In article
,
Nick writes:
So can anyone recall a previous calendar year with a cold Jan 1 and
Dec 31, or two consecutive cold starts to the New Year for that
matter?

1996 sounds like a likely candidate. Going further back, 1962 would be
another.
--
John Hall "[It was] so steep that at intervals the street broke into steps,
like a person breaking into giggles or hiccups, and then resumed
its sober climb, until it had another fit of steps."
Ursula K Le Guin "The Beginning Place"