MOUNT CARROLL, Ill. (AP) – Illinois has a new official statewide record minimum temperature of minus 38, set Jan. 31 in the northwestern Illinois city of Mount Carroll.
The Illinois State Climatologist’s office said Wednesday that the State Climate Extreme Committee unanimously voted to validate the reading as the new state record low. It bests the previous minimum temperature record of minus 36 set in the central Illinois village of Congerville on Jan. 5, 1999.
Mount Carroll is reclaiming the record low distinction. It previously held the record at minus -35 from January 1930 until it tied with Elizabeth in February 1996.
Mount Carroll has a daily observation station that has been in service since 1895. It has been observing temperatures since 1897. Staff at the city of Mount Carroll’s water treatment plant operate the station.
The new record low came amid a stretch of double-digit subzero days in late January.
