Page 11 of 19 Mar 1966 Issue of Syracuse Post Standard in Syracuse, New-York See the full image with a free trial. We asked people to send us their stories and Marie Sturge was nice enough to submit her familys encounter with the storm: It was a Sunday and I cant remember if I went to church or not, but what I do remember is our friend who lived about two miles away came several times during the afternoon and evening to plow us out. The Mount Shasta California Snowstorm of 1959 The storm dumped 189 inches (480 cm) of snow on Mount Shasta. Was 1966 a cold year? Sean Kirst is a columnist with The Post-Standard. The party will take place Jan. 31 from 2-5 p.m. at the CNY Arts Center at the Cayuga Community College campus in Fulton. We had a high kitchen window and when I looked up, there was my backyard neighbor on snow shoes waving to me with a big smile on his face. Retired former federal meteorologist and cooperative observer at Oswego, Elmer Loveridge, maintained a private weather station at his home on Ellen Street in Oswego after the Weather Bureau Office in Oswego was closed in the early 1950s. Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts. How many inches of snow fell in the blizzard of 1966? I said, Ricky, where is your other boot? He replied, Its in the hole by the slide. He was totally unconcerned. What is the record snowfall in Syracuse NY? COOP Observerations Syracuse received 43 of snow and Oswego over 100. What happened to Kristin OConnell in 1985? Paul Cardinali was an Oswego resident in 1966 and he discussed his memory of the storm. 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. "We've had nothing else in this century of that magnitude. These type of weather systems are capable of producing very heavy precipitation, as abundant moisture can be transported northward ahead of the strong low pressure systems. ", "It culminated in an absolutely chaotic situation," said Robert Sykes, a retired Oswego State College earth science professor whose speciality is lake-effect snow. In the upper atmosphere, low pressure closed off around the Great Lakes. (Video: CNYCentral.com). 42.3 inches 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. ", "Heavy winds not only dumped a lot of snow, but drifted the snow. In total, more than 42 inches fell on Syracuse, a record that would stand until 1993. You have permission to edit this article. He's the commissioner, you know," said neighbor Harry Green. Ironically, the storm happened over March 13th March 15th, the same days as a major winter storm is set to hit the Tri-State Area. The newspaper's employees showed up for work, many of them having to walk several miles to get there, the longest being copy desk chief Steve Mekeel who walked to work from North Syracuse. But to Sykes -- who was the first director of the Lake Ontario Environmental Laboratory at SUCO -- the storm thoroughly justified his earlier career decision that Central New York would make an ideal place to study big-time snow. One of the most severe blizzards on record to impact the Northern Plains occurred 50 years ago between March 2-5 of 1966. By the time the blizzard ended on Tuesday, Feb. 1, more than 42 inches of snow had paralyzed the Salt City. The first two had little effecton New York, but the third became legendary. It began to snow late on Jan. 30 in Rome,and snow continued to fall through the next day. Roseau 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. This occurred during the year that ended December 31st, 1993. Evapotranspiration Nelson Rockefeller authorized sending snow removal equipment to Central New York on an emergency basis. I had to lay on my stomach in order to reach it but the mission was accomplished. What Is There To Do In Syracuse At Night? The coldest temperature ever recorded in North Dakota occurred in the same year as the highest North Dakota temperature, -60 F in Parshall on February 15, 1936. 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). Check the latest closings and delays for schools, business, and churches around CNY and the Mohawk Valley. Others died from heart attacks while shoveling snow or pushing cars, or traffic accidents caused by slick roads. Toggle the table of contents What is the biggest recorded blizzard in New York? Across the southern prairies it was the coldest month since the record-breaking month of January 1950, and in the Yukon Territory this was the coldest month on record since 1917. When a neighbor suffered a heart attack during the storm, Woodards husband came to the rescue. Snowfall totals were even more extreme on the southeast side of Lake Ontario. It didnt create any lasting friendships with our neighbors but if there was another crisis, we would help each other., Woodards husband owned a snowmobile, so he helped deliver groceries to stranded neighbors. 1. When something like that happens, neighbors assist each other, Price said. The snow was to the top of the set, so they thought that was pretty neat. The storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4 days. 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]. Gov. He said people heard about getting snow but didnt take it seriously until it hit. [7] The last day of the blizzard the winds subsided and snowburst conditions prevailed, with the snow falling straight down. Shortly after the Blizzard of 1993 the Herald-Journal asked for readers to answer which storm was worse (or better), '93 or '66. Snow began in southern North Dakota during the morning of March 2, and spread northward into March 3. The storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4 days.North American blizzard of 1966. 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. 