Blizzard

Among the worst winter storms in American history, the Blizzard of 1996 is one of them. Snow begins falling in Washington, D.C., and up and down the Eastern seaboard on January 6, 1996, kicking off a blizzard that kills 154 people and causes over $1 billion in damage before it ends. The 1996 blizzard began in a typical fashion, with cold air from Canada pushing down and colliding with relatively warm winds from the Gulf of Mexico. Because of the clashing weather fronts, there was a terrible combination of snow and wind. Snow began to fall in the District of Columbia around 9 p.m., with 12 inches falling over the next 24 hours. It was even worse in Lynchburg, Virginia, where a record 20 inches of snow fell in a single day. Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour caused snow drifts in many areas, making travel nearly impossible.

As the storm moved northeast, it set new records. Over several days, Newark, New Jersey, received a total of 28 inches of rain. Providence, Rhode Island, received 32 inches of rain, while Philadelphia received 30 inches. Due to the city's inability to clear the heavy snow from the streets quickly, Philadelphia schools were closed until January 16.

Overall, the blizzard caused significant damage to both people and property. A church roof in Harlem collapsed, injuring several New York City residents. Barns all over Pennsylvania were destroyed by the weight of the snow. As a precaution, many supermarkets in the region, many of which have large flat roofs, have closed. In Pittsburgh, two buses collided, leaving 52 people seriously injured. The storm deaths were primarily the result of traffic accidents, collapsed trees, and hypothermic homeless people. Carbon monoxide poisoning killed a few people who were trapped in their cars. With around 80 deaths, Pennsylvania had the most.

Type: Winter storm Blizzard
Form: January 6, 1996
Dissipated: January 10, 1996
Lowest pressure: 980 mb (28.94 inHg) at 7:00 am EST on January 8th
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion: 48 inches (120 cm), Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Fatalities: 154 fatalities total (another 33 took place during flooding after the storm)
Damage: US$3 billion
Areas affected: Continental United States; especially the Northeastern United States