1979 Chicago blizzard: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Blizzard event in 1979}} |
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{{Infobox winter storm|name=Chicago blizzard of 1979 |
{{Infobox winter storm|name=Chicago blizzard of 1979 |
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|image location= |
|image location=34 011579 HP street after blizzard.jpg |
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|image name= |
|image name= 53rd Street in Hyde Park after the blizzard |
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|stormtype= [[Blizzard]]<br>[[Winter storm]] |
|stormtype= [[Blizzard]]<br>[[Winter storm]] |
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|date formed= January 13, 1979 |
|date formed= January 13, 1979 |
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|date dissipated= January 14, 1979 |
|date dissipated= January 14, 1979 |
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|RSI= 14.42 |
|RSI= 14.42 |
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|maximum amount= 21 |
|maximum amount= {{convert|21|in|cm}} |
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|pressure= Unknown |
|pressure= Unknown |
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|power outages= Across the city |
|power outages= Across the city |
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|total damages= More than $1 billion |
|total damages (USD)= More than $1 billion USD |
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|casualties= 5 fatalities, 15 injuries |
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|areas affected=Northern [[Illinois]],<br> |
|areas affected=Northern [[Illinois]],<br>Northwest [[Indiana]], U.S. |
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}} |
}} |
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The '''Chicago blizzard of 1979''' was a major [[blizzard]] that affected |
The '''Chicago blizzard of 1979''' was a major [[blizzard]] that affected [[northern Illinois]] and [[northwest Indiana]] on January 13–14, 1979. It was one of the largest [[Climate of Chicago|Chicago]] snowstorms in history at the time, with {{convert|21|in|cm}} of snowfall in the two-day period.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Wagner |first=James A. |date=1979 |title=Weather and circulation of January 1979: widespread record cold with heavy snowfall in the Midwest. |journal=Monthly Weather Review |volume=107 |issue=4 |pages=499–506|bibcode = 1979MWRv..107..499W |doi = 10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<0499:WACOJ>2.0.CO;2 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Only {{convert|2|in|cm}} to {{convert|4|in|cm}} of snow was expected<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-the-blizzard-that-got-jane-byrne-elected-20141114-story.html|title=1979 Blizzard was Debacle|last=Benzkofer|first=Stephan|date=January 5, 2014|website=Chicago Tribune|publisher=Chicago Tribune|access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> but by the end of Sunday, January 14, the depth of snow on the ground peaked at {{convert|29|in|cm}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite report |last1=Changnon |first1=Stanley A. Jr. |last2=Changnon |first2=David |last3=Stone |first3=Phyllis |date=1980 |title=Illinois Third Consecutive Severe Winter: 1978-1979 |url=http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/RI/ISWSRI-94.pdf |publisher=Illinois State Water Survey |access-date=25 November 2015}}</ref> The blizzard lasted for a total of 38 hours. At its peak, wind gusts reached speeds of {{convert|39|mi}} per hour.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.weather.gov/lot/chicagos_top_four_snowstorms|title=2011 Blizzard Storm Total Snowfall Adjusted & In-Depth Look at Chicago's Top 4 Big Snows|website=National Weather Service|publisher=National Weather Service|access-date=September 15, 2016}}</ref> Five people died during the blizzard, with approximately 15 others seriously injured due to conditions created by the storm. One of the five deaths came when a snowplow driver went berserk, hitting 34 cars and ramming a man.<ref name=":0" /> |
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[[O'Hare Airport]] was closed and all flights were grounded for 96 hours, from January 13 to |
[[O'Hare Airport]] was closed and all flights were grounded for 96 hours, from January 13 to 15.<ref name=":0" /> The cold weather and snowfall throughout the rest of January and February resulted in frozen tracks throughout the [[Chicago 'L']] system.<ref name=":0" /> Consequently, [[Transportation in Chicago|commuters]] overwhelmed the capacity of [[Chicago Transit Authority|CTA]] buses, causing bus commutes that normally would have taken 30 to 45 minutes to take up to several hours. To avoid huge snowdrifts in the streets, the overcrowded buses were obliged to take numerous detours, adding additional time to the commute.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} |
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== After the |
== After the storm == |
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Snow remained on the ground until March 6, a full fifty-one days.<ref name=":1" /> Deployment of plows was significantly delayed and when they finally appeared they struggled to keep up with the snowfall. Much of the snow remained unmoved throughout the next two months, causing ongoing public transit delays and significant problems with trash collection. The city's inadequate response to the blizzard was blamed primarily on mayor [[Michael Anthony Bilandic|Michael Bilandic]], who had assumed the post after the 1976 death of [[Richard J. Daley]].<ref name="Chicago elects Byrne">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zAM1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=A08KAAAAIBAJ&dq=bilandic%20blizzard&pg=6311%2C1192586|work=Bangor Daily News|date=April 4, 1979|title=Chicago elects Byrne| |
Snow remained on the ground until March 6, a full fifty-one days.<ref name=":1" /> Deployment of plows was significantly delayed, and when they finally appeared they struggled to keep up with the snowfall. Much of the snow remained unmoved throughout the next two months, causing ongoing public transit delays and significant problems with trash collection. The city's inadequate response to the blizzard was blamed primarily on mayor [[Michael Anthony Bilandic|Michael Bilandic]], who had assumed the post after the 1976 death of [[Richard J. Daley]].<ref name="Chicago elects Byrne">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zAM1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=A08KAAAAIBAJ&dq=bilandic%20blizzard&pg=6311%2C1192586|work=Bangor Daily News|date=April 4, 1979|title=Chicago elects Byrne|access-date=June 17, 2012|location=[[Bangor, Maine|Bangor, Me.]]|page=1|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref><ref name="news.google.com">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zAM1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=A08KAAAAIBAJ&dq=bilandic%20blizzard&pg=1990%2C1236911|work=Bangor Daily News|date=April 4, 1979|access-date=June 17, 2012|title=Chicago elects Byrne|location=[[Bangor, Maine|Bangor, Me.]]|page=10|via=[[Google News Archive]]}}</ref> Newspaper articles at the time blasted Bilandic. [[Jane Byrne]], Bilandic's main opposition in the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] primary, capitalized on this and defeated Bilandic in the [[1979 Chicago mayoral election|February 27 primary]], eventually becoming the first female mayor of Chicago.<ref name="Chicago elects Byrne" /><ref name="news.google.com" /> |