40-60 mph winds piled up the dense, heavy snow in huge drifts, some as tall as two-story houses. During that epic blizzard, 20-30 inches of snow fell across the state. 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. 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.". Price, born and raised in Syracuse, never experienced a storm like the Blizzard of 1966. ", M.D. FULTON, N.Y. -- The weekend blizzard was a miss for us, but that wasn't the case 50 years ago. The North American Blizzard of 2006 hit East Coast cities from Baltimore to Boston with enough winter weather to cancel school for days, but few places got more than the Big Apple. Tipperary. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Fifty years ago, on Jan. 30, 1966, it began snowing. The worst of the Blizzard of '66 hit Upstate New York. "People were sick of hearing about it, but they couldn't not listen.". How many inches did we get in the blizzard of 96? Ibuki, Japan, recorded the worlds greatest snow accumulation: 38.8 feet. Valley City, CITY FORECASTS I remember having fun in the snow but also making a few dollars with a snow shovel. If there is a bright side on the business front, it is with the local "mom and pop" stores. Mountain roads were closed and snow drifts 24 feet (7.3 meters) high were common. Finally by later on March 5, the low pressure system began to move away, with winds subsiding, and colder subzero temperatures moving into the region. We couldnt get out of our door because the snow covered our windows, Woodard said. Syracuse, N.Y. -- The snowiest day in the history of New York record-keeping happened in a town most New Yorkers have never heard of. Since releasing the book, I've been invited to over thirty clubs and organizat P Patti 562 followers More information I cant imagine that will ever be the same.". The storm disrupted all mail deliveries, as most Onondaga County mail is delivered from either Buffalo or Albany. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. What is the most snow ever recorded in one day? ", Peg Helmke remembers a snow drift rising to 20 feet in front of her house, and being trapped indoors for three straight days. Although Woodard, a Syracuse native, was accustomed to harsh winters, We never expected it to be like that., After the storm, neighbors came together to help dig out others. When combined with winds up to 70-miles-per-hour, gusting at time to 100-miles-per-hour, drifts were 30-40 feet high in some locations. Mayor William Walsh's Schuyler Street, for example, had not been plowed until the night of February 2. But a study published in the Journal of Operational Meteorology determined via local records that during the 1959 storm, it snowed continuously for six days, averaging 2.6 feet (80 centimeters) per day at the Old Ski Bowl. Winter Weather YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. | Collectibles, Paper, Newspapers | eBay! Schools, businesses, and roads were closed for days. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year. The year 1966 began with arctic cold extending over the centlral interior and northwest of Canada. A summary of the official Storm Data publication regarding this event can be found here: https://www.weather.gov/fgf/blizzardof66_stormdata, POPULAR PAGES The city of Batavia and Genesee County had 2 feet (61cm) of snow fall on that Saturday night alone. What day was the blizzard of 93? Assistant Postmaster Lawrence Ryan said be expected some out-of-county mail to begin arriving on February 2, but did not know how much. The iconic photo of North Dakota DOT employee, Bill Koch (below), standing next to a set of power lines, was taken by fellow ND DOT employee Ernest Feland on 9 March 1966. In addition, tens of thousands of livestock perished in the storm. By the time the storm ended it had crippled central and western New York. And everyone who has lived through it has his or her own story to tell. The snow was so high they could walk around underneath the telephone wires., Forced to stay inside, many residents depended on candles for light and their ovens for heat, while children played with jigsaw puzzles. New York Skies (Cheryl Costa) Photos; Special Editions. Snowfall. Although the storm involved a full day of shoveling, Monroe recalls how much fun everyone had with the tunnels that were built above her head in the snow. March 12HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) -On March 12, we remember one of the biggest March snow storms to ever hit the East Coast: the blizzard of 1993. 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. Accumulationsexceeding 30 inches extended west from Rochester to Buffalo. Shirley Woodard, 87, of Constantia and Nadine Monroe, 81, of Minoa were like many residents during the storm who were shut in their houses without electricity. 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]. SYRACUSE New York Air National Guard Col. William McCrink, commander of the 174th Attack Wing, recently recognized airmen for their support of the response to the historic Christmas blizzard Wayne Lawton, of Moravia, who served on the snow blower team. 