1989 — Dec 8-26, Cold Wave and Winter Snow Storms eastern two-thirds of U.S. — >126

—>126  Blanchard tally of State breakouts below.

—  100  NCDC. Billion-Dollar U.S. Weather/Climate Disasters 1980-2013.

—  >61  NCDC. “Record Cold in the Central and Eastern U.S. during December 1989.”[1]

—  <60  Dec 16-22. Associated Press. “Killer cold keeps grip on most of US.” 12-23-1989.

—    38  By Dec 19. Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” 12-19-1989.[2]

 

Alabama                     (  5)

–5  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

–1  Bellwood, Geneva Co., Dec 22-25. Hypothermia; male, 89, at home. Storm Data, 31/12, p.8.

–1  Birmingham, Dec 22-25. Hypothermia; male, 89, in his house. Storm Data, 31/12, p. 8.

–1  Dothan, Dec 22-25. Exposure to cold; male, 55. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 8.

–1  Montgomery, Dec 16. Hypothermia; female, 72, outside. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 8.

–1  Montgomery, Dec 22-25. Hypothermia; female, 89, in her apartment. Storm Data, 31/12, p8.

 

Arkansas                    (  4)

— 4  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 2  Crittenden County, Dec 23. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 8.

— 1  Jefferson County, Dec 23. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 8.

— 1  Locality not noted, Dec 3-9. Hypothermia; elderly man. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 8.

 

Florida                        (>26)

—>26  Dec 23-25. Includes hypothermia and stove and space heater-related fire deaths.[3]

—>13  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 9.

—  3  Our number based on “several fatalities…on ice-covered roads in North Florida.”

—>6  Hypothermia. (“At least six people died of hypothermia…”)

—  4  Space heater related fires.

—   6  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

 

Georgia                      (  4)

–1  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

–3  Dec 17-19. Weather-related automobile accidents. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 10.[4]

–1  I-85 near Atlanta, Dec 18. Traffic accident on icy road; Atlanta Falcons player.[5]

–1  Traffic accident on icy road, Dec 18, location not noted.[6]

–1  Greensboro, Greene Co., Dec 23. Hypothermia; elderly man outside. Storm Data, 31/12, p10

 

Illinois                         (25)

–25  State. Daily Herald, IL. “Illinois Briefs. Bitter cold blamed for 25 deaths.” 12-24-1989, p. 4.[7]

–19  Chicago area, Dec 12-24. Cold weather-related deaths. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 10.[8]

—  1  Chicago, Dec 15-18. Exposure; male stuck in elevator shaft, apparent burglary attempt.[9]

 

Indiana                       (  2)

— 2  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  DeKalb County, Dec 17-18. Hypothermia; female found frozen to death in her car.[10]

— 1  Huntington County, Dec 17-18. Hypothermia; male; tried to walk 2 miles to his work.[11]

 

Louisiana                   (  5)

— 5  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  Clinton, Dec 23. Boy, 13, playing on ice, drowns in frigid water when ice on pond breaks.[12]

— 1  Slidell, Dec 25. Boy, 13, playing on ice, drowns in frigid water when ice on pond breaks.[13]

— 1  New Orleans, Dec 21. Exposure; male, 36. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 11.

— 1  New Orleans, Dec 24. Exposure; female, 64. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 11.

— 1  St. Francisville, Dec 12. Exposure; male, 90, in poorly heated home. Storm Data, 31/12, 11.

 

Michigan                    (  5)

— 5  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

— 4  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  Detroit, Dec 20. Hypothermia; male, 59, found dead outside of his apartment.[14]

— 1  Detroit, Dec 20. Hypothermia; female, 86, found frozen to death on her driveway.[15]

— 1  Hillsdale, Detroit area, Dec 18. Hypothermia; male, 65, in his home. Storm Data, 31/12, 12.

— 1  Taylor, Dec 21. Hypothermia; male (age not noted), found frozen to death outdoors.[16]

— 1  Lower MI, Dec 25. Freezing drizzle and snow contributes to 70 road accidents; boy, 15.[17]

 

Minnesota                  (  1)

— 1  Strandquist area, Dec 14-15. Hypothermia; male. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 12.

