National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Severe Weather and Flash Flooding From the Upper Midwest to Mid-Atlantic; Heat Continues in the Central and Southeast U.S.

Scattered severe thunderstorms are expected tonight across parts of the Upper Midwest to western Great Lakes. Additional severe storms will also be possible in parts of the northern Plains, central Appalachians, and Mid-Atlantic. Extreme heat is expected to intensify across much of the Southeast and Tennessee Valley, continuing through much of this week. Read More >

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.

 

February 12, 1899 - Low Temperatures