Weather map showing cyclone centered in Colorado. Cold advection behind this system led to the record cold snap.

In mid-January 1888, a severe cold wave passed through the Pacific Northwest. It led to a blizzard for the northern Plains and upper Mississippi valley where many children were trapped in schoolhouses where they froze to death. This tragedy became known as the Schoolhouse Blizzard, Schoolchildren's Blizzard, or The Children's Blizzard.^[1] This cold snap and blizzard were part of a month which averaged temperatures 6-12 degrees Fahrenheit below normal across much of the northern and western United States.^[2] 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Pacific Northwest from space This page is about the region that includes parts of Canada and the US. For the US only region, see Northwestern United States The Pacific Northwest (abbreviated PNW, or PacNW) or Cascadia is a region in the northwest of North America. ... The Schoolhouse Blizzard, also known as the Schoolchildrens Blizzard (or The Childrens Blizzard), hit the U.S. plains states on January 12, 1888. ...

Synoptic overview

The cold wave was initiated by a storm system which dropped southward from Canada on January 11 into Colorado on January 12 and onward into the Great Lakes on January 13. The subsequent cold wave extended all the way into the citrus growing areas of southern California.^[3] The cyclone led to a blizzard across Nebraska, North Dakota, and Minnesota. After a recent warm spell, many people were caught off guard by the cold and snow. Hundreds of adults and children alike fell victim, while thousands of cattle died during the event. January 11 is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Great Lakes from space The Great Lakes are a group of five large lakes in North America on or near the Canada-United States border. ... January 13 is the 13th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... Official language(s) English Capital Lincoln Largest city Omaha Area  Ranked 16th  - Total 77,421 sq mi (200,520 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 430 miles (690 km)  - % water 0. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Capital Saint Paul Largest city Minneapolis Area  Ranked 12th  - Total 87,014 sq mi (225,365 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 400 miles (645 km)  - % water 8. ...

Severity of the event

Record low temperatures were set, including −65 degrees Fahrenheit at Fort Keogh (near Miles City, Montana) on January 14. At the time, it was the lowest temperature ever recorded in the continental United States.^[4] It was not until 1933 that a lower temperature was read in the 48 continguous states (−66 °F in West Yellowstone, Montana). Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... Miles City is a city located in Custer County, Montana. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... West Yellowstone is a town located in Gallatin County, Montana. ...

Other notable records set during this cold wave are −41 °F in St. Paul, Minnesota, −30 °F in Spokane, Washington, −28 °F in Boise, Idaho, −2 °F in downtown Portland, Oregon, 1 °F in Newport, Oregon, and −20 °F in Eureka, California. All of these readings still stand as the record low for each location. Further, high temperatures of −10 °F in Spokane and 9 °F in Portland still stand as the coldest ever recorded. State capitol building in Saint Paul Saint Paul is the capital and second-largest city of the state of Minnesota in the United States of America. ... Nickname: The Lilac City Location of Spokane in Spokane County and Washington Coordinates: Country United States State Washington County Spokane Mayor Dennis P. Hession Area    - City 151. ... Nickname: City of Trees Motto: Energy Peril Success Location of Boise in the State of Idaho Coordinates: Country United States State Idaho County Ada Founded 1863 Incorporated 1864 Mayor David H. Bieter (NP) Area    - City 165. ... Nickname: City of Roses, Stumptown, Bridgetown, PDX Location in Multnomah County and the state of Oregon Coordinates: Country United States State Oregon County Multnomah County Incorporated February 8, 1851 Mayor Tom Potter Area    - City 376. ... Newport is a city located in Lincoln County, Oregon, USA. It was incorporated in 1882, though the name dates back to the establishment of a post office in 1868. ... The Carson Mansion (1885) in Eurekas Old Town Eureka (from Greek εὕρηκα, I have found, perfect of εὑρίσκω, I find) is the county seat of Humboldt County, California, USA. The population was 26,128 at the 2000 census. ...

In Denver, while not record setting, temperatures fell to -18 F while winds peaked at 60 mph.^[5] In California, temperatures fell to 20 F in Eureka and 29 F in San Francisco on January 14.^[6] Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... January 14 is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

See Also

• Blizzard
• Cold wave
• Schoolhouse Blizzard
• Snow

ground blizzrds are found in Wyoming,Monatana,New York, and Swizerland // [edit] Headline text Look up Blizzard in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Schoolhouse Blizzard, also known as the Schoolchildrens Blizzard (or The Childrens Blizzard), hit the U.S. plains states on January 12, 1888. ... Animation of snowcover changing with the seasons. ...

References