Rockford’s Big Chill: The Ten Coldest Days in City History

On Tuesday, it was dang cold in the Rockford area and across much of Illinois.

While the temperature was below zero for much of the day, after my brain thawed out, I was interested to see how it stacked up against the coldest days in Rockford's history.

While we were deep frozen yesterday, it's nowhere near as cold as the coldest days ever.

A Historic Perspective: Rockford's Cold Snap

As a matter of fact, it wouldn't even place in the top ten or even twenty of coldest days in the city's history, according to Extreme Weather Watch.

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In case you're wondering, the coldest temperature in Rockford was only a few years ago.

Frozen Memories: A Day to Forget or Remember

Do you remember what you were doing on Thursday, January 31, 2019?

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It was only five years ago, and it is the coldest day ever in the Forest City.

It was so cold that day you'd consider re-nicknaming the town the Frozen City. That's because temps dipped to -31°F, marking it the coldest ever.

Unfreezing the Records: Top Ten Coldest Days

HThe top ten coldest days in Rockford look like this:

1. -31°F on January 31, 2019

2. -27°F on January 10, 1982

3. -26°F on January 20, 1985

4. -25°F on January 30, 2019

4. -25°F on January 16, 2009

4. -25°F on January 17, 1982

4. -25°F on February 9, 1933

4. -25°F on January 5, 1924

9. Nine other dates share a low of -24°F

The Temperature Challenge: Not Quite the Record Low

So, while the -12°F we got just a day ago was chilly, it was even in the top 20 coldest days in city history.

It is still cold, but it is not close to the coldest day ever.

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Take a closer look at the most extreme temperatures in Illinois and every state in America below.