The twin Blizzards
Next week in the anniversary of two of Michigan’s greatest “true” blizzards. What is odd is that both started on the same date January 26th one in 1967 and the other in 1978. I live in Bay City for both storms and in Bay City the 1967 storm was the worst of the two.
The 1978 storm. There were some forecasted variances of the intensity and track of the storm, and considering the primitive model of the day (LFM – Limited Fine Mesh), forecasters did an admirable job in forecasting one of the most severe winter storms ever to hit the Great Lakes Region.
A Winter Storm Watch was posted as early as Tuesday night, the 24th, for the southern half of the Lower Peninsula for Wednesday Night into Thursday. Gale Warnings for the Great Lakes were hoisted the following Wednesday morning, along with the Watch. A weaker system had moved through the region earlier during the day on Tuesday and already dropped some snow on the region. Before the snow started there was around 6” of snow already on the ground.
The ingredients of what would later prove to be a truly fascinating yet vicious winter storm were coming together from different parts of the country. As with the “White Hurricane of 1913,” the massive storm actually began as two smaller but distinct storms. A strong low pressure with an attending arctic airmass was entering the Northern Plains by way of Northern Minnesota on Tuesday evening (24th). At the same time, another developing low pressure system was taking shape over the eastern Texas/Louisiana area.
The phasing of two distinct jet streams aloft proved to be the key as to the subsequent strength and massive extent of the storm. A very strong and energetic Arctic impulse surged almost due south and plowed the Arctic front through the Northern Plains late on the 24th. At the same time, another very strong upper wind impulse surged south through southern Arizona. These two jet streaks made up the larger North American jet stream as a huge upper ridge of high pressure along the West Coast of the U.S. diverted the powerful Pacific Jet north into Northern Canada. This northern jet (containing a wind max of 110 knots) then dove due south, like on a giant roller coaster, across the western U.S. as the second, subtropical jet (with an even stronger wind max of 130 knots) surged across southwestern states. On Wednesday (25th), a deepening area of low pressure made its way east across the Gulf States into Georgia by evening. Meanwhile, across the north, the Arctic front barreled east across the Upper Midwest into the Western Lakes by Wednesday evening. Earlier that Wednesday morning, the Winter Storm Watch for Lower Michigan was changed to a Heavy Snow Warning. Blizzard Warnings were hoisted across much of the Great Lakes and Upper Ohio Valley Region by daybreak Thursday. Record 24 hour snowfall totals from the storm included, 16.1 inches at Grand Rapids, 15.4 inches at Houghton Lake and 12.2 at Dayton, OH. Snowfalls for the entire storm (25-27th) included a whopping 30.0 inches at Muskegon (some of which was Lake Michigan enhanced), 19.3 inches at Lansing and 19.2 at Grand Rapids. Snowfalls were less over Southeast Lower Michigan (mainly because of the rain that fell for a period) and included 9.9 inches at Flint and 8.2 inches at Detroit. As I stated I lived in Bay City at that time and the snow fall total there was 28” Remember there was already 4 to 6″ of snow on the ground before the storm started, and there were many drifts of over 15 feet.
The 1967 storm. The big Blizzard of January 26/27, 1967, went down as one of the all-time worst blizzards in Michigan’s history mainly because of the way the weather conditions changed drastically in a short amount of time. In days leading up to the blizzard, some areas featured temperatures in the 50s and 60s.
The 1967 blizzard caught many Michigan residents off guard. In several locations, the temperatures were in the 50s and 60s, and then a couple of days later on Jan. 26 and 27, the blizzard dumped lots of really heavy snow in a relatively short period.
In Lansing, the temperature was 66 degrees on Jan. 24, 1967. Two days later, 24 inches of snow had fell.
In Grand Rapids, the warm temperatures produced records at that time of 62 degrees on Jan. 24, 1967 and 57 degrees on Jan. 25, 1967. Then the snow — a foot and half — fell.
Here are some of the reported snow fall totals from the 1967 storm. Kalamazoo … 30 inches, Lansing … 24 inches, Saginaw … 23.8 inches, Flint … 22.7 inches, Grand Rapids … 18 inches, Jackson … 16 inches, and Muskegon … 11 inches.
