Many storms that meet blizzard criteria, though, are powerful behemoths with very low pressure that pull in massive quantities of air. Atacama Desert 6. Little Rock, Arkansas, picked up a whopping 13 inches of snow in just 24 hours. Residents of Montreal, Canada, walk with their belongings to their cars while seeking shelter after losing Jan. 8, 1998. Based on state weather records, here are some of the biggest winter storms in Wisconsin over the past 150 years or so: 1. December 1890. Some residents in Mississippi were without power a month after the storm. By the time it subsided, it had deposited between 17 and 30 inches of wind-driven snow on every city along the Eastern seaboard. Much of the greater Buffalo metro area picked up more than a half-inch of ice during the night from Feb. 22-23. March 12-13, 1993: The Storm of the Century, Jan. 25-27, 1978: The Cleveland Superbomb, Nov. 25-27, 1950: The Great Appalachian Storm, Jan. 12, 1888: The Schoolhouse Blizzard (or Childrens Blizzard). In Arkansas, Mel Coleman, CEO of North Arkansas Electric Cooperative described the scene,"In all of my years I have never seen anything that compares to the damage this storm has caused. Power outages and tree damage was widespread in this area. pic.twitter.com/EJTNli2oxO. It dumped several feet of snow on regions that typically see less than an inch of powder a year, forcing officials to scrape together winter emergency plans. Another 100 people died in the Northeast, and 100 more aboard offshore boats, making the storm probably the deadliest blizzard in American history. were without power. For perspective, accumulations of more than a half inch are considered crippling. The Great Blizzard of 1888 remains one of the most devastating storms in US history, with a death toll of over 400. In these storms, the same jets of moving air that allow sustained 35 mile per hour wind also transport plentiful moisture from the south and frigid temperatures from the north. Damage to power lines, trees, and phone lines was estimated at $20 million. On Christmas Eve 2009, blizzard warnings stretched from northwest Texas to the Canadian border. The most destructive ice storms feature heavy ice accumulation, sometimes on the order of several inches, that, when combined with strong winds, bring down trees and power lines, plunge hundreds of thousands into the dark sometimes for several days. DC's largest snowstorm on record, dubbed the "Knickerbocker Storm" occurred from January 27 to January 29, 1922. Here are five of the worst to have struck the country. But the few inches of fine, powdery snow that did accumulate were whipped by wind into one of Americas most infamous natural disasters, the Schoolhouse Blizzard. Yellowstone Park, Wyoming recorded 34 inches of snow. Some of the destructive impacts we can see in a given winter storm include: The most costly winter storms on record share one or more of the destructive traits listed above. These ratings are based on the aerial coverage and amount of snow in each region. Read more: 13 vintage photos of major US snowstorms that'll make you want to hibernate. Credit: Tennessee State Library and Archives/Ralph Morrissey Collection, Residents of Montreal, Canada walk with their belongings to their cars while seeking shelter after losing Jan. 8, 1998. Credit: MARCOS TOWNSEND/AFP/Getty Images, (NOAA Central Library/U.S. Despite that, its RSI index placed it as a Category 4 winter storm in the upper Midwest, though it was the only Category 4 April snowstorm of record in NCEI's upper Midwest region dating to 1900. All Rights Reserved. After a stretch of rainy but unseasonably mild weather, temperatures plunged and vicious winds kicked up, blanketing the East Coast in snow and creating drifts up to 50 feet high. NWS' scale classifies extreme impacts as causing "substantial disruptions" to everyday life. At the time, this was the most destructive ice storm of record in New England. Find out how they delivered her. Areas in the storm's path could see anywhere between 6 inches and 2 feet of snow accompanied by dangerous winds, with meteorologists expressing concern about some of the areas most likely to be impacted. Drifts were over the tops of some homes. Residents in the sun-soaked West who normally aren't used to even a trace of . Most of Texarkana, Hot Springs and Little Rock, Arkansas, were without power. New Year's Eve 1978 was the worst ice storm in North Texas in three decades, producing ice accumulations up to 2 inches thick in a 100 mile-wide swath from just west of Waco to Paris, Texas. How Winter Fashion Has Changed in 100 Years (PHOTOS), Eerie Vintage Photos of People Battling the Flu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Franais, State of Vatican City (Holy See) | Italiano. Property damage almost $100 million in North Carolina. 