70 Years Ago, Wyoming Was Hit With One Of The Worst Blizzards In History
By Kim Magaraci|Published December 28, 2019
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Kim Magaraci
Author
Kim Magaraci graduated Rutgers University with a degree in Geography and has spent the last seven years as a freelance travel writer. Contact: kmagaraci@onlyinyourstate.com
It’s hard to live in Wyoming if you don’t love snow, but sometimes the skies open up a little too much, and brutal blizzards roll in. When that happens, we tend to settle down in our homes for a few days and wait for the storm to pass. Weathering winter storms is a big part of life in Wyoming, but even the most self-sufficient cowboys were affected by one of the worst storms in Wyoming history – the Blizzard of 1949.
70 years ago, the state of Wyoming was devastated by a three day blizzard that nobody saw coming. Winds blew at 65 miles per hour, piling up snow drifts and stranding people everywhere.
Starting on January 2nd, 1949, a three day blizzard roared through Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, South Dakota and Nebraska. After the first storm cleared, the region was hit by more and more snow, with no relief in sight for nearly two months.
Anyone who was on the road when the storm rolled in was forced to seek shelter, and local homes and businesses opened up their doors to help those who were stuck.
The Wyoming National Guard worked day and night to bring food and supplies to stranded ranchers and anyone stuck in their homes. These rescue missions and relief efforts certainly helped hundreds of people, but the storm took the life of 76 people all across its path.
Despite efforts from the Federal Government and private relief organziations, one million cattle and livestock died due to the brutal temperatures and snow-covered ground.
By the time the storms cleared, it had been a brutal few weeks. Wyomingites slowly began piecing their lives back together after the unbelievable Storm of the Century.
PBS has put together an incredible documentary that tells the tragic story of this unforgettable storm. You can watch it online here, and if you’re interested in Wyoming history or if you remember the storm, you’ll find it fascinating.
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