The Massive South Carolina Blizzard Of February 1973 Will Never Be Forgotten

South Carolina is no stranger to epic weather events that wreak havoc on our lives. We're accustomed to hurricanes, floodwaters, and even the occasional nasty twister every now and then. But there's another major blow that Mother Nature occasionally, albeit seldom, sends to the Palmetto State: a blizzard. One of the greatest snowstorms ever to hit the Southeastern United States occurred in 1973. The blizzard of 1973 was one of the biggest South Carolina blizzards of all time. Do you recall this event that many remember as the largest snowstorm in South Carolina history?

The snow started to fall on February 9, 1973. The storm relentlessly dumped snow on South Carolina for nearly three days straight.

During winter in South Carolina, typically, only the western part of the state is likely to get snow. During the Blizzard of 1973, even the coast was hit hard.

When all was said and done, Charleston saw eight inches of snow! However, the midlands were hit the hardest. This region got a whopping 24 inches of fresh powder.

The storm almost completely crippled South Carolina. All over the state, there were power outages. Roads and businesses had to shut down.

The storm basically crippled South Carolina with power outages, and road and business closings.

People were trapped, stranded and cold. Some even died as a direct result of the blizzards. Overall, at least 11 people died as a result of exposure.

Snowdrifts throughout the state measured as high as six to eight feet.

A climatologist from South Carolina reported that there were approximately 30,000 stranded tourists on the state's highways. Many were vacationers that were trying to return north to beat the storm before it hit their homes.

Some had to be rescued by helicopters. Others were able to be reached by traditional wheeled rescue vehicles.

Hotels were filled to the max. Once all the hotels and shelters were all filled, local farmers had to take in stranded tourists. Some farms had as many as 40-60 stranded guests staying with them!

Hotels were filled to the max. Once all the hotels and shelters were all filled, local farmers had to take in stranded tourists. Some farms had as many as 40-60 stranded guests staying with them!

No stone was left unturned in the damage department by the terrible Blizzard of 1973. It was reported that at least 200 buildings collapsed under the weight of the massive amounts of snow. This was truly one of the worst winter weather events in South Carolina history.

Do you have memories of the South Carolina blizzard of 1973 or another from South Carolina's past? Do you remember this event as the largest blizzard in South Carolina? We'd love to hear your thoughts in our comments.

For a look back on a more recent tragic weather event in the Palmetto State, take a look at these photos of South Carolina's 1,000-year flood.