5 Storms. Conversely,northwinds were usheringwarmerair into the Ohio Valley from the northern Great Lakes. The storm also massively impacted the fishing industry and produced a humanitarian crisis that ultimately took additional lives. Milwaukee reported 28.5 inches of snow in 48 hours. On a pedestalby itself, the Blizzard of 1993 caused $9.8 billion in damage as it roared through the East CoastMarch 11-14. Read more: 6 holiday travel horror stories that will make you want to stay home. All three major airports in the New York metropolitan area were closed, and New York City became a ghost town. There were 19 deaths reported due to the blizzard, several of them from heart attacks while shoveling snow, according to the Washington Post. FEATURED PROGRAM: Your Zip Code Go. winter storm moving across us results in warnings, cold weather alerts for more than 150 million americans Travelers wait in line to check in for their flights at Terminal 1 at MSP Airport in . 13 vintage photos of major US snowstorms that'll make you want to hibernate, 150 deaths and around $3 billion in damages, 6 holiday travel horror stories that will make you want to stay home, Over 200,000 homes and businesses lost power. Packing fierce winds, bitter cold, and often heavy snow, the blizzard has earned a reputation as the most severe type of winter storm. Parts of theDelaware, Susquehanna, upper Ohio, Potomac and James River basins experienced significant flooding, according to NOAA. The storm pummeled gridlocked highways, forcing drivers and passengers to abandon their cars or be buried along with them. A pair of infamous Chicago snowstorms of1967and 2011 made the list, as well. The storm was also accompanied by frigid temperatures. So, we have two scales: 1) NESIS can capture storms in adjacent eastern regions, but its snow amounts reflect typical Northeast impacts and 2) RSI, a regional index. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Many meteorologists urged those with travel plans in the area to reschedule. Natural disasters can be more powerful and destructive than all other forces on the planet. A whopping 25.9 inches of snow fell between December 16 and 18 that year. NWS also advised Americans in the Plains states about the storm's anticipated impacts. Don't tell that to the hundreds of thousands who lost power around the Christmas holiday, due to the combination of high winds and heavy snow downing trees and power lines. The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as an event in which strong winds, exceeding 35 miles per hour, coincide with blowing or falling snow to reduce visibility below a quarter mile. The storm was also accompanied by frigid temperatures. Low visibility can also lead to deadly car crashes. Damage was estimated at $14 million in Dallas County alone. It makes no difference in the NESIS and RSI scales whether a snowstorm occurred on a Sunday in January or during peak Christmas travel. It remains the most costly winter storm to strike the United States since at least 1980. The week before Super Bowl XXXIV, an ice storm left half a million customers without power, some for more than a week. The channel names storms alphabetically based on two criteria: if there is a National Weather Service . March 1-3, 2018 Winter Storm Riley: $2.2 billion, 8. In temperate continental climates, these storms are not necessarily restricted to the winter season, but may occur in the late autumn and early spring as well. But that didnt stop them from fallingand with a vengeance. The Superstorm of 1993 (also called the Storm of the Century) was one of the most intense mid-latitude cyclones ever observed over the Eastern United States.The storm will be remembered for its tremendous snowfall totals from Alabama through Maine, high winds all along the East coast, extreme coastal flooding along the Florida west coast, incredibly low barometric pressures across the . Over 500,000 in northern New England lost power. Paul, the second heaviest snowstorm on record in Green Bay, Wisconsin, dumping in excess of 30 inches of snow in parts of eastern Wisconsin. In Mississippi, 3.7 million acres of commercial forests were severely damaged. Top Ten Winter Weather Events in Southern Indiana and Central Kentucky 1. In his book, Extreme Weather, Weather Underground's Christopher Burt cites a paper in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society stating "ice on the side of any dense, unbroken evergreen tree 50 feet high and on average 20 feet wide would have weighed five tons" due to the weight of accumulated ice. The weather service said Mountain High, one of the closest ski resorts to Los Angeles, received an eye-popping 7-and-three-quarter feet of snow during the last storm, with more possible this week. Area schools were closed for up to a week. Roofs collapsed, ships sank, millions lost power, every major airport on the East Coast shut down, and hundreds of Appalachian hikers were stranded as portions of 15 states saw more than 20 inches of snow. In total, the entire Atmospheric River