On this week's episode, Becky's husband Dan DePodwin joins us to discuss historical cold snaps like the one we just experienced. 

 

Show Notes!

Devastation of the FL Citrus Crop in 1894/1895

https://medium.com/florida-history/the-great-freezes-1894-95-and-the-collapse-of-the-florida-orange-industry-7442e5d75337

December 29 1984 (18 Orlando; 24 West Palm)

1899 Cold Snap

http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/01/17/the-coldest-day-in-american-history/

Official Monthly Weather Review from the Weather Bureau https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/Monthly-Weather-Review-February-1899.pdf

• February 13th
• TLH -2F w/snow + capitol snowball fights
• MIA sub 30 (29) - only recorded a lower temperature twice
• Lexington, VA 70”; only a few hours drive away :)
• Port of NO completely frozen causing significant economical challenges
• Partially responsible for recession in June to 1901
• Virginia (6th coldest February on record)
• -3 Richmond
• -12 Alexandria
• Frost in Cuba

1936 Cold and Heat

February 1936 - Coldest Feb on record, narrowingly beating 1899.

The average temperature in Devils Lake for a five-week period ending Feb. 21, 1936 was -21. McIntosh, S.D., hit -58, Jordan, Mont. -60 and Sceptre, Sask., -63.

The Minot Daily News reported on Feb. 17, 1936, that “the cold spell that has brought sub-zero weather for 46 days will hold sway” for a few more days. According to the NWS Minot averaged 32 degrees below normal throughout February 1936. Relief came in the form of temperatures ranging from -10 to -20, or 50 to 60 degrees less than what the Minot area has been experiencing this winter.

121 degree record experienced in ND on July 6 (Steele, ND). - http://www.minotdailynews.com/news/local-news/2016/02/1936-coldest-winter-ever/

Followed by one of the most extreme summers on record.

• 5000 deaths
• Some low temps above 90
• 100 degrees on 8 consecutive days at Midway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1936_North_American_heat_wave

https://blog.genealogybank.com/were-having-a-heat-wave-your-ancestors-miserable-summer-of-1936.html

1985 Cold Wave

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_1985_cold_wave

Coldest morning (-18) in Pittsburgh since 1899.

 

1986 Challenger Disaster

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_wave

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster