1989 — Jan 31-Feb 9, Arctic “Siberian Express” out of Alaska, two-thirds of country –76-91
–76-91 Blanchard range. (We have been able to identify 76 deaths; press reports note 84-91.)
— 91 AP. “Snow falls in [LA]; freeze continues.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-9-1989, p. 2A.
— 84 Assoc. Press. “California residents surprised by snow.” Iola Register, KS. 2-8-1989, p. 2.
— 76 Blanchard tally of NCDC Storm Data narratives of winter weather deaths Feb 1-7
—>49 AP. “Arctic blast spawns snow, freezing rain.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-7-1989, p. 1.[1]
— 23 AP. “Cold wave kills 23, attacks Mardi Gras.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-5-1989, p. 1.
—>22 NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 22.[2]
— 15 Associated Press. “Arctic air puts chill on nation.” Port Arthur News, TX, 2-4-1989, p. 1.
Summary of Winter Weather-Related Fatalities by State
Alaska ( 1)
Arkansas ( 3)
California (11)
Colorado ( 2)
Idaho ( 1)
Iowa ( 1)
Kansas ( 3)
Louisiana (>6)
Michigan ( 5)
Minnesota ( 1)
Montana ( 4)
Nebraska ( 1)
New Mexico ( 1)
New York ( 2)
Oklahoma ( 3)
Oregon ( 5)
Pennsylvania ( 1)
South Dakota ( 1)
Texas (18)
Washington ( 6)
Breakout of Winter Weather-Related Fatalities by States and Localities
Alaska ( 1)
–1 Southeast AK, Jan 30-Feb 3, Anticyclone (winds and cold). Drowning; boatman; high seas.[3]
Arkansas ( 3)
–1 Morrilton, Feb 4. Exposure; elderly man in one-room home; temp. dropped to 10 degrees.[4]
–2 Malvern, found Feb 9. Exposure, in bed; elderly couple; turned furnace down too low.[5]
California (11)
–11 Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.
— 1 Fontana, Feb 9. Apparent exposure/hyperthermia; transient. Associated Press, 2-9-1989.[6]
— 1 Isla Vista, Feb 7. Apparent exposure; transient, 55 years-old.[7]
—>5 Los Angeles and Orange Counties, Feb 4; “…weather-related traffic fatalities…” NCDC.[8]
–1 LA County. Man killed on Santa Ana Freeway near La Ciénega Boulevard.
–1 LA County, Tujunga. Man burned to death in 219 Freeway crash near Tujunga.
–1 LA Co. ~Sylmar, Golden State Freeway. Woman passenger in car crash explosion.
–1 Orange County, Irvine; Car crash; male.
–1 Orange County, Laguna Niguel. Car crash; male.
— 1 Los Angeles Co., Soledad Canyon Road, Feb 7. Man lost control of car in snowstorm.[9]
— 1 Los Angeles Co., Riverside, I-10, Feb 7. Speeding car/truck collision during downpour.[10]
— 1 Redlands, Feb 8. Vehicular “accident on an icy road.” AP. 2-9-1898.[11]
— 1 San Bernardino County, Fontana, Feb 7. Hypothermia/exposure to cold; transient.[12]
Colorado ( 2)
–1 Arvada, Feb 3. Hypothermia; female, 57, outside in a park in this Denver suburb. NCDC.[13]
–1 Crested Butte, Feb 5. Avalanche; 6-year-old boy killed in parking lot by avalanche. NCDC.[14]
Idaho (1)
–1 I-84, just so. of I-86 junction, Feb 1. 17-vehicle pileup; visibility drop, wind-driven snow.[15]
Iowa (1)
–1 Council Bluffs, Feb 6. Cold exposure; male unable to unlock apt. door; froze on steps.[16]
Kansas ( 3)
–1 Kansas City, Feb 3. Hypothermia; female in unheated apartment. NCDC Storm Data.[17]
–1 Lawrence, Feb 3. Hypothermia; elderly female. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, p. 21.[18]
–1 Louisburg, Feb 4. Cold-related heart attack; male. NCDC Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, p21.[19]
Louisiana (>6)
—>6 Feb 5-7. “…at least six traffic fatalities resulting from icy road conditions.” NCDC.[20]
Michigan ( 5)
–1 Extreme Southern Lower Peninsula, Feb 2. “…345 auto accidents.” One person killed.[21]
–1 Northern Chippewa County, Feb 8. Blizzard; exposure; ice fisherman became disoriented.[22]
–3 Southern Lower Peninsula, Feb 5. Vehicular; “Three people were killed…in 96 auto accidents.”[23]
Minnesota ( 1)
–1 Coleraine, Feb 1. Hypothermia; frozen female, 31, found on a sidewalk.[24]
Montana ( 4)
–1 Dillon, Feb 1-5. Severe cold; man died in home after fire went out. NCDC Storm Data.[25]
–1 Great Falls, Feb 2. Hypothermia; male. NCDC Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 26.[26]
–1 Lame Deer, Feb 1-5. Severe cold exposure; male. NCDC Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 26.
–1 Missoula area, I-90, Jan 31. Near zero visibility; man driving pickup runs into sand truck.[27]
Nebraska ( 1)
–1 Brady, Feb 3. Man found dead in back of pickup truck; alcohol/hypothermia combination.[28]
New Mexico ( 1)
–1 Farmington, Feb 6. Exposure; man found about 3 pm behind commercial building.[29]
New York (2)
–1 NY Central, Feb 1. Winter Storm. NCDC Storm Data (31/2, 28) notes a death, but not a cause.[30]
–1 Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming counties area, Feb 8. Vehicular accident. NCDC.[31]
Oklahoma ( 3)
–1 Durant, Feb 2-5. Hypothermia; female, 82. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, p. 31.
