One to three feet fell in this blizzard, record snowfall across fortyeighthours. The only thing moving on ohio street during the blizzard of 1978 was a wind. Blizzard of 1978 remembered 40 years later by those who survived it. The big blizzard of 78 has finally passed, leaving in its wake tons of debris, ten foot drifts, flooded homes and a calamitous situation along the entire new england seacoast. As nemo nears, a look back at the insane snowstorm that paralyzed the northeast, from philly to boston. Adults today remember the blizzard of 1978 and xenia tornado. We arrived in canton day after christmas, barely settled in when the.
The blizzard of 1978 is still considered the worst winter storm to ever hit the state with over 50 people losing their lives. In january of 1978, a blizzard tore across the ohio valley and great lake regions. About 100 people were killed and around 4,500 injured. Overall, the storm lasted nearly 36 hours and paralyzed the entire region for one week.
Snowfall of 1977 cincinnati news, history, outdoor, historia, history books, outdoor. Most of those evacuated at the peak of the storm have returned home to begin the massive cleanup which a storm of this size entails. The blizzard of 78 by michael tougias, paperback barnes. My fifth graders loved this book and were inspired to do some primary research about the period on line. Findlay was laid low by recordbreaking cold and 12 inches of snow. This is a very readable non fiction book about the east coast blizzard of 1888 lots of detail and engaging text and illustrations. The storm was primarily known as storm larry in connecticut, following the local convention promoted by the travelers weather service on television. Institute of museum and library services, administered by the indiana state library. The great blizzard of 1978 cvg national weather service. From january 25 to 27, between one and three feet of snow fell in ohio, illinois, indiana, kentucky, michigan, and wisconsin. National weather service offices across the great lakes and upper ohio valley had issued blizzard warnings for most of the region by late evening on january 25th.
A legend to those who lived through it, this onceinalifetime storm will always be the standard by which the severities of all future winter storms to hit this region are. Told with a brief text and dynamic illustrations, the book opens with a boys excitement upon seeing the first snowflake fall outside his classroom window. A historic noreaster brought blizzard conditions to new england, new jersey and the new york city area at the beginning of february in 1978. Books about blizzards fiction or nonfiction about blizzards or in which a blizzard is a major part of the storyline. From well over three feet of snow fell in ohio and the 5060 mph wind gusts. The plowed drifts in this image from marion county are more than twice the height of the car. See more ideas about winter scenes, winter storm and snow scenes. Nov 10, 2019 the blizzard of 1978 was one of the biggest snowstorms in ohio history, but it was one of many to go down in history. Perhaps its snowing where you are toomuch of the u. Particularly hard hit were the states of illinois, indiana, kentucky, michigan, ohio, and southeast wisconsin where up to 40 inches 102 cm of snow fell. The blizzard of 78 formed on sunday, february 5, 1978, and broke up on february 7.
These storms were some of the most severe winter events to occur in recent history, and collectively are known as the blizzard of 1978. Some call it the storm of the century, and others, the white hurricane. Remembering the blizzard of 78, 35 years later the boston. The national weather service defines a severe blizzard as a storm with winds of 45 miles per hour or greater. Jan 02, 2014 the great blizzard of 1978 it struck the ohio valley and great lakes from jan. The blizzard of 1978 brought record snowfall to the new england region between monday morning, feb. For those who lived it and those who have heard about it. The blizzard of 1978 more commonly known in new england as blizzard of 78 was a severe noreaster that affected the new england area of the united states. The blizzard of 1978 in putnam county, ohio book, 1978. Findlay ohio blizzard of 1978 social findlay i love snow, i love winter.
On january 2627, 1978, the region was hit with a major blizzard, one of three that struck the region in january and february that year. Today is the 35 th anniversary of the great blizzard of 1978. As i write, most of ohio is bracing for a significant snowfall. As it turned out, the real blizzard did not arrive until one year later. Several decades ago, the ohio valley and great lakes were paralyzed by one of the worst winter storms to ever sweep across the region. The blizzard of 1978 was one of the greatest winter storms to strike long island in terms of total snowfall, wind, and coastal flooding.
Northeastern united states blizzard of 1978 wikipedia. Jan 27, 2016 interview with my grandfather, raymond gargac, about the blizzard of 78 when they lived in curtice, ohio. Blizzard 1978 blizzard 1978 blizzard of 1978 this project is made possible by a grant from the u. The third lowest nontropical atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the mainland united states occurred as the storm passed over mount clemens, michigan, where the. The end of january marks 40 years since the worst snow storm in yellow springs and ohio history. The northeastern united states blizzard of 1978 was a catastrophic, historic noreaster that struck new england, new jersey, and the new york metropolitan area.
The great blizzard of 1978 north east ohio youtube. Growing up in working class youngstown the blizzard of 1978. In this exhibit you will read about ohios worst snowstorms, blizzards, floods. From january 19 to 21, twentyone inches of snow fell in parts of the region. The great blizzard of 1978 national weather service. The snow started falling lightly before dawn on long island on monday february 6, 1978. It happens to be snowing where i am as i write this. Dec 26, 2017 in tribute to todays weather, lets look back at the great blizzard of 1978. The great blizzard of 1978 was a historic winter storm that struck the ohio valley and great lakes regions from wednesday, january 25 through friday, january 27, 1978. We dug ourselves out with shovels as the two photos show house then painted yellow, and also enjoyed.
