Advertisement The only blizzard warning ever in Louisville was 38 years ago today Belski's Blog Share Shares Copy Link Copy

January 26, 1978...a storm for the ages. This was Louisville's only blizzard warning ever issued. The big storm came just a week after a 15 inch snowfall hit the city. About half of that snow had melted as the second storm began. Here are the snow totals from the storm the week before. On the left is Indianapolis as this storm paralyzed much of the region for several days.Here are the snow totals from the big storm the week before. At the time it was the biggest storm ever in Louisville..The area had already been through a lot when the second storm moved through.This was indeed an epic storm. Here is the weather map on the morning of January 25, 1978. A developing low was located over Mississippi. It was raining locally with temperatures in the upper 30's..The low tracked across eastern Kentucky. By late evening the weather was changing rapidly.....Cincinnati rain and 34 degreesLexington rain and 37Louisville snow and 32Bowling Green heavy snow and 29By the afternoon of the 26th, the low had pushed into Michigan with a pressure of 28.35". That's lower than some hurricanes..For Louisville, blizzard conditions developed during the evening of the 25th into the morning hours of the 26th. Winds gusted to 50 mph. Snow amounts were not as large as the week before, but with the high winds, this storm was actually worse. Snow totals ranged from 4 to 8 inches. Many roads were shut down during the blizzard.The month of January 1978 was the snowiest month ever for Louisville with 28.4 inches.Drifts closed interstates across much of the region. This is what I-75 looked like in Lexington..The duration of the storm was amazing.Here are the number of hours visibility was 1/4 mile or less in snow and blowing snow.Cincinnati 40 hoursDayton 31 hoursCleveland 25 hoursPittsburgh 18 hoursLexington 16 hoursI was not able to locate numbers for Louisville or Indianapolis.Some of the highlights of the storm.......KENTUCKYInterstates were closed in eastern and central Kentucky.It was called the worst storm in over 100 years.With the 2 snowstorms, some school districts around Louisville were closed for almost a month.OHIO:Winds gusted to 100 mph. This photo shows people walking on the rooftops of cars.The entire stretch of the Ohio Turnpike was closed for the first time in history.Interstate 75 was closed for 3 days.The National Guard flew 2,700 helicopter missions for aid and rescues.Snowfall amounts of 15-25 inches were common.MICHIGAN100,000 vehicles were abandoned during the storm.Up to 50 inches of snow fell.Winds gusted to 100 mph.INDIANAThe entire state was under a Blizzard Warning for the only time in state history.The snow lasted for 31 hours.Up to 40 inches of snow fell in northern Indiana.Winds gusted to 80 mph in northern Indiana.I-65 had snow drifts of 20-25 feet.National Guard tanks were called out to rescue people and help clear the roads.Indianapolis had 16 inches of snow.The phone company halted all phone calls except for emergency calls.Here is an interstate view in Fort Wayne..Indianapolis.People in some areas had to dig down to find their car..Just outside of Indianapolis.Indianapolis....that is some serious snow