Tuesday,  February 19, 2013 • Vol. 14--No. 215 • 6 of 25 •  Other Editions

Today in Weather History

1986: Snowfall of up to eight inches fell over parts of northeast South Dakota. Sisseton and Aberdeen reported 8 inches of snow with generally 2 to 5 inches falling over the area. Winds gusted to 35 mph and produced ground blizzard conditions at times. Many accidents were reported and several motorists were stranded. Roads were also blocked in many locations.

2000: Due to the extremely dry and windy conditions, a fire, believed to be started by a discarded cigarette, burned about 40 square miles of grassland between Kennebec and Lower Brule. The fire threatened a ranch but changed directions before anyone had to be evacuated.

2008: Arctic air along with blustery northwest winds brought extreme wind chills during the evening and early morning hours to northeast South Dakota. Wind chills ranged from 35 to 50 degrees below zero. The winds diminished in the early morning hours of the 20th allowing air temperatures to fall to record or near record lows across northeast South Dakota. Ten new record lows, ranging from 23 to 30 degrees below zero, were set for February 20th. Several water pipes were broken in Aberdeen and in Roslyn. In Roslyn, 225 people were without water for much of the day on the 20th as the water main broke during the night. Also, there were many vehicles that did not start along with late school starts or closings.

1871: Professor Cleveland Abbe of the U.S. Army Signal Service issued the first government weather synopsis and forecasts along with warnings to mariners for the Great Lakes.

1998: The temperature of 122.9 F was measured in Mardie, Western Australia, the second hottest temperature ever recorded in Australia.

2011: The 46-year-old blue spruce that had been used as the National Christmas Tree was blown over by 50 mph wind gusts in Washington, DC. It was the third instance of the National Christmas Tree being blown down since the tradition started in 1923.

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