In 2003, I lived in the foothills of Colorado above Golden. Over four days, I got 88" of snow at my house. My snowblower broke in the first hour, so I cleared it all (driveway, decks, paths to my firewood) with a small plastic shovel. It was amazing...and an experience I never need to repeat.
These enormous drifts are what happens when you clearcut a forest then plow the fields you planted on them in the fall. This blizzard dropped less than 3 feet of snow in a 4 day period.
In 1963 we had a winter that lasted months, and made Canada look warm! Several trains were submerged in snow and drifts covered houses completely.
In 1969 we had a late winter that caused freezing winds and fog across the UK that brought down a TV transmitter tower
In 1976 the heatwave was so bad for many the night temperature was still 25C and 30C in the daytime for more than 2 weeks straight. We wrote off 1/2 billion crops, water was rationed with bowsers in the street.
My grandmother marched into the school in her small rural Illinois town that day and demanded that they release the kids. They had been trying to tough it out to get enough hours to count it as a school day.
It was, of course, too late for anyone who didn't live in town, so she ended up doing a couple trips in her pickup to haul kids who lived out in the country to her house where she laid out blankets for everyone and made pancakes in the morning.
When Mother Nature decides to play snow globe with the Midwest, and suddenly everyone's indoor camping skills get a surprise final exam. Snowdrifts taller than grandma's stories, and pancakes become the ultimate survival food!
Grew up in northern indiana and have similar memories. We'd have people on snow mobiles doing grocery runs. Teams of folks with snow blowers helping to clear streets and driveways.
I remember the snowstorm of 78 in Boston, I was only 3. I remember the snow being taller than me in the path on our front walk. I wonder if this was the same storm?
Well then hello neighbor. I remember the street that could normally pass two cars either way being only wide enough to have one car on it. The snow banks on the sides were sooo high. We made tunnels in them from our house to my friends house three doors down.
Yeah, the snow piles were deep for a bit, going anywhere was problematic for several days. I lived 3 houses south of the Chicago & Northwestern, not as many trains for a few days. Dad couldn’t get into work on the RTA.
timmers67
Oh I remember playing king of the mountain on those snow mounds at school.
LucilleWhoKnowsNot
Looks like a Canadian winter to me
sskkmm
I recall jumping of the roof of my house into the snow! That was epic. Glad we had wood burning fireplace was power out for a week.
electrajet
In 2003, I lived in the foothills of Colorado above Golden. Over four days, I got 88" of snow at my house. My snowblower broke in the first hour, so I cleared it all (driveway, decks, paths to my firewood) with a small plastic shovel. It was amazing...and an experience I never need to repeat.
LunaAtlas
Yes, we are still coming out of the last Ice Age. The photo indicates climate change has improved since then.
madsander
Now show the ‘67 blizzard!
3RsReadingRitingRithmatic
One of the worst Blizzards to ever h8t the northeast as well, aptly known as "The blizzard of 78"
RobJenkins
funone77
Faaaaaaaake.
MisanthropicMath
As a kid this was an amazing time!
Igivefreepiggybackrides
As someone that will never witness a winter like this despite living in Minnesota, I'm sad.
9z2nf02h
These enormous drifts are what happens when you clearcut a forest then plow the fields you planted on them in the fall. This blizzard dropped less than 3 feet of snow in a 4 day period.
Otteritup
White gold
bestleftalonetwice
Yeah. Now there's no snow in MN. In February. Wtf
Mountons
Ah back when there was winter ...
SlightlyDodgy
In 1963 we had a winter that lasted months, and made Canada look warm! Several trains were submerged in snow and drifts covered houses completely.
In 1969 we had a late winter that caused freezing winds and fog across the UK that brought down a TV transmitter tower
In 1976 the heatwave was so bad for many the night temperature was still 25C and 30C in the daytime for more than 2 weeks straight. We wrote off 1/2 billion crops, water was rationed with bowsers in the street.
IAmTheBadW01f
My grandmother marched into the school in her small rural Illinois town that day and demanded that they release the kids. They had been trying to tough it out to get enough hours to count it as a school day.
It was, of course, too late for anyone who didn't live in town, so she ended up doing a couple trips in her pickup to haul kids who lived out in the country to her house where she laid out blankets for everyone and made pancakes in the morning.
Jaqdakloun
Looks like sand because of the exposure
NitchevCasseus
When Mother Nature decides to play snow globe with the Midwest, and suddenly everyone's indoor camping skills get a surprise final exam. Snowdrifts taller than grandma's stories, and pancakes become the ultimate survival food!
PerpetualExhaustion
Growing up, I always heard my parents talk about every winter through the lens of “‘78.”
cheesedogs
Gonna miss snow when it's gone for good
veepee
My folks used to talk about this one. Missed it by a handful of years.
PistolPeat
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
azzabat
Ours was a year earlier in ‘76/‘77. Our Farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada got buried in snow and we had to slid out the attic windows.
Suovetaurilia
More about the blizzard: https://www.weather.gov/iln/19780126
PeterHartman
I remember that one, and I think ‘82.
altair29
Yeah, ‘82 in southern Illinois was great as a kid. I remember that winter well.
JanCicvarek
In 1978 was not coloured foto available in Illinois?
LunaAtlas
It is colored. Lots of white and half a dozen dark shades.
usmcorpse
Neither was an enclosed cab for the dozer
HetOlorin9Img0
Even the rainbow was black and white back then
81licks
Black and white was cheaper, and a reasonable choice if you’re shooting for a newspaper, anyway.
APassingPlasticBag
Do you see how much snow is out there even the color didn’t go outside
PineappleIsDeliciousOnPizzaFightMe
Outside Chicago, Illinois was fully black and white until 1987
animatronicChristmasChickens
Snow white, everyone else in Illinois in winter was grey
HIVp0sit1ve69
Like dirty, everlasting parking lot snow.
MBTerrorKitten
Grew up in northern indiana and have similar memories. We'd have people on snow mobiles doing grocery runs. Teams of folks with snow blowers helping to clear streets and driveways.
fripding
I lived in Lombard that winter as a kid and it was glorious!
rockriver74
Downers Grove checking in. I barely remember this...
campbellm
Lockport here, 7th grade.
OmnibusLatinName
Was in the QC then. Many snow forts were built. :)
imgjim
I remember the snowstorm of 78 in Boston, I was only 3. I remember the snow being taller than me in the path on our front walk. I wonder if this was the same storm?
IDoPictureStuff
Still had to go to school barefoot both ways
Sanotassard
Uphill
HIVp0sit1ve69
I was still a twinkle in my dad's eye. Aww the good ole days.
BuckIndy
Agreed, I was in Glen Ellyn.
Zilthai
Same. From Churchill to Hadley to Glenbard West.
fripding
Well then hello neighbor. I remember the street that could normally pass two cars either way being only wide enough to have one car on it. The snow banks on the sides were sooo high. We made tunnels in them from our house to my friends house three doors down.
BuckIndy
Yeah, the snow piles were deep for a bit, going anywhere was problematic for several days. I lived 3 houses south of the Chicago & Northwestern, not as many trains for a few days. Dad couldn’t get into work on the RTA.
BuckIndy
But oh the snow! Forts! Tunnels! Snowmen galore!