The Blizzard Of 1978

Back in 2021 my friend Charlotte was scheduled to fly south to the Caribbean. Her morning flight was cancelled by Jet Blue. A massive blizzard had been predicted to hit the Northeast with up to 18 inches of snow. By nightfall the accumulation amounted to less than 6 inches. More was to come, but this snowstorm will not come close to the Blizzard of 1978.

Early in February 1978 an Arctic cold front and a cold air mass met off the coast of North Carolina. Weathermen misjudged the severity of the approaching storm and people went to work, expecting nothing out of the ordinary.

They were wrong.

By the afternoon officials realized the seriousness of the approaching winter cyclone and people were sent home

Late.

Snowplows sought to clear the roads

It was a futile effort.

Cars on the highways were buried in snowdrifts.

Supermarkets were emptied of everything.

Some Bostonians brave the savage weather.

Most stayed home.

No one realized the tragedy happening on I-95.

Not until the morning.

128 was a parking lot.

Fourteen stranded motorists died of carbon monoxide poisoning on I-95.

Logan Airport was only open for emergency flights.

I called my father and asked, "You want me to come back?"

"There is no way to get here. No planes. No trains. No cas."

"That bad?"

"Yes, but we all right. How's New York?"

"Closed too."

"You take care."

"I will."

The Northeast recovered slowly. Roads were cleared.

The sun came out and sliders enjoyed thhemselves.

People climbed mountains created by snowplows.

Life went on.