–1 Oklahoma City, Feb 2-5. Hypothermia; male, 81, at home. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 31.
–1 Oklahoma City, Feb 2-5. Hypothermia; man found frozen in drainage ditch. NCDC.[32]
Oregon ( 5)
–5 NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 31.
–3 Ice and snow-related traffic accidents.
–1 Feb 1.[33]
–2 Hypothermia; two women found frozen to death.
–5 Taylor and Hatton. Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes. 1999, p. 121.
Pennsylvania ( 1)
–1 Kiskiminetas, body found Feb 9. Female, 82, with Alzheimer’s, found outside home.[34]
South Dakota ( 1)
–1 Martin, Feb 2. Exposure during winter storm; male. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 32.
Texas (18)
–18 Blanchard tally based on breakouts below.
–11 Northern Texas (Ice and Cold). NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 32.
–5 Weather-related (ice) traffic accidents.
–1 Austin area (east), Fayette County, Feb 4. Male, 28 loses control of pickup.[35]
–1 Fort Worth, Feb 5. Female loses control of car; ice-covered freeway bridge.[36]
–5 Exposure.
–1 Dallas, Feb 4. Male, 65, in abandoned house.
–1 Fort Worth, Feb 3. Female, 84, after locking herself out of her house.
–2 Gatesville, Feb 6. Men at home; bottled gas supply for heater ran out.
–1 Waco, Feb 7. Hypothermia; male, 57, in house with heat not turned on.
–1 Fall on slippery ice, Feb 3; male, 67, died from injuries sustained.
— 1 Amarillo, Potter Co. Male, 50, found dead beside semi-truck used as home; cold-related.[37]
— 5 Southern Texas (Winter Storm). NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 33.
–1 Austin, Feb 5. Hypothermia; male paraplegic, 36, after outdoor wheelchair accident.[38]
–1 Bastrop County, Feb 4-6. Hypothermia; male, 68, spending night in his car.
–1 Jim Wells County, Feb 4-6. Exposure; male, 41, after getting lost in the brush.
–1 Liberty County, Feb 6. Exposure; toddler, 2, wandered out of mobile home.
–1 Llano County, Feb 5. Hypothermia; man, after spending night in unheated building.
— 1 Laredo, Webb County, Feb 7. Hypothermia; elderly female in plywood shack.[39]
Washington ( 6)
–6 NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 34.
–5 Entire state snowstorm, Feb 1.
–1 Lineman trying to restore power when he fell from power pole (Feb 2).[40]
–4 Seattle area sledding and inner tubing accidents.
–1 Settle, Feb 2. Girl, 12; head-injuries from sledding accident.
–1 Spokane, hard freeze and cold, Feb 3. Exposure, elderly resident out walking.
Breakout of Winter Weather-Related Fatalities by Cause of Death (Summary)
Avalanche ( 1)
Drowning due to high wind and seas: ( 1)
Fall on Slippery Ice ( 1)
Fall from Power Pole ( 1)
Hypothermia/Exposure: (37)
Sledding Accidents ( 4)
Vehicular Accidents: (30)
Not Noted ( 1)
Breakout of Winter Weather-Related Fatalities by Cause of Death
Avalanche ( 1)
–1 CO, Crested Butte, Feb 5. Avalanche; 6-year-old boy killed in parking lot by avalanche.
Drowning due to high wind and seas: ( 1)
–1 Southeast AK, Jan 30-Feb 3, Anticyclone (winds and cold). Drowning; boatman; high seas.
Fall on Slippery Ice ( 1)
–1 TX, Northern TX. Fall on slippery ice, Feb 3; male, 67, died from injuries sustained.
Fall from Power Pole ( 1)
–1 WA, Feb 2. Lineman trying to restore power when he fell from power pole.
Hypothermia/Exposure: (37)
–1 AR, Morrilton, Feb 4. Exposure; elderly man, one-room home; temp. dropped to 10 degrees.
–2 AR, Malvern, found Feb 9. Exposure, in bed; elderly couple; turned furnace down too low.
–1 CA, Fontana, Feb 9. Apparent exposure/hyperthermia; transient. Associated Press, 2-9-1989.
–1 CA, Isla Vista. Apparent exposure; transient. AP. “7 deaths…Arctic blast.” 2-10-1989.
–1 CO, Arvada, Feb 3. Hypothermia; female, 57, outside in a park in this Denver suburb.
–1 IA, Council Bluffs, Feb 6. Cold exposure; male unable to unlock apt. door; froze on steps.
–1 KS, Kansas City, Feb 3. Hypothermia; female in unheated apartment. NCDC Storm Data.
–1 KS, Lawrence, Feb 3. Hypothermia; elderly female. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 21.
–1 KS, Louisburg, Feb 4. Cold-related heart attack; male. NCDC Storm Data, 31/2, Feb ‘89, 21.[41]
–1 MI, Northern Chippewa Co., Feb 8. Blizzard; exposure; ice fisherman became disoriented.
–1 MN, Coleraine, Feb 1. Hypothermia; frozen female, 31, found on a sidewalk.[42]
–1 MT, Dillon, Feb 1-5. Severe cold; man died in home after fire went out. NCDC Storm Data.
–1 MT, Great Falls, Feb 2. Hypothermia; male. NCDC Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 26.
–1 MT, Lame Deer, Feb 1-5. Severe cold exposure; male. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 26.
–1 NE, Brady, Feb 3. Man found in back of pickup truck; alcohol/hypothermia combination.
–1 NM, Farmington, Feb 6. Exposure; man found about 3 pm behind commercial building.
–1 OK, Durant, Feb 2-5. Hypothermia; female, 82. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, p. 31.
–1 OK, Oklahoma City, Feb 2-5. Hypothermia; male, 81, at home. NCDC. Storm Data.
