Great Blizzard of 1978

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This article is about the storm which affected the central United States. For the blizzard in New England that year, see Northeastern United States Blizzard of 1978.
Surface map on the morning of January 26, 1978.

The Great Blizzard of 1978 was a historic blizzard which struck the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes from January 25–27, 1978. The 28.28 inches (958 millibars) barometric pressure measurement recorded in Cleveland, Ohio remains the lowest non-tropical atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the mainland United States.

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[edit] Meteorological synopsis

Late on January 24, the surface maps revealed a moisture laden Gulf Low developing over the southern United States while a separate, and unrelated low pressure system was present over the Upper Midwest. In about 24 hours, the merger of the subtropical (containing a wind max of 130 knots) and polar (containing a wind max of 110 knots) jet streams would lead to an unusual convergence of these two low pressures over the Ohio Valley, known as "phasing". Such a phenomenon usually leads to explosive development of the surface low and the Great Blizzard was no exception. The low over Gulf States underwent bombogenesis as it moved rapidly northward during the evening of January 25 (record low pressures were logged across parts of the South and Mid-Atlantic).[1] Bombogenesis events require a storm's central pressure to drop more than 24 millibars in 24 hours; the Great Blizzard deepened by a remarkable 40 millibars in that span of time.[1]

As the storm headed for Ohio, this resulted in a "storm of unprecedented magnitude", according to the National Weather Service, who categorized it as a rare severe blizzard, the most severe grade of winter storm. 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. Winds gusting up to 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) caused drifts that nearly buried some homes. Wind chill values reached −60 °F (−51 °C) below across much of Ohio where 51 of the total 70 storm-related deaths occurred.[2] The lowest atmospheric pressure ever recorded in the United States, apart from a tropical system, occurred as the storm passed over Cleveland, Ohio. The barometer fell to 28.28 inches of mercury (958 mbar) on the morning of January 26. Nearby Detroit, Michigan fell to 28.34 inches of mercury (960 mbar).

The absolute low pressure with this storm was picked up at Sarnia, Ontario at around the same time, where the barometer bottomed out at 28.21 inches of mercury (955 mbar). Toronto fell to 28.40 inches, breaking the old record by 0.17. Canada did not escape the wrath of the storm as blizzard conditions were common across southwestern Ontario. London was paralyzed by 41 centimetres (16 in) of snow and winds gusting to 128 kilometres per hour (80 mph). The storm initially began out as rain but quickly changed over to heavy snow during the pre-dawn hours (as arctic air deepened ahead of the storm) leading to frequent whiteouts and zero visibility during the day on Thursday, January 26.

[edit] Impact

The Blizzard was the worst in Ohio history where 51 people died as a result of the storm. Over 50,000 members of the Ohio National Guard were called in to make numerous rescues. Police asked citizens who had four-wheel drive vehicles and snowmobiles to transport doctors to the hospital. From the 26th to the 27th of January, the entire Ohio Turnpike was shut down for the first time ever.[3] The total effect on transportation in Ohio was described by Major General James C. Clem of the Ohio National Guard as comparable to a nuclear attack[4]

Michigan Governor William Milliken declared a state of emergency and called out the Michigan National Guard to aid stranded motorists and road crews. The Michigan State Police pronounced Traverse City, Michigan "unofficially closed" and warned area residents to stay home. Classes at the University of Michigan were canceled for the first time in its 140 year history.

[edit] Quotes

C.R. Snider, National Weather Service Meteorologist in Ann Arbor, Michigan, said on January 30, 1978:

“ The most extensive and very nearly the most severe blizzard in Michigan history raged January 26, 1978 and into part of Friday January 27. About 20 people died as a direct or indirect result of the storm, most due to heart attacks or traffic accidents. At least one person died of exposure in a stranded automobile. Many were hospitalized for exposure, mostly from homes that lost power and heat. About 100,000 cars were abandoned on Michigan highways, most of them in the southeast part of the state.[1] ”

One motorist described the wind after the snow stopped: “I tried to drive; every time I went one foot forward I was pushed back fifteen.”[citation needed]

[edit] Snowfall totals

The following table displays selected U.S. snowfall totals during January 25-29, 1978:[1]

State City/location Amount (inches)
OH Dayton *12.2
MI Detroit 8.2
MI Flint 9.9
MI Grand Rapids 19.2
MI Houghton Lake *15.4
IN Indianapolis *15.5
IN South Bend 36.0
MI Lansing 19.3
MI Muskegon 52.0
MI Traverse City 22-28

* Total data for a 24 hour period.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Deedler, William R. (21 January 2003). "The Great Blizzard of 1978". National Weather Service Detroit/Pontiac, MI. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/dtx/stories/blizzard1978.php. 
  2. ^ "Blizzard of '78: A Meteorological Review". Butler County Engineer's Office. 13 August 2008. http://www.bceo.org/78blizzardrev.html. 
  3. ^ "1978 Ohio Statewide Blizzard". Ohio History Central. http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=1649. 
  4. ^ "The 30 year anniversary of the Blizzard of '78". National Weather Service: Eastern Region Headquarters. http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cle/wx_events/Blizzard78/blizzard/blizzard78.html. 

[edit] References

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Blizzard_of_1978"
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