A blizzard is defined as a severe weather event that involves incredibly low temperatures, strong winds, and large amounts of snow.As per the National Weather Services of the United States, for a particular weather event to be deemed a blizzard, the snowstorm must have winds blowing at more than 35 mph (56 km/hr) for a minimum of three hours, and there should be enough snow to restrict visibility to 0.25 mi (0.4 km) or less. A more severe version of a blizzard can include a heavy snowstorm, winds blowing over 45 mph (72 km/hr), visibility as low as none, and the temperature dropping down to 10 °F (−12 °C) or even lower.These types of blizzards commonly occur after winter depressions in the US and England, mainly due to low-pressure systems, and are recognized with variations in their intensity. One such severe blizzard was the historic North Dakota blizzard, which lasted from March 2 to March 5 in 1966. Usually, blizzards don’t last for this long, but this one was particularly different because, along with lasting for four full days, the snow reached depths of 20-30 in (51-76 cm) in some areas, and the wind blew at a whopping 70 mph (113 km/hr)! Snowfall totals reached a record high of 38 in (96.5 cm), causing huge drifts, going up to 30-40 ft (9-12 m) in certain locations.If you’re intrigued by this article, do check out our articles about the 1900 Galveston hurricane and the 1925 Tristate tornado here on Kidadl.How many lives were lost in the 1966 blizzard?A weather event like this blizzard, with snowfall covering an entire town or city and causing disruption to the normal course of life for the general public, is bound to cause some amount of damage to life and public property in the affected region.In this case, the actual death toll and amount of damage were never exactly determined because every news account claimed a different number. However, at least 18 people were found to have lost their lives because of the storm across the state. As per government records, a total of five people were killed in southeast North Dakota, four people in Minnesota, and at least another six in South Dakota.Along with human lives, almost 140,000 livestock perished in the storm by either falling in snowdrifts or getting buried under snow. According to locals in the region, two girls who were part of a farm family got lost in the storm while tending to their family’s animals and later succumbed to exposure.How long did the blizzard last?The 1966 North Dakota blizzard has now become a legend in the area among local residents. The sheer intensity and duration of the storm are enough to prove how devastating it was back in the day.Beginning in southern North Dakota on the morning of March 2, 1966, the storm spread out into the north by the next day. Heavy winds and snowfall continued to happen during most of the next two days. Then on March 5, 1966, the low pressure started to subside, reducing the speed of the wind, and the storm became less intense. Hence, the blizzard lasted for a total of four days, with 30 hours of continuous snowfall in the city of Minnesota along with rapid snowy winds blowing throughout, which resulted in almost every form of transportation becoming trapped in heavy snow. The roads could only be cleared by shoveling snow after the winds settled down on March 5.What is the worst blizzard North Dakota has faced?North Dakota is one of the states that has seen several blizzards and snowstorms over the years, and that is primarily because of its geographical location. However, the 1966 North Dakota blizzard, even though counted among one of the most severe, is still behind the most dreadful snowstorm North Dakotans have experienced.The 1920 North Dakota blizzard lasted from March 15-18. In terms of casualties, as per official records, a total of 34 people lost their lives because of it by either becoming frozen or trapped under the snow. It is considered to be among the worst storms ever to hit the state of North Dakota. During the four days of the blizzard, it snowed ferociously, with snowfall measuring as high as 8 in (20 cm). Even though it could not match up to the 38 in (97cm) of snowfall, which is the largest recorded amount of snowfall in the state, it still managed to cause significant harm. It even ended up stopping several railway lines and public transportation systems, like the rail service in the city of Bismarck. Only a single telephone line remained functional between four cities, and all the rest were destroyed due to the storm.The blizzard also caused terrible tragedy by killing five school students, a young mother along with her child, and a 12-year old boy, among several others who were stuck in that snowstorm in the middle of the day. The 1966 one may have been extremely intense, but the 1920 one surpassed it in terms of damage caused to life and property, including transport, buildings, and roadways.What areas were devastated by the 1966 North Dakota blizzard?The 1966 blizzard mostly affected the northern plains and rural areas in the state. It snowed heavily in the southern part of the state, causing intense winds and snowstorms. The blizzard of March caused multiple snowdrifts near Minnesota, Rusa, and Bismarck and caused disruption of connectivity by destroying power lines, leading to a mass power outage in several cities across the southern part of the state.As the storm progressed towards the northern part of the state, the wind and snowfall increased tremendously. Given the inexperience of the residents of local areas in dealing with a blizzard, despite several warnings, the level of preparation remained low. Hence, the storm ended up destroying the entire telephone connectivity grid in the area, along with causing damage to other public properties. Therefore, it is safe to say that this particular blizzard, which the locals even consider as a legend, was one of the most devastating natural calamities the state of North Dakota has seen so far.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning about the 1966 North Dakota blizzard, then why not take a look at our articles on the 1888 blizzard or the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.
A blizzard is defined as a severe weather event that involves incredibly low temperatures, strong winds, and large amounts of snow.
