[13] January's average temperature was 10 °F (6 °C) below normal. [2]:310, On Friday, volunteers on four-wheel drive vehicles and snowmobiles delivered food (a few thousand dollars worth every 45 minutes) for the Salvation Army from their Buffalo headquarters. The Buffalo mayor also lifted the rule requiring at least three people per car between the hours of 7:00 pm and 6:00 am. During those dates, the National Weather Services in Buffalo recorded winds ranging from 46 to 69 miles per hour. [3]:14, Since food and supplies were in short supply in the area by the end of the storm, on February 1, the travel ban was lifted from 7:00 am until noon so 1,900 stranded travelers could leave the area. The snow accumulated into drifts as it blew, burying everything from cars to bus stops in 20 to 40 foot snowdrifts. Between 7:00 and 8:00 am, Columbus, Ohio, reported similar situations. [2]:288 In Depew, a suburb of Buffalo, volunteer firemen used a trenching machine to get people out of a house that had been drifted shut. What makes the Blizzard of ’77 so unique is the fact that this storm did not by itself produce the copious amounts of snow that led to the aforementioned nine metre snow drifts famously photographed after the event. These ferocious winds had packed the snow so tightly together in these drifts that traditional snow removal methods became ineffective; in fact, it has been reported that snow drifts twelve metres high outside of Port Colborne took until June of 1977 to melt! A city known for challenging winters is marking the 40th anniversary of what by most accounts, was the harshest weather event in its history. The winter of 1977-78 was similar to its predecessor (1976-77) in terms of cold. The Niagara Falls Review detailed how lakeside towns just a few miles south of Niagara Falls, Ontario had been hit by yet another overnight storm. [3]:6 The above-stated death tolls are listed in the USACE report on cleanup efforts in the storm,[3] while a slightly different death toll is listed by the NWS on their Blizzard of 1977 webpage, which indicates 29 deaths resulted from the storm. By now, the strong winds had created snow drifts nine metres high (or even higher along the shores of Lake Erie near Wainfleet and Port Colborne), completely covering cars, buses, and even small buildings. The blizzard of 1977 hit western New York as well as southern Ontario from January 28 to February 1. While many were saved by emergency efforts, lives in both Ontario and New York were lost over the course of the storm. [2]:80 On Sunday, the remaining students were taken from the schools with the help of the militia; some students were housed in nearby houses. [3]:8 The New York District of the USACE assisted with snow clearing by having contractors clear a total of 450 mi (720 km) of roadway in Jefferson and Lewis counties. [10]:26 A concentrated effort to plow (and tow as necessary) – called the "Snow Blitz" by the press – managed to make significant progress on Tuesday, January 25, and Wednesday, January 26, with the help of 960 tickets and 140 tows. If you ask Niagara residents, 2015 wasnât so unique. the National Centers for Environmental Information. [10]:128 Buffalo city plows and NYSDOT equipment were able to open several major roads (Main, Broadway, Michigan, Sycamore, Walden, Fillmore, Ohio, and much of South Park and Delaware). They also picked up Azar, who had lived about four to five miles from Jolls' home. The minus fifties! [15], The drifted snow from the blizzard was difficult to clear for reasons illuminated by NWS meteorologist Ben Kolker: "The wind was so strong that it packed the snow. Blizzard of '77. Forty years ago this week, residents of the Niagara Region in southern Ontario and western New York (including the city of Buffalo) found themselves in the midst of one of the most infamous blizzards in either region’s history. Coupled with the existing snow cover and wind, this had a similar effect. Weather conditions during the months leading up to the blizzard contributed to the disastrous storm. Yes, the Falls were somewhat frozen, but that happens almost every year. [10]:114 Cigarettes, liquor, beer, coffee, meat and refrigerators were stolen from abandoned semi-trailer trucks. [3]:25 An estimated $20 million or more was spent removing snow,[15] with USACE alone spending over $6 million on contractors in western New York. Despite these tragedies, the memories of life-saving help from neighbours, community members, and emergency services linger for many Niagara residents. Since Friday afternoon, walking multiple blocks had been necessary to reach most hospitals. Although no one ever imagines such an event could occur again, ensuring you have sufficient supplies in your home, as well as your vehicle, is essential for your survival during any ferocious winter storm. [10]:5, The first trace of snow of the winter at the Buffalo NWS weather station in Cheektowaga, New York, occurred on October 9, while the first accumulating snow was on October 21. [10]:92 Snowmobiles were also used to rescue people from the Skyway, as well as from another expressway. In Western New York and southern Ontario, snow which was accumulated on frozen Lake Erie and snow on the ground at the start of the blizzard provided ample material for the high winds to blow into huge drifts. There are heartwarming stories from the Blizzard of 1977: Strangers shared food and shelter with those in need, volunteers rescued people stranded outside, and teachers diligently cared for the 2,000 students snowed in at 24 local schools. [10]:67–68 Authorities estimated 13,000 people were stranded Friday night in downtown Buffalo and that many in the surrounding areas as well — e.g. [10]:60 The depth of snow quickly caused many roads to become impassable (within 30 minutes in the part of Buffalo nearest Lake Erie),[2]:270 and the blowing snow caused extremely low visibilities, making travel nearly impossible. A blizzard so unlike anything that anyone had ever experienced in the region that it was dubbed the blizzard of the century, or even the millennium. " [2]:230 Hoses also had to be removed with jackhammers. There have been numerous major storms since the Blizzard of '77. The date was January 27, 1977. The passing of this front was not a surprise to meteorologists at the time – they had watched it cross the Great Plains and into the Midwest the day prior – but nothing could have prepared them for how it would look when it picked up the snow resting atop the lake. Certain pre-existing weather conditions exacerbated the blizzard's effects. Among the stranded students were 700 individuals at Niagara College and hundreds of young people in elementary and high schools across the region. [2]:219, Portions of northern New York state, particularly Jefferson and Lewis counties, were also hard hit. Literally crawling," he recalled. The storm began on January 28, 1977 and continued through February 1. "Hopefully everybody that sees us as the blizzard capital of the world also sees us as one of the most compassionate, helping and strong communities, when it comes to community spirit," O'Connell said. [3]:25 Other problems included barns collapsing from the snow (seven in Jefferson County), feed and grain shortages, disposal of manure, and farmers being unable to reach barns to feed cattle. âWhat good are they going to do if they canât go anywhere and are running into each other?â the superintendent of roads told the papers. Two others died in buildings that collapsed under the weight of heavy snow. Thatâs a big deal. 3 Highway between Port Colborne and Fort Erie". [3]:6;25 In Jefferson County alone, about 85% of dairy farmers were forced to dump milk because tank trucks could not reach farms. [10]:149 Three hundred U.S. Army soldiers from an engineer battalion at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, joined the effort. ... By now, the strong winds had created snow drifts nine metres high (or even higher along the shores of Lake Erie near Wainfleet and Port Colborne), completely covering cars, buses, and even small buildings ...". (DVD). A state of emergency was declared in western New York by then-President Jimmy Carter, while the Canadian Forces were sent out to assist in Canada. January 28, 1977 marked one of the most terrifying storms to ever hit Buffalo. [12], By evening, some areas of western New York had, along with banning traffic, also banned snowmobiles; a snowmobiler was injured in a collision with a chimney on top of a house, and others had come dangerously close to power lines due to the high drifts. Lake Erie froze early that year and was also blanketed with snow. [2]:47 The radio station CHOW facilitated communication by allowing people to call in and air needs on the radio,[2]:129 a role confirmed via a plaque from the Port Colborne Chamber of Commerce and scrolls from the Welland Chamber of Commerce.