–1 OK, Oklahoma City, Feb 2-5. Hypothermia; man found frozen in drainage ditch. NCDC.
–2 OR, Feb 1-8. Hypothermia; two women found frozen to death. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2.
–1 PA, Kiskiminetas, body found Feb 9. Female, 82, with Alzheimer’s, found outside home.[43]
–1 SD, Martin, Feb 2. Exposure during winter storm; male. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2.
–1 TX, Amarillo, Potter Co. Male, 50, found dead beside semi-truck used as home; cold-related.
–1 TX, Austin, Feb 5. Hypothermia; male paraplegic, 36, after outdoor wheelchair accident.
–1 TX, Bastrop County, Feb 4-6. Hypothermia; male, 68, spending night in his car.
–1 TX, Dallas, Feb 4. Male, 65, in abandoned house.
–1 TX, Fort Worth, Feb 3. Female, 84, after locking herself out of her house.
–2 TX, Gatesville, Feb 6. Men at home; bottled gas supply for heater ran out.
–1 TX, Jim Wells County, Feb 4-6. Exposure; male, 41, after getting lost in the brush.
–1 TX, Laredo, Webb County, Feb 7. Hypothermia; elderly female in plywood shack.
–1 TX, Liberty County, Feb 6. Exposure; toddler, 2, wandered out of mobile home.
–1 TX, Llano County, Feb 5. Hypothermia; man, after spending night in unheated building.
–1 TX, Waco, Feb 7. Hypothermia; male, 57, in house with heat not turned on.
–1 WA, Spokane, hard freeze and cold, Feb 3. Exposure, elderly resident out walking.
Sledding Accidents ( 4)
–4 WA, Seattle area sledding and inner tubing accidents.
Vehicular Accidents: (30)
–1 CA, LA County, Feb 4. Man killed on Santa Ana Freeway near La Ciénega Boulevard.
–1 CA, Los Angeles Co., Riverside, I-10, Feb 7. Speeding car/truck collision during downpour.
–1 CA, Los Angeles Co., Soledad Canyon Road, Feb 7. Man lost control of car in snowstorm.
–1 CA, LA Co. ~Sylmar, Golden State Freeway, 4th. Woman passenger in car crash explosion.
–1 CA, LA County, Tujunga, Feb 4. Man burned to death in 219 Freeway crash near Tujunga.
–1 CA, Orange County, Irvine, Feb 4; Car crash; male.
–1 CA, Orange County, Laguna Niguel. Car crash; male.
–1 CA, San Bernardino County, Fontana, Feb 7. Hypothermia/exposure to cold; transient.
–1 CA, San Bernardino County, Redlands, Feb 8. Vehicular “accident on an icy road.”
–1 ID, I-84, south of I-86 junction, Feb 1. 17-vehicle pileup; visibility drop, wind-driven snow.
–6 LA, Feb 5-7. “…at least six traffic fatalities resulting from icy road conditions.” NCDC.
–1 MI, Extreme Southern Lower Peninsula, Feb 2. “…345 auto accidents.” One person killed.
–3 MI, Southern Lower Peninsula, Feb 5. Vehicular; out of 96 reported auto accidents.
–1 MT, Missoula area, I-90, Jan 31. Near zero visibility; man drives into sanding truck.
–1 NY, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Wyoming counties area, Feb 8. Vehicular accident. NCDC.
–3 OR, Feb 1-8. Ice and snow-related traffic accidents. NCDC. Storm Data, 31/2, Feb 1989, 31.
–1 TX, Austin area (east), Fayette County, Feb 4. Male, 28 loses control of pickup.
–1 TX, Fort Worth, Feb 5. Female loses control of car; ice-covered freeway bridge.
–3 TX, localities not noted except to note within Northern Texas in Ice and Cold section.
Not Noted ( 1)
–1 NY Central, Feb 1. Winter Storm. NCDC Storm Data (31/2, 28) notes a death, but not a cause.
Narrative Information
Jan 31-Feb 8, NCDC on “Record-Setting Cold in the Western U.S. on January 31 to February 8, 1989.” “The cold dome of Arctic air that formed over and plagued most of Alaska during the second half of January 1989, began spreading southeastward during the last few days of the month and settled in over the western two-thirds of the contiguous states during the first week of February. The frigid air initially pushed into the northern Rockies and all the way south through the Plains States, setting some new record lows in those regions. But over the course of a few days, the cold had also spread westward under the influence of an upper-level trough that regressed westward through the Western U.S., causing not only the central Rockies but also the intermountain region of the Great Basin and even much of the West Coast to experience unusually cold and record-setting temperatures. For some of the western states the coldest known temperatures, not necessarily official, included -52°F at Wisdom, Montana; -51 at Craig, Colorado; -37 at Weston Wyoming; -43 at Boca, California; -42 at Carlin Gold Mine, Nevada; and -35 at Salmon, Idaho. West of the Cascades and Sierras, not as cold but none-the-less unusual were 7° at Seattle-Tacoma, Washington; -1 at Salem, Oregon; and 31 at San Francisco, California.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 6.)
“As if the record-setting temperatures, too numerous to list, were not enough, the prolonged stay of the cold only added to the impact of the outbreak. For several days it was too cold to operate machinery including cars and trucks in many areas. Many residents, especially in the coldest areas, remained indoors for an entire week until the temperatures began to significantly moderate. In all there were at least 22 deaths directly attributed to the cold,[44] most resulting from hypothermia brought on by overexposure.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 7.)
