It’s Impossible To Forget These 5 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In Nebraska History

Winter in Nebraska can be a harsh time. We certainly see our fair share of bad weather...maybe more than our share, in fact. But a few years have brought winter storms in Nebraska that we can never forget. These storms caused destruction and death, and left a lasting mark on the Cornhusker State.

1. 1888: The Schoolchildren's Blizzard

January 12, 1888 was an unseasonably warm winter day that came after several days of snow and bitter cold. Thanks to the warmer temperatures, many children went to school without their heavy coats and other proper winter attire. It was a surprise to everyone when a fast-moving blizzard blustered into Nebraska in the afternoon, bringing with it brutally cold winds and massive amounts of snow. Given the timing of the storm, many people were trapped away from home, most notably children who were at school. Many children and teachers perished in the unforgiving conditions, but several stories of heroism arose from the tragedy. Read the story of a heroic Nebraska schoolteacher here.

2. 1948-1949: The Worst Winter Ever

This truly monumental storm began on November 18, 1948 and more or less didn't end until April of the following year. Once again, this epic blizzard was preceded by mild temperatures. The forecast called for continued nice days with a low chance of precipitation. So it's understandable that the entire state was entirely unprepared for all the chaos that ensued. Roads closed all throughout Nebraska. Families were trapped in their homes. Trains stopped running. Livestock died by the thousands. President Truman declared a state of emergency in January 1949. Government relief efforts helped reduce some of the storm's damage. However, it was too late to help the economy, the farmers and ranchers, and the scores of individuals and businesses who suffered losses.Read more about this once-in-a-lifetime winter in Nebraska here.

3. 1975: The Great Storm

This intense blizzard was one of the worst winter storms in Nebraska. It began on January 9 and continued on until January 12, though Nebraska was not hit until January 10. In other states, the storm began with a series of rare January tornadoes. These caused widespread destruction. In eastern Nebraska, more than a foot of snow covered the ground. Record-low barometric pressure was recorded. This blizzard produced less snow than some of the others on our list, but it was arguably one of the most severe. Record low temperatures and strong winds of up to 50 miles per hour, plus usts of 90 miles per hour, made it quite dangerous outside. As you can imagine, there was little to no visibility.

4. 1991: The Halloween Blizzard

Those of us who lived in eastern Nebraska and were of trick-or-treating age in 1991 still vividly remember this as the year Halloween was canceled. A storm actually was in the forecast for October 31, but the predictions underestimated the intensity. Nothing indicated just how painfully cold the temperatures would get, and how much snow would fall. But frist came the ice. Up to an inch of solid ice was covered by 5.7 inches of snow (a new record snowfall in Nebraska for that day). The conditions were so treacherous that even walking outside was extremely nerve-wracking and dangerous.

Trick-or-treating did eventually get rescheduled for a few days later. By that time, it was still icy, snowy, and intensely cold outside. Not many families took advantage of the do-over. Before you feel too sorry for the kids in Nebraska, remember that the Minneapolis/St. Paul area was hit far worse than the Omaha area!

5. 1997: October Surprise

Just a handful of years later, October brought another intense storm through Nebraska. The Lincoln and Omaha areas were hit particularly hard. From October 24 to 26, a wet, heavy snow fell...and fell...and fell...and fell. Thousands of trees were damaged beyond repair. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were without power - some for up to two weeks! Halloween was again canceled, but this year there was no do-over scheduled.

Read more about this epic natural disaster in Nebraska right here.

How many of these incredible winter storms in Nebraska have you lived through? When do you think we’ll see another history-making winter storm? Share your memories and predictions in the comments!