NWS Ft. Worth

February 1899

A severe arctic outbreak consumed much of the country during the first half of February 1899. Temperatures fell below 0°F in every state in the continental U.S. Well over a century later, many all-time record lows remain from this event. Ice on the Mississippi River flowed past New Orleans for the first time since 1784.

Between February 4 and February 13, there were only 8 hours with temperatures at or above freezing (on February 8) at the Weather Bureau office in downtown Fort Worth. Despite northwest winds gusting over 30 mph, the mercury plummeted to -8°F the morning of February 12. The barometric pressure soared to 31.00". Dallas dipped to -10°F, and Grapevine fell to -12°F. Below are some other low temperatures recorded across North Texas on February 12, 1899.