 

Mississippi                  (  2)

— 2  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  Meridian, Dec 24. Hypothermia; male, fell asleep on floor in front of space heater.[18]

— 1  Neshoba County, Dec 24. Exposure; male, looking for firewood outside his home.[19]

 

Missouri                     (  1)

— 1  St. Louis area, ~Dec 21. Hypothermia; female, 87, found dead at home on floor; no heat.[20]

 

Montana                     (  1)

— 1  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  Lewistown, Dec 15-16. Hypothermia; male left his car when it became stuck in snow.[21]

 

New York                   (14)

–14  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

—  1  Apalachin, Tioga County. Girl, 7, after foster mother poured water on her, put her outside.[22]

—  6  East Jewitt area, Catskill Mts., Dec 15. Plane crash in heavy snow storm — flew into mt.[23]

—  1  Eastern NY, Dec 15-16. Traffic accident blamed on icy roads and poor visibility; female.[24]

—  1  Eastern NY; Dec 15-16. Firefighter traffic accident on icy road.[25]

—  1  NYC subway station, before Dec 19. Man using hot-plate to keep warm sets himself on fire.[26]

—  4  NYC, Dec 15-17. Exposure; homeless people while sleeping in the city subway system.[27]

 

North Carolina          (  4)

— 4  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

— 2  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  Camden Co., Dec 22-23. Exposure; elderly man slipped outside of home, could not get up.[28]

— 1  Camden Co., Dec 22-23. Hypothermia; elderly man in his unheated home.[29]

— 1  Warsaw, Dec 25-27. Hypothermia; man found dead in his home on 27th.[30]

— 1  Wilmington, Dec 22-24. Coastal snow storm; male dies of heart attack shoveling snow.[31]

 

Oklahoma                  (  5)

–5  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

–1  Ardmore, Dec 23. Hypothermia; male, 28, outside on a city street.[32]

–1  Goldsby vic., McClain Co. Hypothermia; male, 28, seeking to elude police in wooded area.[33]

–1  Oklahoma City, Dec 22. Hypothermia; male, 24, in his unheated home.[34]

–1  Oklahoma City, Dec 23. Hypothermia; male, 35, outside, after leaving his car.[35]

–1  Poteau, Leflore Co., Dec 8. Hypothermia; female, 44; had left car, gone into wooded area.[36]

 

Pennsylvania              (10)

—  10  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

–>10  Eastern PA, during the month. NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 17.

–7  Philadelphia, “…a number of them were homeless people on the street.” Storm Data.[37]

 

South Carolina          (11)

–11  Blanchard tally of locality breakouts below.

—  9  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

—  1  Alcolu, Clarendon Co., Dec 25. Exposure; male found dead outside near a mobile home.[38]

—  1  Blacksburg, Cherokee County, Dec 25. Hypothermia; male, 65, in his unheated home.[39]

—  1  Carlisle, Union County, Dec 23. Hypothermia; male found dead in unheated home.[40]

—  1  Charleston, Charleston County, Dec 26. Male, found dead in an abandoned cab.[41]

—  1  Dorchester Co. Hwy 178, Dec 22-26. Traffic accident, man, on road with “heavy sheet of ice.”[42]

—  1  Greenville, Greenville County, 23rd. Hypothermia; male found dead in an unheated home.[43]

—  1  Greenville, Greenville Co., Dec 23. Exposure; female, found dead two blocks from home.[44]

—  1  North Charleston, Dec 23. Exposure; male found unconscious, lying in snow; died later.[45]

—  1  North Charleston, Dec 26. Male found dead in an abandoned mobile home.[46]

—  1  Pageland, Chesterfield County, Dec 23. Male found dead in the yard of a house.[47]

—  1  Roebuck, Spartanburg County, Dec 9. Exposure; male found dead in backyard of home.[48]

 

Tennessee                   (  1)

— 1  NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989. Map: “December 1989 Deaths due to Cold.” P. 7.

