The Great Blizzard of 1899, also known as the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 and the St. Valentine's Day Blizzard, was an exceptionally severe winter weather event that affected most of the United States, particularly east of the Rocky Mountains. On February 11, Swift Current in present-day Saskatchewan reported a record-high barometric pressure of 31.42 inches of mercury (1,064 mb).
Temperatures and records
For the 1895–2017 period of record:
- February 1899 was the second-coldest February in the contiguous U.S. (behind only 1936). The average temperature was 25.50 °F (−3.61 °C), which was 8.36 °F (4.64 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 33.86 °F (1.03 °C) and 0.27 °F (0.15 °C) warmer than February 1936.
- December 1898 through February 1899 was the third-coldest meteorological winter in the contiguous U.S., with the coldest winter occurring in 1978–79 and the second-coldest in 1935–36. The average temperature was 27.95 °F (−2.25 °C), which was 4.47 °F (2.48 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 32.42 °F (0.23 °C) and 1.33 °F (0.74 °C) warmer than the 1978–79 winter.
- February 1899 was the coldest February in Kansas, Missouri, and Wyoming.
- February 1899 was the second-coldest February in Arkansas, Colorado, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
The following low temperatures occurred during the last ten days of January and the first three weeks of February. The climate regions are defined by the National Centers for Environmental Information.
Northeast
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Northeast climate region:
- February 1899 was the 18th-coldest February. The average temperature was 18.1 °F (−7.7 °C), which was 4.7 °F (2.6 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 22.8 °F (−5.1 °C) and 7.7 °F (4.3 °C) warmer than the coldest February of 1934.
- December 1898 through February 1899 was the 24th-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 20.9 °F (−6.2 °C), which was 2.6 °F (1.4 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 23.5 °F (−4.7 °C) and 5.5 °F (3.1 °C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1917–18.
Connecticut
Equal 16th-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Hartford: −6 °F (−21.1 °C)
Delaware
Ninth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Milford: −12 °F (−24.4 °C)
- Millsboro: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
- Newark: −12 °F (−24.4 °C) all-time record as of December 31, 2006
- Seaford: −11 °F (−23.9 °C)
- Wilmington: −2 °F (−18.9 °C)
- Wyoming: −14 °F (−25.6 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Dover, Elsmere, Georgetown, Middletown, New Castle, Smyrna
Maine
28th-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Flaggstaff: −30 °F (−34.4 °C)
- Gardiner: −15 °F (−26.1 °C)
- Kineo: −24 °F (−31.1 °C)
- North Bridgton: −20 °F (−28.9 °C)
- Portland: −6 °F (−21.1 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Biddeford, Caribou, Lewiston, Saco, Sanford, South Portland, Westbrook
Maryland
Eighth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Annapolis: −6 °F (−21.1 °C)
- Baltimore: −7 °F (−21.7 °C) tied with February 9, 1934, January 29, 1963, January 17, 1982, and January 22, 1984, for all-time record
- College Park: −9 °F (−22.8 °C)
- Frederick: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
- Princess Anne: −10 °F (−23.3 °C) All-time record tied with January 28, 1987
- Hagerstown: −19 °F (−28.3 °C)
- Laurel: −18 °F (−27.8 °C) all-time record for February
- Solomons: −5 °F (−20.6 °C) all-time record
- Temperatures not available: Bowie, Gaithersburg, Salisbury
Massachusetts
25th-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Boston: −4 °F (−20.0 °C)
- Milton: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
- Worcester: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
New Hampshire
33rd-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Concord: −18 °F (−27.8 °C)
- Grafton: −27 °F (−32.8 °C)
- Keene: −28 °F (−33.3 °C)
- Nashua: −19 °F (−28.3 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Derry, Dover, Hudson, Londonderry, Manchester, Merrimack, Rochester, Salem
New Jersey
Eleventh-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Atlantic City: −7 °F (−21.7 °C)
- Cape May: −3 °F (−19.4 °C)
- Trenton: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
New York
Equal 25th-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Albany: −8 °F (−22.2 °C)
- Buffalo: −8 °F (−22.2 °C)
- New York City - Central Park: −6 °F (−21.1 °C)
- Rochester: −7 °F (−21.7 °C)
- Watertown: −24 °F (−31.1 °C)
- West Point: −5 °F (−20.6 °C)
Pennsylvania
Twelfth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Erie: −12 °F (−24.4 °C)
- Hamburg: −13 °F (−25.0 °C) tied for all-time record for February
- Harrisburg: −13 °F (−25.0 °C) all-time record for February
- Philadelphia: −6 °F (−21.1 °C)
- Pittsburgh: −20 °F (−28.9 °C) all-time record for February
- Scranton: −15 °F (−26.1 °C)
- State College: −20 °F (−28.9 °C) all-time record
- Temperatures not available: Allentown, Bethlehem, Lancaster, Reading
Rhode Island
Fourteenth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Kingston: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
- Providence: not available
Vermont
37th-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Burlington: −10 °F (−23.3 °C)
- Montpelier: not available
- Northfield: −25 °F (−31.7 °C)
Northern Rockies and Plains
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Northern Rockies and Plains climate region:
- February 1899 was the second-coldest February, behind only 1936. The average temperature was 6.3 °F (−14.3 °C), which was 14.5 °F (8.1 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 20.8 °F (−6.2 °C) and 7.0 °F (3.9 °C) warmer than February 1936.
