1948 — Jan 1-2, Winter Ice, Sleet and Snow Storms, Great Plains to New England –21-36

–27-36  Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

–21-36  Blanchard estimated range.[1]

—   >26  Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.[2]

—   >24  Schmidlin and Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland…Weather…in Ohio. 1996, p. 34.

—     21  Blanchard tally of locality and/or cause of death breakouts.

—   >16  AP. “New York to Get Respite…” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY 1-3-1948, p. 1.

—   >14  (New England). Lowell Sun, MA. “New Storm Threat for Next Week.” 1-3-1948, p. 3.[3]

 

Connecticut               ( 4-5)

–5  State. Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1

–4  State. Bridgeport Post, CT. “City Escapes Storm…Four Die in State.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

–4  Blanchard tally from locality breakouts below.

–1  Hartford. Auto accident attributed to weather; Miss Jonnie, H. Makasowicz (unclear), 21.[4]

–1  Waterbury. Auto Accident attributed to weather; Miss Cecily Stamaielo (unclear), 39.[5]

–1  Waterbury. Heart attack after shoveling snow; Charles E. Hurlbut, retired policeman.[6]

–1  Waterbury. Heart attack after shoveling snow; Angelo Lovallo, 56.[7]

 

Massachusetts           (9-10)

–10  Assoc. Press. “New York to Get Respite…” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY 1-3-1948, p. 1.[8]

—  9  Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

 

Michigan                    (2-9)

—  9  UP. “Michigan Digging Out…Crippling Storm.” Holland Evening Sentinel, MI, 1-3-1948, p1.

–7  “…seven traffic deaths were reported during the storm period…

–2  “…two persons died from over-exertion in shoveling snow.”

—  5  State. Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1

–>4  State. AP. “Sleet Glaze Covers Most of Michigan.” Escanaba Daily Press, 1-2-1948, p. 1.

—  2  Perry area, M-78, Jan 2. Car-truck collision; Eli J. Banavich of Flint, and wife, Betty, 22.[9]

 

Missouri                     (    2)

–2  State. Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1

 

New Jersey                 (    1)

–1  State. AP. “New York to Get Respite…” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY 1-3-1948, p. 1.

 

New York                   (    6)

–6  Blanchard tally based on locality breakouts below.

–4  State. Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1

–1  Assoc. Press. “New York to Get Respite…” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY 1-3-1948, p. 1.

–1  Canandaigua, Jan 2. Heart attack while shoveling snow off walk at home.[10]

–1  Syracuse, Jan 3. Apparent heart attack while shoveling snow; Cecil W. Hunt.[11]

–3  NYC. UP. “Fuel Shortages Threaten Gotham.” Holland Evening Sentinel, NY, 1-3-1948, 1.

–1  Utica, Jan 2 or 3. Heart attack (Thomas Stafford); “collapsed waling through heavy snow.”[12]

 

Pennsylvania             (    1)

–1  State. Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll…Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1

 

Wisconsin                  (    2)

–1  Milwaukee, Jan 1. John Dollhoff, 13, “after shoveling…walks around…south side home.”[13]

–1  Milwaukee, Jan 1. Apparent heart attack; after working to get car out of a snowdrift.[14]

 

 

Narrative Information

 

Schmidlin and Schmidlin: “1 January 1948 New Year’s Ice Storm. A strong low pressure storm center drifted slowly from Arkansas to Indiana on Thursday, 1 January 1948 and spread a variety of severe weather across Ohio and other states. More than twenty people were killed by tornadoes in southern states,[15] and at least twenty-four died in the snow and ice storm in the northern states. Ohio was at the middle of the stormy mix….” (Schmidlin and Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. 1996, p. 34.

 

Newspapers

 

Jan 1: “Kansas City, Mo., Jan 1.–Snow, sleet and winds of gale force hit a vast expanse of the Great Plains today in a New Year’s storm which weather observers believed might develop into ‘the worst blizzard in several years’ at some points. From eastern Colorado and western Kansas eastward through Missouri, Arkansas, and north to the Great Lakes area, highways were treacherous with ice or were expected to become so in a few hours.

 

Snow blanketed the northern half of Oklahoma, measuring six inches at Oklahoma City.

 

“A freak wind storm riding above the snow and sleet front dipped to hit the Kansas City area in a blast which roared across the city at velocities ranging from 60 to 80 miles per hours. Winds of more than 54 miles per hour constitute gale force, weather observers pointed ot. Police said ‘hundreds of windows’ in the downtown area were blasted out, trolley lines went down, and trees snapped off. ‘It was so bad,’ said a police dispatcher, ‘that we lost contact with patrol cars and it was every officer for himself and the neighborhood he happened to be in.’ Several airplanes grounded at the municipal airport here and at Fairfax airport at Kansas City, Kan., were reported damaged….

