"The snow came down so hard and so fast that we couldn't get the trucks out of the lot," said Roland Allen, now a news editor at the Herald-Journal who was then editing copy for The Post-Standard. Our home was warm and we had plenty of food so all was good.. How many inches did we get in the blizzard of 96? [7] The last day of the blizzard the winds subsided and snowburst conditions prevailed, with the snow falling straight down. Syracuse takes home the crown as the snowiest city in America, averaging 127.8 inches each winter. The neighbors of DPW Commissioner Raymond Dodge are called the luckiest people in the city by the Herald Journal because the street Dodge lives, Lombard Ave., has been plowed repeatedly since the storm started. He's the commissioner, you know," said neighbor Harry Green. Beth Fitting, of Syracuse, wished to thank the men of the DPW for going "above and beyond the call of duty," and being hard at work while the rest of us "enjoyed a bit of an unexpected holiday. But those who remember it say nothing in the past 50 yearshas compared to the blizzard that hit the area in January 1966. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. For many, the Blizzard of 1966 is the storm that every other one is measured against. Try these recipes to prepare dishes with confidence. ", Peg Helmke remembers a snow drift rising to 20 feet in front of her house, and being trapped indoors for three straight days. Motels along the way were already jammed with stranded motorists, so he was forced to continue the trip -- which took 13 hours to complete. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The Blizzard of 1966 was a nor' easter that impacted the northeastern United States and Eastern Canada from January 29-February 1, 1966. This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. While Syracuse is known for its winter weather and snow accumulation, no storm has rivaled what happened 50 years ago. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle: Email | 315-427-3958. Three winter stormsbrought snow up the Eastern Seaboard that month. EN. Over $15 million of lost business was reported. (For comparative purposes, Chicagos largest 24-hour snowfall is 23.0 inches on January 26-27, 1967.) New York Skies (Cheryl Costa) Photos; Special Editions. For Grand Forks, the 17.0 inches on March 4 set a record for most snowfall during one calendar day, while the 27.8 inches for the blizzard as a whole still remains the heaviest event total snowfall on record in Grand Forks. Then-Gov. In total, more than 42 inches fell on Syracuse, a record that would stand until 1993. Page 11 of 19 Mar 1966 Issue of Syracuse Post Standard in Syracuse, New-York See the full image with a free trial. They were storm-bound travelers who had been stranded while driving on the Thruway. The only thing that prevented that snowstorm from becoming a true blizzard like this infamous one of the very next weekend was the lack of high winds.[8]. This resulted in heavy snow, and with low pressure parked over northern New England,strong winds whipped the snow into high drifts. Weather stations with highest snowfall in the United States by state, 1985-2015. ", "Heavy winds not only dumped a lot of snow, but drifted the snow. The Mount Shasta California Snowstorm of 1959 The storm dumped 189 inches (480 cm) of snow on Mount Shasta. People [] One of the standouts in the year 2016 for Jim Teske and Bridge Street was when they took a look back at the blizzard of 1966. Posted on February 3, 2016. Gov. Shortly after the Blizzard of 1993 the Herald-Journal asked for readers to answer which storm was worse (or better), '93 or '66. The worst snow event in North Dakota history occurred March 2nd, 3rd and 4th of 1966. We had a two story home so we could go upstairs and get a good view of the surroundings. I worked Doreen Podolak-Fox has been getting her steps in lately. Mountain roads were closed and snow drifts 24 feet (7.3 meters) high were common. In the upper atmosphere, low pressure closed off around the Great Lakes. The year 1966 began with arctic cold extending over the centlral interior and northwest of Canada. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year. During that epic blizzard, 20-30 inches of snow fell across the state. Thats just shy of 11 feet of snow, most of which is courtesy of the large body of water to its northwest: Lake Ontario. The storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4 days. Maury Goldberg, of Syracuse, expressed appreciation to Mayor William Walsh and the DPW for its excellent snow removal job in Syracuse's downtown business district. I dont remember being upset or feeling any anxiety. Please subscribe to keep reading. Syracuse, New York: 127.8 inches. What is the most snow ever recorded in one day? SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Fifty years ago, on Jan. 30, 1966, it began snowing. All we could do was stay inside and watch it come down. There was just snow everywhere, you couldnt see a single thing outside, said Monroe. For those who lived through 1966 there is no question that old storm is the true "king of storms. 