Jan 31, NCDC on Montana Blizzard: “A very strong, Arctic cold front moved into northern Montana during the early morning and by late evening had covered the state with sub-zero temperatures, strong northerly winds, bitter wind chills, and snow. This was the strongest Arctic front to strike the state in 5 years. Record high temperatures in the low 60’s were observed during the afternoon of the 30th east of the Rockies, and 24 hours later the mercury had dropped well below zero. Great Falls went from 62 degrees on the 30th to 23 degrees below zero on the 31st. The effects of this blizzard were severe west of the Rockies. As the Arctic air pushed through the passes, the winds increased. At West Glacier over 400 trees were blown down. Threes were downed on six cars and 36 houses, and power outages occurred. East-West highways were closed due to reduced visibility. At 2200MST, a man driving a pickup on Interstate 90 east of Missoula ran into the back of a sanding truck and was killed. Visibility at the time was near zero due to blowing snow. During the morning an eastbound freight train ran into the rear of an Amtrak train at Essex, injuring 14 persons. The visibility was near zero due to blowing snow. Windchill temperatures during the day were 80 degrees below zero at many locations.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 1, January 1989, p. 27.)
Feb 1: “Record-cold arctic air trapped over Alaska finally broke loose and barreled into the lower 48 states, dropping a bitter winter into the laps of springlike northern cities in a matter of minutes. Temperatures plunged by nearly 80 degrees in a day with one town reporting a 23-degree drop in one minute.
“High winds preceding the cold front blew a toddler down a street in Lander, Wyo. The polar air outburst, accompanied today by blizzards driven by winds over 100 mph, stunned residents throughout the northern Plains and Midwest, where ski slopes and ice festivals had been abandoned for golf curses and tennis courts.
“The frigid air, no longer trapped by a warm-air jet stream that had strayed farther north than usual and left record-high temperature in 64 cities Tuesday [Jan 31], promised bone-numbing weekend weather for the East Coast and as far south as Arkansas, the National Weather Service said….
“”…on Tuesday [Jan 31]…arctic air rushed into the balmy northern Plains, including Nebraska, North Dakota and Wyoming, dropping temperatures to 10 to 20 below zero. High winds and blowing snow knocked out power in Washington state and parts of northwest Montana. Valentine, Neb., reached a record high of 70 degrees and dropped to zero degrees within 10 hours. The mercury plunged 33 degrees in one hour after the cold front passed Valentine. In Russell, Kan., which had the national high temperature of 84 Tuesday afternoon, it was 12 degrees this morning. In a 24-hour period beginning Monday morning, temperatures fell 79 degrees at Great Falls, Mont., from 62 above to 17 below zero. The state braced for even colder weather today as the system continued southward. ‘It’s the coldest air mass in the last five years, since December of 1983,’ said Bruce Thoricht, a weather service meteorologist at Billings.
“In the town of Cut Bank, about 100 miles north of Helena, a Federal Aviation Administration official said the temperature plunged 23 degrees in one minute, and 103 mph winds dropped the wind chill to 75 below zero. ‘It was a drastic drop, really fast,’ said Glacier County Undersheriff Bill Barron.
“In Lander, winds gusting up to 86 mph dragged a 2-year-old boy down the street, said his mother, Pamela Roberts, who chased after him. The toddler was not seriously hurt. ‘He fell and the wind dragged him along on his face,’ said Roberts, 27. ‘I was trying to hold him and trying to open the door.’
“In the Plains, ranchers worked to secure cattle, particularly newborn calves, in areas that basked in temperatures in the 60s Tuesday but shivered in dangerous wind-chills down to 40 and 50 below this morning…
“Blizzards hit Tuesday in northwestern Minnesota, southeast North Dakota and southern Montana. Cut Bank had 5 inches of snow and Helena 4. Blowing, drifting snow dropped visibility to almost zero in parts of Montana and Minnesota. Snowfall was light this morning in most areas, but forecasters said more wind-whipped snow was predicted in the upper Plains and Midwest tonight.
“The Minnesota state patrol closed a 50-mile stretch of highway in the west-central part of the state for nearly 11 hours through this morning, and troopers Tuesday night led about 100 stranded motorists the 10 miles from Glyndon to Moorhead because Glyndon had no accommodations for them….
“Where snow didn’t fall, high winds fanned a prairie fire in western Nebraska that consumed 8,000 acres of grassland and burned several farm buildings, but destroyed only one house.
“The cold air had been trapped over Alaska by a dome of extremely high atmospheric pressure. The barometer at Northway, Alaska, rose to a North American record high of 31.74 inches of mercury, the weather service reported Tuesday….” (Associated Press. “Polar cold numbs balmy nation.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-1-1989, p. 5.)
Feb 2: “ By the Associated Press. A blast of cold air out of Alaska brought snowstorms and plunging temperatures to the West and Midwest, triggering hundreds of traffic accidents and closing schools, and threatening to end the East’s record warm spell today.
“At least two people died in weather-related traffic accidents in Idaho and Oregon on Wednesday [Feb 1]. Authorities in Coleraine, Minn., blamed minus 20-degree temperatures for the hypothermia death of a 31-year-old woman whose frozen body was found on a sidewalk.
“Snow continued falling today from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Rockies, northern Plains, and upper Mississippi Valley, and was expected to spread to the Great Lakes. Freezing drizzle slickened roads from Missouri to Indiana.
“The foul weather was accompanied by equally foul temperatures in many places. In the Dakotas and Montana, where Gov. Stan Stephens declared a state of emergency, winds up to 40 mph produced wind chills as low as minus 90 degrees Wednesday.
“Low-temperature records for the date were set this morning in Casper, Wyo., where it was 23 below; and Sheridan, Wyo., whose 28-below reading beat the old record by 8 degrees.
“The storms caused traffic accidents in Washington state, Oregon, California and Utah, and knocked out power to thousands of people in Washington, Montana and Utah.
