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'Old Weather Pics' is a Twitter account that, as the name suggests, takes you back in time with vintage photographs of weather phenomena.

From stunning lightning strikes to powerful snowstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes, the account has plenty of reasons to remind everyone why we appreciate the power of nature.

It was created in 2014 and seems to have stopped posting in 2021. Still, during those seven years, it shared plenty of interesting and rarely seen images, so we decided to commemorate the work that went into this interesting little online project by presenting to you, dear Pandas, their uploads that we enjoyed the most.

More info: Twitter

#1

Train stuck in deep snow in southern Minnesota during extreme and crazy historical weather conditions in 1881.

OldWeatherPics Report

Susan Robinson
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, I think they talked about this horrendous winter in one of the Little House on the Prairie books!

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    #2

    Historic black and white image of an extreme tornado over Texas State Capitol showing extreme and crazy weather examples.

    OldWeatherPics Report

    Den Ver
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    52 of the 113 posts here are of tornadoes or tornado destruction. ... Does anyone outside of the US look at these and think, "nope", like some people do when thinking of Australia and their scary spiders and other creatures?

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    Scientific studies indicate that many of the extreme weather events you see in these pictures are likely to become more frequent or more intense with human-induced climate change.

    Long-term changes in climate can directly or indirectly affect many aspects of society in potentially disruptive ways. For instance, warmer average temperatures could increase air conditioning costs and affect the spread of diseases, and while increased precipitation can replenish water supplies and support agriculture, intense storms can damage property, cause loss of life and population displacement, and temporarily disrupt essential services such as transportation, telecommunications, and energy.

    #3

    Waterspout over the Florida Keys on September 10, 1969, showing an extreme and crazy weather event at sea.

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    kitten levels tokyo
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OR, tractor beam of an alien ship stealing Earth’s water.

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    #4

    Boston's blizzard of 1978 showing cars buried in snow and people walking during extreme and crazy weather event.

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    Den Ver
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Slug Bug! (actually 2) ... For those who don't know, it was a game where someone hit/slugged the person next to them if they saw a VW beetle, while calling out, "slug bug". ... It couldn't be played before the 1990's because there were still too many -- and it isn't played now because there are too few. ... I miss seeing the little round cars.

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    #5

    Old sepia photograph showing a tornado near houses, an example of extreme and crazy weather from the past.

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    In the US, average temperatures have risen across the contiguous 48 states since 1901, with an increased rate of warming over the past 30 years.

    Nine of the top ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1998. Average global temperatures show a similar trend, and all of the top 10 warmest years on record worldwide have occurred since 2005. Within the United States, temperatures in parts of the North, the West, and Alaska have increased the most. 

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    #8

    Lightning striking the Empire State Building during extreme and crazy weather in summer 1934, historic weather example.

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    Shyla Bouche
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are there wires strung along for Marty to hook up the DeLorean?

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    #9

    Aerial view of extreme weather damage from a 1974 F5 tornado in Xenia, Ohio, showing widespread destruction in the town.

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    Moira Drake
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If you drive down Main St in Xenia you can see how one side of the street has older buildings and the other side is all post-1974 buildings.

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    As the Earth warms overall, average temperatures increase throughout the year, but the increases may be larger in certain seasons than in others.

    Since 1896, average winter temperatures across the contiguous 48 states have increased by nearly 3°F. Spring temperatures have increased by about 2°F, while summer and fall temperatures have increased by about 1.5°F.  

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    #10

    Man carrying woman through heavy snowstorm in Washington DC, an extreme and crazy weather example from the past.

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    Scooter
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Always the gentleman.

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    #11

    Lightning striking the Eiffel Tower in 1902, showcasing an extreme weather example from the past.

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    Phil Green
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ah! Some weather from somewhere else in the world! This is definitely in France, not the US!

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    Many extreme temperature conditions are becoming more frequent. Since the 1970s, unusually hot summer days (highs) in the US have become more common over the last few decades. Unusually hot summer nights (lows) have become more common at an even faster rate.

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    This trend indicates less "cooling off" at night and although the country has experienced many winters with unusually low temperatures, unusually cold winter temperatures have become less common—particularly very cold nights (lows).

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    #13

    Black and white photo of a waterspout in the Adriatic Sea, showcasing extreme and crazy weather examples from history.

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    Mila Preradović
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just as I started to think "almost every picture is from the USA", well well😳

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    #15

    Flooding in Elmira, NY caused by Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, showcasing extreme and crazy weather events from the past.

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    Crazy Nailzz
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why do all these posts show bad weather only in USA. I mean there are worst weather in other parts of the world, right?

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    Heat waves are occurring three times more often than they did in the 1960s—about 6 per year compared with 2 per year.

    The average heat wave season is 49 days longer, and individual heat waves are lasting longer and becoming more intense. 

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    #17

    Black and white photo of extreme weather damage showing a house lifted onto railroad tracks after a historic hurricane.

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    Grant Barke
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Time to open the steam vent to full throttle.

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    #18

    Vintage photo showing extreme flooding with people standing on a car in a flooded road near Cairo Illinois in 1927.

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    Full of Giggles
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The U.S. state of Arizona has a law called “Stupid Motorist Law.” If you attempt to cross a flooded roadway and get stranded, you will be billed for emergency service rescue and towing and receive a fine up to $2k USD. We get some nasty flash floods during monsoon season and many roads become inundated with water making it impossible for drivers to cross.

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    new report by top climate scientists and meteorologists describes how climate change drove unprecedented heat waves, floods, and droughts in recent years — the annual report from the American Meteorological Society (AMS) compiles the leading science about the role of climate change in extreme weather.

