Thursday marked the 40th anniversary of the Great Blizzard of 1978.
The storm, which ultimately impacted much of the eastern half of the US, dumped 3 feet of snow on South Bend. Feet. Not inches.
The blizzard was actually the result of the merging of two separate storms, a pair of low pressure systems crashing into each other and being split by a high pressure system.
During the height of the storm, snow fell at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour across the northern part of Indiana, with sustained winds of 35 to 45 mph.
The Winter of ’77-’78 became one the coldest on record across the central and eastern United States, and was especially harsh across the lower Great Lakes with the coldest and snowiest winter since records were first kept in 1893.
Been 40 years since the Blizzard of ’78. We lived near Donaldson and couldn’t get to Plymouth for nearly a week. Snow drifts were over the barbed wire fence in out back yard … had to bring in front-end loaders to open the road to our house. Was just incredible.
— Ken Fox (@KenFoxTruth) January 25, 2018
WHO REMEMBERS?
The Great Blizzard of 1978 turns 40 years old this weekend! Who remembers the infamous storm? Share your stories and photos!#Blizzard #blizzardof78 pic.twitter.com/x7ZDvB5MbF
— ABC57News (@ABC57News) January 25, 2018
