If anyone can answer this, I'd be grateful. I've been to UESP, a couple Wiki-lore sites, can't find this simple answer! so I thought I would ask the experts.

I went to a TES forum on Gamfaqs, too, where somebody said "4th Era Year 40", but I don't know that person, could be inaccurate. Does that sound right?

The Argonian invasion was in 4E 6 according to (possible slight spoilers for a side-quest) http://www.imperial-library.info/content/lymdrenn-tenvannis-journal journal from Skyrim. The Red Year would have been just before that (probably 4E 5). So, no, 4E 40 is way off.

Awesome, thank you. So that's a long way off then!

I'm starting a brand-new spellsword character in Skyrim. I've RP'd it that he has recently arrived in Skyrim, but used to live on the fringes of Morrowind, across from Cheydinhal. Just wanted to know how close to the year 201 that explosion would have been.

I figure he could have formerly lived just on the other side of Cheydinhal, in Morrowind, right? Since it's not too near the Red Mountain area, and the explosion took place decades ago.

Anyways, thanks, and have some ice cream if you desire.