— 1  Etowah, McMinn County, Dec 25. Elderly woman wandered away from her home.[49]

 

Texas                          (~6)

—  1  Austin, Dec 22-24. Hypothermia; male, outside in a field near Austin.[50]

—  1  Austin, Dec 22-24. Hypothermia; female in unheated room where heater had gone out.[51]

—  1  San Antonio, Dec 22-24. Hypothermia; male found dead in unheated vacant house.

–~3  “Several” deaths from weather-related fires, locations not noted. Storm Data, 31/12, p. 19.[52]

 

Narrative Information

 

NCDC Storm Data: “A large portion of the eastern two-thirds of the United States experienced one of its coldest Decembers of record in 1989. The cold was notable for both its prolonged duration and its bitterness, as temperatures were well below normal for about half of the month in most areas and many new low temperature records were set. The most substantial cold period was from abut the 14th to the 25th of the month, with the coldest air settling in over the area at the end of the period, from the 22nd to the 25th when numerous existing records were broken.

 

“Although the coldest temperatures were in the North-Central U.S., it was in the South that the cold had its greatest impact. Where normally temperatures only go below freezing for a few hours at a time during the winter, they this time stayed at below freezing for several days. This resulted in heavy losses for citrus and other large cash crop industries of the South. Also, the unprepared nature of many Southerners for extended periods of cold most likely contributed to the higher death tolls in that region… In all, at least 61 people died due to the cold in December 1989, most as a result of hypothermia brought on by overexposure…..” (NCDC, Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 12, Dec 1989, p. 7.)

Florida

 

FL Dept. of Health: “From December 22-26, 1989, Florida experienced one of the most severe cold waves in its history with record-breaking temperatures, snow, ice, sleet, and hard freezes. Claiming at least 26 lives, power and transportation were shut down over much of Florida, with heavy losses in the agricultural industry.” (Florida Department of Health. The Christmas Day Freeze of 1989. (Webpage) Floridahealth.gov.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Cold b-b-b-rings Deep South snow.” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 12-18-1989, p. A-2. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/ohio/elyria/elyria-chronicle-telegram/1989/12-18/page-2?tag

 

Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/washington/walla-walla/walla-walla-union-bulletin/1989/12-19/page-12?tag

 

Associated Press. “Killer cold keeps grip on most of US.” Orange County Register, Santa Ana, CA, 12-23-1989, p. A4. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/california/santa-ana/santa-ana-orange-county-register/1989/12-23/page-7?tag

 

Associated Press. “Record cold grips Missouri.” The Examiner, Independence, MO, 12-22-1989, p. 1. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/missouri/independence/independence-examiner/1989/12-22?tag

 

Daily Herald, Arlington Heights, IL. “Illinois Briefs. Bitter cold blamed for 25 deaths.” 12-24-1989, p. 4. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/us/illinois/arlington-heights/daily-herald-suburban-chicago/1989/12-24/page-317?tag

 

Florida Department of Health. The Christmas Day Freeze of 1989. (Webpage) Floridahealth.gov. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/climate-and-health/_documents/extreme-cold-factsheet.pdf

 

National Climatic Data Center. Billion-Dollar U.S. Weather/Climate Disasters 1980-2013. “1989. Winter Damage, Cold Wave, Frost.” Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce. Accessed 6-29-2014 at: http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/events.pdf

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 12, Dec 1989. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 5-9-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-0435ED3A-B7DC-4990-AAA1-16E2CBAF8EA6.pdf

 

National Transportation Safety Board. Aviation Accident & Synopsis Query Page. “NTSB Identification: NYC90FA039. Washington, DC: NTSB, approval date 7-22-1992. Accessed 5-9-2016 at: http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20001213X30004&key=1

 

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Wilmington, NC. “Christmas Coastal Snowstorm: December 22-24, 1989.” 12-7-2014; updated 12-10-2014. Accessed 5-10-2016 at: http://www.weather.gov/ilm/ChristmasSnow1989

 

[1] NCDC, Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[2] “The cold has been blamed for seven traffic deaths and 31 other fatalities since Friday [Dec 15].”

