January 17[edit]

1706: Benjamin Franklin, who would invent the lightning rod and introduce revolutionary concepts to meteorology, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.

1977: Snow was reported for the first time in West Palm Beach, Miami, and as far south as Homestead, Florida.

1982: An unprecedented outbreak of cold weather known as Cold Sunday brought record low temperatures to much of the Eastern United States.

1985: Cyclone Eric made landfall on Viti Levu, Fiji, followed less than two days later by Cyclone Nigel. The two storms together killed 25 people on the island.

2008: Cyclone Funa passed near the island of Maewo, Vanuatu, causing significant damage across the island nation.