Cold/Wind Chill in Williamson, Illinois

Bitterly cold temperatures arrived in the wake of a paralyzing snowstorm. In Murphysboro, an 84-year-old woman died from hypothermia after venturing outdoors to locate her pet dog on the evening of December 22. The woman apparently became disoriented and collapsed from hypothermia. Although she was located about an hour after venturing outdoors from the assisted living facility, she was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on December 23. The low temperature on Christmas morning was 11 degrees below zero at Carbondale. Co-operative observers reported Christmas morning lows of 6 below at Grayville and 2 below zero at Cairo. Winds were light during the coldest weather, which reduced the wind chill hazard somewhat.