HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 14 January

• Today (14 January 2016) would be the first of January according to the Julian calendar. This calendar was used across much of Europe from the time of Julius Caesar until the Gregorian calendar reform of 1582. Ultimately, this older calendar was dropped from use except for some Eastern Orthodox religious observances. The Julian calendar inserts one day once every four years overestimates the time for the earth to orbit the sun by 11 minutes 14 seconds. Consequently, a difference in approximately 14 days has accrued since the time of Julius Caesar. (Courtesy, J. Lattis, Space Place, University of Wisconsin-Madison)

From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast

• ...1863...The greatest snowstorm of record for Cincinnati, OH commenced, and a day later twenty inches of snow covered the ground. That total has remained far above the modern day record for Cincinnati of eleven inches of snow in one storm. (David Ludlum)
• ...1882...Southern California's greatest snow occurred on this date. Fifteen inches blanketed San Bernardino, and even San Diego reported a trace of snow. (David Ludlum)
• ...1888...A cold wave hit California, with temperatures of 20 degrees at Eureka and 29 degrees at San Francisco. (Intellicast)
• ...1972...A record 24-hour temperature rise for the United States occurred at Loma, MT when the temperature rose from 54 degrees below zero at 9 AM on the 14th to 49 degrees on the 15th, due to a powerful chinook. This record 103-Fahrenheit degree temperature change in 24-hours was not acknowledged until 2002, when it was recognized due to recommendation of the National Climate Extremes Committee. (National Weather Service files)
• ...1974...After 2 weeks of very cold temperatures, unseasonably warm temperatures accompanied by Chinook winds and heavy rains, as much as 10 inches in a 4-day period, resulted in disastrous flooding over northern and central Idaho. The severe flooding was called the worst natural disaster in the history of the state. Mudslides blocked and washed out sections of U.S. 95, Idaho's main north-south highway. Total damage was about $50 million. (Intellicast)
• ...1979...Chicago, IL was in the midst of their second heaviest snow of record as, in thirty hours, the city was buried under 20.7 inches of snow. The twenty-nine inch snow cover following the storm was an all-time record for Chicago. (David Ludlum)
• ...1987...Arctic cold invaded the north central U.S. By evening blustery northwest winds and temperatures near zero at Grand Forks, ND were producing wind chill readings of 50 degrees below zero. (National Weather Summary)
• ...1988...A powerful Pacific storm produced rain and high winds in the western U.S. In Nevada, the strongest wind gust ever recorded at Reno Cannon International airport was reported at 11:24 PM, 78 knots or 90 mph, resulting in considerable damage around the area. Wind gusts reached 106 mph southwest of Reno and a wind gust to 94 mph was recorded at nearby Windy Hill. Rainfall totals in Oregon ranged up to six inches at Wilson River. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) (Intellicast)
• ...1989...A winter storm spread snow and sleet and freezing rain from the Middle Mississippi Valley to the northeastern U.S. Freezing rain in West Virginia caused fifteen traffic accidents in just a few minutes west of Charleston. Tennessee was deluged with up to 7.5 inches of rain. Two inches of rain near Clarksville, TN left water in the streets as high as car doors.
• ...1990...A winter storm in the southwestern U.S. blanketed the mountains of southwest Utah with 18 to 24 inches of snow, while sunshine and strong southerly winds helped temperatures warm into the 60s in the Central Plains Region. Five cities reported record high temperatures for the date, including North Platte, NE with a reading of 63 degrees. (National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
• ...1992...A low pressure area deepened 18 millibars in only 12 hours (a land bomb) and bottomed out at 969 millibars (28.62 inches) as it tracked from the Tennessee Valley to northern New York State. It produced quite a range of nasty weather. Heavy snow with blizzard conditions prevailed in Ohio and eastern Michigan. Detroit, MI reported thunder and lightning with heavy snow and received a total of 11 inches -- the biggest single storm snowfall in nearly 10 years. An unusual severe weather outbreak for the time of the year so far north occurred in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and southeastern New York. Tornadoes touched down at Moosic and Lumberville, PA. Dime size hail fell at Orange, New Jersey and thunderstorm winds gusted to 87 mph at Gettysburg, PA. Small hail fell at the National Weather Service office in Newark, NJ -- the first time hail had ever fallen at this location in January. (Intellicast)