...1784... "Great Winter Freshet" occurred on Merrimack River in New Hampshire, the highest since 1740. A high flood also occurred on the Connecticut River at Hartford.

...1886... A big snowstorm in the southeastern U.S. produced 11 inches at Montgomery AL, 18.5 inches at Rome GA, and 22.5 inches at Knoxville TN.

...1926... The low temperature dipped to 6 degrees at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the record of 15 degrees, set in 1911.

...1941... The temperature at Enosburg Falls soared to 72 degrees to establish a state record for Vermont for the month of December.

...1953... A killer tornado hit Vicksburg MS killing 38 persons, injuring 270 others, and causing 25 million dollars damage, the most damage since the forty-seven days of continuous shelling the town received in the Civil War.

...1981... An explosively deepening ocean storm southeast of New England caught forecasters off guard and unloaded heavy snow over New England. By the time it was all over on the 6th, Boston, Massachusetts was buried under 13.5 inches of snow. Some places south and west of Boston and in Rhode Island had over 2 feet of the white stuff.

...1984... A heavy snowfall, which began on the 4th, came to an end over central and northern Oklahoma. 6.1 inches fell at Oklahoma City, which set a new record for the heaviest snowfall for so early in the season. 10 inches of snow was measured at Skiatook.

...1987... Heavy snow blanketed parts of the north central U.S., and freezing drizzle produced a coat of ice up to half an inch thick in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Snowfall totals ranged up to seven inches at Grand Rapids MN, and 12 inches at Seney MI. High winds in the north central U.S. gusted to 63 mph at Pellston MI, and reached 70 mph at Mackinaw Bridge MI.

...1988... There was only a "flurry" of activity, as for much of the nation winter remained on hold. The cold and snow of winter was primarily confined to the northeastern U.S. Five cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Norfolk NE with a reading of 65 degrees.

...1989... A warm Pacific storm system brought high winds and heavy rain to western Washington and western Oregon. Up to ten inches of rain deluged the western slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range in Washington State over a three day period, and 500 persons had to be evacuated due to flooding along the Skagit River. Up to five inches of rain drenched northwest Oregon, and winds gusted to 71 mph at Netarts.

...1993... The high daily rainfall was set at Newport, Newport, Rhode Island with 2.81 inches recorded (.71 inches in one hour), breaking the record of 1.77 inches set in 1923.

...2001... The high temperature at Newport, Rhode Island peaked at 67 degrees, breaking the record of 61 degrees set back in 1951.

...2002... At Newport, Rhode Island 8.3 inches of snow was recorded, breaking the previous record of 4.5 inches, set back in 1926.