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The Cincinnati Blizzard of 1996


It was January of 1996, and a record-setting snow paralyzed the city of Cincinnati.The storm system pushed in the night of Jan. 6, with the most significant snowfall covering the region from Jan. 7-8.Closing schools and businesses for days, the snowstorm paralyzed Cincinnati and the Eastern Seaboard for the better part of a week.In total, the Cincinnati area saw 14.4 inches of snow, the second most for a single storm in Cincinnati (behind 18.5 inches in February 1998). The 1996 storm also broke a record for the most snowfall in a 24-hour period, with 12.8 inches of snow falling from Jan. 6-7.Snow emergencies were issued for the entire state, except the extreme northwest counties. Thirty Ohio counties closed county roads to all but emergency traffic, and Ohio's governor issued a proclamation of emergency for Preble, Darke and Belmont counties to help the Ohio Department of Transportation and the National Guard with snow removal.Three people, including two children in the Dayton area, were killed in traffic accidents. One person died of hypothermia after falling asleep in his car.The blizzard extended beyond the Cincinnati area.The metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston were virtually paralyzed as snowfalls of 19 to 31 inches were whipped into 5- to 8-foot snow drifts. In the mountains of western Virginia and West Virginia, 40- to 48-inch snowfalls were common.Nationwide, the storm caused over $500 million in insured losses, contributed to 60 fatalities, and shut down or hampered travel and commerce for five days after it ended.Below video: Relive Cincinnati's infamous blizzard of 1978

It was January of 1996, and a record-setting snow paralyzed the city of Cincinnati.

The storm system pushed in the night of Jan. 6, with the most significant snowfall covering the region from Jan. 7-8.

Closing schools and businesses for days, the snowstorm paralyzed Cincinnati and the Eastern Seaboard for the better part of a week.

In total, the Cincinnati area saw 14.4 inches of snow, the second most for a single storm in Cincinnati (behind 18.5 inches in February 1998). The 1996 storm also broke a record for the most snowfall in a 24-hour period, with 12.8 inches of snow falling from Jan. 6-7.

Snow emergencies were issued for the entire state, except the extreme northwest counties. Thirty Ohio counties closed county roads to all but emergency traffic, and Ohio's governor issued a proclamation of emergency for Preble, Darke and Belmont counties to help the Ohio Department of Transportation and the National Guard with snow removal.

Three people, including two children in the Dayton area, were killed in traffic accidents. One person died of hypothermia after falling asleep in his car.

The blizzard extended beyond the Cincinnati area.

The metropolitan areas of Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City and Boston were virtually paralyzed as snowfalls of 19 to 31 inches were whipped into 5- to 8-foot snow drifts. In the mountains of western Virginia and West Virginia, 40- to 48-inch snowfalls were common.

Nationwide, the storm caused over $500 million in insured losses, contributed to 60 fatalities, and shut down or hampered travel and commerce for five days after it ended.

Below video: Relive Cincinnati's infamous blizzard of 1978


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