What Happened On January 22nd?

Imagine stepping outside on a frosty winter morning, bundled up against the -4°F (-20°C) bite of the air. Two minutes later, the temperature soars to a chilly, but comfortable 45°F (+7°C). Sounds impossible, right?

Yet, that’s exactly what happened in Spearfish, South Dakota on this day in 1943 as the fastest temperature change ever was recorded in meteorological history! How on earth did the temperature jump 49°F (27°C) in just two minutes?

This increase in temperature wasn’t due to some sci-fi anomaly, but to a powerful and capricious weather phenomenon known as a chinook wind. These warm, dry winds, often descend from the Rocky Mountains, can abruptly alter temperatures, sometimes even raising them by tens of degrees in minutes. But even for a chinook, the Spearfish event was off the charts.

Around 7:30 AM on a chilly day in Spearfish, a fierce chinook roared in, whipping up the snow and sent temperatures skyrocketing. Then, it was only -4°F (-20°C). By 7:32 AM, the thermometer had jumped a jaw-dropping 49°F, leaving Spearfish residents baffled and shivering in coats suddenly feeling far too heavy.

Chinook Wind Over Mountain Range

The record-breaking temperature swing lasted only a short time, with the chinook giving way to colder air later that morning. Nonetheless, this unbelievable two minute span solidified the town’s place in meteorological history.

So next time you hear the wind picking up on a cold winter day, remember the day the Earth blinked in Spearfish. It’s a story to appreciate the power of nature and maybe keep an extra sweater handy, just in case.

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

What’s the fastest temperature change (cooler or warmer) that you have experienced or have learned about?

Was it even close to the 49°F jump that you learned about?

Respond below!