Great Blizzard of 1899

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Great Blizzard of 1899
"Snowballing" (snowball fight on the steps of the Florida Capitol, February 10 1899).jpg
Snowball fight on the steps of the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee in February 1899
Type Winter storm and historic cold wave
FormedFebruary 10, 1899 (1899-02-10) [1]
DissipatedFebruary 14, 1899 (1899-02-14)
FatalitiesOver 100 deaths [2]
Areas affectedUnited States, particularly east of the Rocky Mountains

The Great Blizzard of 1899, also known as the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 and the St. Valentine's Day Blizzard, was an exceptionally severe winter weather event that affected most of the United States, particularly east of the Rocky Mountains. On February 11, Swift Current in present-day Saskatchewan reported a record-high barometric pressure of 31.42 inches of mercury (1,064 mb). While there was heavy snow during this event, the 1899 storm was most noted for the record cold it brought to several areas of the USA, including the first (and only) below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) temperature ever recorded in Florida, when the state capital Tallahassee in the extreme northern Panhandle recorded −2 °F or −18.9 °C. [3] :1

Contents

Temperatures and records

Temperature map of the United States during the storm Great Blizzard of 1899 temperature map.gif
Temperature map of the United States during the storm

Based on the 1895 to 2024 period of record:

Winter weather

Surface weather map on February 13, 1899. Great Blizzard of 1899 Sfc map.png
Surface weather map on February 13, 1899.

On February 12, snow flurries were observed in the air (briefly) in a few areas from New Orleans eastward to Tampa. The storm crossed the Florida peninsula with rain and wind, then intensified as it moved rapidly up the east coast. High Point, North Carolina, recorded 10–12 inches (25–30 cm) of snow. Washington, D. C. recorded a single-day snowfall of 20.5 inches (52 cm), which was a record for the time. (On January 28, 1772, 36 inches (91 cm) of snow fell in the Washington area during the "Washington and Jefferson Snowstorm"; however that was before official record-keeping began. [9] )

On February 19, ice floes were reported to be moving out of the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico. [3] :48 On February 14, New Orleans dropped to 6 °F (−14.4 °C), an all-time record. [10] The previous day, the city experienced its coldest-ever Mardi Gras with a minimum of 7 °F (−13.9 °C). [11] [12]

The low temperature in Miami, Florida, on February 14 dropped to 29 °F (−1.7 °C) with a high of only 48 °F (8.9 °C). The city has only recorded a lower temperature twice since record-keeping commenced on September 6, 1895. [13]

The low temperature in Tallahassee, Florida dropped to −2 °F (−18.9 °C) on February 13, 1899 with a record low maximum of 22 °F (−5.6 °C) on the 14th. This is the only time to this day that sub-0 °F (−17.8 °C) temperatures have ever been recorded in Florida.

Casualties, damages and inconveniences

The Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 had disastrous impact across many areas of the continental U.S. and Cuba as people, livestock, and wildlife succumbed to the frigid cold.

Bird populations were decimated across the nation. Henderson County, Tennessee saw nearly the complete extinction of its bluebird population [14] and Culpeper County, as well as most northern and central Virginia counties lost nearly all of its quail, having to import new birds in the late teens and 1920s to repopulate the areas. [15]

Some of the bird species affected: [16] Bluebird, Blue-headed vireo, Catbirds, Chipping sparrow, Dark-eyed junco (also known as snowbird), Fox sparrow, Grass finch, Hermit thrush, Killdeer, Meadowlark, Mourning dove, Pine warbler, Quail, Savannah sparrow, Song sparrow, Swamp sparrow, and Woodcock.

It has been estimated that over 100 people died. [2] In Brooklyn, 31 year-old Mary Goodwin was frozen to death and a thinly clad, unidentified woman in The Dalles, Oregon, was found frozen to death in a hallway in an attempt to find warmth. Mail carriers Palmer and Hawkins of New York were thought to have drowned attempting to deliver the mail. It is believed that their boat, overturned by the high winds, was crushed by the floating ice. [17]

Crops were ruined, and orchards utterly destroyed in Georgia. [18] Walla Walla, Washington's majority of wheat was destroyed by the frost with Eureka Flat seeing the most damage. [19]

Traffic was brought to a complete standstill in all parts of the country. Barges on the Mississippi River — which was in some parts entirely frozen through — and the Great Lakes, were brought to a complete standstill. Traffic across all railroads were delayed or paralyzed indefinitely while steamers and liners were likewise delayed. [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 North American cold wave</span> Meteorological event

