Bitter winter cold on the northern Great Plains culminated in February,1936, a notoriously harsh winter for the region.For one thing, the state of North Dakota set its all-time lowest temperature onFebruary 15, when the mercury bottomed at -60 degrees at Parshall. It is a markthat still stands.

Likewise, South Dakota got its standing record low two days later with a -58degree reading at McIntosh.

In eastern Montana, the city of Glasgow dipped 59 degrees below zero, itsall-time coldest.

Another illustration of the intensity and persistence of the could comes to thehistorical record by way of Langdon, N.D., where February 20, 1936, marked41-straight days of sub-zero temperatures.

Who would have thought that, only a few months later, these same areas (and agreat deal more) would sear at record levels in some of the hottest weather thenation has ever known. Fifteen states from the Great Plains to the Mid Atlanticset all-time state record highs that still stand.

One of these, oddly enough, was North Dakota, where Steele registered 121degrees on July 6.

So that makes for 181 degrees of contrast across one state within less thanfive months.

Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews