Extreme Cold/Wind Chill — Macoupin, Illinois

2000-12-16 to 2000-12-17 · Macoupin, Illinois

Wider weather episode

A strong cold front moved across the area the afternoon of December 16 bringing in a blast of Arctic air. Temperatures by 900 pm on the 16th had dropped into the single digits with wind chill values down to 30 below zero. The wind chill remained from 20 below to 40 below zero through Noon on the 17th. An elderly man, from Springfield, IL, suffering from the early stages of Alzeimer's Disease, died in the cold. He left his home on the 16th, apparently become disoriented and headed south into Macoupin County. He was found in an open fiield on the 20th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5166216. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.