 

“Pittsburg, Kan., hit by ‘the worst sleet storm in years’ had been without light or power since about 7:15 p.m. New Year’s eve. Authorities said early today that they had no idea when service could be restored. Police and commercial radio stations were off the air. Mount Carmel hospital, lacking emergency power facilities, was without lights but attendants said there had been no emergency cases. They were gathering additional supplies of battery-powered lights.

 

“Snow mixed with sleet generally ranged in depth from two to three inches throughout eastern and central Kansas and into western Missouri….” (United Press. “Icy Highways Bring Danger to Travelers.” Lubbock Evening Journal, TX, 1-1-1948, p. 1.)

 

Jan 2, MI: “The worst storm in years held Michigan fast in the grip of ice and snow today. At least four persons were dead. Milan, Romulus, Manchester, Fennville and Saugatuck were isolated from telephone contact with the world. A thousand telephone wires were down in Detroit. Over 100 telephone poles in Southeastern Michigan toppled under the weight of ice. The Detroit Edison Co. called it the worst storm since 1939 in the Detroit area. Some sources labeled it the worst in 35 years.

 

“The Automobile Club of Michigan asked motorists to stay off highways except for ‘most urgent travelling.’ It reported a three to four inch coat of ice generally. Detroit residents were warned that their lives were at stake if they ventured near countless fallen live wires

 

“Michigan Bell Telephone Co. said Adrian was isolated except for one direct wire circuit and an emergency line to Jackson. Flat Rock was in contact with Trenton only by an emergency line. The power failed at Ypsilanti during the night but emergency systems kept the city in contact with the outside. Power was restored to normal today….

 

“The northern part of western Michigan escaped the worst of the storm but snow was five inches deep at Traverse City and Cadillac, six inches at Muskegon and 12 inches at Grand Rapids….” (Assoc. Press. “Sleet Glaze Covers Most of Michigan.” Escanaba Daily Press, 1-2-1948, p. 1.)

 

Jan 2, NY: “New York, Jan. 2 (UP)–A freezing rain lashed the New York metropolitan area today, crippling communications and power transmission and disrupting commuter service for an estimated 2,000,000 workers. Live wires, torn down by heavy coatings of ice, fell across the streets of suburban areas and police warned residents to stay home until electricians could repair the lines. City Transit Commissioner Sidney Bingham said the ice storm–following last week’s record 25.8-inch snowfall–had caused the worst transit conditions in 33 years.

 

“A freight train derailment at Peekskill, N.Y., blocked the four main lines of the New York Central railroad. The Long Island railroad reported a fallen tree and icing were causing a severe disruption of service. Other railroads reported trains running up to four hours late.

 

“Airplane flights in and out of New York were halted and bus schedules were cancelled as many highways leading into the city were closed by fallen trees and floods of icy slush….

 

“All private automobiles were banned from the streets, as police struggled to clear the way for fuel trucks to make deliveries to hundreds of heatless homes and apartments….” (Lowell Sun, MA. “Ice Storm Adds New Woe in New York.” 1-2-1948, p. 1.)

 

Jan 2, WI: “The new year stormed into Wisconsin yesterday, buffeting the southeastern part of the state with a nine inch snowfall, whipped by 35 to 40 mile an hour winds into drifts that snarled transportation throughout the area.

 

“In Milwaukee, apparently the hardest hit, at least two deaths were credited to the storm. A 13-year-old boy, John Dollhoff, collapsed and died of a heart attack last night after shoveling the walks around his south side home, and Edgar Orth, Veteran Milwaukee Sentinel artist, died of apparently the same cause while thanking a motorist who had pushed his stalled car out of a drift as he was en route to work.

 

“Milwaukee officials thanked their lucky stars yesterday was a holiday. Few persons were abroad during the afternoon and early evening when the storm was at its height, in contrast to the thousands who would have been attempting to reach home had it been an ordinary workday. Transportation was tangled, but nowhere near as badly as in the 18-inch snowfall last January. Motorists, particularly those without chains, became stuck easily and contributed to the traffic snarl, which jammed all major intersections throughout the city before the snow gradually eased off shortly before midnight.

 

“Two and three foot drifts ere common in the area and automobiles, streetcars, bus, rail, air and carferry facilities were hindered and in many cases stopped entirely.

