On this date, a record cold wave swept through the Illinois frontier on this date in 1936. With winds of 70 mph, temperatures dropped from 40 degrees to zero in a matter of hours. Folklore told of chickens frozen in their tracks and streams frozen with up to a foot of ice.

THURSDAY'S WEATHER EXTREMES:
   HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F).........................84 Plant City, Fla.
   HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)..........................84 Tampa Macdill AFB, Fla.
   LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)..........................-29 Kremmling, Colo.
   LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)...........................-61 Bettles, Alaska
   HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH).................................83 Palacios, Texas
   HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)..........................2.32 North Bend, Ore.