The city received only 4 inches of snow, but it fell atop 17 inches already on the ground. The blizzard of 1978 in putnam county, ohio unknown binding january 1, 1978 by putnam county historical society author. During that time its central pressure dropped an astounding 40 millibars by the morning of january 26th, 1978 when it was centered near the metro detroit area. With a snowstorm potentially on its way to the region, it seems fitting that wednesday is the 35th anniversary of the blizzard of 1978.
The blizzard of 1978, which hit indiana, illinois and ohio, left indianapolis buried under more than 20 inches of snow. The third lowest nontropical atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the mainland united states occurred as the storm passed over mount clemens, michigan, where the barometer fell to 956. Blizzard of 1978 in cincinnati will never be forgotten. The blizzard of 1977 was described, perhaps inaccurately, as the worst snowstorm to ever hit the area. Cincinnati will surely never forget these backtoback brutal winters when our city was blanketed in snow and ice. Snowmobile owners volunteered to provide assistance to those needing supplies or emergency transportation. Oct 28, 2014 blizzard is based on john roccos childhood experience during the now infamous blizzard of 1978, which brought 53 inches of snow to his town in rhode island. Remembering the blizzard of 78, 35 years later the. The blizzard of 1978 shut down the state for 3 days. Most of greater boston was quickly overwhelmed by the storm, which shut down all forms of transit, stranded thousands of cars and motorists along route 128, and virtually shut down most of the state for a week. Institute of museum and library services, administered by the. Jan 24, 2018 ohio blizzard 1978 us army, january 24, 2018 by sgt 1st class joshua mann in the early morning hours of january 26, 1978, a severe blizzard struck ohio, bringing 1214 inches of snow with 5070 mph winds and a wind chill of minus 70 degrees.
New england was knocked to its knees on february 6th and 7th, 1978, by the incredible snow and wind referred to locally as the worst storm of the century, and this history combines stunning photographs with riveting text to reawaken memories of the blizzard of 78. A savage blizzard packing hurricane force winds dumped up to four feet of snow on many parts of massachusetts, rhode island, and connecticut between the 6th and 7th of february 1978. In the narrow stony valleys of norway and the heavily taxed towns of saxony and westphalia, in ukrainian villages bled by the recruiting officers of the czars and bohemian farms that had been owned and tilled for generations by the same families, land, freedom, and hope meant much the same thing in the last quarter of the nineteenth. The blizzard was the worst in ohio history 51 people died as a result of the storm. The first storm avoided ohio, targeting the northeast. When she was 2 weeks old, left for ohio in old pickup camper, horse trailer, 2 horses, 2 little boys, mother, baby and dog. A chronicle of outstanding weather events in ohio, by dr. This is a true short story of how an ohio truck driver survived the storm on i75 in the state of ohio, in a blizzard with 50 to 100 mph winds and driving snow.
The great blizzard of 1978 cmh national weather service. Old photos from the blizzard of 1978 enjoy photos of the snow taken in february 1978. Jan 27, 2012 if you were anywhere in the miami valley in 1978, you most likely remember very well what you were or were not doing 34 years ago today. The blizzard of 1978 out of the box wright state university libraries.
The blizzard of 1978 was one of the biggest snowstorms in ohio history, but it was one of many to go down in history. Much of the state was shut down for several days while ohioans labored to clear roads, driveways, and sidewalks. Bombogenesis events require a storms central pressure to drop more than 24 millibars in 24 hours. The great blizzard of 1978 is an event seared in the memory of anyone who lived through it. The great blizzard of 1978 was the largest blizzard in ohio. Central ohio was caught in the statewide blizzard of 1978 beginning on jan. Cleveland, ohio for two days in january 1978, northeast ohio felt like a suburb of siberia. Rain and fog were widespread across the region during the evening hours of january 25, 1978 with temperatures generally in the 30s and 40s. The massive ohio blizzard of january 1978 will never be forgotten. Recently i wrote about one of the historic snowstorms that hit youngstown, the great.
The great blizzard of 1978 dumped vast amounts of snow across the region and caused widespread nearhurricane strength wind gusts that heaped snow into enormous drifts. Original track concrete jungle written and recorded by ed dana. When the storm began moving into eastern massachusetts on the afternoon of feb. Odot home districts district 07 blizzard of 1978 blizzard of 1978 all pictures. In this image from marion county, volunteers decide whom to assist next. Way back wednesday the blizzard of 1978 the yellow springs. Raw video, shot by ryan gargac for a theater class. See more ideas about ohio, the buckeye state and toledo ohio. The blizzard of 1978 historic storm dumps 3 feet on the caldwells. Image courtesy of nws indianapolis thats nearly double what it takes to meet the 1 millibar drop per hour for. Nov 12, 2017 the blizzard of 1978 was definitely memorable, and it came right after the winter of 1977, when the ohio river completed froze. Thousands of homes were left without electricity, and 54 people died in ohio. It is often cited as one of the worst blizzards in us history.
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