Great Blizzard of '88

From Freepedia

The Great Blizzard of 1888 (March 11 - March 14 1888) was one of fiercest blizzards on United States (U.S.) record. With up to 50 foot (15 m) snow drifts it was definitely a hard period of time. All across the eastern seaboard there were snow walls up to 50 inches (1.3 m) high. 100 people were killed in New York City alone and it is estimated 400 people died from the storm in all.

The "Great White Hurricane," as it was called, paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine. Telegraph wires were downed, isolating New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington for days. Two hundred ships were grounded, and at least one hundred seamen died. Fire stations were immobilized, and property loss from fire alone was estimated at $25 million. Overall, more than 400 deaths were reported.

As with some other recorded Great Blizzards, the preceding weather was unseasonably mild with heavy rains that turned to snow as temperatures dropped rapidly. The storm continued unabated for a full day and a half. Food and fuel were scarce, but freshly baked breads and other food were brought to the city each day. The men of the town made a group to shovel all the excess snow into the Atlantic Ocean. National Weather Service estimated that 50 inches (1.3 m) of snow fell in Connecticut and Massachusetts and 40 inches (1 m) covered New York and New Jersey. Winds blew up to 48 miles per hour (77 km/h), creating snowdrifts 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) high.

The resulting transportation crisis led to the creation of the New York City Subway system, approved in 1894 and begun in 1900.