event caused between $200-$300 . Superstorm 1993 laid down a massive swath of 10-inch-plus snowfall from parts ofAlabama to Maine. Downed trees and limbs caused widespread damage to homes, businesses and vehicles. The 2009 storm probably would have garnered an even higher ranking had the RSI region encompassed the southern Plains, as well. Farther east, 8 inches of snow was reported in Groton, Vermont, and Inlet, New York. Widespread damage to trees and power lines was reported. Just opening the door to the outside sounds like a war zone, with the continuous sounds of trees and limbs breaking.". The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued myriad winter storm watches, warnings and advisories for areas in the Rocky Mountains to the upper Midwest. Extreme cold air spilled toward the cyclone, with temperatures reported below zero as far south as Georgia and Arkansas. It was one of the worst ice storms to hit North Carolina. Parts of the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metro areas were paralyzed for days. We've collected a list of the top 10 worst ice storms in U.S. history, starting with one in northern Idaho. Others lost power for up to 10 days. Total costs were $15 million in North Carolina and $20 million in Tennessee. AccuWeather Winter Storm Piper Continues East Meteorologist Heather Tesch takes a look at Winter Storm Piper and shares the latest forecast. You can certainly vouch for grumpy moods around Christmas 2000 in parts of the South. NESIS snowfall map of the Mar. Heres how they form and where the term came from, tips for staying warm when its super cold, what to do if you get stuck in a winter storm, tips for staying safe in the dark and cold, how to get your home ready for extreme cold, phone and internet are ready for a disaster. The Twin Cities picked up 12-17 inches of snow, with Minneapolis airport officially picking up 13.1 inches, which falls outside of the Top 20 for most significant snow storms. In the days after Thanksgiving 1921, a four-day ice storm with accumulations over three inches in spots, crippled parts of New England, including the city of Worcester. to Ohio to Tennessee). Many roads were blocked as well, making travel nearly impossible in some areas. Barbara Buckner looks over her home that was destroyed by a tornado in Norman, Oklahoma, Feb. 27, 2023. Snowfall was deepest in Rahway, New Jersey, which received a whopping 32 inches. Ten winter storms since 1980 have caused $2 billion or more in damage in the United States. Title Description Type Air Time; AIRING NOW! The Feb. 8-13, 1994 ice storm caused extensive damage in the South totaling $5.2 billion. (Used with permission from the Worcester Historical Museum), (Tennessee State Library and Archives/Ralph Morrissey Collection), (Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images), Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, The ice storm caused extensive damage totaling $5.7 billion (CPI-adjusted), A winter storm from Jan. 21-24 caused damage and disruption that, Estimated total losses in North Georgia alone: $48 million. Sign Up for the Morning Brief - a weekday newsletter infused with your forecast, fun facts, articles and bite-sized nuggets to energize your day. Just days later, another winter storm hit Atlanta on Super Bowl weekend. Here you can see the day's top weather forecasts, stories and expert insights from the most trusted source in weather. A New Yorker makes her way down Seventh Avenue in Manhattan Jan. 8, 1996 during a blizzard that shut down airports and caused the mayor to declare a state of emergency. Indoors, power outages can be a major issue this time of year too, so make sure youre prepared for them. More than 270 people were killed across fourteen states, including 44 from an ocean surge and severe thunderstorms in Florida; the blizzard caused $11.3 billion of inflation-adjusted damage to become Americas costliest winter storm until the February 2021 cold wave. Snow nears the rooftop of a home in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Dec. 27, 2009. NWS Twin Cities quipped on Twitter that "odds are, a ruler won't cut it when measuring this one". The storm paralyzed some areas of the deep South for several weeks. An immense low-pressure zone, powered by a massive dip in the jet stream and blocked from sliding out to sea, took an unusual east-to-west track across the Mid-Atlantic. In 2004, Paul Kocin, currently a National Weather Service meteorologist, and Dr. Louis Uccellini, director of the National Weather Service, developed the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale, or NESIS, to rank and compare Northeast snowstorms. A warm-up and moderate to heavy rainfollowed after the storm, triggering snowmelt which caused widespread and deadly flooding. You don't often see snow from the Gulf of Mexico to New England, so by sheer aerial coverage, Superstorm 1993 pops to the top. Dallas Area Storms