Posted in New Hampshire December 03, 2021 by

A Terrifying, Deadly Storm Struck New Hampshire In 1978 And No One Saw It Coming

Winter is a beautiful season in New Hampshire, and we certainly welcome the snow and cold temperatures. But there can be too much of a good thing, especially when it comes to the snow. With this in mind, we thought it would be appropriate to remember one of the biggest, most deadly snow storms to ever strike the Granite State: the Blizzard of 1978.

New Hampshire natives are used to handling snow, but on Feb. 5, 1978, a storm hit New Hampshire that was unlike anything else we'd seen.
Martin and Jessica O'Brian/flickr
The storm blew into New Hampshire with hurricane force winds blowing at 83 miles-per-hour. Whereas most blizzards last less than a day, this storm stayed around for a full 33 hours, which increased the damage.
Cliff/flickr
The worst damage was on the seacoast. There, the tides rose 14 feet higher than normal, causing massive damage throughout the coast.
The high tides combined with two feet of snow meant major damage in Hampton Beach.
Martin and Jessica O'Brian/flickr
Across New England, traffic was a complete mess. People who weren't stuck in their cars by the storm's force were forbidden to drive on the roads for much of the week.
Going to seed/creative commons
When the roads cleared, the extent of the snow was visible, with 10-foot snowdrifts in some areas of the state.
While kids reveled in their snow days, the storm had very serious consequences.
Ed Macdonald/flickr
Around the state, roofs collapsed from the weight of the snow.
Castle Beckons/Creative Commons
On the seacoast, cars had been tossed around like toys, causing thousands of dollars in damage.
The horrible consequences of the storm weren't replicated until the blizzard of 2013, which also dropped a ton of snow on New Hampshire. Hopefully we will not be repeating any of these historic storms this winter!
Anthony Quintano/flickr

Do you remember the Blizzard of 1978 in New Hampshire, or have friends or family that remember this epic event? Fascinated by big storms? We’d love to hear the stories – share in the comments below! And if you like storm chasing, check out this Snow Hurricane that Wrecked Havoc on New Hampshire.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Blizzard of 1978

December 08, 2021
Sarah

Does New Hampshire get many blizzards?

New Hampshire is no stranger to ice and snow, with the Granite State averages just under 70 inches of the white stuff each season. We can also expect generally cold temperatures, with the January average high hovering just above freezing, setting the stage for snow and ice whenever a system moves through the Northeast. But blizzards like the one from 1978 are generally more rare, once-in-a-lifetime kind of occurrences!

What’s winter in New Hampshire like?

No matter the season, here in New England we’ve always got one eye on winter. It’s typically safe to assume that many days will be grey and chilly — quite chilly, as it were! We can also count on more than a few snowy days. But the extend to which we must brace ourselves can vary. Some years winter seems to come and go, while others arrive with an onslaught and keep it coming until well into spring. We like to consult the Farmers’ Almanac for our winter planning, as the experts boast a relatively high success rate in accurately forecasting temperatures and big seasonal storms!

What types of winter recreation is popular in New Hampshire?

While the usual suspects for winter recreation in the Northeast come to mind — skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice fishing, and hiking — we’re all about taking the road less traveled here in New Hampshire. As such, we recommend checking out a real-life ice castle this winter! Tucked away in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, the town of Woodstock features one of the most jaw-dropping ice castles in the country. From LED-lit igloos and frozen slides to magnificent ice carvings and massive monoliths, you’ll be positively dazzled by this fantastic frozen fantasyland. One of the five official Ice Castle festivals in the U.S., New Hampshire’s winter wonderland opens to the public in early 2022.