[3] Florida Department of Health. The Christmas Day Freeze of 1989. (Webpage) Floridahealth.gov.

[4] “3” is our number based on “Several lives were lost and injuries occurred in weather-related automobile mishaps.”

[5] Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13

[6] Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13

[7] Notes “Temperatures plunged as low as 24 degrees below zero in western Illinois. Record lows Saturday [23rd] were 24 below zero just after dawn in Moline, 22 below in Peoria and 21 below in Springfield. St. Louis logged a new record low of 15 below zero, which equaled one of the 10 lowest temperature readings recorded in the city.”

[8] “…cold was directly or indirectly blamed for 19 weather-related deaths in the Chicago area’s Cook County alone.”

[9] Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13

[10] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 10

[11] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 10

[12] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 11.

[13] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 11.

[14] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 12.

[15] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 12. We suspect however, that the date is mistaken and that this is the same death reported by the AP on Dec 19, of  “an 86-year-old found dead, apparently of exposure, in the driveway of her Birmingham, Mich., home [Birmingham is a Detroit suburb].” (Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13.)

[16] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 12.

[17] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 12.

[18] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 13. Notes that the man froze to death and that he might have lived had he slept on his sofa in that the warm air from the heater rose to the ceiling.

[19] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 13.

[20] Associated Press. “Record cold grips Missouri.” The Examiner, Independence, MO, 12-22-1989, p. 1. Victim identified as Marion H. Counts.

[21] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, p. 13. “The man was lightly dressed and was found within 100 yards of his car.”

[22] AP. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13. Notes the temp. dropped to 5° that night, that the girl was being punished, and that the foster mother was charged with murder.

[23] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 14, noting 6-11 inches of snow accumulated. NTSB notes that the pilot was informed of marginal visual flight and that instrument flight rules would prevail along the route of flight. “The airplane hit a 3,400 foot mountain at an elevation of 2,500 feet. The airplane was missing 4 days and was found by the crew of a NY State Police helicopter.” The NTSB has the location as Cairo Township and the aircraft as a Piper PA-31-350, registration N45CH. The NTSB also notes there were six fatalities.

[24] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 14,

[25] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 14, Notes the firefighter was responding to a traffic accident.

[26] Associated Press. “Icy hand of winter storm grips nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 12-19-1989, p. 13

[27] AP. “Killer cold keeps grip on most of US.” Orange County Register, CA, 12-23-1989, A4. “In [NYC], where arctic chill sent 9,200 people to shelters Thursday night, demonstrators erected four tombstones outside City Hall in memory of four homeless…who died of exposure while sleeping in the city subway system during the weekend.”

[28] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 15. Notes he had gone outside to get kerosene. Fell into a snowbank.

[29] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 15.

[30] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 15.

[31] NWS WFO, Wilmington, NC. “Christmas Coastal Snowstorm: December 22-24, 1989.” 12-7-2014.

[32] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 16.

[33] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 16.

[34] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 16.

[35] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 16. According to an AP article his car apparently ran out of gas a half-mile from home. (AP. “Killer cold keeps grip on most of US.” Orange County Register,  CA, 12-23-1989, p. A4.)

[36] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 16.

[37] A Monday Dec 18 AP article notes “In Philadelphia, teams of outreach workers scoured streets through the weekend as temperatures dipped to 17 degrees. An unidentified transient woman was found dead on a downtown bench Saturday, a victim, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office, of exposure.” (Associated Press. “Cold b-b-b-rings Deep South snow.” Chronicle-Telegram, Elyria, OH, 12-18-1989, p. A-2.)

[38] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 17.

[39] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18. Notes the heating unit in his home failed.

[40] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[41] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[42] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[43] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[44] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[45] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[46] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[47] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[48] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18.

[49] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 18. Notes death was “due to exposure to the bitter cold.”

[50] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 19.

[51] NCDC Storm Data, 31/12, Dec 1989, p. 19.

[52] We make assumption that “several” must be at least three.