- December 1898 through February 1899 was the eighth-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 13.1 °F (−10.5 °C), which was 6.2 °F (3.4 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 19.3 °F (−7.1 °C) and 3.8 °F (2.1 °C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1978–79.
Montana
Second-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Adel: −50 °F (−45.6 °C) second-coldest ever
- Big Timber: −44 °F (−42.2 °C)
- Billings (water treatment plant): −49 °F (−45.0 °C) all-time record
- Butte: −28 °F (−33.3 °C)
- Chinook: −46 °F (−43.3 °C)
- Ekalaka: −39 °F (−39.4 °C)
- Fort Keogh: −55 °F (−48.3 °C)
- Fort Logan: −61 °F (−51.7 °C) all-time record (as of November 19, 1978)
- Glasgow:−50 °F (−45.6 °C)
- Great Falls: −35 °F (−37.2 °C)
- Havre: −43 °F (−41.7 °C)
- Helena: −30 °F (−34.4 °C)
- Kalispell: −26 °F (−32.2 °C)
- Miles City: −49 °F (−45.0 °C)
- Missoula: −22 °F (−30.0 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Anaconda, Bozeman
Nebraska
Second-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Alliance: −40 °F (−40.0 °C)
- Bridgeport: −47 °F (−43.9 °C) all-time record for Nebraska, which Oshkosh tied on December 22, 1989
- Culbertson: −38 °F (−38.9 °C) all-time record
- Hay Springs: −41 °F (−40.6 °C) all-time record as of July 31, 2012
- Imperial: −35 °F (−37.2 °C) all-time record
- Kimball: −30 °F (−34.4 °C) all-time record for February
- Lincoln: −26 °F (−32.2 °C) tied for all-time record for February
- Lodgepole: −36 °F (−37.8 °C) tied with February 8, 1936, for all-time record
- North Platte: −35 °F (−37.2 °C) tied with January 15, 1888, for all-time record
- Omaha: −26 °F (−32.2 °C) all-time record for February
- Scottsbluff: −45 °F (−42.8 °C) all-time record
- Springview: −30 °F (−34.4 °C) tied for all-time record for February
- Valentine: −37 °F (−38.3 °C) all-time record for February
North Dakota
Fourth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Ashley: −46 °F (−43.3 °C) tied with February 1, 1893, and February 2, 1905, for second-lowest ever
- Bismarck: −37 °F (−38.3 °C)
- Bottineau: −46 °F (−43.3 °C)
- Dickinson: −38 °F (−38.9 °C)
- Fargo: −35 °F (−37.2 °C)
- Grand Forks: −39 °F (−39.4 °C)
- Jamestown: −36 °F (−37.8 °C)
- Minnewaukan: −55 °F (−48.3 °C) all-time record
- Minot: −39 °F (−39.4 °C)
- Mohall: −48 °F (−44.4 °C) tied with March 14, 1897, and February 9, 1900, for all-time record
- Williston: −41 °F (−40.6 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Mandan, West Fargo
South Dakota
Second-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Aberdeen: −35 °F (−37.2 °C)
- Alexandria: −38 °F (−38.9 °C) tied with February 2, 1905, and January 13, 1916, for second-lowest ever and tied for all-time record for February
- Bowdle: −39 °F (−39.4 °C) all-time record as of April 30, 1944
- Brookings: −41 °F (−40.6 °C) tied with January 12, 1912, for all-time record
- Camp Crook: −40 °F (−40.0 °C)
- De Smet: −40 °F (−40.0 °C) second-lowest ever and all-time record for February
- Flandreau: −38 °F (−38.9 °C) all-time record for February
- Forestburg: −46 °F (−43.3 °C) all-time record
- Highmore: −40 °F (−40.0 °C)
- Hot Springs: −41 °F (−40.6 °C) tied with January 11, 1909, for all-time record
- Howard: −42 °F (−41.1 °C) tied with February 2, 1917, for all-time record for February
- Huron: −37 °F (−38.3 °C) all-time record for February
- Kennebec: −45 °F (−42.8 °C) all-time record
- LaDelle: −47 °F (−43.9 °C) tied with January 12, 1912, for all-time record (as of October 27, 1974)
- Mitchell: −39 °F (−39.4 °C) tied with February 2, 1905, for second-lowest ever (as of March 31, 2003)
- Oelrichs: −41 °F (−40.6 °C) all-time record
- Pierre: −39 °F (−39.4 °C)
- Rapid City: −34 °F (−36.7 °C)
- Sioux Falls: −42 °F (−41.1 °C) all-time record
- Spearfish: −29 °F (−33.9 °C)
- Watertown: −38 °F (−38.9 °C) tied for all-time record for February
- Wentworth: −40 °F (−40.0 °C) all-time record (as of August 14, 2006)
