NEWS: 1994

As 1994 begins, it's clear and 22 degrees F at Baltimore's weather station (at BWI Airport). The wind is from the west at 7 miles an hour.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) takes effect in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

It's the beginning of the International Year of the Family, and the International Year of Sport and the Olympic Ideal, as proclaimed by the United Nations.

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: Clear, becoming cloudy; light rain in the late evening; breezy from late morning to mid-afternoon; High temp. 40 F; Low temp. 16 F; Precipitation: 0.11 inch.  One inch of snow on the gorund.

Figure skater Nancy Kerrigan is struck on the lower right thigh with a telescopic baton by assailant Shane Stant as she is walking down a corridor in Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Kerrigan had been practicing skating on an ice rink in the arena shortly beforehand. (The attack was planned by Jeff Gillooly, the ex-husband of fellow American figure skater Tonya Harding, and his co-conspirator Shawn Eckardt. They hired Stant, and his uncle Derrick Smith, to carry out the attack. Gillooly and Eckardt both claimed that Harding was involved in the attack and had knowledge of it beforehand. Harding initially denied all knowledge of the attack, but soon accepted a plea agreement admitting to helping cover up the attack after the fact. Later, both a grand jury and a disciplinary panel from the United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) would find further evidence of her involvement during the planning and execution phases.The attack was intended to prevent Kerrigan from taking part in the ongoing 1994 United States Figure Skating Championships and the forthcoming Winter Olympics, thus increasing the prospects of Harding in both figure skating events. Kerrigan could not compete in the US Championship but recovered in time to compete in the Winter Olympics. Both Kerrigan and Harding competed in the Olympics, but Harding was later banned for life from USFSA figure skating events.)

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: Partly cloudy, then cloudy, then mostly cloudy, thn cloudy; High temp. 33 F; Low temp. 24 F; Precipitation: None.  A trace of snow on the ground.

Baltimore radio station WVRT (Variety 104.3) at 104.3 FM becomes WSSF (Soft 104.3), playing soft hits.

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: High temp. 42° F; Low temp. 29° F; Precip.: None.

The low temperature in Baltimore reaches -5 degrees F, the lowest-ever temperature in Baltimore on any January 19th since recordkeeping began in 1871.

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: Clear most of the day, then cloudy with snow flurries; breezy/windy until mid-afternoon (28-mph gust at 10:00 am); High temp. 5 F; Low temp. -5 F; Precipitation: Trace (liquid).  One inch of snow on the ground.

In the NFL's Super Bowl XXVIII (28), the Dallas Cowboys defeat the Buffalo Bills 30-13. The game is played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. It's the Buffalo Bills' fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance and their fourth consecutive Super Bowl loss. It's also the second consecutive Super Bowl in which the Cowboys and the Bills play each other.

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: A trace of snow; High temp. 39° F; Low temp. 30° F; Precip.: Trace (liquid).  No snow on the ground.

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: High temp. 38° F; Low temp. 25° F; Precip.: None.

The total precipitation for Baltimore during January 1994 is 4.59 inches, including melted snow and ice, above the normal amount of 3.08 inches.  The average daily high temperature for Baltimore during January 1994 is 34.8 degrees F, well below the normal of 43.2 degrees.  The average daily low temperature for Baltimore during January 1994 is 19.3 degrees F, well below the normal of 25.4 degrees.  A total of 4.9 inches of snow falls at Baltimore's official weather station at BWI Airport during January 1994, below the normal amount of 6.4 inches.

Former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon dies at age 81 in New York, New York. He was the 37th President of the United States, in office from January 20, 1969 until he resigned on August 9, 1974. He resigned after the release of the "smoking gun" (audio) tape on August 5, 1974,  that demonstrated that Nixon had been told of the connection of the White House to burglary of Democatic National Committee headquarters offices at the Watergate Office Building in Washington, D.C., and was making plans to cover up the investigation into it. Before becoming President, he was the 36th Vice President of the United States from January 20, 1953, to January 20, 1961. Earlier, he was a U.S. Senator representing California from December 1, 1950, to January 1, 1953. And still earlier, he was a U.S. Representative, representing California's 12th District, from January 3, 1947, to November 30, 1950. He was born Richard Milhous Nixon on January 9, 1913, in Yorba Linda, California.

Former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon is remembered at an outdoor funeral service at Nixon's presidential library in Yorba Linda, California.

The high temperature in Baltimore reaches 92 degrees F, the highest temperature ever recorded for Baltimore on any April 27th (up to this point) since recordkeeping began in 1871.

1.20 inches of precipitation falls in Baltimore, the most in Baltimore on any June 30th (up to this point) since recordkeeping began in 1871.

The total precipitation for Baltimore during June 1994 is 2.84 inches.

The Irish Republican Army declares a cease-fire.

The total precipitation for Baltimore during August 1994 is 3.44 inches.

Burt Lancaster dies at age 80 in Century City, California. He was an actor and producer. Initially known for playing tough guys with a tender heart, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year career in film and, later, television. He was born Burton Stephen Lancaster on November 2, 1913, in Manhattan, New York, NY.

Baltimore weather at BWI Airport: Clear, becoming cloudy; light rain from mid-afternoon onward; High temp. 39 F; Low temp. 22 F; Precipitation: 0.21 inch.

The total precipitation for Baltimore during December 1994 is 1.95 inches, including melted snow and ice. This is the exact same amount as in the previous month (November 1994).

Total precipitation for Baltimore in 1994 is 43.32 inches, about an inch and a half above normal.