Blizzard of ’78: Where Were You 35 Years Ago?

It’s hard to believe it’s been 35 years since the Merrimack Valley was hit with the Blizzard of '78, but the stories will withstand the test of time. 

On Feb. 6, 1978, our area was blanketed with a record 27 inches of snow with the added bonus of hurricane force winds. The storm began the morning of Feb. 6 and lasted through the following evening. It was a storm that was never really predicted to be that large, and yet, from it one good thing came – we learned about emergency preparedness.

According to the America Red Cross, 99 people were killed in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and nearly 4,500 sustained injury or illness from the storm.

Total damage was estimated at $520M, which is equal to $1.85B today.

For those of us who were old enough to remember, the memories differ. The motorist stuck in his car for hours on the highway, the family wondering where that person was, to communities paralyzed by Mother Nature in a storm no one ever expected. 

Perhaps you are a "Blizzard Baby," born somewhere around Nov. 6, 1978?

We'd love to hear your stories from the Blizzard of '78 and see your photos. You can upload your photos directly, and tell us your stories in the comment field below.