1994 North American cold wave
{{Short description|Weather event}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox storm
| image = File:Upper Midwest MERRA-2 Reanalysis January 18, 1994.png
| caption = MERRA-2 reanalysis over the Upper Midwest showing 2-meter temperatures and wind vectors on January 18, 1994, at 1 pm EST (temperatures in Fahrenheit)
| type = Cold wave
| formed = January 13, 1994
| dissipated = January 23, 1994
| lowest temperature = {{convert|-50|F}} in Amasa, MI, on Jan 19{{citation needed lead|date=August 2023}}
| fatalities = 100+
| affected = United States and Canada
}}
The 1994 North American cold wave occurred over the midwestern and eastern regions of the United States and southern Canada in January 1994. The cold wave caused over 100 deaths in the United States. Two notable cold air events took place from January 18–19 and January 21–22. There were 67 minimum temperature records set on January 19.{{Cite journal|last=Ludlum|first=David M.|date=1994-05-01|title=January 1994|journal=Weatherwise|volume=47|issue=2|pages=44–49|doi=10.1080/00431672.1994.9925321|issn=0043-1672}} During this time, much of the United States experienced its coldest temperatures since a major storm on February 20, 1934.{{citation needed lead|date=August 2023}}
Meteorological synopsis
{{multiple image
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|image1=500 Mb Height Contours.png
|image2=United State Surface Map on January 18th, 1994.png
|footer=Maps of 500 mbar height contours (top) and surface analysis (bottom) on January 18, 1994, 7 am EST }}
Cold air outbreaks are characterized by strong upper-level troughs in the atmosphere, with ridges usually located up and downstream.{{Cite web|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/Image/apx/presentations/The%20Basics%20of%20Winter%20Weather.pdf|title=Winter Weather Basics: Cold Air Outbreaks}} On January 17, 1994, the 500 millibar (mb) height contours showed the low-pressure center was situated near the border of Ontario and Manitoba, just north of Minnesota, with the trough axis stretching down into the Upper Midwest. The 500 mb height contours on January 18 showed the strong trough over the Great Lakes region extending southward that brought cold air down from the North Pole. [http://wiki.seas.harvard.edu/geos-chem/index.php/MERRA-2 MERRA-2] reanalysis detailed the cold air funneling into the Upper Midwest from Canada on January 18, with strong winds out of the northwest. The surface analysis map on January 18 showed a low-level ridge over the Upper Midwest and surface winds blowing out of the northwest. The surface anticyclones on January 18 and 21 both exceeded {{convert|1040|mbar|kPa|abbr=on}} and moved to the southeast, bringing cold air to much of the eastern half of the United States. By January 19, the upper levels showed a retreat of the low-pressure center, however, shortwave troughs were still located near the United States, and surface temperature effects with the strong anticyclone were felt for days to come.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/imgdocmaps/daily_weather_maps.html|title=U.S. Daily Weather Maps {{!}} NOAA Central Library|website=www.lib.noaa.gov|language=en|access-date=2017-05-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429152634/https://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/imgdocmaps/daily_weather_maps.html|archive-date=2017-04-29|url-status=dead}}
Snow was associated with this cold weather in many regions. From January 17–18, a snowstorm affected areas from the Ozarks to New England. Ice affected most of the Mid-Atlantic region. Accumulations of sleet and freezing rain in New York City were in excess of an inch.
Weather records
= Canada =
January 1994 was a month of extremes in Canada. Temperatures in the Yukon approached {{convert|-50|C}}. In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, the temperature did not exceed {{convert|-40|C}} for many days. In Windsor, Ontario, the coldest temperature since 1885 was recorded on January 19 at {{convert|-29|C}}. On January 16, Scarborough, Ontario, recorded an all-time record low temperature of {{convert|-35.2|C}},{{Cite web | url=https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/api/sitewrapper/index?b=%2Fstatistics%2F&p=%2Fforecasts%2Fstatistics%2Findex&url=%2Fstatistics%2Fcaon0605%2F%2F%2F%2F%3F |title = Statistics: Scarborough, Ontario - the Weather Network}} several degrees colder than the official coldest record for Toronto,{{Cite web | url=https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/forecasts/statistics/ontario/toronto |title = Statistics}} which now includes Scarborough. Toronto recorded its coldest January on record with {{convert|-12.4|°C|°F}} at the airport.
The cold air was also accompanied by large snowfalls. The western side of Lake Ontario saw {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=off|sp=us}}. Rapid melting and freezing near the end of January caused Toronto Pearson International Airport to close for the first time in 60 years. Water shortages were also common in Goose Bay, Labrador, due to extreme temperatures.
