1888 Northwest Cold Wave
Encyclopedia
In mid-January 1888, a severe cold wave
passed through the Pacific Northwest
. It led to a blizzard
for the northern Plains and upper Mississippi valley where many children were trapped in schoolhouses where they froze to death. This tragedy became known as the Schoolhouse Blizzard
, Schoolchildren's Blizzard, or The Children's Blizzard. This cold snap and blizzard were part of a month which averaged temperatures 6–12 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across much of the northern and western United States
.
on January 12 and onward into the Great Lakes
on January 13. The subsequent cold wave extended all the way into the citrus growing areas of southern California
. The cyclone led to a blizzard across Nebraska
, North Dakota
, and Minnesota
. After a recent warm spell, many people were caught off guard by the cold and snow
. Hundreds of adults and children alike fell victim, while thousands of cattle died during the event.
(near Miles City, Montana
) on January 14. At the time, it was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the continental United States
. It was not until 1933 that a lower temperature was read in the lower 48 states (−66 °F in West Yellowstone, Montana
).
Other notable records set during this cold wave are −41 °F in St. Paul, Minnesota, −30 °F in Spokane, Washington
, −28 °F in Boise, Idaho
, −2 °F in downtown Portland, Oregon
, 1 °F (-17 °C) in Newport, Oregon
, and 20 °F (-7 °C) in Eureka, California
. All of these readings still stand as the record low for each location. Further, high temperatures of −10 °F in Spokane and 9 °F (-13 °C) in Portland still stand as the coldest maximum temperatures ever recorded.
In Denver, while not record setting, temperatures fell to −18 °F while winds peaked at 60 mph (97 km/h). In California
, temperatures fell to 20 °F (-7 °C) in Eureka and 29 °F (-2 °C) in San Francisco on January 14.
Cold wave
A cold wave is a weather phenomenon that is distinguished by a cooling of the air. Specifically, as used by the U.S. National Weather Service, a cold wave is a rapid fall in temperature within a 24 hour period requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and...
passed through the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
. It led to a blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
for the northern Plains and upper Mississippi valley where many children were trapped in schoolhouses where they froze to death. This tragedy became known as the Schoolhouse Blizzard
Schoolhouse Blizzard
The Schoolhouse Blizzard, also known as the Schoolchildren's Blizzard or the Children's Blizzard, hit the U.S. plains states on January 12, 1888...
, Schoolchildren's Blizzard, or The Children's Blizzard. This cold snap and blizzard were part of a month which averaged temperatures 6–12 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across much of the northern and western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Synoptic overview
The cold wave was initiated by a storm system which dropped southward from Canada on January 11 into ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
on January 12 and onward into the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
on January 13. The subsequent cold wave extended all the way into the citrus growing areas of southern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The cyclone led to a blizzard across Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, North Dakota
North Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
, and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. After a recent warm spell, many people were caught off guard by the cold and snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
. Hundreds of adults and children alike fell victim, while thousands of cattle died during the event.
Severity of the event
Record low temperatures were set, including −65 °F at Fort KeoghFort Keogh
Fort Keogh is located on the western edge of Miles City, Montana. Occasionally spelled Fort Keough. Originally a military post, today it is a United States Department of Agriculture livestock and range research station. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
(near Miles City, Montana
Miles City, Montana
Miles City is a city in and the county seat of Custer County, Montana, United States. The population was 8,123 at the 2010 census.- History :...
) on January 14. At the time, it was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the continental United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was not until 1933 that a lower temperature was read in the lower 48 states (−66 °F in West Yellowstone, Montana
West Yellowstone, Montana
West Yellowstone is a town in Gallatin County, Montana, adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. The population was 1,177 at the 2000 census. The town is served by Yellowstone Airport...
).
Other notable records set during this cold wave are −41 °F in St. Paul, Minnesota, −30 °F in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, −28 °F in Boise, Idaho
Boise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
, −2 °F in downtown Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, 1 °F (-17 °C) in Newport, Oregon
Newport, Oregon
Newport is a city in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It was incorporated in 1882, though the name dates back to the establishment of a post office in 1868...
, and 20 °F (-7 °C) in Eureka, California
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
. All of these readings still stand as the record low for each location. Further, high temperatures of −10 °F in Spokane and 9 °F (-13 °C) in Portland still stand as the coldest maximum temperatures ever recorded.
In Denver, while not record setting, temperatures fell to −18 °F while winds peaked at 60 mph (97 km/h). In California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, temperatures fell to 20 °F (-7 °C) in Eureka and 29 °F (-2 °C) in San Francisco on January 14.
See also
- Siberian ExpressSiberian ExpressSiberian Express is a shorthand meteorological term in the United States describing the arrival of an extremely cold air mass of Arctic origins. It does not necessarily refer to an origin in Siberia...
- Great Blizzard of 1888Great Blizzard of 1888The Great Blizzard of 1888 or Great Blizzard of '88 was one of the most severe blizzards in United States' recorded history. Snowfalls of 40-50 inches fell in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and sustained winds of over produced snowdrifts in excess of...
for the blizzard that happened on the East Coast in March of 1888