Cold/Wind Chill — Kankakee, Illinois

1996-02-02 to 1996-02-04 · Kankakee, Illinois

Wider weather episode

A bitter cold arctic air mass moved into northern Illinois Thursday night February 1. Temperatures didn't moderate until the afternoon of Sunday February 4. The coldest temperatures occurred Saturday February 3. In Chicago, the temperature remained below zero for 67 consecutive hours. Several temperature records were set. At Chicago; February 2 lowest minimum -16 and lowest maximum -5, February 3 lowest minimum -19 and lowest maximum -5, February 4 lowest minimum -14. At Rockford; February 2 lowest maximum -13, February 3 lowest minimum -24 and lowest maximum -12, February 4 lowest minimum -19 and lowest maximum -2. The coldest temperature reported was -33 at Paw Paw on the 3rd. The cold weather resulted in frozen water pipes and numerous fires caused by space heaters and open flames in buildings. At least 3 deaths were attributed to the cold. A Chicago man was found dead in his home with no heat. An unknown man was found dead in a boxcar in Chicago. A Kankakee man was found in the cold outside his home. He later died at a hospital.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5542440. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.