooding.
Regional impact: Flooding and landslides caused havoc across western Pennsylvania.
Emergency response: The severe weather resulted in road and school closures, along with numerous other emergency situations.
Notable flooding areas: Creeks and waterways in low-lying areas, particularly in southwestern Allegheny County and northern Washington County, were hard-hit. Water rescues were needed in some of these areas.
River rises: Forecasters were concerned that the influx of water would cause river levels, including on the Ohio River, to rise significantly.
2019: On September 10, 2019, a supercell thunderstorm produced multiple tornadoes in Goshen County, Wyoming, with one large wedge tornado causing significant damage. Storm chasers and the National Weather Service (NWS) documented the event as it unfolded.
The Goshen County tornado
Storm track: Tornadoes, potentially from a single supercell, touched down in the afternoon and evening hours. One of the most documented was a large wedge tornado that tracked near Fort Laramie and Jay Em, Wyoming.
Wedge tornado: AccuWeather’s Reed Timmer, an extreme meteorologist and storm chaser, documented the massive wedge tornado from a dangerously close range. The tornado’s “wedge” shape, which means it was wider than it was tall, indicated its large size and destructive potential.
Damage assessment: A damage survey later determined that the landspout/tornado’s rating was EF-U, meaning the intensity could not be determined due to a lack of damage indicators. However, reports from Goshen County Emergency Management confirmed significant property loss.
Destroyed property: The storm system damaged farm buildings, including a structure seen being torn apart in storm chaser footage.
Livestock deaths: Goshen County Emergency Management confirmed that livestock, including a dead cow, were killed during the storm.
Straight-line winds: In addition to the tornado, the supercell produced powerful straight-line winds, observed in excess of 90 to 100 mph, that caused extensive damage across the region.
Alerts and warnings: The NWS in Cheyenne issued severe weather warnings, including for hail, downpours, and tornadoes, as the storm system moved through the area. Goshen County Emergency Management utilized its outdoor warning sirens and mass notification system to alert residents.
2024: As of September 10, 2024, the United States was contending with a dual weather crisis involving both Western wildfires and Tropical Storm Francine. Francine posed an immediate threat to the Gulf Coast, while wildfires were ravaging multiple states in the West.
Tropical Storm Francine
Formation and trajectory: Francine formed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 9, 2024, and was steadily intensifying as it moved north. By September 10, it was on a path to strike the Gulf Coast and was expected to become a hurricane.
Threats: Forecasters issued warnings for multiple threats, including life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and flash flooding. States from Texas to Mississippi were alerted to prepare for the storm’s arrival, which was predicted to bring up to 12 inches of rain in some areas.
Response: In Louisiana, Governor Jeff Landry declared a state of emergency on September 9 to mobilize resources ahead of the storm. Emergency preparations were underway in coastal communities, and residents were warned of the dangers.
Western wildfires
Widespread blazes: The Western U.S. was experiencing a severe and active fire season, with major wildfires burning across states like California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. The National Interagency Fire Center reported a fire activity level above the 10-year average.
Notable fires around Sept. 10:
The Line Fire (California): This fire in San Bernardino County was particularly destructive, growing rapidly after starting on September 5 and prompting mandatory evacuations for thousands of homes in mountain communities. Authorities later arrested a man in connection with setting the fire.
The Bridge Fire (California): This blaze burned inside the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. It forced evacuations for the Mount Baldy and Wrightwood areas.
The Davis Fire (Nevada): A fire south of Reno consumed thousands of acres and led to evacuations. Gusty winds and low humidity were driving its spread.
Driving factors: A combination of extreme heat, gusty winds, and dry conditions fueled the rapid spread of the Western wildfires. Drought conditions, a result of climate change, contributed to the elevated fire risk.
Overlapping events
The simultaneous occurrence of a major hurricane threatening the Gulf Coast and destructive wildfires burning in the West underscored the significant and complex weather challenges the U.S. faced in September 2024. Emergency response resources were stretched thin across the country to manage the dual crises.
