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New Local Weather Records Set During 2017-2018 Arctic Cold Blast

Last Updated on February 13, 2022 9:02 am

Over the span of the two weeks that ended 2017 and began 2018 there were plenty of weather records set during the Artic cold outbreak. Below are some facts and figures from the reporting stations in Boone.

A wind chill of -20 was recorded in Boone at 6:15am on Friday January 5th. It is not currently known how that stands regarding wind chill records.

A peak wind gust of 54 mph was recorded at 6:35am on Friday January 5th. That is not a record but is notable considering the cold. A history of wind gusts records can be found at this link.

*Graphics courtesy of State Climate Office*

0 degrees on January 8 became the 5th lowest temperature for that date.

0 degrees on January 7 became the 2nd lowest temperature for that date.

 

2 degrees on January 6 tied for lowest temperature for that date.

2 degrees on January 3  became the 4th lowest temperature for that date.

1 degree on January 2 became the 3rd lowest temperature for that date.

3 degrees on January 1 is tied for 3rd lowest temperature for that date.

 When the temperature hit 33 degrees on Monday January 8, 2018 at 8:55am Boone ended 217 hours and 55 minutes of below freezing temperatures.

Dating back to 1929, which is when records began for Boone, below are new records set for December 25  – January 8.

For December 25, 2017 – January 8, 2018:

With an average mean temperature of 17.6 degrees, it is now the coldest on record. That breaks the former record of 21 degrees from Dec 25, 1929 to January 8, 1940. 

With an average high temperature of 26.2 degrees, it is now the coldest high on record. That breaks the former record of 29.5 degrees from Dec 25, 1929 to January 8, 1940. 

With an average low temperature of 9.0 degrees, it is now the coldest low on record. That breaks the former record of 12.5 degrees from Dec 25, 1929 to January 8, 1940. 

 

As far as modern day, 1980 until present day, Top 5 records for the same time period of December 25- January 8:

Average mean temperatures

2017-2018: 17.5 degrees

2000-2001: 22 degrees

2009-2010: 23.4

1983-1984: 23.7

1998-1999: 23.9

Average high temperatures

2017-2018: 25.9

2009-2010: 29.7

2000-2001: 30.6

1998-1999: 31.9

1983-1984: 32.7

Average low temperatures

2017-2018: 9.0 degrees

2000-2001: 13.4

2013-2014: 14.1

1983-1984: 14.7

1998-1999: 15.8

 

The extended cold period is tied for second overall for consecutive days of a maximum temperature equal to or less than 30 degrees.

1929-1980

1980-2018

 

The period December 25, 2017 – January 7, 2018 was the coldest such period on record in many locations in the Southeast.

 

 

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