“Snow closed many schools in Washington, Oregon and Idaho on Wednesday, and dangerously low temperatures shut them in Montana today and in North Dakota through Friday. Farther east, some schools in Indiana and Michigan were closed because of freezing rain that made travel hazardous.
“Snowy runways caused delays at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, ferries were kept at their docks in Seattle, pipes froze and auto parts stores reported runs on antifreeze and tire chains.
“Near Truckee, Calif., in the Sierra Nevada 75 miles northeast of Sacramento, a tour bus overturned on icy, wind-swept Interstate 80, sending 23 people to the hospital, authorities said. Six were admitted.
“In Washington, icy roads caused a 100-car string of accidents on Interstate 5 just north of Seattle, said State Patrol spokesman Bill Burkett. More than 200 accidents were reported in the Puget Sound area.” (AP. “Storm blasts its way eastward.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-2-1989, p. 1.)
Feb 3: “By The Associated Press. Freezing drizzle ushered the Big Chill of ’89 deeper into the nation’s midsection and toward the East Coast today, turning highways into glaring stretches of ice and draping trees and power lines in a hardened coat.
“The frigid air mass that spilled into the lower 48 states from Alaska earlier in the week brought more snow today to the weather-weary Pacific Northwest and northern states, threatening crops and endangering newborn livestock.
“The cold spell has closed schools, disrupted travel, and caused power outages at a time when electricity is in high demand. Wind-chill readings between 60 and 80 degrees below zero are common across much of Montana and the Dakotas.
“Stretching across a roughly triangular area from the Pacific Northwest to Texas to New England, the air mass is pushing southward, but at a slower pace than earlier in the week, said Brian Smith on the National Weather Service. ‘It’s moving quite a bit slower now. We’re not getting th really rapid changes in temperatures that we were,’ Smith said today. The below-normal temperatures are expected to linger until the middle of next week.
“Schools in Montana, Nebraska, Washington state, Kansas and elsewhere told students to stay home today because of the snow and cold.
“State-government workers were expected back at work after being sent home at midday Thursday [Feb 2] by Montana Gov. Stan Stephens….
“Six record lows for the date were posted Thursday and early today a record of 14 below zero was set in Goodland, Kan….
“At least four traffic fatalities were blamed on the weather, which slickened highways in a band of freezing rain from Texas to Vermont, In Edmonds, Wash., a 35-year-old utility worker died Thursday [Feb 2] when he fell while trying to repair a downed power line.
“Two men died of exposure, one in Martin, S.D., and the other in Great Falls Mont. In Seattle, where snow is rare, a 12-year-old girl died of head injuries suffered in a sledding accident Thursday….
“The Alaskan air mass also delivered a rare snowfall to parts of northern California. ‘There was snow right down to the beach in Trinidad Harbor,’ Yvonne Lewis, deputy city clerk at the tiny fishing town 300 miles north of San Francisco, said late Thursday….
“Montana ranchers said cattle were giving birth to calves that died from exposure within hours….” (AP. “Frigid wave puts Midwest on ice.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, 2-3-1989, p. 1.)
Feb 4: “Bitingly cold arctic air and freezing drizzle iced highways Friday [Feb 3] from the Northwest to New England and south to Texas, closing scores of schools and one state government and prompting increased aid for the homeless.
“The urge to play in new-fallen snow resulted in four sledding deaths in Washington. Eleven other deaths also were blamed on the weather, including three of hypothermia.
“Temperatures early Friday were below zero all the way south to the middle Mississippi Valley, with readings of 20 below zero to 38 below zero over the Dakotas, Wyoming, much of Montana, Minnesota and northwestern Nebraska, the National Weather Service said.
“In Texas, Austin fell from a high Thursday of 69 to a low Friday of 28, and a freeze warning was posted for the lower Rio Grande Valley.
“Record lows were scattered from Oregon to Iowa, including 35 below zero at Great Falls, Mont. Mason City, Iowa, had a low of 20 below zero, but wind gusting to 31 mph produced a wind chill factor of 78 below zero. Minong, Wis., hit 32 below zero. At noon, the temperature was only 27 degrees below zero at Bozeman and Butte, Mont. The weather service’s official low for the Lower 48 states was 52 degrees below zero at Wisdom, Mont….The cold reached all the way to New Orleans on Friday, less than five days before Mardi Gras….
“Montana’s state government reopened Friday after shutting down the day before because of the cold and wind, by Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan closed his government because of the cold and more than a foot of snow….Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton gave state workers more time to get to work because of icy roads.
“An estimated 300 travelers had been stranded since Wednesday at Dubois, Idaho, and roads out of the area remained closed by snow Friday, among a number of highways closed in the state.
“Many schools in Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington state and Wyoming told students to stay home Friday because of slippery roads and the cold. Some colleges and universities also closed….
“Many cities stepped up aid to the homeless. Shelters in Denver agreed to remain open during the day, rather than putting their clients out on the street until nightfall…The city also contracted with hotels to house homeless people…Some homeless shelters in Oregon reported operating beyond normal capacity. In Minneapolis, as many as 400 people slept outside Thursday night, including 150 in campsites, said Mary Jo Copeland, director of Sharing and Caring, a day shelter for the poor. Four homeless people have been treated for frostbite. Seattle Mayor Charles Royer asked residents to donate blankets, warm clothing toiletries and non-perishable food for the city’s homeless.
“At Paducah, Texas, hundreds of people were left without heat when a 4-inch natural gas pipeline ruptured.” (AP. “Arctic air…chill on nation.” Port Arthur News, 2-4-1989, p. 1 & 2.)
Feb 5: “By The Associated Press. The arctic cold wave that shocked even Alaska moved far enough south to chill Mardi Gras revelers Saturday, while blowing snow and temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero hampered travel in the northern Rockies and Plains.
“At least 23 deaths around the nation were blamed on the cold front, including four in sledding accidents.
