50 years later, remembering the blizzard of '66 | WHAM Country roads were like a tunnel, one-lane wide. Winds gusting up to 111 miles per hour (179km/h)[5] caused drifts that nearly buried some homes. It was an adventure to say the least. Snow fell for 63 hours straight, making this the worst snowstorm and deepest snow pack ever seen in Rochester. The bosses commanded all the utility workers to stay on the job for the foreseeable future. Several people were found dead in downtown Providence, near the central police station; they may have been seeking shelter. When my dad finally managed to get home the snow banks were easily 15 feet high but the driveway was clear. Forty years ago, on Jan. 25-27, 1978, the Midwest endured the Great Blizzard of 1978, maybe the worst winter storm to ever affect the area. Rochester schools opened Feb. 1 but many were still unable to get through the rural roads. The Sentinel reported 11 semi-truck rigs parked at the courthouse parking lot and Madison Street. The Great Leap Day storm, as this was known, extended for sixstraight days. [10], Michigan Governor William Milliken declared a state of emergency and called out the Michigan National Guard to aid stranded motorists and road crews. Parts of the New York State Thruway closed, as did local malls and many other businesses. Some areas reported drifts of up to . By day 4, having my husband home, I was relieved. I was picked up by my boss who lived one town over and I had to walk a half mile to meet up with him. Please select one of the following: Local KILN Standard Radar (low bandwidth), Summary from NWS Akron, OH (Special Weather Statement from Feb 1, 1978), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This article is about the storm which affected the northeastern United States. But the worst of it came on the last two days of February, when nearly two feet of snow fell and the Rochester area was briefly in shut-down mode. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. They went right thru it. Kalamazoo is in a lake effect snow belt so we already had 24 inches of snow on the ground before the Blizzard of 78 hit. It was a wild ride to South County Hospital. Bill was still stranded at RTC. I lived through it as a 20 year old. Like Neil, my brother-in-law. February 27 - March 3, 1984. These storms resulted in lightning and thunder accompanying the snowfall as it fell at 4 inches (10cm) an hour at times. I lived in a 3-story apartment building and the snow drifted up to the 2nd story balcony. Ah what an adventure! BLIZZARD OF 1977: TEMPERATURES DROPS 31 DEGREES IN FOUR HOURS Carter took the action at the request of Gov. Glionna left The Times in 2015. Dick and Bea Gilliland took this photo above left of Westside Drive looking west toward Moose Lodge after the Blizzard of 1978. photo provided [3], Strong winds and extremely heavy precipitation brought zero visibility for travelers, and numerous power outages ensued. [3][7], This storm system made its way up the coast and approached southern New England late February 6 and early February 7. The white stuff blanketed even major arteries. Particularly hard hit were Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and southeastern Wisconsin. This storm was billed at the worst in Rochester in a decade. This was the second day of a three-day event that became the biggest snowstorm on record here. Co. By the next morning there was no way I could even think about getting out of the driveway, and the Gov. Mail service didn't resume until February 2. I rolled until sideways until he could reach me and pull me out. Sure, Lake Erie may have been frozen over for quite some time. I-95 eventually had to be evacuated by cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Great Storm of 1975 - Wikipedia We still talk about that storm when weather threatens similar to The storm of 78. The roads were impassable within just a half hour of the storm's start. No one was to be out on the roads unless they had to be. [3] The storm was primarily known as "Storm Larry" in Connecticut, following the local convention promoted by the Travelers Weather Service on television and radio stations there. Bowen called out the National Guard to help. The guy never closed.) In a pickup truck, with radio in hand, it took him 90 minutes to traverse a normally 10-minute drive. In Boston alone, more than 3,500 cars were found abandoned, buried in the snow on city streets and highways. That made it 2 feet of snow on the ground that everyone was trying to dig out. Roads were closed and airplanes grounded, though passenger trains remained in service. The Guard didnt even slow down! I was pulling a 48 foot van that had a tarp over the top. Thirteen individuals died from the cold while trapped inside their vehicles, and another 13 died inside their homes after losing power and heat. Two men died of heart attacks after trying to shovel snow that lay two feet deep. it took 2 or 3 drivers holding on to each other to get across the street. My dad called me and said Uncle J was out of firewood. Almanac Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. I