Weather History

This Day In Weather History

In 1911, what would become known as the "Great Blue Norther" invaded the Great Plains with what many consider the most dangerous Arctic outbreak on record. Prior to the Arctic front's arrival, temperatures were in the 70s with a few areas even in the lower 80s. Immediately after frontal passage, temperatures plunged 35 to 45 degrees in one hour, and 70 to 80 degrees within 12 hours on the strength of northerly winds that howled between 60 and 80 MPH. Areas that were raked by severe thunderstorms and tornadoes were hit by blizzards in 12 to 18 hours. Several areas experienced record high and record low temperatures on the same date.

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In 1987, the infamous Veterans Day snowstorm struck Washington D.C.  The storm was a complete surprise. A total of 11.5 inches buried National Airport. It obviously caught travelers off guard and cars were stranded on the Beltway for around 24 hours. The snowstorm lead to the development of the Washington Metropolitan Area Snow Plan.

In 1940, the "Armistice Day" snowstorm walloped the Northern and Central Plains as well as part of the Great Lakes. Mild weather was quickly replaced by a raging blizzard as an extremely intense cyclone tracked from Kansas to Western Wisconsin. The severity of the storm caught thousands off guard. On the morning of the 11th, 60 degree temperatures were common but by the morning of the 12th, the mercury had plunged into the single digits. Around two feet of snow buried most of Minnesota, while heavy snow and 50 to 80 mph winds roared across most of the Northern Plains and Great Lakes where drifts reached around 20 feet. A total of 144 people died.
This Day in Weather History Archive