1987 — March 27-29, Snowstorms and Cold, especially Midwest and Plains — >11

–14  Associated Press. “The Big Chill Spreads East.” Ottawa Herald, KS, 3-31-1987, p. 17.[1]

–13  AP. “Blizzard ravages crops from Illinois to Florida.” Capital Times, WI, 3-31-1987, p. 10.

–11  Blanchard tally from State breakouts below.[2]

 

Colorado        (1)

–1  Traffic fatality “blamed on the storm.” AP.[3]

 

Indiana           (1)

–1  Locale not noted, March 30. “The storm was blamed for a traffic death…in Indiana…”[4]

 

Iowa                (1)

–1  Highland Twnship area, March 28. Exposure; apparently became lost; Derek Burkhardt, 16.[5]

 

Kansas           (2)

–1  Olmitz area, along KS Hwy-4, Mar 27-28. Exposure; transient male. NCDC Storm Data, 19.

–1  Locale not noted. Heart attack shoveling snow.[6]

 

Kentucky       (1)

–1  Locale not noted, March 30. “…storm blamed for two traffic deaths Monday in [IN & KY].”[7]

 

Nebraska        (2)

–2  National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 29, No. 3, March 1987, p. 25.

–1  Omaha downtown, March 28-29. Exposure.

–1  Greater Superior area, March 28-29. Man found dead in vehicle.

 

Ohio               (3)

–3  ~March 30. “…storm…blamed for…a collision that killed three members of a family…”[8]

 

Narrative Information

 

NCDC: “On March 27th through 29th, the second major winter storm in a week moved through the Central U.S., this time leaving a band of heavy snowfall in a west-southwest to east-northeast direction from Colorado to Wisconsin. Hardest hit were portions of Kansas and Nebraska where the new snowfall had added substantially to that left by the previous storm and blizzard conditions were again experienced. They heavy snow and high winds produced zero and near-zero visibilities that made travel impossible during the storm, and massive drifts that kept roads closed for several days there-after, severely curtailing travel subsequent to the storm. The livestock industry suffered especially large losses because thousands of cattle died as a result of the quick succession and severity of the two storms.” (NCDC. Storm Data, 29/3, 1987, p. 11.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Blizzard freezes travelers in tracks.” Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, 3-30-1987, pp. 1-2. Accessed 12-11-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/colorado-springs-gazette-telegraph-mar-30-1987-p-1/

 

Associated Press. “Blizzard ravages crops from Illinois to Florida.” Capital Times, Madison, WI, 3-31-1987, p. 10. Accessed 12-11-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-capital-times-mar-31-1987-p-10/

 

Associated Press. “Freeze threatens crops in South.” Lawrence Journal-World, KS, 3-31-1987, p. 10A. Accessed 12-11-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lawrence-journal-world-mar-31-1987-p-10/

 

Associated Press. “Teen died of exposure.” The Hawk Eye, Burlington, IA, 3-30-1987, p. 5. Accessed 12-11-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-hawk-eye-mar-30-1987-p-5/

 

Associated Press. “The Big Chill Spreads East.” Ottawa Herald, KS, 3-31-1987, p. 17. Accessed 12-11-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ottawa-herald-mar-31-1987-p-17/

 

National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 29, No. 3, March 1987. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA. Accessed 12-11-2018 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-C6827856-3803-454C-B3AE-E4301C107608.pdf

[1] In that there were two back to back storms, this number might include deaths from the earlier storm system.

[2] Even though we note press reports of 13-14 deaths, we suspect these reports included deaths from a storm system a few days earlier. Thus we choose to use a fatality number which is supported by State breakouts.

[3] Associated Press. “Blizzard freezes travelers in tracks.” Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, 3-30-1987, pp. 1-2.

[4] Associated Press. “The Big Chill Spreads East.” Ottawa Herald, KS, 3-31-1987, p. 17.

[5] Associated Press. “Teen died of exposure.” The Hawk Eye, Burlington, IA, 3-30-1987, p. 5.

[6] Associated Press. “Blizzard freezes travelers in tracks.” Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph, 3-30-1987, pp. 1-2.

[7] Associated Press. “Freeze threatens crops in South.” Lawrence Journal-World, KS, 3-31-1987, p. 10A.

[8] Associated Press. “The Big Chill Spreads East.” Ottawa Herald, KS, 3-31-1987, p. 17.