Posted on 02/20/2021 9:41:24 AM PST by buckalfa
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Many, if they were alive 40 years ago this week, can remember exactly where they were and what they saw between Jan. 25 and Jan. 27, 1978.
The most devastating winter storm to ever hit Ohio moved in during the early hours of Jan. 26 and battered the state for three days, breaking records and wreaking havoc on the roads, on homes and even in the skies.
“If you lived through it, you might remember the huge snowdrifts,” said Fox 8 Meteorologist Scott Sabol. “We haven’t had wind chills like that since.”
On Jan. 25, it was rainy and foggy, and the temperatures were in the 30s and 40s, according to the National Weather Service. But the storm was intensifying as it moved north from Gulf of Mexico through the south and eventually to Cleveland early in the morning on Jan. 26.
The temperatures fell nearly 30 degrees in two hours.
The snow wasn’t the biggest issue with the blizzard; it was the wind. That was on top of snow that fell earlier in the month.
Wind gusts hit over 100 miles per hour at times.
Because of the wind, huge snow drifts, some between 20 and 40 feet high, covered roads and runways.
“Weeks before…we had 5 to 10 inches of snow from the [storm] on Jan. 8 and Jan. 9,” said Sabol. “We had a week and a half of a break, another foot of snow fell, and that brought the snow cover close to two feet. So we had between 18 and 24 inches of snow on the ground before the blizzard hit. Then the wind picked up, we added 8 inches on top of that, and that’s what caused those snowdrifts of 20 to 40 feet in many locations. Because of snow on the ground, not so much the snow that fell due to the storm that came through Jan. 25 and 26.”
All major highways and freeways, along with most roads, were closed and the Ohio Turnpike shut down for the first time in history. Air transportation was stopped for the duration of the storm.
In all 70 people were killed, including 51 in Ohio.
“That January,” said Sabol, “was one of those if you lived through it, if you were around then, it’s something we haven’t seen since.”
I was north of MA at the time. We weren’t so wimpy as to take that long getting dug out.
I must of missed that since I was up here in the great white north and in college at the time. Either that or I don’t recall it due to age or something.
I was in MA too.....I remember it well. Worst snow in my very long life.
It was either ‘78 or ‘79 living in Northbrook, IL when the wind chill registered at -80 degrees. A brother living in Phoenix called to rub it in: there was a 160 degree difference between his high for the day and our wind chill!
Yup, I lived in Mass and shoveled snow every day for money until it got as tall as me. There were even “I survived the Blizzard if 78” T-shirts.
My sister was coming home from work going up a hill and couldn’t make it but managed to pull off into the side of a driveway. Then the snow plows completely buried her car. My dad stuck a sign in the snow that said buried car. Wen went and dug it out and it started right up. 71 Camaro.
Was going to school on South Bend at the time. Snow started Wednesday, the Lake Michigan lake effect snow kept falling until Sunday. Great ives to be trapped with buddies.....dinking beer, playing cards, going out in the snow. Great fun.
I was near Toledo when it hit with 20’ drifts. No power and no water for like 3 days. Then 2 more days to dig out only other time I lost power for 3 days was Hurricane Irene (?) in RI. Sucks. Want to look at generator to run essentials, frig, gas furnace fans, and sump pump and a lamp or 2
My wife and I were in Aruba....we were stuck there an additional week as a result of the storm.....
The travel company picked up the entire cost.....
We had set our luggage outside our door that morning expecting to leave and went to breakfast.....
After breakfast, we went back to our room and the luggage was still there... Went to the lobby to find out what was happening and the local Arubians were running around very excited about a disaster in the US......The snow was a very foreign concept to them.....
Oh darn.......extra week in the Caribbean..... my wife and I went back to the beach...
I was in Toledo, on 13th street, just off Monroe. Car buried, fridge full, lotsa beer, bag of weed, no worries. Nice & quiet. Partied with the landlord upstairs, rocked out to FM104, kicked back waiting for the city plows. Boss grumped, nothing I could do about it...
New England also. I’m a “survivor.”
Yes.
I was a 9 year old kid growing up in Western PA that winter, and it was a blast. We had gone on vacation to Ocean City, MD the summer prior to that, and my parents double exposed some 8mm films taken that summer with us playing in the snow that winter...so we have some old home movies of us kids playing in the snow drifts in our swim suits, and building snowmen on the beach :-)
We were still on Germany defending the free world at that time.
I was flush with cash for the summer after the winter of ‘78.
We didn't have school for a solid week.
Walking home the couple of blocks from my friends house during the height of the storm, I became alarmed.
I truly could not see more than a few feet in front of me. No houses, or trees or stop signs or sidewalks, just white.
Occasionally, I would glimpse a landmark and was able to find my way but, I will never forget it.
43 years ago, to be accurate.
Remember Dick Goddard
Second that! I remember walking to Lincoln Square with my grandfather due the storm to get German bread and cold cuts! Those 10 blocks each way were long ten blocks that day!
Remember it well - NW PA. The snow completely drifted over our little ranch house on one side! Dad threw a trashcan through to punch out an exit. Probably not smart but was a fun family moment. We kids tunneled and built snow forts for days!
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