Record-Breaking Weather Events Across US History

A series of unusual weather events have left lasting impressions on US history, with cold snaps, hurricane activity, and storm patterns showing significant variance. From winter's grip to hurricane seasons with an unusual number of storms, a look at these record-breaking events provides insight into the country's weather extremes.

In what would be remembered as one of the coldest occurrences in the region, the Ohio River froze over in large portions by mid-December 1917. This significant event was compounded by significant snowstorms the following month. The prolonged cold spell in January 1918 became the longest single-month cold streak for Kentucky since records began in 1895, as per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). There was no let-up in the extreme weather patterns in 2005, which included a record-breaking 28th named storm, Hurricane Epsilon, lingering into the new year over the central Atlantic Ocean. This singular event concluded a hurricane season that defied expectations with an unusually high number of storms.

Additionally, a hurricane named "Alice," which formed on December 31, 1954, in the Atlantic, northeast of the Leeward Islands, made headlines. This hurricane span the two calendar years, an occurrence exclusive to "Alice," which then intensified and made landfall in the northern Leeward Islands on January 2, 1955, causing destruction from wind gusts of up to 81 mph and flood rains.

The United States has experienced a myriad of extreme weather events over the years, each with its unique set of circumstances and weather patterns.