Support Us Button Widget

Remembering Kansas City’s coldest day on record

Does the sound of -23° temps send a chill down your spine?

KCtoday_snow

It’s a beautiful winter wonderland, until you have to drive in it.

Photos by @sammiemedia_

There’s no getting around it: It’s cold, KC.

Windchills are expected to dip as low as -15° this week, so we’re staying inside and looking back at some of the headlines on the coldest days we’ve had here in Kansas City.

The day the cold set records

The metro’s coldest day on record took place on December 23, 1989, when temperatures hit a record-breaking -23°.

That sure puts this weather in perspective, huh? The closest we’ve come to that temperature in the past few weeks was when temps dropped to 9° on Monday, Jan. 6.

KCtoday_Newspaper Clipping

Ah, the days before online shopping...

Photo via Newspapers.com

What the headlines said

So, what else was going on in Kansas City on the coldest day on record? Looking back, the city’s newspapers shared the aftermath of the Berlin Wall’s fall days earlier and reported on the start of KU Med’s liver transplant program in its “Metropolitan” section. Another sign of the times: the metro’s largest paper was still split into two editions, the morning Times and the afternoon Star.

The papers also covered the intense weather we were having at the time, saying “sub-freezing weather was not enough to keep people from crowding area stores for traditional last minute [holiday] shopping.”

How to weather the weather today

Ok, so we’re not breaking records (yet), but that doesn’t mean braving this weather is easy. Thankfully, we have 15+ museums to explore and plenty of indoor activities to cozy up with.

Don’t forget to check in on our city’s inclement weather resources and take a peek at what the rest of the season has in store for us. Who knows, maybe this will be a record-breaking year after all.

More from KCtoday
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
Including gifts for significant others, retirees, holiday parties, young people, and gifts that ship fast.
Mark your calendars for Friday, Oct. 24 — we’re breaking down every stop from Union Station to UMKC.
Here’s the deal — the swap meet and vintage shopping scene is stellar in the KC metro.
Raking in the leaves? Here’s how to bag, bundle, and bin them the KCMO-approved way this fall and spring.
Dining in Kansas City is always a fresh experience with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
Structures deemed significant have special protections + rules regarding exterior renovations, upkeep, and demolition. Check if your home falls under this designation, along with tools to research its history.
Whether you’re looking to pick your own or pick it up from the country store, we’ve got 9 of the metro’s best spots for seasonal fun.
The Bam Bam Room is ready to welcome beginners and seasoned players for daily games and boutique finds.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.