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1752: Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment when he flew a kite in the middle of a thunderstorm to determine the nature of lightning (though there is considerable debate on how the experiment was actually carried out). It is important to note that you should not try this at home -- on average, lightning kills about 50 people per year in the U.S.

1872: When the precursor to the National Weather Service was signed into law on February 9, 1870, only the Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast, and Great Lakes were included under its jurisdiction. Beginning today meteorological responsibilities were increased to cover the entire United States.

1923: Montana's deadliest tornado, an F1, killed two men when a tree fell on them near Rivulet. The damage path was 12 miles long, though some portion of that may have been from straight-line winds.

1938: Clyde, TX suffered the effects of what was likely an F5 tornado. Several homes completely vanished. One family tried to escape the tornado by car, and inadvertently drove right into it when the twister made a sudden unexpected turn. Four of the six occupants of the car were killed. The two survivors were found half a mile away from the rest of the bodies.

1957: A dust devil at North Yarmouth, ME lifted an 800 pound chicken shelter into the air and carried it 25 feet. It landed upright with only slight damage.