3 See also. Some streets couldnt be plowed right away because cars were stuck in the middle. A full 26.9 inches dumped on NYC, the highest snowfall ever counted by government records. His feet were at the base of my window. Much like December 2015, itwas a warm and green Christmas for residents of upstate New Yorkin 1965, with highs in the mid 60s. The Village of, If you commute to campus or live off campus as a third- or fourth-year student, the Office of Off-Campus and Commuter Services offers helpful information, The reason for the storminess and heavy rain in Upstate New York, meteorologists say, is that were caught between the massive heat dome out West, Street parking is enforced in city of Syracuse from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Syracuse, New York received a record snowfall of 42.3 inches (107 cm) which remained their heaviest storm on record, until the Blizzard of 1993. -60 FHow cold does it get in North Dakota? Why Is It Raining So Much In Syracuse Ny? Wayne Lawton, of Moravia, who served on the snow blower team. An intense "Colorado Low" weather system lifted into eastern South Dakota early on March 3, 1966, and slowly progressed into central Minnesota on March 4. "We have recently in places like Buffalo. And when it was over on Feb. 1, more than 42 inches fell on Syracuse, a record that stood until 1993. What was the worst blizzard in US history? During that epic blizzard, 20-30 inches of snow fell across the state. "We've had nothing else in this century of that magnitude. More than 300 people were killed, and schools were shut down for days in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. NJ Burkett reports. Snow began in southern North Dakota during the morning of March 2, and spread northward into March 3. In January 1966, 10-year-old Jim Farfaglia '77 was celebrating his grandmother's surprise 70th birthday party in Fulton, N.Y., when what would become known as the Blizzard of '66 started blasting the region with snow and winds in excess of 60 miles per hour. "I was driving (a bus) into Fayetteville, we were crawling, and we went over a bridge where there was so much snow you didn't know you were on it," said Siegler, 72, a city resident who still drives part time for Syracuse and Oswego Motor Lines Inc. "There were times the snow in the road covered up my headlights.". Syracuse, New York received a record snowfall of 42.3 inches (107cm) which remained their heaviest storm on record, until the Blizzard of 1993.[8]. Indeed, a quarter-century after that four-day storm blasted Central New York -- dumping 42.3 inches of snow on Syracuse and a staggering 102 inches on lakefront Oswego County -- residents and weather experts alike still speak of it in reverent tones. As of Feb. 2, it is already believed that the storm will go down as the most costly one in history, with some accounts of nearly $15 million in lost business. There were plenty of instances of heroism -- Vaughn recalls how city firefighters took a pregnant Mountainview Avenue woman to the hospital by pulling her on a toboggan -- but police were also had to investigate several instances of looting. The storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4 days. Snowfall. During his long career, Siegler never experienced another storm that rivaled in ferocity the Blizzard of 1966, which hit its blinding peak in Central New York 25 years ago today. So they strapped the man to my husband and he took him up to the ambulance.. In Syracuse, the city came to a halt after 42 inches of snow fell and winds gusted to 58 mph. Much of Romewas shut down with over 40 inches of snow and high drifts. [1], The heaviest snowfall centered from northern Cayuga and western Oswego County inland through central Oswego County into the southern Tug Hill of northern Oneida County. Winter Weather One silver lining to all the snow is an estimated 300 million gallons of drinking water into Skaneateles Lake. One broadcaster is alleged to say this on the night of January 30, "The Civil War veterans' basketball game at the YMCA today has been cancelled.". Where Is Syracuse In Relation To New York City? You can cancel at any time. And everyone who has lived through it has his or her own story to tell. He was the first truemeteorologist on air in our area. . Langdon Baudette Newborn Livestock (CANL) "It's kind of like CNN now with reports from overseas," he said. [1], The official Oswego snowfall total for the storm, measured by the cooperative observer at the State University College at Oswego was 68". The snow, he said, barely tailed off until four days later. Most of the snow fell between 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 30 and 8:45 p.m. on Jan. 31, when it snowed almost continuously, dumping over 39 inches on the city. We couldnt get out of our door because the snow covered our windows, Woodard said. Folley, of Liverpool, believed that the news media had deceived the public by blowing the impact of the storm out of proportion. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Henry Vaughn, the city's superintendent of street cleaning, was a young snowplow operator when the storm blew into town on Jan. 29, 1966. A historic nor'easter brought blizzard conditions to New England, New Jersey and the New York City area at the beginning of February in 1978. I knew sooner or later, we would be dug out. 5. But as far as how we reacted or reacted? Greatest Snowfall in One Season: 207.9 inches The greatest cumulative snow fall for Syracuse, New York. "I guess I'm lucky to be living across from Mr. This piece on Central New York's great blizzard originally ran in The Post-Standard of January 30, 1991: THE BLIZZARD NO ONE FORGETS; SNOW BLAST OF '66 STILL DEEP TOPIC 25 YEARS LATER, Leonard Siegler has spent 55 years as a professional bus driver, traveling from "one end of the country to the other.". According to Mark Monmonier, a geology professor from Syracuse University, this particular blizzard was part of a cyclonic system that was brought by moisture from the Atlantic Ocean, rather than off Lake Ontario, although there was some lake enhancement that fueled the storm. Here is an old family video of the blizzard of 66, 1966 that is taken in Syracuse, New York to help those of you who are patiently waiting for snow I was just a little kid, the