=Northeastern US=
[[File:Maximum and Minimum Temperature Map January 19, 1994.png|thumb|
Maximum temperatures from 7 am to 7 pm EST on January 18, 1994, with minimum temperatures from 7 pm to 7 am EST on January 19, 1994 (°F)]]
On January 16, the Watertown, New York, International Airport set an all-time record low of {{convert|-43|F}},{{Citation|chapter=National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)|date=2006-11-17|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc.|isbn=0471743984|doi=10.1002/0471743984.vse8648|title=Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia}} while Watertown observed its coldest January on record,{{efn|Records date to 1893.}} with a mean temperature of {{convert|5.39|F}}.{{Citation|last=Prono|first=Luca|chapter=Western Regional Climate Center|publisher=SAGE Publications, Inc.|isbn=9781412992619|doi=10.4135/9781452218564.n751|title=Encyclopedia of Global Warming & Climate Change|year=2012}} The Syracuse, New York, Hancock International Airport recorded a monthly mean temperature of {{convert|12.6|F}}, a record low for January.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather.gov/bgm/climateSYRDailyRecords|title=Daily Records for Syracuse, NY|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US|access-date=2019-03-11}}
The lowest temperature seen in Sussex County, New Jersey, was {{convert|-26|°F|1}} on January 21, 1994.U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service. Soil Survey of Sussex County, New Jersey (Washington, DC: 2009).{{rp|p.3}}
Washington National Airport (later renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) had a new record-low maximum temperature for the 20th century of {{convert|8|°F|1}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.fredericknewspost.com/blogs/blogs_collection/free_state_weather/article_cad06adc-7ba5-5e22-8a46-a4aad71554c8.html|title=Recalling the January 1994 Arctic Outbreak – The Frederick News-Post : Free State Weather|date=2013-01-19|publisher=The Frederick News-Post|author=Rick Grow|access-date=2013-10-17}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/datasets/GHCND/stations/GHCND:USW00013743/detail|title=Daily Summaries Station Details: WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, VA US|author=NOAA National Climate Data Center|access-date=2013-11-04}}
Maine had its coldest month since February 1934{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/17/00/tavg/2/02/1895-1994?base_prd=true&firstbaseyear=1895&lastbaseyear=1975&trend=true&trend_base=10&firsttrendyear=1976&lasttrendyear=1994&filter=true&filterType=binomial|title=Climate at a Glance | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)|date=2015-03-06|website=Ncdc.noaa.gov|access-date=2016-02-08}} and its coldest January since 1920.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/17/00/tavg/1/01/1895-1994?base_prd=true&firstbaseyear=1895&lastbaseyear=1975&trend=true&trend_base=10&firsttrendyear=1976&lasttrendyear=1994&filter=true&filterType=binomial|title=Climate at a Glance | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)|date=2015-03-06|website=Ncdc.noaa.gov|access-date=2016-02-08}} It was Maine's coldest winter since 1970–71, New Hampshire's since 1976–77,{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} and Vermont's since 1958–59.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/time-series/us/43/00/tavg/3/02/1896-1994?base_prd=true&firstbaseyear=1896&lastbaseyear=1976&trend=true&trend_base=10&firsttrendyear=1976&lasttrendyear=1994&filter=true&filterType=binomial|title=Climate at a Glance | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)|date=2015-03-06|website=Ncdc.noaa.gov|access-date=2016-02-08}}
Erie, Pennsylvania, hit {{convert|-18|F|1}}, a record at that time.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} Pittsburgh saw its record-low temperature of {{convert|-22|F}} on
=Midwestern US=
Indiana set state records on January 19.{{Cite journal|last=Schmidlin|first=Thomas W.|date=1997-01-01|title=Recent State Minimum Temperature Records in the Midwest|journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society|volume=78|issue=1|pages=35–40|doi=10.1175/1520-0477(1997)078<0035:RSMTRI>2.0.CO;2|issn=0003-0007|bibcode=1997BAMS...78...35S|doi-access=free}} On January 19, the temperature in New Whiteland, Indiana, dropped to {{convert|-36|°F|1}}, the record-lowest temperature in the state.{{cite web|url=https://climate.agry.purdue.edu/climate/facts.asp|title=Indiana State Climate Office|publisher=Climate.agry.purdue.edu|access-date=2013-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019131924/https://climate.agry.purdue.edu/climate/facts.asp|archive-date=2013-10-19|url-status=dead}} In Indianapolis, temperatures plunged to a new record low of {{convert|-27|°F|1}}, refreshing the record low set in December 1989 at {{convert|-23|°F|1}} and the January record low of {{convert|-22|°F|1}} set in 1985.
