TODAY  Version 3.7   06/24/94       Copyright 1986, 1994  By Patrick Kincaid   
      
    Today is Thursday  October 8, 2015.   
    This is the 281st day of the year, there are 84 days left.   
      
    On this day...   
       Weather data after 1990 is PARTIAL. For more current   
       weather history, go to the National Climate Data Center   
       website at www.ncdc.noaa.gov   
       In 1871 Prolonged drought and dessicating winds led to the great   
               Chicago fire, the Peshtigo horror, and the Michigan fire   
               holocaust.  Fire destroyed more than seventeen thousand   
               buildings killing more than 200 persons in the city of   
               Chicago, while a fire consumed the town of Peshtigo WI   
               killing more than 1100 persons.  In Wisconsin, a million   
               acres of land were burned, and in Michigan, 2.5 million   
               acres were burned killing 200 persons.  "Tornadoes of   
               fire" generated by intense heat caused houses to explode   
               in fire, and burned to death scores of persons seeking   
               refuge in open fields.   
       In 1901 A deluge at Galveston TX produced nearly twelve inches of   
               rain in about a six hour period.  The rains came   
               precisely thirteen months after the day of the famous   
               Galveston hurricane disaster.   
       In 1982 An unusually early snowstorm hit the northern Black Hills   
               of Wyoming and South Dakota.  The storm produced up to 54   
               inches of snow, and winds as high as 70 mph.  The   
               snowfall was very much dependent upon topography.  Rapid   
               City, 20 miles away, received just a trace of snow.   
       In 1987 Unseasonably cold weather prevailed from the Upper   
               Mississippi Valley to the southeastern U.S.  Thirty   
               cities reported record low temperatures for the date,   
               including Madison WI with a reading of 22 degrees.  The   
               low of 28 degrees at Evansville IN was the coolest of   
               record for so early in the season. Hot weather continued   
               in the southwestern U.S.  Phoenix AZ reported a record   
               high of 104 degrees, and a record tying 116 days of 100   
               degree weather for the year. Tucson AZ established an   
               all-time record with 72 days of 100 degree weather for   
               the year.   
       In 1988 Snow was reported across parts of northern New England.   
               Two inches blanketed Mount Snow VT.  Warm weather   
               continued in the northwestern U.S.  The afternoon high of   
               80 degrees at Stampede Pass WA exceeded their previous   
               record for October by seven degrees.   
       In 1989 Morning lows in the 20s were reported from the Northern   
               Plains to the Upper Great Lakes.  International Falls MN   
               and Marquette MI reported record lows of 22 degrees.   
               Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in central California   
               as the Oakland Athletics won the American League pennant.   
               San Luis Obispo CA reported a high of 99 degrees.   
       In 2001 Hurricane Iris, with 145 mph winds, slammed into Placencia,   
               Mexico...between Belize City, Belize, and Monkey River   
               Town...affecting much of the same area that was hit by   
               Hurricane Mitch in 1998. At one time, the storm had three   
               eyewalls, reported by Hurricane Hunter aircraft; although   
               the total area of the storm was rather small.   
      
      
   --- GTMail 1.26    
    * Origin: The Thunderbolt BBS, Little Rock, Arkansas (1:19/33.0)