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Thirty-five years ago, the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes were paralyzed by one of the worst winter storms to
ever sweep across the region. Transportation, schools, and businesses were shut down for days. The "Great
Blizzard of 1978" dumped vast amounts of snow across the region and caused widespread near-hurricane
strength wind gusts that heaped snow into enormous drifts. A legend to those who lived through it, this
once-in-a-lifetime storm will always be the standard by which the severities of all future winter storms to
hit the region are judged.
This severe blizzard was the result of a relatively rare merger of two distinct upper level waves (one over
Texas and one over the Northern Plains) that caused an explosive intensification of a surface low pressure
system moving north from the Gulf Coast into Kentucky and Ohio. The resultant massive and powerful storm
system produced some of the lowest pressure readings ever recorded in the United States
The barograph at the National Weather Service office located at the Greater Cincinnati Airport had to
be readjusted as an unprecedented drop in pressure caused the pen to fall off the initial chart scale.
mainland that were not associated with hurricanes. In fact, several weather stations in the storm's path
had to readjust their barographs as station pressures fell below the initial chart scale. On January 26th,
the barometric pressure dropped to 28.46 inches of mercury at Columbus, 28.68 inches at Dayton, and 28.81
inches at Cincinnati. These readings set new records for the lowest sea level pressures ever recorded at
each station. Even more impressive was Cleveland's record low pressure reading of 28.28 inches, which
remains the lowest pressure ever recorded in Ohio and one of the lowest pressure readings on record within
the mainland United States (not associated with a hurricane).
Rain and fog were widespread across the region during the evening hours of January 25, 1978 with
temperatures generally in the 30s and 40s. National Weather Service offices across the Great Lakes and
Upper Ohio Valley had issued blizzard warnings for most of the region by late evening on January 25th.
Early that morning, an arctic airmass pushed into the area with bitter cold temperatures and howling winds.
Blizzard conditions arrived in Cincinnati around 1 AM and reached Dayton and Columbus within the next
couple hours. By 7 AM, the blizzard conditions extended all the way to Cleveland. Visibilities were near
zero for much of the day and even into the 27th. Temperatures rapidly plunged from the 30s to bitter-cold
single digits in just a few hours. Wind gusts averaged 50 to 70 mph for much of the day on the 26th,
reaching 69 mph at Dayton and Columbus and 82 mph in Cleveland. An ore carrier stranded in thick ice on
Lake Erie just offshore from Sandusky reported sustained winds of 86 mph with gusts to 111 mph that
morning! Extremely cold wind chills around minus 50 degrees or lower continued throughout the day, making it
especially dangerous to venture outside. While snowfall was difficult to measure due to the strong winds,
official storm-total snowfall amounts from January 25-27 ranged from 4.7 inches in Columbus to 6.9 inches
in Cincinnati to 12.9 inches in Dayton. Other areas across the region saw well over a foot of snow from
the storm.
Large snowdrifts buried these cars in Vandalia, Ohio up to their rooftops and made roadways completely
impassable. In northern Ohio and other parts of the region, snowdrifts were tall enough to bury whole
semis. Photo courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University.
The powerful winds and snow caused major complications across the entire region. Widespread wind damage
occurred as thousands of trees and many miles of electric/telephone lines were blown down. As a result,
hundreds of thousands of homes were left without power and heat, and many important communication lines
were disconnected. Gusty winds also caused numerous other instances of structural damage as well as
massive snowdrifts reaching 15 to 25 feet in height. In addition to reaching the rooftops of houses and
businesses and causing many roof collapses, these huge drifts brought practically all means of air, rail,
and highway transportation to a complete standstill for 24 hours or more. Cars were easily buried and
many individuals were left stranded in their vehicles. Numerous closures of interstates and highways
resulted, including Interstate 75 which was closed for three days, a portion of Interstate 475 near Toledo
which was shut down for six days, and the entire length of the Ohio Turnpike which was closed for the first
time in its history. These prolonged highway closures resulted in food shortages in many areas, and the
Red Cross and armed forces stepped in to help distribute food to those in need.