 

“Telephone switchboards were swamped with calls as stranded persons in the area tried to tell their whereabouts to their families….

 

“At Racine, the county highway department reported main roads through the county were almost impassable last night. Automobiles were stalled in heavy drifts through the county and the snow was reported deeper in the western areas.

 

“All airlines cancelled flights in and out of Milwaukee and all Carferries were ordered to remain in port. Trains arrived from three to four hours late. Most Milwaukee taxicab companies began pulling their cars off the streets early last night….

 

“J. A. Stansky, Milwaukee division engineer of the state highway commission, said the work of state crews was hampered by drifts which formed as fast as plows could clear them. He said the situation was similar as far north as Fond du Lac….” (Associated Press. “Lower Part of Wisconsin Hit.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 1-2-1948, p. 1.)

 

Jan 3: “Boston, Jan 3. (AP)–Cold weather moved into New England today to lock highways in perilous ice in the wake of a fierce rain, sleet and snow storm that deposited as much as 10 inches in inland areas and claimed at least 14 lives.

 

“The northeaster, the third of serious proportions in 10 days, interrupted air transportation, delayed railroad service, blocked many highways, knocked out power and communication service in some areas and left state highway crews with an immense task of clearing roads already ice caked.

 

“Most of the deaths were attributed to heart attacks from over-exertion by persons either plowing through the wet-heavy snow or shoveling. Several died in highway accidents.

 

“As in the two Christmas-week storms, the Cape Cod area was drenched by rain. Snow fell in practically all other sections with the exception of the northern tip of Maine.

 

“Highways and cellars were flooded in communities north and south of Boston as surf, whipped by 50 mile an hour gusts, crashed over seawalls.

 

“The 10,000 ton New Orleans collier Milton B. Mendary escaped with only slight damage when she was lashed across Weymouth-Fore River channel against the Edison docks in Quincy, smashing wharf pilings.

 

“The storm created a fire hazard in several communities. Firemen were assigned to extra duty when snow-blocked roads threatened to impede apparatus in the event of calls.

 

“Temperatures were expected to range from five above in northern New England to 15 in southern sections today.

 

“State police reported highway conditions hazardous in many sections last night and recommended the use of chains and only emergency driving. The weather bureau said driving conditions ‘will be hazardous for the next 12 to 24 hours,’ particularly between Boston and New York.” (Lowell Sun, MA. “New Storm Threat for Next Week.” 1-3-1948, p. 3.)

 

Jan 3: “….Governor Alfred E. Driscoll proclaimed a state of emergency in New Jersey and opened 18 armories in the northern part of the state to shelter those without heat or light in their homes. The Bell Telephone company said 25,000 telephones were out in New Jersey….” (United Press. “Fuel Shortages Threaten Gotham.” Holland Evening Sentinel, NY, 1-3-1948, p. 1.)

 

Jan 3: “New York, Jan 3 (AP)–Tens of thousands of New Yorkers, shivering in cold and darkness, were promised relief today from a series of rain, sleet and snowfalls that swept the New York city area in the wake of last week’s paralyzing snowstorm. No snow in sight over the weekend, the weather bureau forecast, promised the harried region a respite from weather woes which had buried its streets and highways under a record 25.8-inch blanket of snow followed by a crippling ice siege.

 

“A combination of rain, sleet and snow buffeted the populous northeastern states yesterday leaving at least 16 persons dead. Massachusetts counted 10 victims, Connecticut 4 and New York and New Jersey one each.

 

“Still groggy from the impact of the record snow, New Yorkers found increased misery in the thick coating of ice which gripped the city and its environs since Thursday [Jan 1]. The new peril darkened homes and snarled heating systems as glaze-coated branches and trees collapsed, felling thousands of power lines. Ice on third rails and overhead wires caused new disruptions in commuter rail traffic and frozen runways curtailed air travel.

 

“New Jersey was so hard hit Gov. Alfred E. Driscoll proclaimed a statewide emergency. Cots, beds and blankets were placed in 18 state armories in the stricken northern section to shelter families, left without heat or light, and travelers unable to negotiate hazardous highways.

 

“Most roads as well as through highways leading into New York city were sheets of ice. The American Automobile Association warned that attempting a lengthy trip over them would be ‘suicidal.’

 

“The Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., estimated late yesterday that 15,000 of its customers in four city boroughs had their electricity cut off by the storm. Another New York utility, the Staten Island and Edison Corp., reported that at least 1,000 consumers were without service in ‘the worst sleet storm in years.’….

 

“Snow and sleet also plagued the entire New England area except for the northern tip of Maine. The storm was the third in 11 days and added to the thick snow blanket already covering the section. Most highways there were reported passable but ‘extremely hazardous.’ All planes were grounded.

