...1830... A very heavy snowstorm ushered in the "winter of the deep snow". The storm produced 30 inches of snow at Peoria IL and 36 inches at Kansas City MO. Cold and snow continued until the middle of February causing great suffering among pioneers.

...1862... The Union assault on Chicksaw Bluffs (Vicksburg) was hindered by heavy rains and flooding of the Yazoo River. The Confederate forces, aided by the weather, repelled their attackers.

...1894... A severe freeze hit Florida destroying fruit and causing considerable damage to trees.

...1917... The low temperature at Newport, Rhode Island bottomed out at 8 degrees below zero, breaking the record of 8 degrees in 1903. This extreme cold wave just started and continued till January 2, 1918 when the temperature fell below for 5 consecutive nights, setting an all time record there.

...1919... The American Meteorological Society was founded at St. Louis, Missouri

...1945... 8.3 inches of snow fell at Newport, Rhode Island on this day, breaking the record of 4 inches set in 1903.

...1954... Fort Scott KS was buried under 26 inches of snow in 24 hours to establish a state record. (28th-29th)

...1956... The barometer fell to 28.66 inches at Newport, Rhode Island, breaking the record of 29.31 inches from 1929.

...1984... One hundred cities in the central and eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures. Kansas City MO experienced its warmest December day of record with a morning low of 60 degrees and an afternoon high of 71 degrees.

...1987... A storm off the Middle Atlantic Coast produced heavy snow in the Appalachians and the northeastern U.S. Snow and high winds created blizzard conditions in southeastern Massachusetts. Cape Cod received thirteen inches of snow, and snow drifts three feet deep were reported around Chatham MA. Strong winds produced wind chill readings as cold as 60 degrees below zero in southwestern New England. In the western U.S., a Pacific coast storm produced heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada Range of California, with 24 inches reported at Mammoth Mountain.

...1988... A cold front brought rain and snow to the northwestern U.S. The rainfall total of 2.70 inches at Astoria OR was a record for the date. High winds along the eastern slopes of the Northern Rockies gusted to 81 mph at Livingston MT.

...1989... Snow and ice prevailed from the southwestern U.S. to the Great Lakes Region. Flagstaff AZ received nine inches of snow in just six hours. Bitter cold weather continued over Maine. Portland ME reported a record twenty-two straight days with highs 32 degrees or colder.