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Blizzard of ’78: A look at the legendary storm that paralyzed Ohio 40 years ago
WJW Fox8 ^ | January 25th, 2018 | Darcie Loreno

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.”


TOPICS: History; Society
KEYWORDS: 1978; blizzard; ohio
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To: ducttape45

I was at I.U. at the time.

Had a blast! Jumping off balconies into huge drifts, making snowmen, and snowball fights.

They called off classes for the week but later made us go on Saturdays to make up for the missed time.

Bummed at the time but then later realized they were giving us our moneys worth. Doubt that would happen today.


61 posted on 02/20/2021 5:31:46 PM PST by lizma2
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To: lizma2

Yup! Once burned, twice shy. Or something like that?


62 posted on 02/20/2021 5:56:59 PM PST by Chgogal (Hey Biden, I am a loyal supporter of the Biden's Banana Republic!)
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To: ADemocratNoMore; Akron Al; arbee4bush; agrace; ATOMIC_PUNK; Badeye; big bad easter bunny; ...

OHIO PING!
Please let me know if you want on or off the Ohio Ping list.

Blizzard of ’78: A look at the legendary storm that paralyzed Ohio 40 years ago
WJW Fox8 ^ | January 25th, 2018 | Darcie Loreno

Posted on 2/20/2021, 12:41:24 PM by buckalfa


63 posted on 02/20/2021 5:57:00 PM PST by Lowell1775
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To: SamAdams76

I was living in Sturbridge, MA at the time. They sent us home early from work the afternoon of Feb. 6. Drove home in a total whiteout. My then 10 and 8-year old daughters loved every minute of it, no school for a week.


64 posted on 02/20/2021 6:13:44 PM PST by Inspectorette
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To: lizma2
What I liked about it, besides the time off school, was the fact that everyone on the block that treated me like crap now all of a sudden needed my help getting their vehicles started. My old Nova ran like a scalded dog.

Talk about ironic. No more did they diss the red, green and orange Chevy Nova (there's a story why so many colors) down the street!

65 posted on 02/20/2021 6:59:49 PM PST by ducttape45 ("Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34)
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To: buckalfa

I was 7 at the time. I remember the cars being buried. That’s about it.


66 posted on 02/20/2021 7:09:39 PM PST by RC one (When a bunch of commies start telling you that you don't need an AR15, you really need an AR15)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

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!

——————

I remember it was like 60F the day before. -14F, 14” of snow (not counting lake effect snow (we got buried, double that). Schools closed for a week and a half also.

This winter stuff Is nothing now. Just feeds the fear and panic media


67 posted on 02/20/2021 7:36:58 PM PST by Starcitizen (To the filthy Indian trash snowflakes that cried my tagline, eff you and your filthy country. )
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To: 9YearLurker

I’ve noticed that.

The children no longer get snow days.

The government has screwed these kids for life.


68 posted on 02/20/2021 7:43:40 PM PST by eyedigress (Trump is my President!)
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To: buckalfa

I flew with my Mom to Great Falls, MT via Denver and Cheyenne in 1979.

We got there and it was 44 degrees. Snow was 8ft deep along front door sidewalks at Malmstrom AFB. The low that night was -13. Ouch!

(visiting family)

Global Warming


69 posted on 02/20/2021 7:51:13 PM PST by eyedigress (Trump is my President!)
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To: buckalfa

I saw a pathetic snow flurry. In Miami.


70 posted on 02/20/2021 8:06:54 PM PST by Rebelbase (COVID misanthrope)
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To: hecticskeptic

“In my books, nothing comes close to the Buffalo Blizzard of ’77...”

The inspiration for the Jimmy Buffet song lyric, “They’re freezing up in Buffalo, stuck in their cars and I’m laying here neath the sun and the stars.”


71 posted on 02/20/2021 8:10:13 PM PST by Rebelbase (COVID misanthrope)
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To: Ruy Dias de Bivar

I recall reading a story about that ice storm. Someone who owned a farm had a very large barn type building that they had converted into rec hall for their teenage kids. Pool and ping-pong tables, basketball goal, kitchen, bath, generator, propane heat. Since they had power they invited all the neighbors who needed refuge to come and camp out and it was one big party inside for a few days.


72 posted on 02/20/2021 8:17:28 PM PST by Rebelbase (COVID misanthrope)
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To: buckalfa

My husband was watching the Bengals, IIRC, it was snowing like crazy. I didn’t think anything of it until I Realized they were playing in Cincinnati.

Saw someone sking down a major road.


73 posted on 02/20/2021 9:11:28 PM PST by muggs
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To: muggs

It was so cold in our apartment that all we could do was stay under our electric blanket.

I ended up pregnant.


74 posted on 02/20/2021 9:14:34 PM PST by muggs
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To: muggs

It was so cold in our apartment that all we could do was stay under our electric blanket.

I ended up pregnant.


75 posted on 02/20/2021 9:14:45 PM PST by muggs
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To: RC one

Tires froze to the roads. They had to remove them with bulldozers.


76 posted on 02/20/2021 9:19:31 PM PST by muggs
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To: setter

We had a two story snow fort from the plowed and dumped snow from that storm. No school for a whole week, and the snow reflected the light so it was still quite light out after sunset so we could stay out.


77 posted on 02/21/2021 1:00:59 AM PST by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
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To: lepton

There were no coyotes in KY until then. The Ohio river froze over and they walked in from the north and west.


78 posted on 02/21/2021 2:28:05 AM PST by Theophilus (the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord)
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To: buckalfa

I was living in Central Ohio at the time. As soon as the roads were clear evough I moved to Southern Kalifornia and never looked back.


79 posted on 02/21/2021 2:40:21 AM PST by mad_as_he$$
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To: Gay State Conservative

My cousin was one of those guys stuck on 128, his car was pretty trashed by the time he got it back.


80 posted on 02/21/2021 12:14:13 PM PST by mowowie (Press 2 for deportation)
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