In 1977, Cleveland Plunged Into An Arctic Freeze That Makes This Year’s Winter Look Downright Mild

Winter in Ohio can be so unpredictable. Generally, we can expect several healthy snowfalls, a "big one" or two, and a few deep freezes. Some winters are mild and some are super snowy, but few were as chilly as the Winter of 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio:

Locals remember the winters of 1976-77 and 1977-78 as two of the coldest in Cleveland's history.

They probably also remember the incredible number of days below zero that the region experienced.

The bitter cold began making headlines in January of 1977, when the average temperature was 17 degrees lower than usual.

Beginning on January 16, the temperature stayed below zero for 58 hours.

Car batteries died, pipes burst, and offices closed.

When a blizzard battered the region at the end of January, locals bundled up and stayed indoors.

As February came along, so, too, did incredibly bitter cold. Temperatures fell to 20 below zero!

Things warmed up from there a little bit, and the region rejoiced as spring came.

Of course, snow and cold would return to the region that November...

All in all, the region experienced a record-setting 20 days below zero in 1977.

Locals didn't even get a chance to recover, as January of 1978 brought the "Super Bomb" blizzard.

Cleveland experienced some of its coldest winters on record that year...

...Maybe that's why winters don't feel quite as aggressive as they used to!

The freezing cold conditions of the Winter of 1977 in Cleveland, Ohio, have permanently engraved that winter into the memories of those who lived through it. What do you remember about this icy year? Share your memories in the comments!

For more winter memories, check out these noteworthy winters in Cleveland history.