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 (1,064mb).[3]:1
Temperature map of the United States during the storm
For the 1895–2017 period of record:
February 1899 was the second-coldest February in the contiguous U.S. (behind only 1936). The average temperature was 25.50°F (−3.61°C), which was 8.36°F (4.64°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 33.86°F (1.03°C) and 0.27°F (0.15°C) warmer than February 1936.[4]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the third-coldest meteorological winter in the contiguous U.S., with the coldest winter occurring in 1978–79 and the second-coldest in 1935–36. The average temperature was 27.95°F (−2.25°C), which was 4.47°F (2.48°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 32.42°F (0.23°C) and 1.33°F (0.74°C) warmer than the 1978–79 winter.[5]
February 1899 was the coldest February in Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming.[6]
February 1899 was the second-coldest February in Arkansas, Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.[6]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Northeast climate region:
February 1899 was the 18th-coldest February. The average temperature was 18.1°F (−7.7°C), which was 4.7°F (2.6°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 22.8°F (−5.1°C) and 7.7°F (4.3°C) warmer than the coldest February of 1934.[9]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the 24th-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 20.9°F (−6.2°C), which was 2.6°F (1.4°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 23.5°F (−4.7°C) and 5.5°F (3.1°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1917–18.[10]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Northern Rockies and Plains climate region:
February 1899 was the second-coldest February, behind only 1936. The average temperature was 6.3°F (−14.3°C), which was 14.5°F (8.1°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 20.8°F (−6.2°C) and 7.0°F (3.9°C) warmer than February 1936.[38]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the eighth-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 13.1°F (−10.5°C), which was 6.2°F (3.4°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 19.3°F (−7.1°C) and 3.8°F (2.1°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1978–79.[39]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Northwest climate region:
February 1899 was the 13th-coldest February. The average temperature was 26.4°F (−3.1°C), which was 5.1°F (2.8°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 31.5°F (−0.28°C) and 4.8°F (2.7°C) warmer than the coldest February of 1929.[62]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the 19th-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 26.5°F (−3.1°C), which was 2.8°F (1.6°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 29.3°F (−1.5°C) and 6.2°F (3.4°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1948–49.[63]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Ohio Valley climate region:
February 1899 was the equal third-coldest February alongside 1905, with the coldest being 1978 and the second-coldest 1895. The average temperature was 22.20°F (−5.44°C), which was 10.60°F (5.89°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 32.80°F (0.44°C) and 1.90°F (1.06°C) warmer than February 1978.[74]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the ninth-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 27.0°F (−2.8°C), which was 5.0°F (2.8°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 32.0°F (0.0°C) and 3.5°F (1.9°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1977–78.[75]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the South climate region:
February 1899 was the second-coldest February behind only 1905. The average temperature was 34.3°F (1.3°C), which was 11.3°F (6.3°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 45.6°F (7.6°C) and 0.5°F (0.28°C) warmer than February 1905.[110]
December 1898 through February 1899 is tied with 1904–05 for the coldest meteorological winter of all time. The average temperature was 37.6°F (3.1°C), which was 6.1°F (3.4°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 43.7°F (6.5°C).[111]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Southeast climate region:
February 1899 was the seventeenth-coldest February. The average temperature was 42.8°F (6.0°C), which was 4.7°F (2.6°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 47.5°F (8.6°C) and 5.5°F (3.1°C) warmer than the coldest February of 1895.[144]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the 21st-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 44.4°F (6.9°C), which was 2.4°F (1.3°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 46.7°F (8.2°C) and 3.5°F (1.9°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1976–77.[145]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Southwest climate region:
February 1899 was the tenth-coldest February. The average temperature was 30.4°F (−0.9°C), which was 5.3°F (2.9°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 35.7°F (2.1°C) and 4.4°F (2.4°C) warmer than the coldest February of 1903.[175]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the third-coldest meteorological winter, with the coldest winter being that of 1932–33 and the second-coldest that of 1948/49. The average temperature was 28.7°F (−1.8°C), which was 4.7°F (2.6°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 33.4°F (0.8°C) and 1.5°F (0.83°C) warmer than 1932–33.[176]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Upper Midwest climate region:
February 1899 is tied with 1917 for the third-coldest February, with the coldest occurring in 1936 and the second-coldest in 1904. The average temperature was 6.20°F (−14.33°C), which was 10.8°F (6.0°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 17.0°F (−8.33°C) and 5.8°F (3.2°C) warmer than February 1936.[190]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the seventh-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 10.4°F (−12.0°C), which was 6.1°F (3.4°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 16.5°F (−8.6°C) and 3.0°F (1.7°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1935–36.[191]
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the West climate region:
February 1899 was the 48th-coldest February. The average temperature was 40.4°F (4.7°C), which was 0.5°F (0.28°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 40.9°F (4.9°C) and 9.3°F (5.2°C) warmer than the coldest February of 1903.[215]
December 1898 through February 1899 was the 38th-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 38.4°F (3.6°C), which was 0.5°F (0.28°C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 38.9°F (3.8°C) and 7.9°F (4.4°C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1948–49.[216]
On February 12, snow flurries were reported in the air from some areas from New Orleans eastward to Tampa. The storm crossed the Florida peninsula and intensified as it moved rapidly up the east coast.High Point, North Carolina recorded 10–12 inches or 0.25–0.30 metres of snow. Washington, D.C. recorded a single-day snowfall of 20.5 inches or 0.52 metres, which was a record for the time.[i]
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.[124] The previous day, the city experienced its coldest-ever Mardi Gras low temperature of 7°F (−13.9°C). The Rex parade was delayed while snow was removed from the route.[226][227]
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.[228]
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, [229] while Culpeper County alongside 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.[230] Pine Warblers were also especially decimated.
It has been estimated that over 100 people died. 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.[232]
In Georgia, crops were ruined and orchards utterly destroyed.[233] The majority of wheat at Walla Walla, Washington was frozen out, with Eureka Flat seeing the most damage.[234]
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 by ice. Traffic across all railroads were delayed or paralyzed indefinitely and steamers and liners were likewise delayed.[235]
Notes
↑ On January 28, 1772, 36 inches or 0.91 metres of snow fell in the Washington area during the "Washington and Jefferson Snowstorm"; however that was before official record-keeping began.[225]
↑ Coggins, Allen, R. (2012). Tennessee Tragedies: Natural, Technological, and Societal Disasters in the Volunteer State. Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press. p.80. ISBN9781572338418.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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