In 1899, Georgia Plunged Into An Arctic Freeze That Makes Last Year's Winter Look Downright Mild

When people hear the term “arctic freeze” they often picture something prehistoric. However, in 1899, there was a freeze that swept across the entire country, affecting pretty much all of the United States. The Great Blizzard of 1899, also known as the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 was exceptionally severe for the east coast, including the state of Georgia. Some of the coldest temperatures and highest snowfalls recorded in state history happened during this storm, often in places where you would least expect it.

NOAA

A cold wave took the United States by storm, no pun intended, and each state was affected in some way or another.

Flickr Anthony Catalano

For instance, Portland, Oregon dropped to 9 degrees, while Boise, Idaho dropped to -9 degrees.

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Georgia was affected so badly that it took years to recover, as crops and livestock perished from the conditions. The record low temperature in Georgia fell to below 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Flickr Paul Boudreau

Over 100 people were said to have lost their lives during the Great Arctic Outbreak, with numerous buildings and infrastructure damaged, too.

Did you hear about the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899? Share with us your thoughts about this weather phenomenon in the comments section! Also, don’t worry, the winter weather predictions for Georgia this year aren’t anything like what happened in 1899.