“There was too much snow for a major ski competition in Colorado; a group of travelers had to be rescued from a snowbank by a freight train in Wyoming, and a small Idaho town was isolated by drifting snow.
“The Northwest’s giant Bonneville Power Administration, which normally has electricity to spare, sought power and water from elsewhere to meet demand for heat. Texas worried that its natural gas wells couldn’t keep up with demand….
“Record lows for the date Saturday [Feb 4] included 7 degrees at Seattle; 33 below zero at Great Falls, Mont.; 29 below at Duluth, Minn., and 22 below at Billings, Mont. Records also fell as far south as Texas, with a low of 4 at Lubbock and 16 at Wichita Falls, while Midland tied ites record of 9 degrees. But the coldest official reading in the Lower 48 states was 50 below zero at Wisdom, Mont., the weather service said, followed by 44 below at Butte, Mont. By contrast, Anchorage, Alaska, had a low of 12 below zero….
“A foot of snow fell overnight at Alta, Utah, bringing the ski resort’s total since late Wednesday to 49 inches. Some highways in northern Utah were blocked by snowdrifts. Snow fell at an inch an hour in parts of California’s Sierra Nevada. Up to 4 feet of snow fell in the Lake Tahoe area and Norden at Donner Summit got 40 inches of snow over two days, officials said. Intrstate 80 through the Sierra was reopened Friday night after being closed more that a day by blowing snow, but some other highways remained closed by snow….
“Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus declared a state of emergency Saturday in Bonner County, where high wind Wednesday toppled hundreds of trees and left hundreds of people without electricity. The Bonner County Commission requested the declaration after utilities reported power might not be restored until Monday.” (Associated Press. “Cold wave kills 23, attacks Mardi Gras.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-5-1989, p. 1.)
Feb 6: “The Alaskan ‘big chill’ held a frigid grip over nearly the entire nation Sunday [Feb 5], stinging pockets of the South with freezing rain that coated orange trees with ice, canceled airplane flights and closed highways. ‘It looks like the cold weather is going to hang on for a while,’ National Weather Service forecaster Lyle Alexander said. ‘There is still plenty of cold air coming down.’ The cold weather chilled all the lower 48 states except Florida, southern Georgia, southern Arizona and southwest New Mexico, he said. Temperatures below normal were expected through Feb. 13 because of the icy Alaskan air. The cold threatened citrus in California as well as Texas….
“Authorities blamed the weather for at least nine deaths in Texas during the weekend. Four people died of exposure and five were killed in accidents on icy roads. Two people froze to death in Oklahoma and two people have died on icy Oregon highways since the chill slammed the nation…
“Record lows were set or tied Sunday in Abilene, Texas, (9); Alameda, Calif., (34); Astoria, Ore., (9); Billings, Mont., (19 below); Boise, Idaho, (15 below); Calico Rock, Ariz., (8); Eugene, Ore., (4); Hot Springs, Ark., (11); Houston (27); Klamath Falls, Ore., (10 below); Lewiston, Idaho, (5 below); Midland, Texas, (10); Oakland, Calif., (31); Oklahoma City (3); Pendleton, Ore., (15) below); Portland, Ore., (9); Reno, Nev., (5 below); Sacrament, Calif., (24); Salt Lake City (6 below); San Angelo, Texas, (14); San Francisco (31); Seattle (14); Walla Walla, Wash., (13 below); and Wichita Falls, Texas, (7). Denver reached its coldest since Jan. 12, 1963, with 24 below. Ely, Nev., came within 1 degree of its all-time low of 28 below.
“Freezing rain fell from southern and eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley to parts of Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.
“Snow fell in New England, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, northeast and central Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, northern New Mexico, northern Arizona and west central Nevada. Most of the snow was light, but 23 inches was reported on the ground at Red River, N.M.
“In Austin, Texas, where sleet and freezing drizzle fell, Mayor Lee Cooke proclaimed a state of emergency and both houses of the state Legislature planned to take the day off Monday. Some 385 traffic accidents were reported between 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. in the city Sunday, said police communications supervisor Lela Brown….U.S. 77 and U.S. 83 were closed in the Rio Grande Valley and Interstate 10 and U.S. 290 between Houston and Austin were blocked at times by accidents. The entire freeway systems in San Antonio and Corpus Christi were shut down. ‘Every single street out there is frozen up pretty good,’ said police Sgt. Frank Akeroyd in San Antonio. ‘Driving is definitely hazardous,’ he said. ‘We’ve had a number of people step outdoors and fall down. Emergency Medical Service is keeping busy just picking people up off the ground.’….
“A Continental Airlines 727 with 42 people aboard skidded off an icy runway at San Antonio International Airport, but no one was hurt, an airport spokeswoman said. At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, American Airlines canceled 250 of its approximately 400 flights and Delta Airlines canceled 92 flights
“Lone Star Gas of Dallas, which provides natural gas to two-thirds of the state, began curtailing supplies to big industrial clients, including 19 Dallas-area school districts, company spokesman Howard Matson said Sunday….
“The weather service said many bridges and roads were coated with ice in southern Arkansas and western and northern Mississippi. Ice also closed major roads in northern and west central Louisiana. In northern California, a light blanket of snow covered the higher hills of the San Francisco Bay area. Snow was also reported at sea level in Marin County for the first time in 13 years….” (Rushville Republican, IN. “Big chill hits Indiana, U.S.” 2-6-1989, p. 2.)
Feb 7: “Up to 7 feet of snow surprised New Mexico ski areas Monday and closed roads, while the spread of the arctic old wave turned highways into dangerous skating rinks with snow and freezing rain from the deep South to the Northeast.
