 Surface analysis of Blizzard on March 12, 1888 at 10 p.m. | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone Blizzard |
|---|---|
| Lowest pressure | 980 hPa (29 inHg) |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 58 inches (147 cm) |
| Fatalities | 400 fatalities |
| Damage | $25 million in 1888 (equivalent to $850 million in 2024) |
| Areas affected | Eastern United States, Eastern Canada |
The Great Blizzard of 1888, also known as the Great Blizzard of '88 or the Great White Hurricane (March 11–14, 1888), was one of the most severe recorded blizzards in American history. The storm paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine,[1][2] as well as the Atlantic provinces of Canada.[3] Snow fell from 10 to 58 inches (25 to 147 cm) in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and sustained winds of more than 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) produced snowdrifts in excess of 50 feet (15 m). Railroads were shut down and people were confined to their homes for up to a week.[3] Railway and telegraph lines were disabled, and this provided the impetus to move these pieces of infrastructure underground. Emergency services were also affected during this blizzard.
- ^ "The Blizzard of 1888; the Impact of this Devastating Storm on New York Transit".
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
noaawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Douglas, Paul (2004). Restless Skies. Barnes & Noble Publishing, Inc. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-0-7607-6113-7.