Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Knox, Illinois

2026-01-23 · Knox, Illinois

Event narrative

Bitterly cold wind-chill values of -25 to -35 occurred across Knox County during the morning of January 23rd. The coldest hourly wind-chill reading observed at the Galesburg Airport (KGBG) was -35.

Wider weather episode

After a period of above normal temperatures through the first half of January, a series of cold fronts brought a significant pattern change and much colder conditions for the latter part of the month. An Arctic cold front that pushed through central Illinois during the evening of January 22nd dropped temperatures below zero by the morning of January 23rd. Due to the falling temperatures and brisk northwesterly winds gusting 25-30mph, wind chill values plummeted into the -25 to -35 degree range along and north of a Macomb to Bloomington line. Despite the dangerously cold temperatures, no cold-related injuries or deaths were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1306598. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.