“A week after the arctic air that stunned Alaska crossed Canada into the Lower 48, thermometers dropped to 49 degrees below zero at Craig, Colo., with an unofficial minus 52 at nearby Hayden, Colo., and San Francisco hit a low of 31, lowest for February since record-keeping began in 1872,
“In Kansas, a third death was blamed on the cold as temperatures began to warm up after subzero temperatures over the weekend. Mary Crane, 82, Lawrence, died from severe hypothermia Sunday night after being found Sunday morning in her dining room, which was heated by two gas heaters that police said were insufficient to heat the room. Carlton Lee, 34, died of hypothermia in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday. Lee, a paraplegic, was found in an unheated home. Lawrence Kingcade, 67, Louisburg, died of hypothermia and a heart attack Saturday night after being found in his home. Officials said. Temperatures warmed to the upper teens and low 20s Monday in north-central and northwest Kansas. Belleville, after a morning low of 2, warmed to 21 degrees. Salina registered a high of 20 and a low of 5 while Russell was at 20 and 2. Beloit and Concordia recorded highs of 19, with Beloit dipping to 4 and Concordia to 1. Goodland recovered from an overnight low of 5 below zero to top out at 17 degrees.
“Icy roads caused accidents and slowed commuters from Texas and Mississippi to Kentucky and Pennsylvania to metropolitan New York City.
“At least 49 deaths have been blamed on the weather since Jan. 31.
“Thirty-three cities posted record low temperatures Monday, according to the National Weather Service. Ely, Nev., dropped to 30 below zero, its coldest on record for any date.” (Associated Press. “Arctic blast spawns snow, freezing rain.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-7-1989, p. 1.
Feb 8: “Californians grabbed their cameras to capture a rare snowfall from the beaches of Malibu to the streets of Pam Springs today…Some Los Angeles suburbs got up to 2 inches of snow….
“After more than a week of record cold in the lower 48 states, warmer temperatures today gave fruit farmers and others something to cheer about. ‘The freeze-a-thon is over,’ the National Weather Service declared in San Antonio, Texas….
“Not that spring is just around the corner. Temperatures today in most places were expected to be only slightly higher than those Tuesday [Feb 7], when records were set in dozens of cities. The bitter cold was expected to linger in Colorado particularly, where it was 35 below zero early today in the town of Craig. And more cold weather came calling from Canada, moving into the norther Plains on Tuesday and heading toward to Great Lakes, where it was expected to hit late today.
“At least 84 deaths have been attributed to the weather since Jan. 31, when bitter arctic air from Alaska made its way into the lower 48 states. In one such death Tuesday, an elderly woman who had more than $5,000 stashed in her plywood shack in Laredo, Texas, died of hypothermia.
“In Idaho, where hundreds of cattle and sheep have died in towering snow drifts, National Guardsmen in helicopters flew over the countryside to help ranchers search for surviving livestock.
“But in one indication of a thaw, the temperature in Fairbanks, Alaska, climbed above zero Tuesday for the first time in 26 days….” (Associated Press. “California residents surprised by snow.” Iola Register, KS. 2-8-1989, p. 2.)
Sources
Appeal-Democrat, Marysville-Yuba City, CA. “Weather.” 2-9-1989, A12. Accessed 7-31-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/marysville-yuba-city-appeal-democrat-feb-09-1989-p-12/
Associated Press. “7 deaths, I-5 closure blamed on Arctic blast.” Ukiah Daily Journal, CA, 2-10-1989, p. 11. Accessed 7-30-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ukiah-daily-journal-feb-10-1989-p-11/
Associated Press. “Arctic air puts chill on nation.” Port Arthur News, TX, 2-4-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-feb-04-1989-p-1/
Associated Press. “Arctic blast spawns snow, freezing rain.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-7-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salina-journal-feb-07-1989-p-1/
Associated Press. “California residents surprised by snow.” Iola Register, KS. 2-8-1989, p. 2. Accessed 7-30-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/iola-register-feb-08-1989-p-2/
Associated Press. “Cold wave kills 23, attacks Mardi Gras.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-5-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salina-journal-feb-05-1989-p-1/
Associated Press. “Frigid wave puts Midwest on ice.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-3-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/walla-walla-union-bulletin-feb-03-1989-p-1/
Associated Press. “Polar cold numbs balmy nation. Temperature drops of 23 degrees in one minute, 80 degrees in a day reported.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-1-1989, p. 5. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/walla-walla-union-bulletin-feb-01-1989-p-5/
Associated Press. “Seven deaths in Texas related to weather.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 2-6-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kerrville-daily-times-feb-06-1989-p-1/
Associated Press. “Snow falls in Los Angeles; freeze continues.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-9-1989, p. 2A. Accessed 7-30-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kannapolis-daily-independent-feb-09-1989-p-2/
Associated Press. “Storm blasts its way eastward.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-2-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-28-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/walla-walla-union-bulletin-feb-02-1989-p-1/
Daily Times (Roger Burr) Farmington, NM. “Cold kills area man.” 2-6-1989, B1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/farmington-daily-times-feb-06-1989-p-1/
Journal-World/Bonnie Dunham, Lawrence, KS. “Hypothermia cited in death.” 2-6-1989, p. 1. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lawrence-journal-world-feb-06-1989-p-1/
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 1, January 1989. Asheville, NC: NCDC, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA. Accessed 7-30-2018 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-351A88C3-75A1-4FCB-A6FC-D12FD2D830AB.pdf
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, February 1989. Asheville, NC: NCDC, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, NOAA. Accessed 7-28-2018 at: https://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-D455E757-57AF-457E-8E37-7EBC2C9E990E.pdf
Rushville Republican, IN. “Big chill hits Indiana, U.S.” 2-6-1989, p. 2. Accessed 7-29-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/rushville-republican-feb-06-1989-p-2/
Taylor, George H. and Raymond R. Hatton. Oregon Weather Book: A State of Extremes. Corvallis: Oregon Sate University Press, 1999.