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. While Syracuse is known for its winter weather and snow accumulation, no storm has rivaled what happened 50 years ago. At Grand Forks, 27.8 inches of snow was measured, with the heaviest snow falling on March 4, when 17.0 inches fell. The storm quickly gave him a test under fire since he was forced to make 100 live reports between Jan. 29 and Feb. 2. Bemidji Thanks to Marie for sharing her memory of this historic storm. The kids, of course, loved it, Monroe said. Photos from the Blizzard of 1966 at the bottom of this post. The storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4 days. Grand Forks, ND4797 Technology CircleGrand Forks, ND 58203-0600701-772-0720Comments? In Syracuse, the city came to a halt after 42 inches of snow fell and winds gusted to 58 mph. February 1, 1966 is believed the first time the Syracuse Post-Standard ever missed a publication date, despite the best intentions of its staff. California Consumer Limit the Use of My Sensitive Personal Information, California Consumer Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Highs/Lows/Precipitation Our home was warm and we had plenty of food so all was good.. 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Langdon Over 120 people and a Siamese cat were welcomed into the War Memorial arenato take shelter. A few of the fatalities were from overexertion from shoveling snow, while other deaths occurred as a result of becoming disoriented while out in the treacherous blizzard conditions. The nor'easter dropped paralyzing snowfall, exceeding 20 in (51 cm) in many places. The snow became so packed that even plows couldnt move it. What month was the blizzard of 66? 3 See also. Motels along the way were already jammed with stranded motorists, so he was forced to continue the trip -- which took 13 hours to complete. 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. Why does Syracuse get so much snow? Much of Romewas shut down with over 40 inches of snow and high drifts. Fergus Falls Most of the snow. Current Weather A number of babies were born outside of hospitals in the area. Up until that time, most local TV stations around the nation employed non-meteorologists to cover the weather. News accounts varybut at least 18 reported deaths occurred across the Great Plains states due to the blizzard. Folley, of Liverpool, believed that the news media had deceived the public by blowing the impact of the storm out of proportion. [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. At least Price was able to walk in the middle of abandoned streets to get to Channel 9. From the "Ron Remembers" VHS tape, Ron Curtis looks back on the Blizzard of 66. https://youtu.be/imXX7A8gCqE As a 13-year-old living in Rome, N.Y., I experienced this storm firsthand. Leonard Siegler has spent 55 years as a professional bus driver, traveling from "one end of the country to the other." During his long career, Siegler never experienced another storm that rivaled. The worst snow event in North Dakota history occurred March 2nd, 3rd and 4th of 1966. Nelson Rockefeller issued snow removal equipment to Central New York to handle the mounting crises. 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. Multiple locations were found. ", Share your stories of the Blizzard of '66 at 50th anniversary party in Fulton. 5. When combined with winds up to 70-miles-per-hour, gusting at time to 100-miles-per-hour, drifts were 30-40 feet high in some locations. There was just snow everywhere, you couldnt see a single thing outside, said Monroe. 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. You can also check out other issues in The Syracuse Post Standard. She was 17 and lived in Syracuse's Tipp Hill neighborhood. The . [1], Prior to the event, temperatures plunged to record low levels in central and northern New York as Arctic air dominated in the wake of an earlier cyclone. 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. One of the worst snowstorms Winnipeg, Canada, had ever seen showed up on its doorstep on March 4, 1966. . For those who lived through 1966 there is no question that old storm is the true "king of storms. "I guess I'm lucky to be living across from Mr. Why Is It Raining So Much In Syracuse Ny? The '66 blizzard, which affected much of the eastern United States, is probably best remembered for the onslaught it unleashed on Central New York, particularly the cities of Syracuse and. 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. This, In 1825, the Village of Syracuse was officially incorporated. Some streets couldnt be plowed right away because cars were stuck in the middle. Fargo Syracuse, New York: 127.8 inches. At Fargo, temperatures held steady in the 20s during the start of the blizzard, falling into the teens during the height of the blizzard, when winds were strongest and visibility lowest. Did North Dakota get 40 feet of snow in 1966? Farfaglia was 10 years old in 1966. In and around the Lake Ontario snow belt, the storm period is considered to have lasted from January 27 - February 1, 1966, and the blizzard was a combination nor' easter and lake effect event in this region. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle: Email | 315-427-3958. 2023, Charter Communications, all rights reserved. The storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4 days. Following is a glimpse at how the blizzard unfolded. The Blizzard of 1966 was a nor easter that impacted the northeastern United States and Eastern Canada from January 29-February 1 1966. Lawton and the other airmen were given official wing challenge coins by McCrink recognizing their service. A Lew Swenson photo, courtesy of the Onondaga Historical Association: South Salina Street, Syracuse, at the beginning of the Blizzard of 1966. Armory Square is the premier nightlife spot for downtown Syracuse. It's complicated", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=North_American_blizzard_of_1966&oldid=1141776492, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 19:03. