A Terrifying, Deadly Storm Struck Idaho In 1949 And No One Saw It Coming
Idaho, with its tumultuous geology, diverse weather regions, and abundant scenic beauty is no stranger to the darker forces of nature and nor the impacts of its human residents. In 1910, the Big Burn ravaged Northern Idaho, the product of a grueling summer storm. In 1976, the Teton Dam collapsed, devastating the eastern part of the state. But Idaho’s storm of the century created a winter disaster that was just as unexpected and deadly, the most intense seen since the 1800s, and far more brutal than any other weather-related event seen since. In 1949–a mere two generations ago–an unprecedented cold snap tore through southern Idaho, virtually isolating the southern half of the state for weeks and shutting down the economy for a month. But low temperatures are only part of this chilling story. Do you remember?
The start of winter in 1948 was a test of endurance, but nothing could have prepared southern Idaho for the monstrous storm that would hit in the new year.
brett Vachon/Flickr
The snow began falling early this year, starting around November. But it wasn't until after the first of the year that the weather drastically turned on the region.
As the snow began to pile up around Christmas, families invested in shovels, canned goods, chains, and rope--just in case. But roads were still open.
chuddlesworth/Flickr
Then, on January 9, the Times News reported that the temperature across the Magic Valley alone plummeted to -18.
Kaarina Dillabough/Flickr
The snow started again...but this time, it didn't stop.
Min Liu/Flickr
Josh Delp/Flickr
Lisa Jacobs/Flickr
The line of snowplows was constant, pushing snow off the main roads until the buildup was so great that entire cities became barricaded from one another.
Whit Andrews/Flickr
Eventually, the snowfall was so great that even the plows themselves were stuck. High walls of snow blew shut behind the machines in mere minutes, while hundreds of roads were abandoned when the snowplows no longer could pass through. By the end of the month, the snowfall in the region hit a single-day record of 27 inches.
Trains were completely stalled, while food and supplies had to be dropped in by plane.
7th Army Training/Flickr
Thousands of livestock caught pneumonia or were lost in the blizzard, adding up to millions in industry losses.
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There are dozens of stories of ranchers having to climb down into their barns to feed snow-locked cattle, and using walls of snow to replace buried fences. Without them, the accumulation of snow allowed animals to simply climb over their barricades. But the heartbreaking losses and suffering are difficult to imagine.
An intense wind storm struck at the beginning of February, causing a blinding storm that inhibited resource and rescue efforts, however.
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After over a month with irregular electricity, warmer temperatures caused the mountains of snow to begin to melt. Southern Idaho residents were warned to brace for flooding.
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Thankfully, residents were warned in time to make preparations. Idahoan survival skills and community togetherness made this epic disaster far less than what it could have been.
While the “Great Winter of 1949” effectively shut down southern Idaho for over six weeks, there were fewer than a dozen casualties. But Idaho wasn’t the only state to be affected–Utah had a record snowfall as well, and the brutal winter swept through most of the US. Sadly, modern photos simply can’t do this disaster justice, and we would love to see yours. Where were you when this megastorm struck?
