This weekend, Cincinnati — and much of the country — is hunkering down as a massive winter storm moves from Texas to the East Coast, dumping snow and ice and bringing with it some dangerously cold temperatures.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Wilmington is currently projecting the Greater Cincinnati area will see around 8 to 12 inches of snow accumulation, with a Winter Storm Warning set to take effect from 10 a.m. Saturday to noon Monday. Snow is expected to start sometime after 1 p.m., with heavy snow predicted for Sunday.
But, as you’re out buying your milk, eggs and bread today (if there is any left), it may be helpful to have some perspective: While this potentially historic winter storm could leave Greater Cincinnati covered in up to a foot or more of snow, it probably will be nothing compared to the blizzard that dumped up to 40 inches of snow across the Tri-State from Jan. 25-27, 1978.
On Jan. 26 of that year, the barometric pressure dropped to a record 28.81 inches — the type of reading associated with a hurricane. The wind chill that day reached 52 below zero. The severe weather emergency was the result of a rare “explosive intensification” of a surface low-pressure system. NWS officials said the anomaly produced “some of the lowest pressure readings ever recorded in the United States mainland that were not associated with hurricanes.”
Thousands of volunteers mobilized to bring relief during the blizzard, but there were over 70 fatalities, 51 of whom were in Ohio. Causes of the fatalities include exposure to the cold as individuals were stranded in their vehicles or homes with no heat.
Here’s a look at what life was like during those frigid days. All photos are courtesy of the Kenton County Library’s Faces and Places: Northern Kentucky Photographic Archives.
“Towboat Clare Beatty caught in ice”
“Innertubers and sledders”
“Snowy streets”
“Newport High School”
“Reservoir in Eden Park”
“Sledders”
“Shoveling out car”
“Florence Mall”
Covington: “Winter scene looking south from Pike Street”
Covington: “(Top to bottom) Tom Downing, 12, Vicky Eisenman, 21, Steve Downing, 19, Tim Czirr, 20, Mike Czirr, 25, inner tubing at Devou Park”
Madison Ave., Covington
Fort Thomas: “Kevin Ruehl (19), Kevin McKenzie (19) seem to have found a way to beat the snow parking problem. This was taken in front of their house”
Covington: “Ann Theis, 13, Mark Theis, 12, Tony Lung, 12, Joe Theis, 12, Angela Lung, 13, & David Lung, 9 – shoveling snow from Kathleen Stutler’s car”
Hebron: “Car buried in snow drift in Hebron near KY 20”
Covington: “Gary Raper (22) and Junior Raper (23) waiting for Tank Bus after work”
Florence: “Ron Bitter and Daryl Sears remove geese from ice in lake in front of Cindus Corp”
Lakeside Park: “Donna Doker, 28”
Covington: “View from First National Bank of 6th and Madison and banks closed due to weather”
Union: “Louie Scott, Ryle Rd, Union, Ky”
Fort Mitchell: “Dick Grone, 52”
Erlanger: “Mark Strong (15), Ted Hageman (15), holding car down in back for traction at Southern Railroad underpass – Ted fell off.”
“Blizzard over Mt. Adams” Photo: Provided by Kenton County Library
Cincinnati: “Blizzard over Mt. Adams”
Florence: “People shoving cars uphill during snowstorm at US 42 and Gunpowder Road”
Hebron: “Kenneth Taylor (12) and Carl Taylor (17) chopping wood to heat their house.”
Fourth & Columbia, Newport: “Tim Lucas, Newport fire fighter draining fireplug to keep it from freezing-water main break up the street”
Covington: “Snowstorm on I-75 southbound”
Hebron’s CVG Airport
Northern Kentucky
Ludlow: “Ray Sword, in dump truck, and Howard Geiser, in scraper, clearing snow on Elm Street in Ludlow”
Covington: “Snow drifts around meters at 6th & Madison Avenues”
Northern Kentucky
Northern Kentucky
Covington: “Wires down in snow at 5th & Greenup”
Fort Mitchell: “Dixie Highway”
Covington: “Pearl Mullins, 75, shoveling snow”
“Sleepy Hollow Road during Blizzard” Photo: Provided by Kenton County Library
Ludlow: “Sleepy Hollow Road during Blizzard”
Burlington: “Wayne Smith, 9, sliding down ice over ditch”
Covington: “Jeff Ritchie & Ray Tebelman spreading salt in Devou Park”