Cincinnati, Ohio, reached a temperature of {{convert|-24|F|1}}, just one degree short of the record low. Columbus saw a record {{convert|-22|F|1}},{{cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190119/25-years-ago-today-coldest-day-ever-recorded-in-columbus-at--22-degrees|title=25 years ago today: Coldest day ever recorded in Columbus at -22 degrees|author=Meckler, Michael|publisher=The Columbus Dispatch|access-date=2019-01-19}}{{cite web|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/cmhrec.htm#Yearly|title=Records for Columbus|access-date=January 6, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221145049/http://www.erh.noaa.gov/iln/cmhrec.htm|archive-date=December 21, 2014}} and Cleveland reached a record of {{convert|-20|F|1}}.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}} Akron set a record-low temperature at {{convert|-25|F}}.
link=[[:File:KMSP 1994 January Temperatures during Cold Wave.png|thumb|Maximum and Minimum Daily Temperatures at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport during the cold wave.]]
Minneapolis–Saint Paul was one of the areas that felt major impacts from the cold wave. For 142 continuous hours during January 13–19, the temperature recorded at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport stayed at or below zero. This was the sixth-longest stretch on record from 1873 to 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://www.climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/below_zero_streaks.htm|title=Extended Period of Zero or Below in the Twin Cities 1873–2014|website=www.climate.umn.edu|access-date=2017-05-03}} Governor Arne Carlson closed all public schools in Minnesota on January 18, with wind chills of {{convert|-48|F}} and morning air temperatures of {{convert|-26|F}}.{{Cite web|url=http://climate.umn.edu/doc/journal/historic_windchills.htm|title=Historic Wind Chill Temperatures in Minnesota|website=climate.umn.edu|access-date=2017-05-03}} On January 6–7, 1994, Lake County, Minnesota, set records for the largest snow in one day as well as the most snow in one storm.{{cite web|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/ussc/USSCAppController?action=extremes&state=21|title=Minnesota Snowfall and Snow Depth Extremes|date=December 3, 2007|publisher=National Climatic Data Center|access-date=2008-02-01}}{{relevance inline|date=August 2023|problem=This occurs 2 weeks before the event of the article's subject, why should it be included?}}
Chicago, Illinois, reached {{convert|-21|°F|1}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/01/18/chicagoans-endure-new-record-cold/|title=Chicagoans Endure New Record Cold – Chicago Tribune|date=1994-01-18|publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com|access-date=2013-10-17}} with wind chills of around {{convert|-55|°F|1}},{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1994/01/18/cold-colder-and-maybe-the-coldest/|title=Cold, Colder And Maybe The Coldest – Chicago Tribune|date=1994-01-18|publisher=Articles.chicagotribune.com|access-date=2013-10-18}} with suburbs in the then 9 Million Metro Area reaching nearly -30. The coldest day of the 1990s in Chicago by far.{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/02/10/coldest-days-ever-in-chicago/|title=Coldest Days Ever In Chicago « CBS Chicago|date=2011-02-10|publisher=Chicago.cbslocal.com|access-date=2013-10-17}} Almost all primary and secondary schools in Chicago were closed that day. Richard Daley, then mayor of Chicago advised residents not to go outside if they don't have to. Nearly all schools in the area were closed and four people in Cook County, Illinois, died from hypothermia. Hundreds of drivers per hour complained to the AAA-Chicago Motor Club about dead automobile batteries, fuel injectors being too cold and other vehicle issues and United Airlines canceled almost half of its flights. Multiple complaints were raised about lack of power due to severed electricity lines and water companies stopped water supply to homes due to pipe explosions. Many apartment renters complained to Cook County about insufficient heat.
=Southern US=
Kentucky set state records on January 19. The minimum record temperature in Kentucky was {{convert|-37|°F|1}} in Shelbyville on that day.{{cite web|url=http://www.crh.noaa.gov/jkl/?n=winter_climo|title=Winter Climatology|publisher=Crh.noaa.gov|access-date=2013-10-18}} A single-storm snowfall record was set in Louisville, Kentucky, with {{convert|16|in}} of snow recorded.
In popular culture
The meteorological event was dramatized in the 2024 film Ordinary Angels. Directed by Jon Gunn and starring Hilary Swank, the film tells the true story of Louisville residents teaming up to shovel a path for Ed Schmitt (Alan Ritchson) so that he could drive his ill daughter, Michelle, to the hospital for a liver transplant.{{Cite web|last=Ochoa|first=David|date=January 17, 2024|title=30th anniversary of Louisville's Snow Baby|url=https://www.wave3.com/2024/01/17/30th-anniversary-louisvilles-snow-baby/|publisher= WAVE 3}} The film premiered on February 23, 2024, 30 years and 1 month after the dissipation of the actual cold wave.
Notes
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References
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{{Cold wave}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:North American cold wave (1994)}}
Category:1994 natural disasters
Category:20th-century cold waves
North American Cold Wave, 1994
Category:Cold waves in the United States
Category:1994 natural disasters in the United States