1994: Widespread record cold occurred across central, north central, and northeast South Dakota as well as west central Minnesota. Record lows were set at Aberdeen, Mobridge, Pierre, Sisseton, Timber Lake, and Wheaton. Overnight lows were in the 30s to 40s below zero across the entire area. Aberdeen fell to 45 degrees below zero which was just one degree off of it's all time record low of 46 degrees below zero. Mobridge fell to 38 degrees below zero and Pierre fell to 35 degrees below zero. Watertown came just one degree short of their daytime record with 35 degrees below zero.

1870: President Grant established what would eventually come to be the National Weather Service.

1933: Butte, MT plummeted to their all-time record low temperature of -52 degrees.

1947: A Saskatchewan blizzard began on January 31 and ended today. Railway officials declared the worst conditions in Canadian rail history. A train was buried in a snowdrift over one half mile long and 36 feet deep.

1994: The Ice Storm of 1994. Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and a seven county area in northwest Alabama received large amounts of ice. The weight of the ice caused numerous trees to fall, blocking roads and making travel impossible. 9 fatalities and $3 billion in damage were attributed to the storm.