December 17 Weather History

...1743... Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia were buried in the greatest snowstorm known to settlers.

...1884... A three week blockade of snow began at Portland OR. A record December total of 34 inches was received.

...1924... A severe ice storm struck central Illinois. It coated the ground with nearly two inches of glaze at Springfield. The storm caused 21 million dollars damage along with much hardship. Ice was on the trees until the 4th of January, and electricity was not restored until January 10th.

...1929... An ice storm in western New York State resulted in much damage and hardship. A Buffalo report stated, "one was kept awake by the breaking limbs, which snapped off with a report much louder than a rifle shot." (17th-18th) 

...1930... Greensboro, North Carolina experienced its greatest 24 hour snowfall when 14.3 inches fell. Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina had 14.4 inches for its greatest snowstorm on record.

...1942... The temperature at Newport, Rhode Island dipped to minus 1 degree, breaking the record of 0 degrees set back in 1919.

...1964... An arctic outbreak made its way into the Northwest with a blizzard in Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Heavy snow also fell in the coastal sections. Walla Walla, Washington had a temperature of 20 degrees below zero, for a new December low.

...1973... 3.13 inches of rain fell at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the record of 1.58 inches set in 1970.

...1987... A storm in the southwestern U.S. brought heavy rain and heavy snow to parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Charleston NV was blanketed with 12 inches of snow. Lake Havasu City AZ was drenched with 2.26 inches of rain.

...1988... Squalls brought locally heavy snow to the southeastern shores of Lake Michigan. Totals in Michigan ranged up to 14 inches at Harvey. Totals in Ohio ranged up to 16 inches at Chardon.

...1989... Twenty-one cities from Kentucky to Pennsylvania reported record low temperatures for the date, including Columbus OH with a reading of 12 degrees below zero. Heavy snow continued in the Colorado Rockies. Vail received 65 inches of snow between the 14th and the 18th of December. Steamboat Springs was buried under 74 inches, and reported a total of 108 inches of snow between the 10th and the 18th of the month.

...2000... Newport, Rhode Island recorded a wind gust of 53 miles per hour, breaking the record of 48 miles per hour set back in 1968. 0.95 inches of rain fell in one hour, setting the record high for the date.

...2002... Thunderstorms preceding a strong cold front pushed into the U.S. Mississippi Valley, producing severe weather and tornadoes. Three people were killed in Missouri and Arkansas with more than 40 injuries .

...2008... A winter storm dumped as much as 3.6 inches of snow across Las Vegas, Nevada, prompting the closure of schools and highways. This was the largest December snowfall on record and the heaviest snowfall since January 1979 when a total of 7.5 inches fell .

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