What was the worst blizzard in Chicago history?
6 min read
Asked by: Mario Edwards
26-27, 1967) — Chicago’s largest. Snow began falling at 5:02 a.m. on Jan. 26, 1967, and didn’t stop until a record-breaking 23 inches had accumulated the next day, according to the National Weather Service, making it the worst snowstorm recorded in Chicago history.
What was the worst snowstorm in Chicago?
Chicago Weather Alert: The Worst Snowstorms In Chicago History
- 23.0 inches Jan 26-27, 1967.
- 21.6 inches Jan 1-3, 1999.
- 21.2 inches Feb. 1-2, 2011.
- 20.3 inches Jan 13-14, 1979.
- 19.3 inches Feb. 1-2, 2015.
- 19.2 inches Mar 25-26, 1930.
- 16.2 inches Mar 7-8, 1931.
- 15.0 inches Dec 17-20, 1929.
When was the biggest snow storm in Chicago?
January 26 and 27, 1967
On January 26 and 27, 1967, Chicago endured its worst snowstorm on record. The snow started at 502 AM on the 26th, and by 1010 AM of the 27th a record 23 inches of snow crippled the city. The previous record snow for the city was 19 inches on March 25th and 26th, 1930.
What was the biggest blizzard in Illinois?
the Chicago Blizzard of 1967
One of the worst winter storms to ever hit the state of Illinois was the Chicago Blizzard of 1967. Occurring on January 26th and 27th, 1967, this menacing storm dumped 23 inches of snow, had over 50 mph winds, and caused snowdrifts of four-to-six feet.
How much snow did Chicago get in the Blizzard of 1979?
21 inches
The Chicago blizzard of 1979 was a major blizzard that affected northern Illinois and northwest Indiana on January 13–14, 1979. It was one of the largest Chicago snowstorms in history at the time, with 21 inches (53 cm) of snowfall in the two-day period.
How much snow did Chicago get in the blizzard of 2011?
21.2 inches
With 21.2 inches total, the 2011 blizzard sits in the history books behind the Jan. 1-3 1999 blizzard, which dropped 21.76 inches of snow, and the Jan. 26-27 1967 blizzard, which saw a whopping 23 inches of snowfall.
How much snow did Chicago get in the blizzard of 1978?
89.7 inches
The 1978-79 New Year’s Eve snowstorm was just one of many that winter that combined to produce Chicago’s all-time snowiest winter, delivering 89.7 inches of snow.
What is the record for snow in Chicago?
Chicago’s snowfall climatology dates back to the 1884-85 snow season and over the course of those 138 seasons, Jan. 26 with a total of 87.4 inches boasts the most snowfall of any day of the year. That total is buoyed by the 16.4 inches that fell in 1967, the first day of the city’s benchmark 23.0 inch “Big Snow”.
When was the Chicago Snowmageddon?
Jan. 31, 2011
But on Jan. 31, 2011, a rare meteorological mix of constant snowfall, freezing high winds and highly charged lightning brought on “Snowmageddon,” a blizzard that turned picturesque Lake Shore Drive into an arctic parking lot.
When was the last snow blizzard in Chicago?
Over the three day period, snowfall totaled 21.2 inches officially at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, making it the third largest snowstorm on record for the city of Chicago.
January 31-February 2, 2011 Historic Blizzard.
| Chicago O’Hare, IL | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Snowfall Amount (inches) |
| 2/2 | 12AM-6AM | 3.7 |
| 6AM-12PM | 2.9 | |
Was there a Blizzard in 1979 in Chicago?
The Blizzard of 1979, and the city’s response to it, ended up being the catalyst for the ouster of Mayor Michael Bilandic a few months later. The snow began to fall with a vengeance on the night of Friday, Jan. 12, 1979, and it kept piling up until 2 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 14.
What day of the week did the Blizzard of 1978 start?
Sunday
The Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978 was a catastrophic, historic nor’easter that struck New England, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. The Blizzard of ’78 formed on Sunday, February 5, 1978, and broke up on February 7.
When was the last time it snowed in Chicago in April?
When it comes to accumulating snow, defined by the NWS as 0.1 or more inches, that typically occurs later in the year. The normal final date for an accumulating snowfall occurs on April 2, but the latest such snowfall to occur in the city actually happened on May 11, 1966.
Has Chicago ever had snow in July?
Snow has never been observed in Chicago in July and August, with the earliest start to the fall snow season being traces that fell on Sept. 25 in 1928 and 1942.
Why is Chicago still cold?
Although the city is located at a middle latitude, in winter it is cold because the North American land mass cools down a lot, and polar air outbreaks are frequent. Given the distance from the sea and the exposure to different types of air masses, temperature changes are frequent.
Does it snow in Chicago in February?
HOW MUCH DOES IT SNOW IN CHICAGO IN FEBRUARY? While the snowfall is different every year, in February the city sees an average of 9.1 inches (23.1 cm) of snowfall. Chicago usually will have at least an inch (2.5 cm) of snowfall that will stay on the ground for about 12 days.
Is Chicago colder than NYC?
On average, Chicago gets about a foot more snow each winter than New York. While the coldest average monthly temperature in New York bottoms out at 27 degrees, Chicago’s average lows in winter months are 18 degrees or colder. Chicagoans make up for those rough winters by embracing the outdoors the rest of the year.
Is Boston colder than Chicago?
Chicago comes in a distant but definitive second, which might explain why those two cities get snowfall earlier and later than Boston – they’re colder.
What is the coldest month in Chicago?
January
On average, January is Chicago’s coldest month, but it’s not necessarily the coldest month in any given winter. Long-term temperature averages at Midway Airport (1929-2011) rank January as the city’s coldest month with 23.9 degrees followed by February at 27.9 degrees and December at 28.9.
What’s the coldest city in America?
Fairbanks, Alaska
found that Fairbanks, Alaska, is the coldest city in the U.S. with the minimum average temperature in the coldest month a bone-chilling -16.9° F. The lowest temperature ever recorded there is -66° F.
Is Chicago getting warmer?
According to Climate Central, winter is the fastest-warming season in the majority of the U.S., including Chicago. Since 1970, Chicago’s winters have warmed an average of 3.2°F. By mid-century, Chicago is projected to have 22 fewer days per year with a minimum temperature below 32°F.
What is Chicago known for?
Some of the many things Chicago is famous for are: Chicago-style hot dogs, Chicago-style (deep dish) pizza, Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, jazz music, and 1920s gangsters, for example Al Capone. Chicago is also known for architecture, for example the Sears Tower and museums. It is also known for its loyal sports fans.
Are Chicagoans friendly?
Chicago is famous for being friendly to tourists.
What is Chicago nickname?
Chicago is known for many nicknames: the Windy City, Chi-town, the City of Big Shoulders.