- Wessington Springs: −39 °F (−39.4 °C) all-time record
- Yankton: −30 °F (−34.4 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Vermillion
Wyoming
Coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Basin: −51 °F (−46.1 °C) all-time record
- Cheyenne: −28 °F (−33.3 °C)
- Evanston: −30 °F (−34.4 °C)
- Laramie: −40 °F (−40.0 °C)
- Lovell: −48 °F (−44.4 °C) all-time record
- Sheridan: −45 °F (−42.8 °C)
- Yellowstone National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs: −35 °F (−37.2 °C) tied for all-time record for February
- Temperatures not available: Casper, Gillette, Green River, Jackson, Riverton, Rock Springs
Northwest
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Northwest climate region:
- February 1899 was the 13th-coldest February. The average temperature was 26.4 °F (−3.1 °C), which was 5.1 °F (2.8 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 31.5 °F (−0.28 °C) and 4.8 °F (2.7 °C) warmer than the coldest February of 1929.
- December 1898 through February 1899 was the 19th-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 26.5 °F (−3.1 °C), which was 2.8 °F (1.6 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 29.3 °F (−1.5 °C) and 6.2 °F (3.4 °C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1948–49.
Idaho
Nineteenth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Boise: −9 °F (−22.8 °C)
- Idaho Falls: −29 °F (−33.9 °C)
- Lewiston: −8 °F (−22.2 °C)
- Riggins: −8 °F (−22.2 °C) all-time record for February
- Temperatures not available: Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Meridian, Nampa, Post Falls, Twin Falls
Oregon
Fourteenth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Corvallis: −5 °F (−20.6 °C) all-time record for February
- Eugene: 0 °F (−17.8 °C)
- Hillsboro/Forest Grove: −1 °F (−18.3 °C)
- Portland: 9 °F (−12.8 °C)
- Salem: 3 °F (−16.1 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Beaverton, Bend, Gresham, Medford, Springfield
Washington
Equal eleventh-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Pullman: −18 °F (−27.8 °C)
- Seattle: 12 °F (−11.1 °C)
- Spokane: −12 °F (−24.4 °C)
- Tacoma: 9 °F (−12.8 °C)
- Tri-Cities: −6 °F (−21.1 °C)
- Vancouver: 6 °F (−14.4 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Bellevue, Everett, Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Yakima
Ohio Valley
For the 1895–2017 period of record in the Ohio Valley climate region:
- February 1899 was the equal third-coldest February alongside 1905, with the coldest being 1978 and the second-coldest 1895. The average temperature was 22.20 °F (−5.44 °C), which was 10.60 °F (5.89 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 32.80 °F (0.44 °C) and 1.90 °F (1.06 °C) warmer than February 1978.
- December 1898 through February 1899 was the ninth-coldest meteorological winter. The average temperature was 27.0 °F (−2.8 °C), which was 5.0 °F (2.8 °C) colder than the 1895–2017 average of 32.0 °F (0.0 °C) and 3.5 °F (1.9 °C) warmer than the coldest winter of 1977–78.
Illinois
Sixth-coldest February, 1895–2017.
- Albion: −21 °F (−29.4 °C) all-time record as of December 31, 2006
- Aurora: −22 °F (−30.0 °C)
- Champaign: −25 °F (−31.7 °C) tied with February 13, 1905, January 19, 1994, and January 5, 1999, for all-time record
- Chicago: −21 °F (−29.4 °C) all-time record for February
- Elgin: −23 °F (−30.6 °C)
- Fairfield: −21 °F (−29.4 °C) all-time record for February
- Joliet: −20 °F (−28.9 °C)
- Mt. Vernon: −22 °F (−30.0 °C) tied with February 10, 1982, for all-time record
- Nashville: −21 °F (−29.4 °C) tied with December 22, 1989, for all-time record
- Ottawa: −23 °F (−30.6 °C) tied for all-time record for February
- Palestine: −27 °F (−32.8 °C) all-time record
- Peoria: −22 °F (−30.0 °C)
- Sparta: −23 °F (−30.6 °C) all-time record as of December 31, 2006
- Springfield: −21 °F (−29.4 °C)
- Temperatures not available: Cicero, Naperville, Rockford, Waukegan
Indiana
Equal seventh-coldest February, 1895–2017.