In both of the storms there was a lot of wind with gust of 55 to 65 MPH and both had several periods of thunderstorms with the snow. So far there has not been a storm that has came close to the intensity of either of the storms since 1978. Even the so called Ground hogs day storm was not of the same intensity.
Slim
Here at Crystal lake (Montcalm county) we got between 1 and 1.5” of much needed and appreciated snow. I hope the next system drops enough I need to break out the plow.
This is another great winter day! I could use a little less wind, but I am loving the temperatures and snow! Sunday Skiing here I come! I absolutely love it!
Breaking news>>>>despite the hype from certain people the latest FEB CPC for west MI gives us near normal temps and above normal snowfall! Can you say snowstorms baby!
Hype lol…The few been quiet since Christmas just blaaing about the past!! We have above Snowfall for January and below normal temps just the facts DDDDDD….InDyy
Yes, they are grasping at straws to make it look like it has been a mild winter! What a joke! Delusional!
And not one snowflake in Zland …Lol..InDY
Another over achieving snow system currently happening in my hood 2.5 inches of new snow and its still snowing..Could of easily been a winter weather advisory …Enjoy our Winter fun that keeps going and going IndY..
Yes there were slid offs all over the place today!
I wasn’t around yet for the ‘67 one, but easily remember the ‘78 one. We had a new Chevy blazer and it had completely disappeared under a snow drift. Only time I can remember Chicago drive being closed for 3 days. We used to get a lot of blizzards back then although not on the scale of those big ones. Having 2 to 3 feet of snow on the ground was a normal Winter, now we have an inch or two on the ground and we get a few tenths here or an inch there and words like “pummeled with… Read more »
Light snow is still falling and I am now at 1″ for today.
Slim
New CPC showing a steady warmup back to above average temps in Feb. I think this may be as cold as we get this winter.
On average this is the coldest period of the winter. As we head into February the averages go up after the 10th or so. Then we began the slow clime up the ladder to spring. But there can be big time snow events well into March so we shall see how this winter plays out. My guess is that it will end up near average temperature wise with below average snow fall. But that could still change. As this would be like calling the end of summer in late July.
Slim
My parents had gone to Fl leaving 3 teens home in 1967. We went to a funeral when there was no snow and on the way home cars were sliding off the road. The next morning the only way we could get out of the house was to roll up the garage door and dig ‘steps’ in the snow to climb out. We had so much fun walking everywhere (of course no school) My dad kept calling to ask how the cars were! By the time they got home it was all gone.
What is you location??? After both storms here in Michigan the snow stayed on the ground thru February and did not all melt until March.
Slim
It is helpful to know your location?
Let it snow let it snow let it snow ..Is this a dream?? Lol….InDY
We are currently getting pummeled with snow! Almost an inch already!
As for the two storms in the 1967 storm we were snowed in for 4 days. In fact we could not even open the front door as with the NE wind the snow was up over the top of the door. But there was almost no snow at all in front of the back door. and on the north side of the house you could see the grass sticking out. The road was not cleared for 4 days. In the 1978 storm my wife and I were in Ann Arbor the night before the storm started we left AA around… Read more »
For the 1st time in a while there is new snow on the ground. Just under a half inch here. The temperature here dropped to 11 before rising most of the night to its current point of 19. At this time there is some very light snow falling here.
Slim
Good post Slim – I remember both, the latter storm we got around on snowmobiles. Snowplows got stuck all over the place, many areas used road graders with V plows to open the roads. When I lived in Maine these snows were a normal occurrence and they used snowblowers on the plow trucks to keep the roads open.
I got sick in 78. My doc brought meds to our house via snowmobile.
A friend’s wife went into labor while they were living in a rural area north of Kalamazoo. Medical personnel picked her up via snowmobile to deliver her to the hospital.
Wow, what a winter! We are in the middle of a remarkable cold stretch and no change is sight! Now the snow will be ramping up and bam we have a great winter in progress! Our above average January snowfall keeps rocking! Who would have thought?