remember 78 as well Indiana was hit prior to the east coast. My friend and I rode our ponies to the store. The Blizzard of '78 formed on Sunday, February 5, 1978, and broke up on February 7. We even occasionally get tornadoes, like those in the outbreak of April 2002. Who could forget the Storm of the Century in 1993? Some rare 8mm film footage of the blizzard that struck the greater Rochester, New York region on January 30th and 31st, 1966. My parents had to get a permit from the State Police to travel the roads from Coventry down to South County to see me. As soon as the chain saw blade hit the wood, sparks went flying. In 1966 Rochester, NY had a Huge Blizzard - Very Bad Snow storm - Pinterest During the storm, a cop stopped Vinnie on his way into work. Snow drifts of 10 to 20 feet made travel virtually impossible, stranding an Amtrak train and thousands of vehicles and travelers. Between February 5th and February 7th, 1978, Boston received a record 27 of snow, while Providence, R.I., did Beantown half an inch better, at 27.6. In three days, the storm claimed 100 lives and was responsible for another 4,500 injuries. Two men died of heart attacks while shoveling snow. Winter Solstice: When is it, and What is it? Many cars were stranded! New York's Worst Blizzard Struck In 1977 - onlyinyourstate.com February 27 - March 3, 1984. This was in Columbus, Ohio. Ten-year-old Peter Gosselin, of Uxbridge, Massachusetts, disappeared in the deep snow just feet from his home's front door and was not found until three weeks later. The roads were quite covered, the plows simply couldnt keep up. The cooperative observer station at the Bennetts Bridge power plant, near Altmar, NY, established an official all-time New York State monthly snowfall record with 192" of snowfall in January 1978.[16]. News 8 Archives: 42 years since Blizzard of '77 - RochesterFirst During the blizzard of 78, we lived in Ft Wayne,IN which got the storm before it reached New England (where we had lived 10 years before in West Boylston,MA.) GREECE, N.Y. - The Blizzard of 1966 was a historic storm for Rochester.Dropping nearly 27 inches of snow from January 30-31, winds whipped through the city and shut it down for nearly a week.While . Snow drifted many feet against the 2 main doors to my home. But at the same time, the Empire State is absolutely beautiful when it looks like a snowy winter wonderland. when I woke up it was snowing so hard you couldnt see. This storm was insidious in that it began just five days after a ferocious windstorm that knocked out power to much of the Rochester area. Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Soon, police banned all vehicular traffic; not that anyone could move anyway. History repeats itself every now and then. 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[3] These Arctic and subtropical jet streams merged (with maximum winds of 150 knots) which led the deepening Gulf low-pressure system, which had moved over Alabama and Georgia, to undergo explosive cyclogenesis and move rapidly northward towards West Virginia during the evening of January 25 (with record low pressures were logged across parts of the South and Mid-Atlantic). Transportation networks ground to a halt, and schools were closed for two days straight. We called the farmer down the road to plow our long-hill driveway with a bulldozer. After three days the terrible wind stopped blowing. Rochester is one of the snowiest cities in the United States. This storm was insidious in that it began just five days after a ferocious windstorm that knocked out power to much of the Rochester area. 28.8 inches. Once it was over, finding the car was another adventure.luckily it had been towed and not plowed over with snow as the snow deposited at the foot of the hill was probably 15-20 or more!! Between February 5th and February 7th, 1978, Boston received a record 27" of snow, while Providence, R.I., did Beantown half an inch better, at 27.6". DEEP SNOW Elizabeth Alderfer, Rochester, submitted this photo showing above right the front of Torin, now Lau Industries, 510 N. Indiana 25, taken in January 1978 after the blizzard. In Boston, the deep snow overwhelmed the city's sanitation department, because there was no more room along streets and sidewalks to put the snow; much of it was hauled to nearby harbors and dumped. What I remember, that no one else seems to note, is that there was a 6 storm a few days before the Big Blizzard. It was a blessing that she wore a bright red car coat that day. The blizzard mixed with the unfrozen Lake Ontario created the perfect storm. [4] Snow fell mostly from Monday morning, February 6, to the evening of Tuesday, February 7. In the city, people bemoaned the fact that the daily milk train had been hours late and delivery vehicles weren't able to navigate the streets. Of course, if you don't like the low temperatures (we don't blame you! Become an Online Member. It began during the night of Jan. 25. The town chose not to reconstruct the link, though the right-of-way is open to pedestrians. That is, the streets that