From NWS
1994: A severe thunderstorm dropped very large hail as it cut a swath from around Osage and Charles City east southeast through Dubuque during the afternoon hours. Hail as large as 4.5 inches in diameter was reported in Dubuque resulting in millions of dollars in damage.

1912: Thunderstorms produced heavy rain across portions of northeastern Iowa overnight on August 18-19. At Dubuque 5.17 inches of rain fell in less than six hours with 1.88 inches of that total falling in just one hour. Severe flash flooding occurred in the city with several tons of brick, stones, and other debris washed down the streets. Electric car service was suspended due to water and debris covering the tracks and Union Park was largely washed out when its creek quickly overflowed its banks. Railroad tracks were also washed out and cellars were flooded throughout the city. The heavy rains across the area also caused a rapid rise on the Maquoketa River which flooded the pumping station and electric plant at Maquoketa, cutting off water and electrical service to the city for nearly a day.

1898: Thunderstorms produced severe straight-line winds, locally heavy rain, and some hail across about the northwestern third of Iowa during the late afternoon and evening hours. In a swath about 10 miles wide and 15 to 20 miles long running between Spencer and Emmetsburg all crops were cut to the ground by strong winds and very large hail. In the area around Spirit Lake the severe winds caused widespread significant damage to buildings, trees, and utility poles. Freight cars were blown over and numerous barns and outbuildings were completely destroyed. A couple was killed in Clay County near Peterson when the barn they took shelter in was blown to pieces. A man was also killed by lightning near Boone.

19 August 1845 → What was likely an EF5 tornado devastated Montville, France around midday, resulting in many fatalities. Most deaths occurred when factories were destroyed and the workers were flung some distance by the wind. The buildings were swept clean off their foundations with debris as large as boards and planks found 23 miles away. 19 August 1991 → Hurricane Bob slammed into New England as a category 2 storm with 95 mph sustained winds and gusts of 125 mph at Block Island, RI and 105 mph at Newport, RI. A storm surge of 15 feet occurred in Upper Buzzards Bay. Portland, ME had a 24 hour record rainfall of 7.83 inches. Total damage exceeded $1.5 billion and 17 people were killed. It was the worst Hurricane in the Northeast since Donna in 1960. 19 August 1991 → The Civil Defense Director for Codington County, SD, reported that lightning was so frequent and vivid from nearby nighttime thunderstorms that he drove for 10 minutes without needing his headlights! At one point a lightning strike occurred within 10 feet of his car. The strike splattered mud onto his vehicle, drained his battery, and caused problems with the car’s electrical system. 19 August 2010 → Today ended a 2-month long heat wave in Russia when daily maximum temperatures in Moscow were as much as 27 degrees above average. The heat wave caused 15,000 deaths, 600 wildfires, and $15 billion loss of economic growth.

Posted under Weather History