little one in the brown jacket but I do remember some of this blizzard. News accounts varybut at least 18 reported deaths occurred across the Great Plains states due to the blizzard. Nelson Rockefeller authorized sending snow removal equipment to Central New York on an emergency basis. Schools, businesses, and roads were closed for days. [3] The death toll reached 201 by Wednesday, February 2, as the storm eased. Please try another search. Weather History: Syracuse Blizzard of 1966 24,738 views Mar 24, 2012 81 Dislike Share Save HappyMario64 1.56K subscribers Between January 27th and the 31st, this historic blizzard dumped 8. snow poured down everywhere from Mount LeConte, Tennessee (56 inches) to Syracuse, New York (43 inches). The amount of snow recorded is the largest snowfall from a single storm in North America. Assistant Postmaster Lawrence Ryan said be expected some out-of-county mail to begin arriving on February 2, but did not know how much. Over 120 people and a Siamese cat were welcomed into the War Memorial arenato take shelter. Price, born and raised in Syracuse, never experienced a storm like the Blizzard of 1966. Detroit Lakes The worst snow event in North Dakota history occurred March 2nd, 3rd and 4th of 1966. (Submitted photo | Onondaga Historical Association). I trudged through the deep snow and sure enough, his boot was in the hole; a deep hole. Multiple locations were found. Start for Free Read an issue on 19 Mar 1966 in Syracuse, New-York and find what was happening, who was there, and other important and exciting news from the times. Several heart attacks also were blamed on storm-related stress. The storm quickly gave him a test under fire since he was forced to make 100 live reports between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2. This article was published more than7 years ago. Current Weather Four Central New York residents died of exposure, including an 18-year-old Baldwinsville man who was found dead under a tree after he left his parents' house to visit a girlfriend. This occurred during the year that ended December 31st, 1993. A Lew Swenson photo, courtesy of the Onondaga Historical Association: South Salina Street, Syracuse, at the beginning of the Blizzard of 1966. Facebook Twitter Tumblr Share. About 160 students wound up spending the night in a Syracuse bus garage equipped with two toilets. What happened to Kristin OConnell in 1985? The city of Batavia and Genesee County had 2 feet (61 cm) of snow fall on that Saturday night alone. One of the standouts in the year 2016 for Jim Teskeand Bridge Street was when they took a look back at the blizzard of 1966. The anniversary of the blizzard that swept Syracuse in 1966 warrants recollection. Walking in and getting there I felt like a pioneer, an adventurer to walk through that snow and get to work, recalled Price, 78, a Channel 9 (now WSYR-TV) staff announcer at the time. In Syracuse, 42 inches of snow paralyzed the city, and 126 travelers (and one Siamese. At least Price was able to walk in the middle of abandoned streets to get to Channel 9. Like everyone else on our street, we hunkered down and had some good family time together. This photo and many others which were taken by Bill and Ernest in the days following the storm are available in the North Dakota State Historical Society and NOAA/NWS archives. Saturday: 11 - 4, Sknoh Center/Gift Gallery ", "I remember I was 15 years old, there was no school [and] it was perfect," added Chittenango resident Rhoda Brown.. Both Syracuse and Rome, N.Y., received over 40 inches. Blizzard of 1966: The Storm Many Won't Forget By Alexa Green Central NY PUBLISHED 6:11 PM ET Jan. 28, 2016 In Central New York, snow storms are just a part of everyday life. Most of the snow. At Le Moyne College, Father Clarence Schubert, a Jesuit priest and doctor of philosophy, did something he never did before, or ever thought he would do, on February 1, 1966. In the 20th century in our area I dont think there has ever been one that has matched it, said Price. Jim Fargagliawrote a book about the storm Voices of the Storm and he described how the snow was terrible but the wind made it even worse. I was a milk man at the time. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, State DOT appealing all of Judge Neris I-81 ruling, Crunch win three straight against Lehigh Valley, Cortland women advance to second round of NCAA Division, West Genny hockey edges Bville for Section III Championship, Cuse women lose to NC State in ACC Tourney, Colgate rocks Loyola in mens Patriot League quarterfinals, Hematology-Oncology Associates of Central New York, Downtown Dining Weeks kicking off this week, St. Patricks Day gift and party products, Harriet Tubman Day Celebration next Friday, Lorettos Restorative Care Unit is one-of-a-kind, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, Travel Advisory: Tipp Hill Shamrock Run street closures, Tickets on sale now for C-NS Mean Girls: High School, The SAMMY Awards return to the Palace Theatre, JMA sign complete on Dome; check out drones eye. Atlantic moisture continued to stream into much of Upstate New York for an extended period. "I was out driving a plow on Euclid Avenue when I realized the telephone poles were on the wrong side of the street," said Vaughn, 57. My husband got a path made so we could get on top of the snow. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Mrs. Philip Lamirande, of Baldwinsville, worried about the selfishness of the people around her, after not being offered a ride in any of the cars that drove past her as she went to the grocery store with her kids. At Grand Forks, 27.8 inches of snow was measured, with the heaviest snow falling on March 4, when 17.0 inches fell.