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What caused the Blizzard of 78?
The storm was formed from an extratropical cyclone off the coast of South Carolina on February 5. An Arctic cold front and a cold air mass then merged with the storm, creating the perfect ingredients for a large and intense low-pressure system.
How many inches of snow did RI get in the Blizzard of 78?
Record snowfall in Rhode Island occurred across the state with 27.6 inches recorded in Providence and 38 inches in Woonsocket. Snow drifts during the Blizzard of 1978 were commonplace with vehicles unrecognizable underneath towering mountains of snow.
Where did the Blizzard of 1978 start?
The Great Blizzard of 1978 was a historic winter storm that struck the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes regions of the United States as well as Southern Ontario in Canada from Wednesday, January 25 through Friday, January 27, 1978. It is often cited as one of the most severe blizzards in US history.
What happened during the Blizzard of 78?
The iconic blizzard first hit the Northeast on Feb. 6, 1978, and stretched into the next day. Snow fell at a rate of 4 inches per hour and wind gusts reached 83 mph during the storm, causing a state of emergency to be declared.
What is the most snow ever recorded in Rhode Island?
Greatest Snowfall in One Season: 82.3 inches – The greatest cumulative snow fall for Providence, Rhode Island. This occurred during the year that ended December 31st, 1945.
What year was the big Blizzard in Rhode Island?
At Rhode Island T.F. Green Airport where official records are kept, 19.3 inches of snow fell. That’s barely above our January 2015 snowstorm and only below the Blizzard of ’78 and our other big storms in 1996 and 2005.
Does Rhode Island get blizzards?
The number-one storm remains the Blizzard of ’78 when more than 26 inches of snow fell in Providence and northern Rhode Island was hit with more than 3 feet. Six of the top 10 snowstorms have occurred in the past 25 years, including the 2005 blizzard coming in at number 2.
What happened in the Blizzard of 1978?
No one will ever forget the blizzard of 1978. Rhode Islanders headed off to work or school on the morning of February 6th, 1978, not knowing the enormous Nor’easter was bearing down on them. As the snow fell harder and harder in the afternoon, many people became stranded on the roadways with snow piling up around them.
What happened in Rhode Island in 1978?
The Blizzard of 1978 hit winter in Rhode Island in early February with unexpected ferocity. Over the course of 33 hours of snow combined with winds up to 70 m.p.h. created conditions unlike anything our state had ever seen before.
How much snow did Rhode Island get during the Blizzard?
Record-breaking snowfall occurred across the state with 27.6 inches recorded in Providence and 38 inches in Woonsocket. Snow drifts were commonplace with vehicles unrecognizable underneath towering mountains of snow. The Blizzard claimed the lives of 26 Rhode Islanders and additional casualties across New England.
How much snow did the Blizzard of 1978 drop on New Hampshire?
The Blizzard of 1978 dropped 15 to 24 inches of snow along the Seacoast of New Hampshire and southern Maine, according to the National Weather Service.