When Mother Nature decides to throw a snowy party, she doesn’t hold back! Across America, snowstorms have become part of history with epic snowfall, icy winds, and tales that make you shiver just hearing them. In this article, we’re looking at 22 of the most intense snowstorms that have hit the United States. These storms are not just weather events – they’re epic tales of nature’s power!
The Triple Wednesday Winter Storms (1960)
Ever feel like Mother Nature has a weekly appointment with you? The folks in the Carolinas and Georgia sure did in 1960. For three consecutive Wednesdays in March, they were smacked with snowstorms, each one like an unwelcome weekly subscription. This 20-inch snowy gift went into the record books for Charlotte. Snow much for a normal March, huh?
Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962
Talk about a dramatic weather event! This nor’easter in 1962 was like an angry sea monster, bringing hurricane-style winds and a deluge of snow. The mid-Atlantic coast got more than just a dusting – up to 42 inches in Virginia! One report claimed water levels rose to 2.74 meters in some areas. And let’s not forget the poor tanker ship was split in half.
Cleveland Superbomb (1978)
In 1978, Cleveland starred in its own disaster movie: “The Superbomb.” Instead of a snow flurry, it was an all-out snow assault. Three low-pressure systems decided to throw a snow party, and boy, did they deliver – a staggering 3 feet! Mother Nature decided to play Snow Tetris, leaving 400,000 without power and sadly taking at least 70 lives.
Blizzard of 1978
Hot on the heels of the Cleveland Superbomb, the Northeast said, “Hold my coffee,” and unleashed its own frosty fury. Boston and Providence got almost a year’s worth of snow in a day, and the winds weren’t playing around either, at a howling 110 mph. The price tag? A cool (or should we say cold?) $2 billion.
Blizzard of 1966
In Oswego, 1966, residents must’ve wondered if they’d accidentally moved to the North Pole. Over 100 inches of snow transformed the town into a real-life snow globe. The blizzard was so epic it could have set a new standard for white Christmases. Unfortunately, the intense conditions proved too much, leading to four lives lost in this frosty frenzy.
The Great Midwest Blizzard (1967)
Chicago in ’67 was a frozen tundra. Those 23 inches of snow might as well have been 23 feet, considering how it brought the city to a standstill. People probably needed periscopes to see over the snowbanks! The financial frostbite was severe, with a whopping $150 million in losses. Sadly, the icy grip of this blizzard claimed 60 lives.
The Super Bowl Blizzard (1975)
The 1975 Super Bowl had an uninvited guest – a fierce blizzard. While football fans prepped for touchdowns, the Midwest prepped for snow shovels. The Southeast, not to be outdone, spun up a tornado ensemble of 45! This storm broke records left and right across the area. Tragically, the human and livestock toll was high.
Megalopolitan Blizzard (1983)
1983’s snowstorm was like a winter remix of “The Day After Tomorrow.” Major cities along the East Coast were trapped in a snowy embrace, making snowmen the new urban residents. Philadelphia broke snowfall records, leaving some spots buried under 30 inches. This blizzard turned bustling cities into snowscapes worthy of a postcard – minus the chaos and shoveling.
The Perfect Storm (1991)
1991’s Perfect Storm was nature’s version of a blockbuster thriller – complete with a twist! This nor’easter teamed up with Hurricane Grace for a horrible result. Waves rivaled skyscrapers and winds that could knock your socks off. With a staggering $168 million in damages, this storm was more a horror show than a weather event, tragically claiming lives and ships.
Halloween Storm of 1991
In 1991, Duluth, Minnesota, had a Halloween makeover nobody asked for. Almost 40 inches of snow meant trick-or-treating in snowshoes and building snowmen instead of jack-o’-lanterns. The town looked more like Santa’s workshop than a Halloween haunt. The aftermath? A chilling $63 million in damages, according to one report. It was a spooky season, indeed!
The Storm of the Century (1993)
1993 brought the Storm of the Century, a snow extravaganza affecting a third of the U.S. This snow saga had all the trimmings, with record snowfall and tornadoes thrown in for good measure. Air travel was grounded, and the cost was astronomically high in the billions. Unfortunately, the human toll was also heartbreaking.