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==See also== |
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*[[List of Regional Snowfall Index Category 4 winter storms]] |
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== References == |
== References == |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.chicago-l.org/mishaps/blizzard79.html The Chicago Blizzard of 1979] |
*[http://www.chicago-l.org/mishaps/blizzard79.html The Chicago Blizzard of 1979] |
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*[https:// |
*[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/01/16/archives/chicago-paralyzed-in-subzero-temperatures-begins-to-dig-out-as-snow.html?sq=Chicago+snow&scp=1&st=p Chicago, Paralyzed in Sub-Zero Temperatures, Begins to Dig Out as Snow Continues] ''[[The New York Times]]'' |
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*[http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php?m=xxblizzard79xx News reports] at [[The Museum of Classic Chicago Television]] |
*[http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php?m=xxblizzard79xx News reports] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061042/http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php?m=xxblizzard79xx |date=2016-03-04 }} at [[The Museum of Classic Chicago Television]] |
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{{United States winter storms}} |
{{United States winter storms}} |
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[[Category:1979 meteorology]] |
[[Category:1979 meteorology]] |
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[[Category:1979 natural disasters in the United States]] |
[[Category:1979 natural disasters in the United States]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1979 in Chicago]] |
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[[Category:Natural disasters in Illinois]] |
[[Category:Natural disasters in Illinois]] |
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[[Category:Natural disasters in Indiana]] |
[[Category:Natural disasters in Indiana]] |
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[[Category:1979 in Illinois]] |
[[Category:1979 in Illinois]] |
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[[Category:1979 in Indiana]] |
[[Category:1979 in Indiana]] |
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[[Category:January 1979 events]] |
[[Category:January 1979 events in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Disasters in Chicago]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:33, 20 May 2024
 53rd Street in Hyde Park after the blizzard | |
| Type | Blizzard Winter storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 13, 1979 |
| Dissipated | January 14, 1979 |
| Lowest pressure | Unknown |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 21 inches (53 cm) |
| Fatalities | 5 fatalities, 15 injuries |
| Damage | More than $1 billion USD |
| Power outages | Across the city |
| Areas affected | Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana, U.S. |
The Chicago blizzard of 1979 was a major blizzard that affected northern Illinois and northwest Indiana on January 13–14, 1979. It was one of the largest Chicago snowstorms in history at the time, with 21 inches (53 cm) of snowfall in the two-day period.[1] Only 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) of snow was expected[2] but by the end of Sunday, January 14, the depth of snow on the ground peaked at 29 inches (74 cm).[3] The blizzard lasted for a total of 38 hours. At its peak, wind gusts reached speeds of 39 miles (63 km) per hour.[4] Five people died during the blizzard, with approximately 15 others seriously injured due to conditions created by the storm. One of the five deaths came when a snowplow driver went berserk, hitting 34 cars and ramming a man.[3]
O'Hare Airport was closed and all flights were grounded for 96 hours, from January 13 to 15.[3] The cold weather and snowfall throughout the rest of January and February resulted in frozen tracks throughout the Chicago 'L' system.[3] Consequently, commuters overwhelmed the capacity of CTA buses, causing bus commutes that normally would have taken 30 to 45 minutes to take up to several hours. To avoid huge snowdrifts in the streets, the overcrowded buses were obliged to take numerous detours, adding additional time to the commute.[citation needed]
After the storm
[edit]Snow remained on the ground until March 6, a full fifty-one days.[4] Deployment of plows was significantly delayed, and when they finally appeared they struggled to keep up with the snowfall. Much of the snow remained unmoved throughout the next two months, causing ongoing public transit delays and significant problems with trash collection. The city's inadequate response to the blizzard was blamed primarily on mayor Michael Bilandic, who had assumed the post after the 1976 death of Richard J. Daley.[5][6] Newspaper articles at the time blasted Bilandic. Jane Byrne, Bilandic's main opposition in the Democratic primary, capitalized on this and defeated Bilandic in the February 27 primary, eventually becoming the first female mayor of Chicago.[5][6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Wagner, James A. (1979). "Weather and circulation of January 1979: widespread record cold with heavy snowfall in the Midwest". Monthly Weather Review. 107 (4): 499–506. Bibcode:1979MWRv..107..499W. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1979)107<0499:WACOJ>2.0.CO;2.
- ^ Benzkofer, Stephan (January 5, 2014). "1979 Blizzard was Debacle". Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- ^ a b c d Changnon, Stanley A. Jr.; Changnon, David; Stone, Phyllis (1980). Illinois Third Consecutive Severe Winter: 1978-1979 (PDF) (Report). Illinois State Water Survey. Retrieved 25 November 2015.
- ^ a b "2011 Blizzard Storm Total Snowfall Adjusted & In-Depth Look at Chicago's Top 4 Big Snows". National Weather Service. National Weather Service. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
- ^ a b "Chicago elects Byrne". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Me. April 4, 1979. p. 1. Retrieved June 17, 2012 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ a b "Chicago elects Byrne". Bangor Daily News. Bangor, Me. April 4, 1979. p. 10. Retrieved June 17, 2012 – via Google News Archive.