Dear Tom,
People always talk about the "Blizzard of January 1967".
What snowstorm did they talk about before that one?
David Jackson Wheaton
Dear David,
It ranks as the city's fourth largest snowstorm, but prior to the 23 inch Big Snow of
January 26-27, 1967, Chicago's premier snow event was a 19.2-inch blizzard that
paralyzed the city on March 25-26, 1930. Snow fell for 43 consecutive hours, and
strong northeast winds created 4-5 foot drifts that made travel nearly impossible. Parts
of the city received even more snow than the official University of Chicago station.
Fledgling Midway Airport measured 22.3 inches of snow, putting it right up there with
the 1967 storm. However, this time the snow melted however under the strengthening
late-March sun and two weeks later the mercury soared to 90 degrees on April 10 and
11, the city's earliest 90-degree days on record.
