January 26, 1978...a storm for the ages. This was Louisville's only blizzard warning ever issued. The big storm came just a week after a 15 inch snowfall hit the city. About half of that snow had melted as the second storm began. . At the time it was the biggest storm ever in Louisville.The area had already been through a lot when the second storm moved through.This was indeed an epic storm. Here is the weather map on the morning of January 25, 1978. A developing low was located over Mississippi. It was raining locally with temperatures in the upper 30's.The 2 low pressures merged into a monster storm and as temperatures fell behind the low as winds dramatically increased.To give you an idea of the cold coming in....St. Louis was 32 degrees at 7:00 AM on the 25th. On the morning of the 26th it was 1 degree in St. Louis. The low tracked across eastern Kentucky. By late evening of the 25th the weather was changing rapidly.....Cincinnati rain and 34 degreesLexington rain and 37Louisville snow and 32Bowling Green heavy snow and 29By the afternoon of the 26th, the low had pushed into Michigan with a pressure of 28.35". That's lower than some hurricanes..For Louisville, blizzard conditions developed during the evening of the 25th into the morning hours of the 26th. Winds gusted to 50 mph. Snow amounts were not as large as the week before, but with the high winds, this storm was actually worse. Snow totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches. Many roads were shut down during the blizzard.The month of January 1978 was the snowiest month ever for Louisville with 28.4 inches.Here are some other totals from the January 25-26, 1978 storm..... keep in mind this is all with winds of higher than 50 mph in some of these locations to as much as 80 mph in other locations on this list.Indianapolis 15.5"South Bend, IN 36"Muskegon, MI 52"Grand Rapids, MI 20"Chicago 13"Drifts closed interstates across much of the region. The duration of the storm was amazing.Here are the number of hours visibility was 1/4 mile or less in snow and blowing snow.Cincinnati 40 hoursDayton 31 hoursCleveland 25 hoursPittsburgh 18 hoursLexington 16 hoursI was not able to locate numbers for Louisville or Indianapolis.Some of the highlights of the storm.......KENTUCKYInterstates were closed in eastern and central Kentucky.It was called the worst storm in over 100 years.With the 2 snowstorms, some school districts around Louisville were closed for almost a month.OHIO:Winds gusted to 100 mph. This photo shows people walking on the rooftops of cars.The entire stretch of the Ohio Turnpike was closed for the first time in history.Interstate 75 was closed for 3 days.The National Guard flew 2,700 helicopter missions for aid and rescues.Snowfall amounts of 15-25 inches were common.MICHIGAN100,000 vehicles were abandoned during the storm.Up to 50 inches of snow fell.Winds gusted to 100 mph.INDIANAThe entire state was under a Blizzard Warning for the only time in state history.The snow lasted for 31 hours.Up to 40 inches of snow fell in northern Indiana.Winds gusted to 80 mph in northern Indiana.I-65 had snow drifts of 20-25 feet.National Guard tanks were called out to rescue people and help clear the roads.Indianapolis had 16 inches of snow.The phone company halted all phone calls except for emergency calls....Columbus, OH...Cleveland.
January 26, 1978...a storm for the ages. This was Louisville's only blizzard warning ever issued. The big storm came just a week after a 15 inch snowfall hit the city. About half of that snow had melted as the second storm began. . At the time it was the biggest storm ever in Louisville.
The area had already been through a lot when the second storm moved through.
This was indeed an epic storm. Here is the weather map on the morning of January 25, 1978. A developing low was located over Mississippi. It was raining locally with temperatures in the upper 30's.
The 2 low pressures merged into a monster storm and as temperatures fell behind the low as winds dramatically increased.
To give you an idea of the cold coming in....St. Louis was 32 degrees at 7:00 AM on the 25th. On the morning of the 26th it was 1 degree in St. Louis.
The low tracked across eastern Kentucky. By late evening of the 25th the weather was changing rapidly.....
Cincinnati rain and 34 degrees
Lexington rain and 37
Louisville snow and 32
Bowling Green heavy snow and 29
By the afternoon of the 26th, the low had pushed into Michigan with a pressure of 28.35". That's lower than some hurricanes.
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For Louisville, blizzard conditions developed during the evening of the 25th into the morning hours of the 26th. Winds gusted to 50 mph. Snow amounts were not as large as the week before, but with the high winds, this storm was actually worse. Snow totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches. Many roads were shut down during the blizzard.
The month of January 1978 was the snowiest month ever for Louisville with 28.4 inches.
Here are some other totals from the January 25-26, 1978 storm..... keep in mind this is all with winds of higher than 50 mph in some of these locations to as much as 80 mph in other locations on this list.
Indianapolis 15.5"
South Bend, IN 36"
Muskegon, MI 52"
Grand Rapids, MI 20"
Chicago 13"
Drifts closed interstates across much of the region.
The duration of the storm was amazing.
Here are the number of hours visibility was 1/4 mile or less in snow and blowing snow.
Cincinnati 40 hours
Dayton 31 hours
Cleveland 25 hours
Pittsburgh 18 hours
Lexington 16 hours
I was not able to locate numbers for Louisville or Indianapolis.
Some of the highlights of the storm.......
KENTUCKY
Interstates were closed in eastern and central Kentucky.
It was called the worst storm in over 100 years.
With the 2 snowstorms, some school districts around Louisville were closed for almost a month.
OHIO:
Winds gusted to 100 mph. This photo shows people walking on the rooftops of cars.
The entire stretch of the Ohio Turnpike was closed for the first time in history.
Interstate 75 was closed for 3 days.
The National Guard flew 2,700 helicopter missions for aid and rescues.
Snowfall amounts of 15-25 inches were common.
MICHIGAN
100,000 vehicles were abandoned during the storm.
Up to 50 inches of snow fell.
Winds gusted to 100 mph.
INDIANA
The entire state was under a Blizzard Warning for the only time in state history.
The snow lasted for 31 hours.
Up to 40 inches of snow fell in northern Indiana.
Winds gusted to 80 mph in northern Indiana.
I-65 had snow drifts of 20-25 feet.
National Guard tanks were called out to rescue people and help clear the roads.
Indianapolis had 16 inches of snow.
The phone company halted all phone calls except for emergency calls.
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Columbus, OH
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Cleveland
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