Though we’ve seen some pretty significant snowfall in our lifetime, it doesn’t take much to seemingly shut down Cincinnati. The threat of a dusting can have us all running to the grocery store for the essentials and hunkering down at home, but over 40 years ago, Cincinnati was hit with a massive blizzard that we will never forget. In 1978 our city saw several inches of snow and epic winds that literally froze the city in its tracks.
It all started on the evening of January 25, 1978 with a cold rainfall.
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission Temperatures quickly plummeted and by 1 AM, Cincinnati was experiencing widespread blizzard conditions. In fact, the storm spread across all of Ohio to Cleveland.
While a good amount of snow did fall, it was the wind and cold that caused quite a bit of damage.
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission Wind gusts averaged 50 to 70 mph and the temperatures felt like several degrees below zero with the wind chill.
It was difficult to determine exactly how much snow accumulated due to the wind gusts.
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission 6.9 inches were recorded in Cincinnati, with 12.9 inches in Dayton. Most areas saw a total in between. Either way, it was enough to have a severe impact on the area for weeks to come.
The blanket of snow and extreme cold made for beautiful scenery, but treacherous conditions throughout the Tristate.
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission Eden Park, shown above, sparkled in the moonlight with a thick blanket of snow and ice. The Ohio River began to freeze, which caused difficulties for boats, such as the tugboat trapped in the ice pictured above.
As Cincinnati does, we tried to make the best of it.
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission Schools and businesses were closed, and many had fun with the remnants of the blizzard, once the temperatures warmed up a bit, of course.
After this storm, and the previous year’s winter, many Cincinnati residents were likely considering a move to Florida.
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission The Blizzard of 1978 was definitely memorable, and it came right after the winter of 1977, when the Ohio River completed froze. Cincinnati will surely never forget these back-to-back brutal winters when our city was blanketed in snow and ice.
Will this winter be the year we see another one of these blizzards? Let’s hope not! But just in case, you better start freezing loaves of bread now. Do you remember the Blizzard of 1978? Share your memories with us in the comments!
Kenton County Library / NOAA / Used With Permission
Temperatures quickly plummeted and by 1 AM, Cincinnati was experiencing widespread blizzard conditions. In fact, the storm spread across all of Ohio to Cleveland.
Wind gusts averaged 50 to 70 mph and the temperatures felt like several degrees below zero with the wind chill.
6.9 inches were recorded in Cincinnati, with 12.9 inches in Dayton. Most areas saw a total in between. Either way, it was enough to have a severe impact on the area for weeks to come.
Eden Park, shown above, sparkled in the moonlight with a thick blanket of snow and ice. The Ohio River began to freeze, which caused difficulties for boats, such as the tugboat trapped in the ice pictured above.
Schools and businesses were closed, and many had fun with the remnants of the blizzard, once the temperatures warmed up a bit, of course.
The Blizzard of 1978 was definitely memorable, and it came right after the winter of 1977, when the Ohio River completed froze. Cincinnati will surely never forget these back-to-back brutal winters when our city was blanketed in snow and ice.
And if winter is your thing, check out our previous article showcasing some of the best wintertime hiking in Ohio here.
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