North Texas is known for its generally mild winters, but the area has nonetheless experienced some exceptionally frigid days.
These cold spells can include challenges such as icy roads and heightened energy demands, and some terrible accidents that have included fatalities.
According to the National Weather Service, here are the five coldest days in North Texas.
1. Feb. 12, 1899: minus 8 degrees
A severe arctic blast affected much of the country during the first half of February in 1899. Temperatures fell below zero in every state. A century later, records from that coldest day remainunchallenged.
Between Feb. 4-13, only eight hours with temperatures at or above freezing were reported, according to the National Weather Service’s office in Fort Worth.
With winds blowing at over 30 mph, the thermometer marked a low of minus 8 degrees the morning of Feb. 12.
Dallas went down to minus 10 degrees and Grapevine fell to minus 12 degrees.
2. Feb. 16 2021: minus 2 degrees
A historic winter storm and arctic outbreak hit North Texas. It affected most of the state and many parts of the country. Records were broken across Texas, and winter storm warnings were issued across the entire state.
A freezing drizzle created a thin coating of ice on many roadways that led to numerous cars sliding off the road, including a pileup of over 100 vehicles that resulted in several fatalities on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth.
According to the weather service, 5 inches of snow was reported at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. The area spent 93 consecutive hours at or below freezing, from 5 p.m. Feb. 9 to 2 p.m. Feb 13.
3. Dec. 23, 1989: minus 1 degree
A cold wave brought several surges of arctic air into the central and eastern United States, beginning in mid-December and lasting until Christmas.
The city of Dallas suffered $25 million in damage caused by broken pipes, along with losses at manufacturing plants. Other areas in the southeast U.S. had similar damage from frozen pipes.
The cold wave brought snow to some areas of Florida, giving many parts of the statetheir first White Christmas on record.
4. Jan. 12, 1912: 1 degree
North Texas was gripped by two cold waves, one on Jan. 6 and the other on Jan. 12.
Temperatures plummeted across the state with each cold wave, leaving little time for preparation. Unprotected vegetation died, and the weather was linked to widespread agricultural losses.
According to The Dallas Morning News archives, local temperature dropped at 11 a.m. from 55 degrees to 24 degrees in the afternoon. By 7 p.m., temperature had dropped to 14 degrees. After 7 p.m., when the cold wave really hit North Texas, pushing the temperature to just 1 degree.
5. Feb. 8, 1933: 2 degrees
According to The News archives, a winter blast hit North Texas and part of Oklahoma, dropping temperatures to 7 degrees by 6 p.m. Heavy snow blanketed the city. Snow continued through the night for several hours.
At 11:30 p.m., the thermometer at Dallas Love Field dropped to 4 degrees, before dipping overnight to 2 degrees.
Two Texans died as a result of the winter storm, which was blamed for heavy damage to fruit, and other crops.
An 18-year-old boy and a 62-year-old doctor died during the cold wave, and according to the coroners office, their deaths were caused by exposure.