1989: Subzero temperatures and bitterly cold wind chill values engulfed the region for an extended period of time, generally from December 14th through December 23rd. Wind chills were occasionally in the -50 to -70 F range, and several locations recorded subzero temperatures for four to five consecutive days. Most locations recorded several lows below -15 F during this stretch, with the coldest lows bottoming out near -30 F and high temperatures as low as -20 F.

1993: A prolonged period of snow occurred from December 15th through the 19th over the western half of South Dakota. Several accidents leading to injuries occurred due to ice on the 15th and many vehicles slid into ditches. Snowfall amounts were generally 4 to 10 inches. McIntosh received three inches of snow; Timber Lake, Murdo, and Selby received five inches of snow; and six inches accumulated at McLaughlin. Eagle Butte recorded seven inches of new snow.

1903: Orville and Wilbur Wright successfully tested their homemade glider at Kitty Hawk on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They had selected Kitty Hawk as their test site on advice from the Weather Bureau due to good, consistent northerly winds.

1924: A severe ice storm covered central Illinois in ice two inches thick. $21 million damage.

1983: The temperature at Oklahoma City dropped below freezing. It did not rise above 32 degrees again until New Year's Eve, setting a record length of sub-freezing weather in the city.