The ‘Blizzard’ of 1996
1996 rang in with a winter bash on the East Coast. Cities were decked in up to 4 feet of snow, making snowplows the hottest vehicles in town. Philadelphia, wearing its winter crown, saw 30 inches – a record that residents probably wished remained unbroken. This storm turned bustling cities into snowscapes filled with the sound of relentless shoveling.
Buffalo Blizzard of 1977
1977, and Buffalo was wondering if it had become a snow magnet. The blizzard was relentless, burying the city in a frosty blanket. Soon enough, the blizzard became a full-on winter siege. The National Guard became involved, shoveling away tons of snow. The storm’s ferocity claimed 29 lives, a grim reminder of the harsh reality of winter.
Great Texas Snowstorm of 2021
2021 surprised Texas with a snowstorm that could make a penguin shiver. Over 2.5 million people were left wondering if they’d woken up in the Arctic without power and water. Texas, known for its BBQ and cowboy boots, suddenly had to deal with igloo construction. Talk about a chilly curveball!
Blizzard of 1969
In 1969, the East Coast experienced a nor’easter that struck very suddenly. This sneaky storm brought heavy snow and winds that would knock your mittens off, causing chaos from rooftops to roadways. It was the kind of weather that made snowmen feel as though they were on a tropical vacation.
Blizzard of 1971
1971’s blizzard moved in and overstayed its welcome in the Northeast. Dropping heavy snow like it was going out of style, it turned New York and New England into a winter wonder-not-so-much-land. This storm caused so much chaos and disruption it would make a toddler proud.
Blizzard of 1973
December 1973 brought an ice storm that felt like a frozen apocalypse. The Midwest and Northeast were treated to a slippery surprise party, complete with hazardous conditions and power outages. It was the kind of ice gathering that made skating to work seem like a legitimate option.
Blizzard of 1976
February 1976’s blizzard was like a snow dump truck gone rogue. Dropping a jaw-dropping 56 inches of snow, it turned regions into scenes from a snow globe, just without the quaint charm. This storm was so intense that it made one of the heaviest snowfall records. It led to more than 600 uprooted trees and 24 deaths.
Blizzard of 1979
January 1979 brought a Category 4 blizzard that seemed to have a personal hatred against clear roads and unshoveled sidewalks. With 21 inches of snow, the Midwest and Northeast were turned into winter wonderlands that were more ‘wonder how we’ll get around’ than ‘land.’ This storm brought the kind of disruptions that make snow days look like a tropical vacation.
The Great White Hurricane of 1888
Back in the day when top hats were the rage, 1888 dropped a snowy bombshell called the Great White Hurricane. New York City got buried under a whopping 50 inches of snow, and trains became useless. One report found wind speeds reached up to 80mph. This old-school storm definitely put the ‘great’ in Great White Hurricane!
The Sneaky Snowstorm of 2010
In 2010, a sneaky snowstorm hit the East Coast, particularly nailing Washington, D.C., and Baltimore. Up to 2 feet of snow fell, and it was the kind of party where even snowplows were like, “Nope.” People were digging out cars like they were hunting for buried treasure. It’s safe to say this snowstorm was more ‘freeze’ than ‘breeze.’
The Polar Vortex of 2014
2014 introduced us to a new winter celebrity: the Polar Vortex. This chilly superstar decided to tour the U.S., bringing Arctic temperatures. The Midwest felt like a freezer, and even Florida got a chill. It was so cold that boiling water turned to snow before hitting the ground. Now that’s what you call a cool party trick, courtesy of the Polar Vortex!
18 Things You Should Probably Stop Doing After Age 50
18 Things You Should Probably Stop Doing After Age 50
19 Products Marketed Almost Exclusively To Stupid People
19 Products Marketed Almost Exclusively To Stupid People
No Boomers Allowed: 15 States Where Retirees Are Not Welcome
No Boomers Allowed: 15 States Where Retirees Are Not Welcome
18 Disturbing Conspiracy Theories You Laughed Off But Were Actually True
18 Disturbing Conspiracy Theories You Laughed Off But Were Actually True
18 Everyday Phrases Unintentionally Reflecting White Privilege
18 Everyday Phrases Unintentionally Reflecting White Privilege