40th Anniversary of Detroit's Biggest Snowstorm in Modern Times

[wxhstn74]

Throw-Back Thursday on the 40th Anniversary of Detroit's Biggest Snowstorm in Modern Times>>>>

http://weatherhistorian.blogspot.com/2014/12/40th-anniversary-of-detroits-highest.html

[stormtrackertf]

One of my favorite of your writeups. Sadly, I was not around for either of the storms mentioned, but I love reading about weather history, especially in the great lakes region.

[michsnowfreak]

Whats interesting is that Detroits top 2 events (Apr 6, 1886 - 24.5"....Dec 1-2, 1974 - 19.3") were HEAVY, WET snows. Can you imagine navigating through 2 feet of cement!?

Last winter, our peak snowpack of 21" snowpack contained over 3" of water (and when it was down to a foot it was at 4" water in late Feb)...so while thats actually more extreme by volume, to fall in one day (meaning its on the streets, sidewalks, etc) would literally put us at a standstill.

 

The Detroit Free Press headline on Dec 2, 1974 was "HEART ATTACK!"

 

I would love to see more pics of it. The few I have found online...

[Powerball]

Whats interesting is that Detroits top 2 events (Apr 6, 1886 - 24.5"....Dec 1-2, 1974 - 19.3") were HEAVY, WET snows. Can you imagine navigating through 2 feet of cement!?

Last winter, our peak snowpack of 21" snowpack contained over 3" of water (and when it was down to a foot it was at 4" water in late Feb)...so while thats actually more extreme by volume, to fall in one day (meaning its on the streets, sidewalks, etc) would literally put us at a standstill.

 

The Detroit Free Press headline on Dec 2, 1974 was "HEART ATTACK!"

 

I would love to see more pics of it. The few I have found online...dec 1 1974.jpgdetroit 12 1 74 2.JPGdetroit 12 1 74.JPG

 

And it did.

 

Schools were closed for at least 1 week if I recall, and I don't believe district were nearly as loose/liberal with the use of snow days in the first place back then.