were even cleared On Friday, the storm set a record low temperature of -7 degrees Fahrenheit for that date. "Big blow triggers mammoth paralysis, road chaos." Remembering the Blizzard of 1978 - The Rochester Sentinel Yes i remember the Blizzard of 78 i lived in wv at the time me and my sister had to ride our horses to the store and they had to jump instead of a walk cause the snow was up to their bellys. By late Friday afternoon, Watertown had close to zero visibility and wind speeds of nearly 30 miles per hour. Cities like Buffalo endure lake effect storms: systems that move across Lake Erie, picking up moisture, only to dump their snowy load at landfall. All the Army trucks were put to work and the Guard stopped motorists to make sure they were out only if necessary. Ignoring the ban on non-essential travel brought fines up to $500 and 90 days in jail. Its provided by staffannouncer on YouTube. I finally made it home after a couple blocks. What I remember the most is the night when it first hit. [2] The lowest confirmed pressure for a non-tropical system in the continental United States had been set by a January 1913 Atlantic coast storm. Feb. 28-March 2, 1900: 43.5 inches 2. yes i remember the blizzard of 78 my son was only 6 months old and i remember going to the store that morning before it got worse outside. I do have some old pictures of this Historic & Deadly Storm. The Great Leap Day storm, as this was known, extended for six straight days. Nicholas Goldberg: Is God on the side of blasphemy laws? This is among New Yorks worst blizzards and it will never be forgotten. National Adopt a Shelter Day emphasizes the importance, 2 21-year-old UK students dead after crash on I-90, Prayer and healing service planned for Kim Pegula, Eagles member to be inducted in ROC Music Hall of, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, Best Mothers Day Gifts for moms obsessed with books, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This was before the present jail was built. Places like Niagara Falls and Buffalo needed to keep the streets open for emergency vehicles. It was not snow plows but front end loaders that dug Fulton County out. We cut him half a load, threw it down the chute and headed to work which took another 2 hours. Many were hospitalized for exposure, mostly from homes that lost power and heat. All across the western New York-Southern Ontario region, winds of up to 70 mph eventually created drifts that swallowed houses. But in working-class Buffalo, nobody talks about 1978. And its funny what you remember: Neil recalls one beefy utility linemen, later huddled under an office desk with an entire pizza. If you don't mind the cold, there's so much to do outside. February 28 - March 2, 1900. He heated his house with firewood and he was disabled so there wasnt an option as far as what to do. In many cases, those who had become ill or had been injured during the storm had to be taken to hospitals by snowmobile. Many people were caught in the storm while driving, and many others were trapped in their homes and workplaces, with snow drifts of up to 15 feet (4.6m), in some places blocking the exits. It took six days to clear the roads of snow and of the cars and trucks buried in it. They contacted U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh, who pulled chains and got the feds to bring in front-end loaders at federal expense. I had never seen snow like that before. And of course, we're along the shore of one of the world's largest snow-generating machines Lake Ontario. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); I was living in Revere, MA and right in the middle of it all. He has also written extensively about California. Monomoy Island was split into north and south parts. One of the major problems with the Blizzard of 1978 was the lack of foreknowledge about the storm's severity. Wild! The storm killed about 100 people in the Northeast and injured about 4,500. Mother's Day: Facts, Folklore, Recipes, and Ideas, Father's Day: History and Celebration Ideas. The flood continued through two days of tide cycles, a total of four successive high tides. Note: * = Total data for a 24-hour period. Boston received a record-breaking 27.1 inches (69cm) of snow; Providence also broke a record, with 27.6 inches (70cm) of snow;[3] Atlantic City broke an all-time storm accumulation, with 20.1 inches (51cm), two Philadelphia suburban towns in Chester County received 20.2 inches (51cm) while the City of Philadelphia received 16.0 inches (41cm). I live in Warsaw, NY I have heard the townspeople talk about how bad it was, but having grown up in Watertown, New York, I can remember one winter in particular 1963, when we got over 100 inches of snow in a very short time, snow to the top of the stop signs, and red flags were placed on them so people were able to see as they were driving down the road, and the tv station I worked at snow to the top of the building, was like walking into a tunnel when we got there. This storm was billed at the worst in Rochester in a decade. . Mayor Wayne Hittle said, Stay home. Most businesses and all schools were closed. By day 3 I started to get a little claustrophobic. 