An invasion of arctic air occurred on December 12. The arctic air became permanently entrenched over the region for the remainder of the month, resulting in the coldest December on record at Paducah, KY. The average monthly temperature of 25.9 degrees was 11.4 below normal. On the coldest day of the month, the 17th, the high was 17 and the low was 6. Unusually high energy prices, combined with the record cold, caused homeless shelters to fill to capacity. The usual problems associated with frigid temperatures, such as frozen pipes and water main breaks, were common during the latter half of the month. At Brookport, across the river from Paducah, the pipe extending down from the water tower froze, causing it to burst. As a result, Brookport temporarily had no water supply until emergency wells were dug. Heavy ice on the Mississippi River prompted the Coast Guard to restrict barge traffic from Cairo, IL northward.

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in PULASKI, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in SALINE, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WABASH, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WAYNE, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in JACKSON, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in JEFFERSON, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in JOHNSON, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in MASSAC, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in PERRY, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in HARDIN, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WILLIAMSON, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in ALEXANDER, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in EDWARDS, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in FRANKLIN, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in WHITE, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in GALLATIN, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in HAMILTON, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in UNION, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Extreme Cold/Wind Chill in POPE, ILLINOIS
From 12-DEC-00 00:01:00 to 31-DEC-00 23:59:00 (CST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC