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.
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