Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Mclean, Illinois

2009-01-15 to 2009-01-16 · Mclean, Illinois

Event narrative

A man was found dead outside near a pond at an apartment complex in Normal on the morning of January 15th. An autopsy report indicated he died due to exposure to the extreme cold. Low temperatures were around 20 below zero with wind chills of 35 below to 40 below zero.

Wider weather episode

Bitterly cold air poured into central Illinois in the wake of a departing storm system. Thanks to clear skies over a fresh snow cover, early morning temperatures on January 15th and 16th plunged well below zero in much of central and eastern Illinois. In addition, brisk northwesterly winds created wind-chill values in the 25 below to 40 below zero range. As a result of the extreme cold, a man in Bloomington-Normal lost his life due to hypothermia.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 149708. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.