Cause Power Transformer To Explode, Cold Or Flu? The storm is expected to bring snow, strong winds and ice for some areas as it moves across the upper United States. The "Mataafa Storm" of 1905 was named after SS Mataafa, which was wrecked during the storm. Ice accumulations of up to two inches reported on power lines and tree limbs. The heavy ice coatings caused widespread damage to trees, power lines and power poles. Where the two clash, there is often heavy snowfall, coinciding with bitter cold and howling wind. Powerful and deadly: The most severe blizzards in U.S. history, Roger Goodell, Muriel Bowser discussed future of RFK site in December call, Everything you need to know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors, Heres what causes them and what blizzard warnings mean. Below we lay out the 10 most costly winter storms since 1980, according to NOAA. A crippling, devastating ice storm hit portions of upstate New York, northern Vermont, northern New Hampshire, much of Maine and southeastern Canada. The storm, which had the third lowest pressure recorded in the United States outside of a hurricane, pulled exceptionally cold air into the Midwest and the Ohio Valley with winds that gusted above 80 mph. "We will see very heavy snow falling at rates of 1 to, in some places, maybe even 2 inches per hour," DePodwin told Newsweek, adding that wind gusts could reach up to 40 miles per hour. Here's a look back. Accumulating snow also affected parts of the Middle Atlantic and Northeast. All dollar amounts are adjusted for inflation. Heres how wind chill works and how its calculated. A significant winter storm will impact the area Tuesday through Thursday. Record snow and incredible cold: Jan. 17-19, 1994. 1. Two main rounds of snow. Accumulations of up to an inch were reported in central parts of the state. Damage to power lines, trees and phone lines was estimated at $20 million. Parts of southern Minnesota picked up over 18 inches, including 20.5 inches near Glencoe, Minnesota. Stay warm: If youre going to be outside for extended periods on frigid days, its important to bundle up. Of all the states affected, Mississippi Tennessee and Alabama saw the worst impacts. High winds triggered power outages in 10 million households and coastal flooding damaged or destroyed homes on the East Coast. In his book, Extreme Weather, Christopher Burt cited a paper in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, stating, "Ice on the side of any dense, unbroken evergreen tree 50 feet high and on average 20 feet wide would have weighed five tons" due to the weight of accumulated ice. A daily weather map from Dec. 31, 1978, of the North Texas ice storm. Over 200,000 lost power in Louisville and it took as long as 10 days to get all customers back online. Ice accumulations of up to an inch were reported in central parts of the state. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Imagine almost two feet of snow, with higher drifts, in New York City, before the advent of the underground subway system, snow plows, or even simply burying wires underground. Satellite image from Mar. A band of strong winds caused blowing dust in Albuquerque, which turned into a snow squall that swept through the city during the daylight hours. The snowstorm in Washington, DC, on February 5-6, 2010 was dubbed "Snowmageddon," with 17.8 inches of snow. (Rick Solomon/Getty Images), Daily weather map from Dec. 31, 1978 of the N. Texas ice storm. Necessities such as food and water were difficult to obtain and lines for gas were hours long. The Northeast also typically sees a blizzard or two per year, particularly portions bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Extensive damage totaling $3 billion was reported in portionsTexas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. The timing couldn't have been worse, and the impact of this ice storm continues to this day in Atlanta. A crippling, devastating ice storm hit portions of upstate New York, northern Vermont, northern New Hampshire, much of Maine and southeast Canada. Over 1 inch of accumulated ice in many locations from northeast Texas into southeast Oklahoma, Arkansas and northern Louisiana. 5 Storms (Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota; Iowa). Pedestrians make their way along an icy street outside the Georgia Dome before the start of Super Bowl XXXIV between the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans In Atlanta, Georgia. The flat landscape, just east of the Rockies, is ideal for powdery, windswept snow north of developing storms and along powerful cold fronts; a small handful of blizzards occur in this part of the country each year. The dayslong brutal conditions left many . The most severe blizzards in U.S. history have killed dozens, or even hundreds. Rounding out the top 10 on NOAA's list are five additional winter storms that caused at least $2 billion in damage when adjusted for inflation. What made this storm particularly memorable was the aftermath. After the collapse of the theater's roof, the city's building codes were updated to require steel I-beams and better supports. While some parts of the US see snow much of the year, other states are about to enter their frostiest season. There have been only 28 Category 5 winter storms in the U.S. since 1900, based on the RSI. Sign Up for the Morning Brief - a weekday newsletter infused with your forecast, fun facts, articles and bite-sized nuggets to energize your day. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters. The forecast at The Weather Channel calls for a new weekly program, Top Ten, that takes stock of the world's biggest weather-related occurrences, TVLine has learned exclusively.. Premiering . Paul, Minnesota (28.4 inches), topping the previous record from the fourth extreme storm on the list above (21.1 inches). On February 9, a second storm produced high winds and heavy snowfalls from Washington, D.C., to Boston. Southern and central Minnesota are expected to see the worst of the snow with up to 2 feet. Throughout human history, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and o. Widespread and destructive coastal flooding occurred fromthe Jersey Shore to southeastern New England. That is the first time I've seen this," Fox9 meteorologist Cody Matz tweeted. The heaviest snow of the storm fell from the highest elevations of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. More than 80,000 utility poles were pulled down by the weight of the ice. Total damage was $1.4 billion in the U.S. plus another $3 billion in Canada. March 1881. Nearly 300,000 Dallas County customers lost power for two days. New Year's Eve 1978 was the worst ice storm in North Texas in three decades, producing ice accumulations up to 2 inches thick in a 100-mile-wide swath from just west of Waco to Paris, Texas. Included in the millions of damaged trees were many maple and apple trees, which affected the maple sugaring and apple industries for years. Published Feb. 24, 2023 Updated Feb. 25, 2023 8:31 AM PT. New York and southern New England, hardly strangers to snow, saw their most severe blizzard of record in the late 19th century. This is the worst storm Bangladesh has ever faced and the worst the world has seen. The heaviest accumulations were between Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee, and Lexington, Kentucky. Hurricane-force winds created 35-foot waves on November 7-10, 1913. Californians are still reeling from the winter storm , with officials declaring a state of emergency for 13 counties. We've collected a list of 10 of the worst ice storms in U.S. history, starting with one in northern Idaho. 1937 winter storm. Contents 1 Episode Details Snow drifts blocked roads in northern Oregon and the Cascades mountains passes. Accumulating freezing rain in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan caused major tree damage and power outages. A half-million were still without power three days after the storm. 25 people were killed and about 500 were injured. A number have been powerful and deadly enough to become among the most memorable United States weather disasters. These were the two most widespread, damaging ice storms of record in Arkansas history at the time, dating to 1819, according to the National Weather Service. 44K views, 17 likes, 0 loves, 6 comments, 24 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from The Weather Channel Originals: A mother goes into labor during a Halloween #Blizzard. Downed trees and limbs caused widespread damage to homes, businesses and vehicles. (NOAA Central Library/U.S. Aside from a small handful of hurricanes, no storm has ever proved as destructive in the Northeast, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions as the Great Appalachian Storm of 1950. The rest of central & Southern MN in the Major Impacts category. In a nutshell,widespread heavy snowfall over highly populated areasproduces a high NESIS value for a given storm. The heavy icing caused widespread damage to trees, power lines and power poles. While not technically a blizzard, the Blizzard of 1996 paralyzed an immense swath of the East Coast with three days of heavy, wet snow. This was easily one of the worst stories in Pittsburgh snow history. Accumulations of more than a half-inch are considered crippling. The south and central parts of the state were hit with two to four feet of snow. All of this ice and snow led to more than 900,000 power outages for customers across the Midwest. Tree damage from the December 2002 ice storm in Charlotte, North Carolina. Heavy snow impacted the interior Northeast and parts of New England. Mount Washington (New Hampshire) 2. Roads from the teams' hotel to the Georgia Dome were too hazardous. The Blizzard of '96 was the snowstorm of record in both Philadelphia and Newark and set the state snowfall record in Virginia (48 inches at Big Meadows), snarling travel and shutting down schools and businesses for days. National Weather Service's Top 10 Winter Storms in Kentucky. In-land winter storms have been named by The Weather Channel since the winter of 2012/13. Steve Beshear described it as the biggest natural disaster the state had experienced in modern history. The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. Little snow fell during the first major blizzard of 1888, which struck exactly two months before the crippling March storm in the Northeast. Nearly 80 percent of Maine's population lost electrical service. If youre riding a bike, here are our tips for staying safe in the dark and cold. NorthCarolina was hardest hit by freezing rain accumulations. This region had the most Category 5 storms, some of which occurred after Easter. Hundreds of children were trapped either at or commuting home from school, and died after becoming disoriented and lost in the blowing snow and frigid temperatures. 1922: The Knickerbocker Storm. Vehicles are seen during a heavy snowstorm on a highway in St. Paul, Minnesota, on February 22, 2022. Nashville recorded a low temperature of minus 13on Feb. 2. Much of cities of Texarkana, Hot Springs and Little Rock, Ark. Over 200,000 customers lost power in Louisville and it took as long as 10 days to get all customers back online. Six inches of ice accumulated in parts of northwest Texas on Jan. 22-24, 1940, according to Weather Underground's Christopher Burt. A string of back-to-back winter storms have lashed the West this week, delivering blizzard conditions and heavy snowfall to many areas in California. The Weather Companys primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. Great Appalachian Storm (Nov. 21-29, 1950): 34.693, Groundhog Blizzard 2011 (Jan. 31 - Feb. 3): 21.99, Chicago Blizzard of 1967 (Jan. 24-28): 18.128, Halloween Storm (Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 1991): 30.175. Several interstates, including I-90 and I-94, were closed in Minnesota and Wisconsin in the depth of the storm. Feb. 1-3, 2011 Central (Blizzard) and Eastern United States Winter Storm: $2 billion, 10. Travel safe: Driving in snow? 1) October Snowstorm Deb DiBendetto The freak October Snowstorm in 2011 - just 2 months after Irene - was remarkable. RSI Cat. From mudslides to wildfires and devastating. The Blizzard of 1888 hammered parts of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey with 40-50 inches of snow. Over the past 150 years, the country has been pummeled with record-breaking blizzards. Compounding the mess were high winds, turning streets into ice rinks, a challenge to anyone on foot. The worst destruction was a major mudslide at La Conchita in Ventura County, which destroyed 15 homes and killed 10 people. Heavy snow buried Boston, adding to the hefty snowpack already in place from earlier storms. Northeast Region (Maryland to Maine) RSI Cat. One of the deadliest in Washingtons history, the disaster claimed 98 lives and gave the storm its name. As snow winds down in Virginia, North Carolina, be cautious of. Atlanta has not hosted another Super Bowl since 2000. powerful storm system is objectively the worst winter storm on record to affect the Ohio Valley. The Blizzard of '96 was the snowstorm of record in both Philadelphia and Newark and set the state snowfall record in Virginia (48 inches at Big Meadows), snarling travel and shutting down schools. Outside of the crippling ice, this storm system also brought flooding to portions of the South, lower-Mississippi Valley and Upstate New York. Sophisticated computer models allowed the National Weather Service to issue a severe storm warning two days in advance. Outside of the crippling ice, this storm system also brought flooding to portions of the South, Lower Mississippi Valley and upstate New York. Adjusted for inflation, this storm today would've caused over a quarter million dollars in 2013. One of the strongest nontropical storm systems in U.S. history explosively intensified over eastern Michigan in 1978. The storm claimed 24 lives in Kentucky and another 18 in Arkansas from a combination of traffic accidents, hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning. Rapid ice accumulations from the Jan. 7-9, 1998 downed millions of trees and caused widespread destruction of power lines and power poles. The three coexisting hazards make blizzards uniquely dangerous, as people can find themselves stuck outside in cars or on foot in near-zero visibility and accumulating snow without the ability to find shelter. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Snowdrifts covering parked cars on 110th Street after more than 20 inches of snow fell in two days in New York City in 1996. New Year's Eve 1978 was the worst ice storm in North Texas in three decades, producing ice accumulations up to 2 inches thick in a 100 mile-wide swath from just west of Waco to Paris, Texas..