5. As the storm headed for Ohio, it was "of unprecedented magnitude", according to the National Weather Service, which categorized it as a rare severe blizzard, the severest grade of winter storm. Two days later, people wandering along the streets looking for food, drink and just something do to had bought up the shops entire liquor supply. Wind speeds reached 79 mph at Logan Airport, 92 mph at Chatham Weather Station on Cape Cod . Explore Rochester's past and learn what may be in store for its future. in Dayton early in the It blew snow under the doors so we hung blankets over them. But they could plow out only a lane and a half on most thoroughfares, so by spring, many cars were missing drivers side mirrors, most of them having been sheared off by passing buses. Many trees that survived the daytime snow event did not survive the nighttime conditions. Please Contact Us. 28.8 inches. I remember the Blizzard of 78 very well. With everything covered in snow and ice, it can get quite dangerous! She got so tired trying to walk into the wind, she just told herself she would lay down and rest for a while. [3] It caused more than US$520 million (US$2.16billion in 2021 terms[6]) in damage. We had to dig from top to bottom to get the front door open. Yep I also remember the blizzard of 78.We got 24 inches of snow then Beinging a foreman at work,I went in and right at the apron of entering the parking lot another foreman was stuck there.So naturely I had to help push him in,and in the precess I twisted my back,but got him out of the way and i preceeded to drive in,hurt back nd all.We were the only two formen to arrive,swo we decided to return return to our own homes.I live in Binghamton N.Y. PS As I walked into the bar, there were 7 other customers in there. Calvert remembers standing at Junkyard Junction Indiana 14 and US. The undertaker put him on ice until spring came.. The Feb. 2Democrat and Chronicle contained a startling reportthat wholesale suppliers said the community was running short of food. Roy Calvert, Rochester chief of police, prohibited parking on certain streets to enable snow removal. Muskegon, Michigan, had up to 33.8 inches of snow[4] in four days due to heavy lake-effect snow squalls after the blizzard began. This mother of all one-day storms forced cancellation of most train service, blocked roads, closed schools, shuttered stores and left coal companies hustling to meet a spike in demand. I was 17 and mom and I walked to Stop n Shop the day it began. Scribbling about all things New York and Buffalo related while also keeping you updated on the latest travel news! [27], National Guard emergency management center in Boston, National Guardsmen work with local workers and volunteers in Boston. We can thank our location for that. People called the jail if they needed medicine or help. Great Blizzard of 1978 - Wikipedia Senior citizens made chili for the travelers to eat. We at that time lived in a town called Rehoboth,Ma. My brother-in-law brought us extra milk for the kids on his snowmobile. Strangers becoming friends. blizzard from a few years ago, but if you thought that was bad? Were still waiting! You'll receive your first newsletter soon! It was around 1:30 p.m. that the employees were summoned to leave for home as it was predicted that a large snow storm was coming in with winds in excess of 70 miles an hour. And of course, thats when the toilet paper ran out and the store was so far away it took all day to climb through the snow to get there and back home again. Most of our current residents likely remember our epic. The area is astridecommon storm tracks and far enough north that precipitation often falls as snow instead of rain. But this season was different. I boarded the first bus that travelled straight down Main Street to my stop at West Utica Street. All across the region, thousands of volunteers with snowmobiles and four-wheel drive vehicles also risked their lives to transport emergency personnel and utility workers and to deliver medical necessities to those in need. fashion show raises money for breast cancer, Meet the Rochester Philharmonics new assistant conductor, Rochester Lilac Festival 2023: Heres what to expect, Chocolate Ball Fundraiser raises money for epilepsy, Autism Awareness & Acceptance Walk raises thousands, Healthy Male Role Models focuses on root of Roc. I lived in Providence,RI. The snow turned to rain on Cape Cod, but the wind wreaked plenty of havoc. Parts of the New York State Thruway closed, as did local malls and many other businesses. The Feb. 2 Democrat and Chronicle contained a startling report that wholesale suppliers said the community was running short of food. Some records will show that the storm took a total of 29 lives. Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts were hit especially hard by this storm. Coming on the heels of an even bigger storm two days earlier, this monster forced the county government to reimpose a state of emergency six hours after the old one was lifted.