Recalling the Blizzard of 1978 After 33 Years

During this winter that does not seem to want to end, take a moment to recall the Blizzard of 1978, which took place this week, 33 years ago.

Not withstanding everything that has come after, there was no storm, no set of storms, no entire year of storms combined that compares reasonably with what we experienced the week of February 1978.

The Blizzard of 1978 was the storm of all storms during a year those of us who lived through it will never forget.

The snowfall was the highest any of us can recall.

The drifts were colossal.

The wind blew to almost 90 miles an hour – and that was for an entire night – the first night of the storm. The wind roared. It shook buildings. It piled snow higher than any of us will likely ever see in our lifetime.

The high tides flooded low-lying areas. With a full moon and the power of the storm, the tides were higher than ever before – and the flooding and damage was worse than ever before.

For almost two days the storm howled and roared.

And when it was done and the sun came up – we were absolutely, positively buried in a way we hadn’t been for longer than a Century with a pristine covering of white almost 3 feet deep.

Not a street or major highway was passable for days after the blizzard.

Snowmobiles or military half-tracks were the only way to get around in its immediate aftermath.

We could go on and on – but what’s the use.

Today’s young people can’t possibly understand.

Those of us who lived through it will always recall it vividly as the storm of all storms with nothing that has followed that could be compared with it.

Weather forecasters describing this year’s storms as Blizzards frankly wouldn’t know one if it hit them over the head.

If you lived through the Blizzard of 1978, you know what a blizzard is.

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