We begin our trip back in time on March 12th 1928.

That's when the Saint Francis dam near Santa Paula, California burst just before midnight.

Hundreds died as a flood tide of 138,000 acres of water rushed down the San Francis Quito canyon.

To this day -- the cause of the collapse is unknown.

The storm of the century hit the eastern United States on March 12th and continued through the 15th.

The storm has been described as the most costly non-tropical storm ever to strike the U.S. doing an estimated 6 billion dollars in damage.

It killed more than three hundred people on land and out at sea.

The storm also destroyed or damaged over 1,200 and buildings.

The storm was as strong as a hurricane in terms of winds and low pressure.

It dumped incredible amounts of snow from Alabama to New England.

The storm also brought a 12-foot storm surge and 15 tornadoes to Florida.

Air travel was brought to a halt at every major airport from Atlanta north was closed during the height of the storm.

On March 13th 1990, a swarm of 59 tornadoes crossed the central United States.

Storms in Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa were among the strongest ever recorded for so early in the season.

The most powerful of the twisters hit Hesston, Kansas.

The F5 cut a 48-mile path of destruction.

The tornado tore a chimney from one home and slammed it down on a young boy -- killing him as he took shelter in his family's basement.

For more weather history, please click the play icon in the video box to the right