Posted in South Dakota Nature January 26, 2018 by

75 Years Ago, A Bizarre Phenomenon Caused Windows To Crack In This Tiny South Dakota Town

Winter weather in the Black Hills can certainly be fickle, but on January 22, 1943 wild temperature swings set a world record. Take a look!

In the third week of January, 1943, the little town of Spearfish was experiencing frigid temperatures of -4 degrees after an arctic chill had settled in.
Paul/flickr
On the morning of January 22nd, at around 7:30 am, Chinook winds blew down from the top of the Black Hills, into Spearfish, warming up the temperature from -4 degrees to 45 degrees in just two minutes.
Doc Searls/flickr
The drastic change in temperature in just two minutes set a world record that remains unbroken today.
Jordan Wilms/flickr
The 49 degree temperature change in only two minutes time was unheard of. The record shocked the National Weather Service, and even appeared in Ripley's Believe It Or Not. The temperature continued to climb, and by 9 am, it was 54 degrees in Spearfish.
When the Chinooks died down just a few hours later, the arctic air returned, and temperatures began to fall again.
Spearfish Canyon Lodge/Facebook
It took just 27 minutes for the temperature to plunge from 58 degrees back to -4 degrees. The shift was so quick that windows frosted over, and many cracked from the sudden temperature change.
Lorianne DiSabato/flickr
What a day! In the space of just a few hours, the temperature in Spearfish rose from -4 degrees to 58 degrees, then fell right back to -4 degrees again. From frigid... to balmy... to frigid again.

Do you remember the winter of 1943? We’d love to hear your stories about this incredible weather day!

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