Just In Case You Think This winter is Bad, there was worse
- Thread starter Red Devil
- Start date
Hello; I lived in Harlan County KY in 1977. That winter is the worst I have known since I became aware. Born in 1947. We had over 20 days of temperatures below freezing which was unknown for the area. The other days were not much better.
Lots of water pipes were frozen in the ground as folks did not have them buried deep enough and had never had any trouble before.
Plenty of cars/trucks would not start and a number of damaged engines due to inadequate or too old antifreeze.
I drove a Porsche 914 (the VW version the purist disown) as my only car. Very poor heat. It was rear engine type and went well in the snow until it got over six inches deep. The car had a smooth belly pan and more than once would slide up onto deep snow in parking lots leaving the drive wheels spinning in the air.
To top off that winter of 77 we have the worst flooding in the spring. It was hit or miss in the low mountains. My place was high enough to not be flooded but we were cut off in both directions for three days as the roads were under water. Lost power that long as well. Many friends were flooded out. Had some stay with me while we shoveled mud out of their homes and businesses.
Had one friend store his carpet inventory in my basement for a time until we could re-do his store. Had water over six feet in it. Several inches of mud. We cut a hole in the floor to shovel the mud thru as the store was on pillars on a small river bank. We installed a lot of flooring in the next couple of years. That store burned to the ground a few years later.
I know that winter was much worse further north. I had family in Buffalo NY and Indianapolis IN.
This past winter for my area will not make the top ten of my experience. I recognize we have been lulled by fairly mild winters for a good number of years so this seems bad. As stated it has been worse before.
Went out a few minutes ago and we have freezing rain now with snow likely this afternoon. I am lucky to not have to be out any more on days like this, but not so pleased to avoid it by being old.
Even if this winter is not the worst ever for some of us, it is still a great big expensive pain and not to my liking.
Lots of water pipes were frozen in the ground as folks did not have them buried deep enough and had never had any trouble before.
Plenty of cars/trucks would not start and a number of damaged engines due to inadequate or too old antifreeze.
I drove a Porsche 914 (the VW version the purist disown) as my only car. Very poor heat. It was rear engine type and went well in the snow until it got over six inches deep. The car had a smooth belly pan and more than once would slide up onto deep snow in parking lots leaving the drive wheels spinning in the air.
To top off that winter of 77 we have the worst flooding in the spring. It was hit or miss in the low mountains. My place was high enough to not be flooded but we were cut off in both directions for three days as the roads were under water. Lost power that long as well. Many friends were flooded out. Had some stay with me while we shoveled mud out of their homes and businesses.
Had one friend store his carpet inventory in my basement for a time until we could re-do his store. Had water over six feet in it. Several inches of mud. We cut a hole in the floor to shovel the mud thru as the store was on pillars on a small river bank. We installed a lot of flooring in the next couple of years. That store burned to the ground a few years later.
I know that winter was much worse further north. I had family in Buffalo NY and Indianapolis IN.
This past winter for my area will not make the top ten of my experience. I recognize we have been lulled by fairly mild winters for a good number of years so this seems bad. As stated it has been worse before.
Went out a few minutes ago and we have freezing rain now with snow likely this afternoon. I am lucky to not have to be out any more on days like this, but not so pleased to avoid it by being old.
Even if this winter is not the worst ever for some of us, it is still a great big expensive pain and not to my liking.
well said and very interesting..thanks for adding such a clear description.... of how I feel......... lol.......
I was home on leave from the Army during that blizzard, just before I shipped out to Turkey. I remember it well, it was before we had snowblowers or at least nobody I knew owned one we just shoveled for ever and walked down to the bar where the owner was giving out shots of brandy. The last thing close to the was the blizzard of 96. I think this winter has been colder though or I'm just older and can't take it like I used too.
wow... right .........no such thing as a snow blower as far I remember either.. yes, we are older... and it goes right to the bones.. lol
My fam lived through it, it basically came down to if you had snowshoes or Xcountry skis you were good to go. If im not mistaken that was the winter that froze Niagra Falls solid. For real lol
Its really funny how you guys keep referring to buffalo as the worst of the worst, it is hahaha. Its gotten to -40 here within the last couple days, the highest snowdrift ive seen was about 15 feet, like a solid wall on the side of the road. Car crushing status if it all fell lol. In the big parking lots the piles of snow can get 20-40 feet high. Feet guys.
Then you get the south like NC where I heard a couple weeks ago they shut down school for 2-4 inches of snow. Ive walked to school in 2-4 inches of snow lol
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