The "Eruption of Mount St. Helens" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

The Simpsons has earned quite the reputation for seemingly predicting the future. It’s actually a bit of a meme at this point, with fans pointing out how many things in the real world appear to have been "predicted" by the show, sometimes years in advance. While some of these predictions are purely coincidental or the result of broad satire, others do seem oddly prescient.

The "Eruption of Mount St. Helens" (Episode: "The Springfield Connection", 1997)

• What happened: In this episode, Homer discusses various geological issues, and a parody of Mount St. Helens is mentioned as a potentially catastrophic event.
• Reality: Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, and while this happened prior to the episode airing, it reflects the show's long-running commentary on natural disasters and the unpredictability of earth science.