Discover the Biggest Blizzard to Ever Hit Connecticut

Connecticut is known as one of the southernmost states in the Northeastern United States. Given its position, close to the coast, it goes without saying that the Nutmeg State is susceptible to various natural phenomena, such as blizzards.

Two snow storms have left their mark on the state’s history. They are the Great Blizzard of 1888 and the North American blizzard of February 2013. If you wanted to find out which was the biggest blizzard to ever hit Connecticut, then you’ve probably come across the two mentioned earlier.

Naturally, the main question is: “How did each blizzard play out, and which one is the biggest to ever hit the state?” If you want to know the answer, keep reading!

What Is a Blizzard?

A blizzard is a winter snowstorm that’s powerful enough to break the norm, so to speak. More specifically, a blizzard or severe snowstorm is a winter storm with snow that falls or blows nonstop. The winds would be at least 35 mph (56.3 km/h) and lasts at least three hours.

Winter storms increase in severity with the help of three elements – air at below-freezing temperatures, moisture, and a layer of moist air that happens to be found above a layer of very cold air. All these contribute to the formation of snow, precipitation, clouds, and pretty much all of a blizzard’s aspects.

In the United States, blizzards are common in the Upper Midwest region and the Great Plains. How common? Well, winter storms happen there so often that the strip of land between the two regions ended up being called the “blizzard alley.”

What Are the Biggest Blizzards to Ever Hit Connecticut?

Four blizzards are noteworthy throughout Connecticut’s history. They are the February 2013 North American blizzard, the 1993 Storm of the Century, the Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978, and the Great Blizzard of 1888. These are often mentioned in the media as the four strongest and biggest blizzards that have hit Connecticut (as well as the surrounding areas).

However, only one can be called the biggest to ever hit the state. Before talking more about it, let’s take a close look at the remaining three in terms of severity, numbers, and so on.

Interesting Bits and Curiosities About the Biggest Blizzards to Ever Hit Connecticut

The February 2013 North American blizzard

• Often referred to as “Winter Storm Nemo,” the blizzard formed on the 7th of February, 2013, and dissipated completely on the 18th of February, 2013.
• It was a Category 3 rank nor’easter that managed to cross the Atlantic and affect areas of the UK and Ireland as well.
• During Winter Storm Nemo, the highest winds recorded were 85 mph (140 km/h).
• The highest gust recorded during the blizzard was 102 mph (164 km/h).
• The maximum snowfall was about 40 inches (100 cm) in the area of Hamden, Connecticut.
• During its 11 days of activity, the blizzard caused over 700,000 power outages, caused about $100 million in damage, and a total of 18 fatalities.

The 1993 Storm of the Century

• Often referred to as the “93 Superstorm” or the “No Name Storm,” the blizzard formed on the 12th of March 1993 and dissipated completely on the 14th of March 1993.
• It was a cyclonic storm (F2-ranked tornado) that affected multiple regions from Canada all the way to Honduras.
• According to statistics, roughly 40% of the US population was affected by the blizzard at the time.
• During the No Name Storm, the highest winds recorded were 100 mph (160 km/h).
• During the blizzard, the lowest temperature recorded was -12 °F (-24 °C).
• The maximum snowfall recorded was about 56 inches (140 cm) at Mount Le Conte (Tennessee).
• The blizzard caused roughly $5.5 billion in damages and caused a total of 318 fatalities throughout its two days of activity.

The Northeastern United States Blizzard of 1978

• Often referred to as the “Blizzard of ‘78,” it formed on the 5th of February 1978 and dissipated completely on the 7th of February 1978.
• It is regarded as a catastrophic nor’easter that affected the areas of New Jersey, New England, and Pennsylvania, as well as the metropolitan area of New York.
• In Connecticut, the Blizzard of ‘78 was known as Storm Larry. The state was also one of the three that were most affected by the blizzard, alongside Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
• The maximum snowfall recorded was 27.1 inches (69 cm) in Boston.
• The blizzard caused roughly $2.16 billion in damages. It caused about 100 fatalities throughout its two days of activity in the Northeast area of the United States. It is worth mentioning that it also contributed to the injuries of about 4,500 people.

What Is the Biggest Blizzard to Ever Hit Connecticut?

The biggest blizzard to ever hit Connecticut was the Great Blizzard of 1888, also known as the Great White Hurricane. It formed on the 11th of March 1888 and dissipated three days later, on the 14th of March 1888. Today, it is regarded as one of the most severe blizzards in the history of America.

According to statistics, the blizzard affected the East Coast, including Canada’s Atlantic provinces. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut were the states that received the most snowfall, ranging from 10 to 58 inches (25-147 cm).

Another major issue during the Great Blizzard of 1888 was the strong, sustained winds of over 45 mph (72 km/h). These contributed to the formation of snowdrifts higher than 50 feet (15 m), resulting in the closure of all facilities affected by the blizzard.

The Great White Hurricane is also considered one of the main reasons telegraph and railway lines were moved underground. They were severely affected and ultimately disabled during and after the storm. Even if it lasted only three days, the significant snowfall reportedly locked people in their houses for about one week.

In terms of damages, the Great Blizzard of 1888 caused about $750 million in damages and caused 400 fatalities (200 in New York City only). Because of this, it is considered the biggest blizzard to ever hit the state of Connecticut.

What Were the Effects of the Great White Hurricane?

• Snowdrifts created during the blizzard between New York and New Haven rail lines (Westport, Connecticut) took about eight full days to be cleared;
• Public transportation was significantly affected during and after the blizzard. Besides prompting infrastructure to be moved underground, the Great White Hurricane is also one of the elements that prompted the development of the country’s first subway system;
• This blizzard caused the famous New York Stock Exchange to be closed for two days. It would take another 124 years for the same thing to happen again, in 2012, when Hurricane Sandy hit;
• The blizzard rendered the fire stations useless. Despite the area being covered by a blizzard, all of its $750 million in damages were caused by fire;
• Over 200 ships were wrecked or grounded during the blizzard. One hundred seamen died;
• After the blizzard dissipated and snow began to melt, flooding occurred throughout the area, especially in Brooklyn.

Some would question the fact that the Great White Hurricane is the biggest blizzard to ever hit Connecticut. For example, the Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978 caused roughly $2.16 billion in damages. This was about $1.4 billion more than the blizzard of 1888.

However, given the number of casualties and the effects of the Great White Hurricane (which really can’t be ignored), it goes without saying that it is the biggest blizzard to ever hit Connecticut – at least at the time when today’s ways and means to fight off a blizzard were unavailable.

What Was the Biggest Blizzard in the World?

The biggest blizzard in the world was the 1972 Iran blizzard. It lasted about a week, from the 3rd to the 9th of February 1972. Severe winter storms and low temperatures characterized it. Snowfall measured about 26 feet (7.9 m) in the south of Iran, while temperatures dropped to -13 °F (-25 °C). 

It is the deadliest winter storm on record, causing more than 4,000 fatalities. According to reports and statistics, there were villages (Kumar and Kakkan, outside of Arkadan) where no inhabitants survived the 1972 Iran blizzard.

Two days later, on the 11th of February, another blizzard struck the area of Sheklab. This second blizzard forcing the evacuation of rescue helicopters. Sheklab is another village where no inhabitants survived after the blizzard.

Up Next:

• The 5 States With the Most Dangerous Blizzards
• The 5 Deadliest Blizzards of All Time
• How do Blizzards Form, and Why are They so Dangerous?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Gary Brownell / Flickr – License / Original