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    "It's a reminder that the risk of extreme events is growing, and they're affecting every corner of the world," Sarah Kapnick, the chief scientist at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), told NPR.

    #19

    Man measuring extreme snow from 1966 blizzard in North Sterling, NY, showing huge snow totals and vintage car.

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    Full of Giggles
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Christmas 2022 be like “hold my beer.”

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    The connection between climate change and heat waves is particularly well-understood and documented because rising temperatures are relatively simple to measure and predict.

    Other types of weather are more complex. Climate change affects hurricanes, for instance, in many ways (from changing the temperature of the air and the water to potentially affecting wind patterns and ocean currents), so scientists tend to focus on individual effects of a storm, such as coastal flooding and sea level rise, or inland flooding from abnormally heavy rain.

    #22

    Radar image of the first tornado ever seen with labeled thunderstorm, hook echo, and ground clutter in extreme weather examples.

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    Den Ver
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ground Clutter is not happy about its name.

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    #23

    Tornado touching down in Miami skyline with dark storm clouds, showcasing extreme and crazy weather examples.

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    Anon Anon
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Now THIS definitely reminds me of SimCity.

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    #24

    Tornado near Cordell Oklahoma in 1981 showing an extreme and crazy weather event with a funnel cloud over farmland.

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    A. Starhawk Hunt
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Some of these pics are terrifying, and of frightful beauty…..

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    Understanding how climate change will affect extreme weather in the future, and how common these types of disasters will become as the Earth continues to heat up, is crucial for elected officials and business leaders — such research can inform decision-makers and allow them to prioritize which issues to act on first.

    #25

    Historic extreme weather in Seattle, 1916 Big Snow with heavy snowfall covering streets and people walking through.

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    Den Ver
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing like having a Dog Sled Team handy to go to the Clemmer/ Columbia Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Better night photograph = https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2nd_Ave_at_night_covered_with_snow,_Seattle,_1916_(SEATTLE_4585).jpg

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    #26

    Tornado damage showing an overturned car against a tree amid debris in Louisville, illustrating extreme and crazy weather examples.

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    #27

    Black and white photo of people enjoying heavy snow during the 1922 extreme weather snowstorm in Washington D.C.

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    Stephen Wild
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Called the 'Knickerbocker Storm' after the buildup of snow triggered the collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre, killing 98 and injuring 133 others. I say 'triggered' rather than caused because the actual cause was poor design and construction... it is likely the theatre would have collapsed sooner or later.

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    #29

    Tornado over rural landscape in Oklahoma captured from an aircraft window showing extreme and crazy weather example.

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    AJay
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I forgot that OK means an American state (Is it Oklahoma?) and thought the post was calling it an ok tornado not a tornado in OK.

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    #32

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    #33

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    Lizz
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can accept the fact of climate crisis and all that, but apparently in the past people also had some wacky weather......

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    #35

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    #37

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    Mrs Irish Mom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    He looks like hes gonna try fight the hurricane

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    #39

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    #40

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    #42

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    #43

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    Nikki D
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Poor Greensburg. Thats small fries compared to the more recent one.

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    #44

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    #45

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    #46

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    Brenda
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Because of this hurricane, Galveston was built up by 10ft. In the historical houses that are still there, what looks like the 1st floor is actually the original 2nd floor. Even today houses have to be built high in certain areas known to flood

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    #47

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    #48

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    #49

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    Brenda
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It wiped out most of the island.

    #50

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    #51

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    #52

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    #53

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    #56

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    A. Starhawk Hunt
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I lived in MD during that blizzard. We helped my disabled brother dig his massive 67 bel air out and cleaned the spot so he’d be able to park when he got home from work. When he did, a neighbor had parked in the spot. We asked him to move as my brother’s difficulties were known. He’s like, it’s on the street so he doesn’t own it. When it got dark, we went out and completely packed the car in deep in the snow, at least as much as we’d removed. We packed it into the wheel wells, under the bumper, in the tailpipe. Then we threw about a dozen pickle barrels of icy w cold water. Which encased it quite thoroughly. He had to have known we did it but never heard anything. (Parker’s Remorse?). He didn’t get it out until it melted out about 2 weeks later.

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    #57

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    #59

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    Your Local Forza Enthusiast
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The comment section here is lonely. Here is a comment to make it a little less lonely. Also, the Ford is absolutely destroyed.

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    #60

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    #61

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    Wendy O'Shea
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am sure they showed these guys on tv.

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    #64

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    Zoe DiAnni
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I want to make a flat earther joke but I’m too tired to think of anything 🥱

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    #70

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    Nikki D
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It actually wiped the ENTIRE town out. I believe it was a mile wide.

    #71

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    Susan Robinson
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Today’s Weather: Freaking Cold Tomorrow’s Weather: Freaking Colder

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    #73

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    #78

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    Margaret H
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am surprised there is not more debris in the air with something this size.

    #79

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    Bryn
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This tornado is one that helped create the F scale that is used.

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    #81

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    Geoffrey Scott
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Was in Key West in USCG when Cuban boatlift started, had to get underway after a VERY powerful front moved through. Counted 11 waterspouts between harbor and seabouy..crazy

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    #83

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    #86

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    Thegoodboi
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    *squints* Is that Voldemort on top of that fountain thingy?

    #87

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    #89

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    #90

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    Zoe DiAnni
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Did they just happen to have winter hats in Miami?

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    #101

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    #102

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    Dre Mosley
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons were absolutely brutal. Seemed like every couple of weeks there was a new one.

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    #103

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    Susan Robinson
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ha! The sign says open for Waterfront Dining. Way to be positive!

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