Weather History For April 18

1875
The minimum temperature for the date is 25°F. in Washington DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1880
More than two-dozen tornadoes were reported from Kansas and Arkansas to Wisconsin and Michigan. More than 100 persons were killed, including 65 persons at Marshfield MO.
(David Ludlum)

1896
New York City reported their earliest 90° reading on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1906
San Francisco earthquake, 200 killed and city is destroyed by a severe earthquake that shook San Francisco, and unusual easterly winds spread fires destroying the city.
(David Ludlum)

1944
California experienced its worst hailstorm of record. Damage mounted to two million dollars as two consecutive storms devastated the Sacramento Valley destroying the fruit crop.
(The Weather Channel)

1957
A dust devil near Dracut MA lifted a small child three feet into the air, and rolled two other children on the ground. Fortunately none of the three were hurt. The dust devil was accompanied by a loud whistling sound as it moved westward.
(The Weather Channel)

1958
Cherry blossoms peak on the latest date ever
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)

1959
A severe thunderstorm moved southeast across the Chattanooga, OK area, dumping four inches of rain in just 30 minutes, along with hail up to an inch in diameter, that piled up over a foot deep in places.Hail up to 1

1966
A major blizzard ravaged the northern Plains. Up to two feet of snow was reported in parts of South Dakota and 20 inches fell at Lander, WY. Sub-freezing temperatures caused thousands of dollars damage to fruit trees across Denver, CO. From this date through the 20th, low temperatures each morning were in the teens and failed to reach above freezing on the 19th. The low temperature of 13° on the 20th set a new record low for the date. Stapleton International Airport in Denver picked up 5.7 inches of snow during this period.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
Rapid City SD received a record 22 inches of snow in 24 hours. (17th-18th)
(The Weather Channel)

1970
It had been a devastating night for tornadoes in the Texas Panhandle. At the U.S. Weather Bureau office in Lubbock, TX it had been a busy night with countless tornado warnings issued. Around midnight, the all clear was sounded. During the predawn hours, another group of tornadoes swarmed across the Panhandle. 13 people died at Sherwood Shores as the twister struck without warning.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1976
Maximum of 95°F was recorded at DCA highest temperature on record for April.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1978
Must have been an interesting ride. Fortunately, however, the tornado was “weak.” Nonetheless, it did roll a mobile home in Ormond Beach, FL, 200 feet; the mobile home was destroyed. A woman and 4 children inside were not seriously hurt.
(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2011 Accord Pub. 2010, USA)

1983
Four inches of snow fell in parts of southeastern Virginia, the heaviest snows on record for so late in the season.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Thirty-one cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including International Falls MN with a reading of 88 degrees, and Bismarck ND with a high of 92 degrees. A sharp cold front produced high winds in the western U.S. Winds in Utah gusted to 99 mph at the Park City Angle Station, and capsized a boat on Utah Lake drowning four persons.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in the southeastern U.S. A strong (F-2) tornado severely damaged seventeen mobile homes near Bainbridge GA injuring three persons.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. A thunderstorm in Pecos County in southwest Texas produced wind gusts to 90 mph at Imperial.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Heavy snow blanketed the west central valleys and southwest mountains of Colorado with up to 18 inches of snow. Nine cities from the Mid Mississippi Valley to the Middle Atlantic Coast Region reported record low temperatures for the date, including Fort Wayne IN with a reading of 23 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2002
The heat wave continued across the east as high pressure off the Carolina blocked a frontal boundary across the Plains. Records for the date included: Newark, NJ: 93°, Islip, NY: 89°, Wallops Island, VA: 88°, Atlantic City, NJ: 87°, Bridgeport, CT: 85° and Buffalo, NY: 81°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2005
Periods of heavy wet snow from this date through the 21st totaled 20" at Billings, MT with 2.60" water equivalent over the 4-day period. Red Lodge, MT received 17", Story 14" and Pryor with 12".
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2016
April 17-18. Ten to 17 inches of rain set off widespread urban flooding in Houston and surrounding suburbs. Floodwaters damaged thousands of homes and businesses and led to 1,800 high- water rescues.