Throughout 2014 the Midwest had some of the lowest temperatures in history. It started in January when the Midwest had the lowest temperatures in nearly 20 years. On January 6th 2014, St. Louis had a low of -8 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the city's coldest since February 1996, and had a high of 2 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the city's coldest high since Jan 1994. Indianapolis also had a record breaking low on January 6th 2014 when the city's low reached -15 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the coldest since January 1994. Milwaukee on January 7th 2014 reached a low of -13 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the coldest since January 1999. Chicago also reached a low of -14 degrees Fahrenheit, which was the coldest noon temperature since January 1994.
According to NOAA, 47 people died of cold weather in 2013-2014 making it one of the coldest winters in parts of the Midwest.
In March, another cold blast brought record setting cold temperatures to 18 states east of the Rockies.
These repeated cold spells brought the most expansive and long-lasting ice cover in years to the Great Lakes.
Sources:
http://www.weather.com/news/weather/news/top-weather-stories-2014#/14
Diane (Da-Yeon) Kim