From NWS
2000: Unseasonably cold weather spread across Iowa on October 7-9. A hard freeze occurred statewide on the morning of the 7th and on the 8th temperatures bottomed out in the teens across northwestern Iowa including readings of 14 F at Sheldon and Spencer. This was the lowest temperature recorded in Iowa so early in the season since October 6, 1935. Other low temperatures around the area included 15 F at Cherokee and Onawa, 16 F at Rock Rapids and Sibley, and 17 F at Logan, Primghar, and Sioux City. A few snow flurries were also reported with no accumulation.

8 October 1871 → Prolonged drought and gusty winds led to massive destruction with the Chicago Fire and Peshtigo Fire. The Chicago Fire destroyed 17,000 buildings. The Peshtigo Fire killed at least 1200 people making it our nation’s deadliest fire. There were other major fires this day in Holland, Port Huron, and Manistee in Michigan. 8 October 1982 → An unusually early snowstorm struck the Black Hills of Wyoming and South Dakota. In parts of the region, more than four and a half feet of snow were reported.

Posted under Weather History