Fortunately, the early morning arrival of this severe blizzard prompted officials to close nearly all
schools on the 26th, which prevented children from being stranded at school or on buses. In fact, Ohio
schools did not reopen until early the following week. President Carter declared a federal disaster in
Ohio on the 26th and in Indiana the following day. Meanwhile, area governors activated the National Guard
Where snow-covered roadways made travel by automobile either impractical or impossible, emergency
personnel and volunteers utilized snowmobilies to perform rescues and deliveries. In this case, a
toboggan was used as a makeshift stretcher. Photo courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright
State University
in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Thousands of men and women on active duty put in many long hours to help
clear roadways, restore power, perform emergency rescues and evacuations, deliver food and medicine, and
transport medical personnel to hospitals. In many instances, the only means of rescuing individuals with
medical emergencies was by helicopter. 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. Radio stations suspended regular programming to
provide storm information and to serve as communication links where other means of communication had
failed and highway travel was impossible.
The death toll from this epic winter storm rose to over 70 across the region. This included 5 in Kentucky,
11 in Indiana, and 51 in Ohio. Of the Ohio fatalities, 22 were the result of exposure as individuals
abandoned their stranded vehicles or homes with no heat. Thirteen individuals died from the cold while
trapped inside their vehicles, and another 13 died inside their homes after losing power and heat. Two
others died in buildings that collapsed under the weight of heavy snow. Falls and heart-attacks caused by
snow shoveling were among the other causes of death across the region. Fortunately, with so many highways
closed, there were no traffic-related deaths in Ohio that weekend. Agricultural losses from the storm
totaled around $73 million in Ohio as the result of dead livestock, lost production, property damage, and
milk/egg losses. Unable to store or transport milk because of highway closures, farmers were forced to
dump the vast majority of milk produced in the days following the blizzard.
To be considered a blizzard, a winter storm must produce sustained winds or frequent gusts greater than
35 mph and be accompanied by falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to less than
1/4 mile for 3 hours or more. Generally, temperatures will be 20 degrees or lower with a blizzard. A
severe blizzard is characterized by wind speeds of 45 mph or higher accompanied by a great density of
falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibilities to near zero, along with temperatures
generally 10 degrees or lower. The powerful winter storm of 1978 was a severe blizzard.
Additional Photos of the Blizzard of 1978
Cars were stranded in large snowdrifts all across the Ohio Valley |
An aerial shot of Greenville, Ohio taken on the morning of January 30th, 1978 |
The National Guard aided in many rescue and recovery efforts |
This car was buried in the snow for over a month in Kettering, Ohio |
Powerful winds knocked down thousands of trees like this one in Dayton |
Residents were left with plenty of snow to clean up once roads were cleared |
The abundance of snow and huge drifts made for a fun time creating igloos |
A National Guard snow plow prepares to clear the way in Shelby County, Ohio |
Horses were oftentimes used as alternate modes of transportation |
Jeep tracks in an open field made for an artistic view from above |
This resident of Miami County, Ohio finds an innovative way to travel |
Blizzard conditions arrived in Dayton early in the morning on Jan 26, 1978 |
Above photographs all courtesy of Special Collections and Archives, Wright State University
Snowy scene along Sleepy Hollow Rd in Covington, KY |
All bundled up to brave the bitter cold temperatures |
A snowy farmhouse scene following the blizzard |
Towboat trapped in ice on the Ohio River |
Clearing snow at the Greater Cincinnati Airport |
Clearing snow at the Greater Cincinnati Airport |
Large snowdrifts on a highway offramp |
Snow plow hard at work in northern Kentucky |
Snow covered and slippery I-275 at exit 84 |
Slippery roads resulted in many fender benders |
Large snowdrifts made for difficult walking |
Thinking warm thoughts in Covington, KY |
Snow covered Donaldson Road in Erlanger, KY |
Ice forming on the banks of the river |
Newport, Cincinnati, and ice on the Ohio River |
Plenty of snow to clear from this rural drive |
School closures meant time for fun in the snow |
Venturing out in the bitter cold and blowing snow |
Snow covered cars required lots of effort |
Peaceful scene from Eden Park in Cincinnati |
Above photographs all courtesy of the Kenton County Public Library
Daily Weather Maps from January 24-27, 1978
January 24, 1978 |
January 25, 1978 |
January 26, 1978 |
January 27, 1978 |
Summary from NWS Akron, OH (Special Weather Statement from Feb 1, 1978)
Summary from NWS Northern Indiana
Summary from NWS Detroit
Summary from NWS Cleveland
Summary from NWS Indianapolis
REFERENCE:
Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne A., 1996: Thunder in the Heartland: a Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent State University Press, Kent, Ohio.
Michael Kurz
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www.nws.noaa.gov