United Press International. “Woman dies of exposure after fall,” New Castle News, PA, 2-11-1989, p. 9. Accessed 7-30-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-feb-11-1989-p-9/
[1] “At least 49 deaths have been blamed on the weather since Jan. 31.” [Blanchard: have not seen a Jan 31 death.]
[2] Referring on Jan 31-Feb 8 in Western US: “In all there were at least 22 deaths directly attributed to the cold, most resulting from hypothermia brought on by overexposure.”
[3] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 36.
[4] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 17.
[5] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 17.
[6] Associated Press. “Snow falls in Los Angeles; freeze continues.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-9-1989, 2.
[7] Appeal-Democrat, Marysville-Yuba City, CA. “Weather.” 2-9-1989, A12.
[8] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 18,
[9] The car “went over the edge of Soledad Canyon Road. He was found dead in his car at the bottom of a 60-foot ravine.” (NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 18.)
[10] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 18.
[11] Assoc. Press. “Snow falls in Los Angeles; freeze continues.” Daily Independent, Kannapolis, NC, 2-9-1989, 2.
[12] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 18.
[13] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 19.
[14] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 19.
[15] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 20.
[16] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 21.
[17] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 21. Though the NCDC notes the death of a female, we note a press report that: “Carlton Lee, 34, died of hypothermia in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday [3rd]. Lee, a paraplegic, was found in an unheated home.” (AP. “Arctic blast spawns snow, freezing rain.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-7-1989, p. 1.)
[18] A press report notes: “The intense cold weather may have caused the death of an elderly Lawrence woman on Sunday night. A Lawrence Memorial Hospital official said Marie Crane, 82, had been admitted Sunday morning with a diagnosis of ‘severe hypothermia.’….[police] said they found her sitting in her dining room ‘unresponsive and suffering from hypothermia.’ Police also said ‘two gas heaters were turned on, but were insufficient to heat the room and the house was poorly insulated.’….She never regained consciousness [and] died at 9:24 p.m….” (Journal-World/Bonnie Dunham, Lawrence, KS. “Hypothermia cited in death.” 2-6-1989, p. 1.)
[19] AP notes: “Lawrence Kingcade, 67, Louisburg, died of hypothermia and a heart attack Saturday night after being found in his home, officials said.” (AP. “Arctic blast spawns snow, freezing rain.” Salina Journal, KS, 2-7-1989, 1.)
[20] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 24. Notes, under “Ice Storm” heading: “The hardest hit areas were the north-central, northeast, and east-central sections where 1 to 2 inches of ice accumulation on the 5th and 6th resulted in powerline breaks and damage to trees….Numerous traffic accidents were reported with at least six traffic fatalities resulting from icy road conditions.”
[21] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 25.
[22] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 25.
[23] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 25.
[24] Associated Press. “Storm blasts its way eastward,” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-2-1989, p. 1.
[25] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 26.
[26] The NCDC had a date range of Feb 1-5. The precise date of Feb 2 is from: Associated Press. “Frigid wave puts Midwest on ice.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, 2-3-1989, p. 1.
[27] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 1, Jan 1989, p. 27. Listing for Jan 31 is under “Blizzard” category.
[28] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 26.
[29] Daily Times (Roger Burr) Farmington, NM. “Cold kills area man.” 2-6-1989, B1.
[30] Feb 2 “Winter Storm.” “A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain fell over all of Eastern New York. Many local roads became slippery, with hundreds of minor car accidents occurring throughout the area. In Tioga County roads west of Binghamton had to be closed between 4 and 6 am due to the accumulation of ice.”
[31] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 29.
[32] NCDC. Storm Data, Vol. 31, No. 2, Feb 1989, p. 31. Notes he was “middle-aged.”
[33] Associated Press. “Storm blasts its way eastward,” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-2-1989, p. 1.
[34] United Press International. “Woman dies of exposure after fall,” New Castle News, PA, 2-11-1989, p. 9. Notes that temperatures had dropped into the single digits overnight.
[35] I realize Austin is not in northern Texas, but this is a weather-related accident: “Authorities blamed icy road conditions for a crash in Fayette County, east of Austin, that killed a 28-year-old Victoria man. Johnny Darden was killed Saturday night when he lost control of his pickup and slammed into a tree on Interstate 10 west of Schulenburg.” (AP. “Seven deaths in Texas related to weather.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 2-6-1989, p. 1.)
[36] Skidded off bridge. (AP. “Seven deaths in Texas related to weather.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 2-6-1989, p. 1.)
[37] Associated Press. “Seven deaths in Texas related to weather.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 2-6-1989, p. 1. Victim identified as Vance Stone.
[38] NCDC Storm Data report has a date range of Feb 4-6. An AP press report has the death on Feb 5. Notes: “He was attempting to get out of his car and into a wheelchair when the wheelchair slid down an icy ramp and the man was unable to get up, police said.” (AP. “Seven deaths in Texas related to weather.” Kerrville Daily Times, TX, 2-6-1989, p. 1.)
[39] Associated Press. “California residents surprised by snow.” Iola Register, KS. 2-8-1989, p. 2.
[40] Thirty-five-year-old male. (AP. “Frigid wave puts Midwest on ice.” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, 2-3-1989, p. 1.)
[41] This death was determined to be from a heart attack which was related to exposure to extreme cold.
[42] Associated Press. “Storm blasts its way eastward,” Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA, 2-2-1989, p. 1.
[43] United Press International. “Woman dies of exposure after fall,” New Castle News, PA, 2-11-1989, p. 9.
[44] So, for example, vehicular accidents on icy roads would not be included, because viewed as indirect.