Posted in Vermont Nature February 05, 2020 by Luke

132 Years Ago, Vermont Was Hit With The Worst Blizzard In History

Vermont is no stranger to blizzards. The snowy and cold winter storms come year in and year out. But before we had the infrastructure and massive snow removal capacity that we have today, a blizzard could wreak havoc on the small towns of Vermont, and, way back in 1888, that is exactly what happened. It was arguably the worst blizzard in Vermont’s history, and although it took place 132 years ago, the tales of the storm have not been lost in history.

Note: finding photos of the 1888 blizzard taken in Vermont proved to be difficult. Therefore, photos are from New England states.

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Often referred to as The Great White Hurricane, the blizzard of 1888 took the residents of Vermont by surprise in early March.

Southern Vermont saw more than 40 inches of snow in two days, making it the worst blizzard Vermont has ever witnessed.

For four days, the capital, Montpelier, was unreachable from New York and Boston, and countless damage resulted from the whirling winds and heavy snowfall.

Powerful gusts of wind during and after the storm caused giant drifts to form, some reported as being ten to fifteen feet in height.

All rail travel was blocked for three to four days. Everything shut down and came to a standstill.

The 1888 winter storm, because of its unexpected start and strong winds, made for one mammoth of a storm, but the people of Vermont and New England were resilient and were able to cope with such a storm.

Even after the storm had passed, there was so much snow and nowhere to move it. Streets became like luge tracks, with banks so tall residents on one side of the street couldn't see their neighbors on the other side.

Which blizzards can you recall that posed significant challenges to Vermonters? Do you agree that this storm was the worst in Vermont’s history? Share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Address: Vermont, USA