 

“In upstate New York, light scattered snow flurries were predicted for today. The heaviest snowfall was reported in the eastern Adirondacks area where up to 26 inches crusted the ground.” (Associated Press. “New York to Get Respite With No New Snow Forecast.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY 1-3-1948, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Lower Part of Wisconsin Hit.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 1-2-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-globe-jan-02-1948-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “New York to Get Respite With No New Snow Forecast.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY 1-3-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kingston-daily-freeman-jan-03-1948-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Sleet Glaze Covers Most of Michigan.” Escanaba Daily Press, 1-2-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/escanaba-daily-press-jan-02-1948-p-1/

 

Bridgeport Post, CT. “City Escapes Storm…Four Die in State.” 1-3-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bridgeport-telegram-jan-03-1948-p-19/

 

Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “Train is Derailed, 1 Man Dies While Clearing Sidewalk.” 1-2-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/canandaigua-daily-messenger-jan-02-1948-p-1/

 

East Hampton News, CT. “Blizzard Results in One Death Here…” 1-2-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/east-hampton-news-jan-02-1948-p-1/

 

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, p. 933.

 

Lowell Sun, MA. “Ice Storm Adds New Woe in New York.” 1-2-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jan-02-1948-p-24/

 

Lowell Sun, MA. “New Storm Threat for Next Week.” 1-3-1948, p. 3. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-jan-03-1948-p-3/

 

Middletown Times Herald, NY. “Storm Death Toll in 16 States Reaches 26.” 1-3-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/middletown-times-herald-jan-03-1948-p-1/

 

Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne Appelhans Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent State University Press, 1996, 362 pages.

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Dies While Shoveling.” 1-3-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-journal-jan-03-1948-p-1/

 

Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Storm Fatal.” 1-3-1948, p. 2. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-journal-jan-03-1948-p-2/

 

United Press. “Fuel Shortages Threaten Gotham.” Holland Evening Sentinel, NY, 1-3-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/holland-evening-sentinel-jan-03-1948-p-1/

 

United Press. “Icy Highways Bring Danger to Travelers.” Lubbock Evening Journal, TX, 1-1-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-17-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/evening-journal-jan-01-1948-p-1/

 

United Press. “Michigan Digging Out After Crippling Storm.” Holland Evening Sentinel, MI, 1-3-1948, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/holland-evening-sentinel-jan-03-1948-p-1/

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] While we show a range of 27-36 deaths based on State breakouts, we have not been able to substantiate such numbers by breakouts with more specific information (such details tally to twenty-one).

[2] “At least twenty-six persons died as result of the vast storm which whipped across the sixteen northeastern states…this week…The twenty-six dead did not include the twenty-five persons who lost their lives in tornadoes born of the same storm condition when it passed over Louisiana and Arkansas, nor fourteen others killed in a train wreck when sleet knocked out the Missouri Pacific Railroad’s block system near Otterville, Mo.”

[3] “Boston, Jan 3. (AP)–Cold weather moved into New England…to lock highways in perilous ice in the wake of a fierce rain, sleet and snow storm that deposited as much as 10 inches in inland areas and claimed at least 14 lives.”

[4] Bridgeport Post, CT. “City Escapes Storm…Four Die in State.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

[5] Bridgeport Post, CT. “City Escapes Storm…Four Die in State.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

[6] Bridgeport Post, CT. “City Escapes Storm…Four Die in State.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

[7] Bridgeport Post, CT. “City Escapes Storm…Four Die in State.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

[8] I cannot corroborate nine-ten deaths. Speculate the inclusion of deaths from fires and traffic accidents.

[9] Associated Press. “Sleet Glaze Covers Most of Michigan.” Escanaba Daily Press, 1-2-1948, p. 1.

[10] Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, NY. “Train is Derailed, 1 Man Dies While Clearing Sidewalk.” 1-2-1948, p. 1.

[11] Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Dies While Shoveling.” 1-3-1948, p. 1.

[12] Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. “Storm Fatal.” 1-3-1948, p. 2.

[13] Associated Press. “Lower Part of Wisconsin Hit.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 1-2-1948, p. 1. (Heart attack.)

[14] AP. “Lower Part of Wisconsin Hit.” Ironwood Daily Globe, MI. 1-2-1948, p. 1. Victim identified as Edgar Orth.

[15] We are aware of 1 tornado death in Attala, MS on Jan 1. We note in a separate entry and listing eighteen deaths in Louisiana counties on December 31.