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. "Transportation was not 'paralyzed,' it merely had to cope with winter. Almost as memorable were the winds, gusting to as high as 60 miles an hour, creating snow drifts as high as two-story houses. When combined with winds up to 70-miles-per-hour, gusting at time to 100-miles-per-hour, drifts were 30-40 feet high in some locations. At least nine people were killed across North Dakota (5) and Minnesota (4), and at least another 6 (possibly more) people died in South Dakota. You can cancel at any time. I knew sooner or later, we would be dug out. "One person I talked to, these strangers ended up staying two weeks with them because plows couldn't come by and there was no way they could get their car. Water officials believe the over 42 inches of slow which will be able to supply Syracuse homes with a week's worth of water. Much like December 2015, itwas a warm and green Christmas for residents of upstate New Yorkin 1965, with highs in the mid 60s. At Oswego, the storm lasted from January 27 to January 31, 1966, a total of 4days. Syracuse, New York 13202, OHA Museum/Gift Gallery We didnt have Doppler radar. National Weather Service All NOAA. The storm inspired both the best and worst of human nature. According to The Post-Standard, there were several reports of babies being born outside hospitals and parachutes were dropped with food to stranded residents. By JoAnn DeLauter. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Syracuse averages 103.6 inches of snow per year. [7], A total of 102 inches (260cm) of snow was recorded at Southwest Oswego by meteorologist and associate earth science professor Robert Sykes Jr. His total includes 50 inches (130cm) of this falling on the calendar day of January 31 alone. The Blizzard of the 20th Century, as the story in the Jan. 10, 2001 Skaneateles Press labeled it, Skaneateles Emerges From Record Snowfall as the Feb. 3, 1966 Skaneateles Press headlined. Wednesday - Friday: 10 - 4 They were storm-bound travelers who had been stranded while driving on the Thruway. My husband got a path made so we could get on top of the snow. [4], New Market, Alabama, recorded a state record low of -27F on January 30. Newborn Livestock (CANL) The Atlantic moisture was greatly enhanced by moisture from Lake Ontario. Although both Syracuse daily newspapers continued to publish throughout the chaos, a veteran editor remembers it was the only time in history that home delivery was temporarily impossible. Sykes' measurement methodology was designed to arrive at a "true" snowfall total and account for the settling effects of the wind on snow accumulation. diary entries she wrote during the . At both Cazenovia and Le Moyne Colleges, students performed a lot of the "housekeeping" duties on campus: cooking and cleaning while staffs were unable to make it to work. What is the coldest temperature ever recorded in North Dakota? Schools were closed for an entire week extremely rare for upstate New York. According to a new database from the National Centers for . 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. . March snowfall totaled 49.3 inches as of March 14 making March 1993 the snowiest on record at Syracuse breaking the old record of 41.4 inches set in 1932. 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. Snowfall totals reached as high as 38 inches, with drifts 30 to 40 feet high in some locations. "Certainty weather-wise, it could happen," Farfaglia said. On the morning of January 30th, 1966, snow began falling and did so almost continuously for the next 36 hours, finally ending on February 1st. "Thank you to everyone for giving up their time to support operations out west," McCrink said. Fraternity men at SU, who were low on food, turned up at the War Memorial to swap an hour of shoveling for sandwiches. What is the most snow ever recorded in the world? When the storm finally ended, my children went to our neighbors who lived directly behind us and played on their swing set. His vision was so obstructed that he couldn't immediately recognize he was off the road and into a field. With cold enough temperatures, heavy snow and very strong winds often occur to the northwest of the track of the low pressure system, as was the case with this blizzard. LATHAM Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general for the state of New York, announces the following: Lt. Col. Kevin Swab, from Auburn, serving with the 10th Area Command of the New York Guard, received the New York Pandemic Response Service Ribbon during recent unit training events between December and February. The city of Batavia and Genesee County had 2 feet (61 cm) of snow fall on that Saturday night alone. See also What Was Invented In Syracuse? In the broadcast business, it gave us a sense that people depended on us, so we better get there and do what we need to do, Price said. My obsession with weather was greatly enhanced by this legendary storm and that obsession continues to this day. Devils Lake Over $15 million of lost business was reported. I doubt whether my children remember the storm, they were three and five at the time. And we just waited for it to go away., The huge amount of snow, combined with 58 mph winds and temperatures that dipped to 26 below, meant that residents were unable to get out of their houses. But we couldnt find our car. Bob Sykes, a meteorology professor at the State University of New York at Oswego, reported a whopping 102.4 inches 8 feet of snow. "They'll never know the blitzes I've been through," he wrote, finishing with, "the Blizzard of '66 would make the Blizzard of '93 look like a mere display of flying soap suds in a bellows forced type wind. Wednesday - Friday: 10 - 4 All we could do was stay inside and watch it come down. His methodology included estimation and frequent measurements. "Fargo, North Dakota Climate"https://climate.umn.edu/pdf/fargo_climate.pdf, by Vincent and Nancy Godon.