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Facts 02/12/2025 12:47

The 1943 Spearfish Temperature Shock: A Record-Breaking Weather Whiplash

One of the Most Extreme Temperature Swings Ever Recorded: The 1943 Spearfish Weather Whiplash

On January 22, 1943, the small town of Spearfish, South Dakota, became the site of one of the most extraordinary temperature fluctuations ever documented in meteorological history. In the early morning hours, residents experienced a dramatic and almost unbelievable shift in weather conditions. At approximately 7:30 a.m., the temperature stood at a frigid –4°F. Within just two minutes, a burst of warm Chinook winds swept down from the nearby Black Hills, causing the temperature to skyrocket to 45°F. This 49-degree surge is regarded as one of the fastest natural temperature increases ever reliably recorded.

The sudden arrival of warm, dry air created immediate physical effects throughout the town. Frost on windows and surfaces evaporated almost instantly, and the thermal shock caused some glass panes to crack or shatter outright. Cars, buildings, and utility structures experienced rapid expansion as the extreme cold was abruptly replaced by spring-like warmth. Longtime residents recalled the surreal sensation of stepping outside and feeling winter vanish in a matter of seconds, replaced by a mild breeze more typical of late April than mid-January.
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However, the atmosphere’s volatility was far from over. A few hours later, the Chinook winds weakened and then reversed as a dense mass of Arctic air surged back into the region. The temperature, which had climbed into the mid-50s, began to collapse. In only 27 minutes, Spearfish plunged from 54°F back to –4°F, marking a dramatic 58-degree drop. This extraordinary swing sent the town hurtling back into deep winter almost as quickly as it had warmed, completing one of the most intense weather whiplashes ever observed.

This event has since become a benchmark in the study of rapid atmospheric changes. Meteorologists note that Chinook winds—warm, downslope winds common on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains—are known for generating abrupt temperature increases. However, the scale and speed of the 1943 Spearfish episode remain unparalleled in most historical records. It stands as a vivid reminder of how complex interactions between topography, air masses, and wind dynamics can produce extreme and sudden environmental transformations.
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The Spearfish temperature swing continues to be cited in modern discussions of climate variability, extreme weather behavior, and the physics of adiabatic heating. For scientists, the event offers valuable insight into the power of atmospheric dynamics; for residents of the region, it remains an unforgettable moment when the weather seemed to change seasons in minutes.

Reputable Sources

  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Climate and weather event archives.

  • U.S. National Weather Service (NWS), Rapid City Office – Historical records of the 1943 Spearfish temperature swing.

  • American Meteorological Society – Analyses of Chinook wind effects and extreme temperature fluctuations.

  • Monthly Weather Review – Peer-reviewed discussions on abrupt atmospheric temperature changes.

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