The 1985 North America cold wave was a meteorological event which occurred in January, 1985, as a result of the shifting of the polar vortex farther south than is normally seen. Blocked from its normal movement, polar air from the north pushed into nearly every section of the central and eastern half of the United States and Canada, shattering record low temperature records in a number of areas. This was preceded by unusually warm weather in the eastern U.S. in December, 1984, suggesting that there was a build-up of cold air that was suddenly released from the Arctic, a meteorological event known as a mobile polar high. Mount Mitchell, in North Carolina recorded an all time record low of −34 °F (−37 °C).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cold wave of January 1977</span> Weather event

The cold wave of January 1977 produced the only known trace of snow in the greater Miami area of Florida ever reported. It occurred following the passage of a strong cold front, in combination with a high-pressure area situated over the Mississippi River Valley. As a result, cold air moved far to the south across Florida, causing both snow flurries and record low temperatures. Most notably, the weather system brought snow flurries as far south as Homestead on January 19. No snow had ever been reported in southeastern Florida before or since. Damage was most significant to agriculture, as major losses occurred to citrus fruits and tender vegetables. Statewide, agricultural damage from the cold wave totaled to $350 million (1977 USD), and losses overall totaled to $2 billion (1977 USD). One fatality occurred due to an automobile accident in Central Florida, which was related to the cold wave.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weather of 2013</span>

The 2013 extreme weather events included several all-time temperature records in Northern and Southern Hemisphere. The February extent of snow cover in Eurasia and North America was above average, while the extent of Arctic ice in the same month was 4.5% below the 1981–2010 average. The Northern Hemisphere weather extremes have been linked to the melting of Arctic sea ice, which alters atmospheric circulation in a way that leads to more snow and ice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">January–March 2014 North American cold wave</span> Extreme weather event affecting parts of Canada and the United States

The January–March 2014 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that extended through the late winter months of the 2013–2014 winter season, and was also part of an unusually cold winter affecting parts of Canada and parts of the north-central and northeastern United States. The event occurred in early 2014 and was caused by a southward shift of the North Polar Vortex. Record-low temperatures also extended well into March.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 North American winter</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">November 2014 North American cold wave</span>

The November 2014 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that occurred across most of Canada and the contiguous United States, including parts of the Western United States up to western California. One of the first events of the winter, the cold wave was caused by the northward movement of an extremely powerful bomb cyclone associated with Typhoon Nuri's remnant, which shifted the jet stream far northward, creating an omega block pattern. This allowed a piece of the polar vortex to advance southward into the Central and Eastern United States, bringing record-cold temperatures to much of the region. In contrast, Alaska experienced above-average temperatures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 North American winter</span> Winter season in North America

The 2014–15 North American winter was frigid and prolifically wintry, especially across the eastern half of North America in the months of January–March. The season began early, with many places in North America experiencing their first wintry weather during mid-November. A period of below-average temperatures affected much of the contiguous United States, and several records were broken. An early trace of snowfall was recorded in Arkansas. There were greater accumulations of snow across parts of Oklahoma as well. A quasi-permanent phenomenon referred to as the polar vortex may have been partly responsible for the cold weather. Temperatures in much of the United States dropped 15 to 35 °F below average by November 19, following a southward "dip" of the polar vortex into the eastern two-thirds of the country. The effects of this dip were widespread, bringing about temperatures as low as 28 °F (−2 °C) in Pensacola, Florida. Following a significant snowstorm there, Buffalo, New York received several feet of snow from November 17–21. In addition, significant winter weather occurred throughout the season, including a major blizzard that struck the Northeastern United States at the end of January, another blizzard that affected much of the Northern United States days later in early February, and several significant snow events paired with very frigid temperatures for much of February.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015–16 North American winter</span>

The 2015–16 North American winter was not as frigid across North America and the United States as compared to the 2013–14 and 2014–15 winters. This was mainly due to a strong El Niño, which caused generally warmer-than-average conditions. However, despite the warmth, significant weather systems still occurred, including a snowstorm and flash flooding in Texas at the end of December and a large tornado outbreak at the end of February. The main event of the winter season, by far and large, was when a crippling and historic blizzard struck the Northeastern United States in late January, dumping up to 3 feet of snow in and around the metropolitan areas. Several other smaller snow events affected the Northeast as well, but for the most part the heaviest snowstorms and ice stayed out further west, such as a severe blizzard in western Texas in late December, and a major late-season snowstorm in Colorado in mid-April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">February 2015 North American cold wave</span>

The February 2015 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that affected most of Canada and the eastern half of the United States. Following an earlier cold wave in the winter, the period of below-average temperatures contributed to an already unusually cold winter for the Eastern U.S. Several places broke their records for their coldest February on record, while some areas came very close. The cause of the cold wave was due to the polar vortex advancing southward into the eastern parts of the U.S, and even making it as far south as the Southeast, where large snow falls are rare. By the beginning of March, although the pattern did continue for the first week, it abated and retreated near the official end of the winter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017–18 North American winter</span> Weather summary

The 2017–18 North American winter saw weather patterns across North America that were very active, erratic, and protracted, especially near the end of the season, resulting in widespread snow and cold across the continent during the winter. Significant events included rare snowfall in the South, an outbreak of frigid temperatures that affected the United States during the final week of 2017 and early weeks of January, and a series of strong nor'easters that affected the Northeastern United States during the month of March. In addition, flooding also took place during the month of February in the Central United States. Finally the winter came to a conclusion with a powerful storm system that caused a tornado outbreak and blizzard in mid-April. The most intense event, however, was an extremely powerful cyclonic blizzard that impacted the Northeastern United States in the first week of 2018. Similar to the previous winter, a La Niña was expected to influence the winter weather across North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">December 2017–January 2018 North American cold wave</span>

The December 2017–January 2018 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event in North America in which record low temperatures gripped much of the Central, Eastern United States, and parts of Central and Eastern Canada. Starting in late December as a result of the southward shift of the polar vortex, extremely cold conditions froze the eastern United States in the last few days of 2017 as well as into the new year. Following a brief respite in mid-January, cold temperatures swung back into the eastern U.S. shortly afterwards. The cold wave finally dissolved by around January 19, as near-average temperatures returned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">January–February 2019 North American cold wave</span> Fatal cold wave in the US and Canada

In late January 2019, a severe cold wave caused by a weakened jet stream around the Arctic polar vortex hit the Midwestern United States and Eastern Canada, killing at least 22 people. It came after a winter storm brought up to 13 inches (33 cm) of snow in some regions from January 27–29, and brought the coldest temperatures in over 20 years to most locations in the affected region, including some all-time record lows. In early February, a concentration of Arctic air colloquially referred to as the "polar vortex" moved west, and became locked over Western Canada and the Western United States. As a result, February 2019 was among the coldest and snowiest on record in these regions. In early March, the cold once again shifted east, breaking records in many areas. In mid-March, the cold wave finally retreated, but combined with above-average temperatures, precipitation, and a deep snowpack, widespread flooding ensued in the Central US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019–20 North American winter</span>

The 2019–20 North American winter was unusually warm for many parts of the United States; in many areas, neutral ENSO conditions controlled the weather patterns, resulting in strong El Niño like conditions and the sixth-warmest winter on record, and many areas in the Northeastern United States saw one of the least snowy winters in years. In fact, Baltimore and Islip saw no snow in February for the first time. Some notable events still occurred, such as a powerful blizzard that impacted the Western United States in late November, a series of cold shots in January and February, a snowstorm within the Texas Panhandle and a late-season blizzard in the High Plains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">February 2021 North American cold wave</span> Cold wave in 2021

The February 2021 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that brought record low temperatures to a significant portion of Canada, the United States and parts of northern Mexico during the first two-thirds of February 2021. The cold was caused by a southern migration of the polar vortex, likely caused by a sudden stratospheric warming event that occurred the prior month. Temperatures fell as much as 25–50 °F below average as far south as the Gulf Coast. Severe winter storms also were associated with the bitter cold, which allowed for heavy snowfall and ice accumulations to places as far south as Houston, Texas, and contributing to one of the snowiest winters ever in some areas in the Deep South.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 North American winter</span> Winter season in North America

The 2021–22 North American winter was not as significant and record-breaking as the previous winter season. Despite this, several notable and significant events still occurred, including two separate record-breaking tornado outbreaks in mid-December, a significant winter storm in the South in mid-January, a powerful blizzard that impacted the Northeast coast at the end of January and a wide-ranging, significant winter storm that affected most of the eastern half of the country in early February. Additional significant events included a late-season winter storm in March that affected the Appalachian Mountains, and a major blizzard that affected North and South Dakota in mid-April. Additionally, a very late out-of-season snowstorm struck the Rocky Mountains in late May. During the season, four storms have been ranked on the Regional Snowfall Index (RSI), although none attained the “Major” category. Similar to the previous winter, a developing La Niña was expected to influence weather patterns across the continent.

References

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