‘Benchmark’ of all winter storms
It hit 45 years ago this week; 99 people died
One of the fiercest storms to ever blast the region, the “benchmark” of all winter storms that led to nearly 100 deaths and motorists stranded on the highway, arrived 45 years ago this week.
The Blizzard of ’78 brought Massachusetts to a standstill for more than a week after the historic storm arrived on Feb. 6. People were stuck in deep snow on Route 128 for days, as many slept in their vehicles or abandoned their vehicles.
After 45 years, the traumatizing blizzard is still remembered by many for its crippling impact on much of southern New England. The storm brought widespread blizzard conditions, more than two feet of snow, high winds gusting over hurricane force, and multiple rounds of major coastal flooding.
“It’s the benchmark storm for the region,” Andy Nash, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald on Monday.
“It’s a well studied storm, and a lot of research has looked at what made the storm so powerful,” added Nash, who was 9 years old at the time. “And we carry that science forward today.”
The Blizzard of ’78 remains the second greatest snowstorm on record for Boston with 27.1 inches of snow, just behind the Blizzard of 2003 when 27.6 inches of snow were measured.
Across the Northeast, the American Red Cross reported 99 deaths and 4,587 injuries or illnesses attributable to the storm. More than 1,700 single-family dwellings were destroyed or suffered major damage.
The Red Cross provided shelter for more than 39,000 people who were stranded or forced from their homes by the storm. Massachusetts estimated losses from the storm at $500 million.
While the forecast technology wasn’t nearly as advanced as it is today, the blizzard was considered to be well forecasted for the time back then. As early as Friday, Feb. 3, local meteorologists were aware of the potential for a significant winter storm that would hit on Monday, Feb. 6.
Forecasts began to ramp up the threat over the weekend. Winter Storm Watches were issued by early Sunday morning with the expectation of near blizzard conditions and substantial snowfall.
“A forecast a couple days in advance was a pretty bold forecast back then,” Nash said. “Now, we see signals 5, 6, 7 days ahead of time that there’s going to be a big storm.”
Also, if the storm happened today, improvements in modeling would help forecasters provide more specific details regarding timing of the heaviest snow, as well as impacts from coastal flooding.
Some drivers back then thought they had a few hours to get home before the heavy snow arrived, but then the heavy snow came down pretty quickly and they got stranded on the highway.
Also, the public response would be better today because of the numerous communication platforms to help get the word out. People back then only saw the forecast in the newspaper, evening news or heard it on the radio.
“Now people are getting the weather forecast on their smartphone, on social media. The news cycle is 24/7,” Nash said. “Now we’re barraged with it, so it’s hard to not be aware of the evolving forecasts.”
There are still challenges today, he noted, citing the recent deadly snowstorm in Buffalo that was very well forecasted but hit right before Christmas.
Two members of the U.S. Army 27th Engineers from Fort Bragg, N.C. move their bulldozers slowly toward downtown Boston as the city began to remove the record snowfall from the streets, seen in this Feb. 11, 1978 file photo. (AP Photo/ file)