Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Christian, Illinois

2014-01-06 to 2014-01-07 · Christian, Illinois

Event narrative

Bitterly cold temperatures of -10 to -20 were observed on the morning of January 6th. These extremely cold temperatures combined with northwesterly winds to create dangerous wind-chill readings of -35 to -45. A 64 year-old man died of hypothermia after his vehicle became stuck in the snow about a block away from his rural Pana home.

Wider weather episode

A bitterly cold airmass spilled into central and southeast Illinois on January 6th and 7th after passage of an Arctic cold front. Due to clearing skies and diminishing winds over a fresh snow cover, record low temperatures of -10 to -20 were established across much of the area on the morning of January 6th. In addition to the extremely cold temperatures, northwesterly winds created dangerous wind-chill readings of -35 to -45. As a result, schools and numerous businesses closed for the day. Several locations also activated warming centers for those without heat. One person died as a result of exposure to the cold.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 490586. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.