1 — 13

lornajarrettblanchard March 14, 1959

— 13 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.
— 10 Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1959 (Blanchard tally from document).
–>9 Associated Press. “Discomfort to Many from Storm.” Iola Register, 3-16-1959, p. 1.

Illinois (1)
–1 Overexertion. UPI. “Snow-Weary Midwest Walloped Again.” Traverse City Record-Eagle, MI. 3-16-1959, 1.

Iowa (6)
–6 March 14-15, heavy snow. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1959, p. 15.
–2 Over-exertion shoveling snow. AP. “Discomfort to Many from Storm.” Iola Register, 3-16-1959, 1.

Kansas (2)
–2 March 14, wind and snow. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1959, p. 15.
–2 Leonardville. Two women killed in truck-car collision.

Michigan (2)
–1 Honor area, Benzie County. Exposure; Charles March, 59, outside his cabin.
–1 Locale not noted, March 15. Highway accident “when a heavy snowfall reduced visibility.”

Nebraska (1)
–1 March 14, wet snow to blizzard. Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V.1, No. 3, March 1959, p. 17.
–1 Syracuse. William F. Metzger, 60, hit by car as he stood by his stalled car during storm height.

Ohio (1)
–1 March 15, windstorm. Elderly man fell while attempting to repair a broken window.

Narrative Information

Weather Bureau. Storm Data on Iowa: “Entire State, except NW and SE corners….14-15 [March]…6 [killed]…Heavy snow.

“The heaviest falls were concentrated from Webster County eastward to Clayton County and northeastward to Howard County. In Chickasaw County and part of Howard County there were 12 inches of new snow. High winds again drifted the snow, with drifts 10 to 15 feet deep in the northeast. All traffic was halted in the snow area. In Des Moines 5000 basketball fans were compelled to spend the night in the Auditorium. Severe breakage of power and telephone lines in the southern counties. In Des Moines 200 power lines were down and 3000 homes were without electricity. In the State 1800 telephone lines were down.” (Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1959, p. 15.)

Weather Bureau. Storm Data on Kansas: “Eastern half of State…14 [March]…3p.-9p. …3 [killed]…Wind and snow.

“Strong northwest winds with gusts of 50 to 70 mph caused damage to T.V. and antennas, signs. Power and telephone lines, trees, roofs, and windows over much of eastern Kansas. The storm began in the north central counties about 3 p.m. and reached as far east and south as Kansas City and Wichita by 9 p.m. In the central counties there was considerable dust blowing. Snow falling with the wind made dangerous driving conditions with almost zero visibility. Many cars were stalled and numerous accidents occurred. Two women were killed in a truck-car collision near Leonardville in Riley County. The worst of the storm lasted near an hour. The most severe wind and heaviest snowfall were in the northern counties.” (Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1959, p. 15.)

Weather Bureau. Storm Data on Nebraska: “West of State…14 [March]…All day…Widespread…1 [killed]…Wet snow to Blizzard.

“Most damage to wires and poles. Most roads blocked. Many cars stalled.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V.1, No. 3, March 1959, p. 17.)

Weather Bureau. Storm Data on Ohio: “Entire state…15…all day…Windstorm.

“Squally winds in connection with an unusually deep cyclonic system resulted in widespread damage throughout the state. Velocities were recorded between 60 and 90 mph at first order stations in gusts, and average velocities during the day were in the 30-550 mph range. Property damage was widespread and indiscriminate, roofs, windows, signs, TV antennae, utility lines and trees being most often mentioned in news stories. In the Cleveland area numerous greenhouses suffered major damage; a barn was blown down near Chardon; a factory building in Belle Center was badly damaged, as were others in Sandusky; and at Toledo a coal freighter ran aground in the storm. One death was widely reported, as an aged man fell while attempting repairs to a broken window, and there may well have been others. Reports generally failed to mention injuries, though there doubtless were scattered cases.” (Weather Bureau. Storm Data, V1, N3, March 1959, p. 18).

Newspaper

March 14, AP: “Cold winds charged into the Great Plains from the Rockies today, loosing heavy snow, raising dust, and triggering thunderstorms. Eight inches on new snow was piled into drifts at Harrison in extreme northwestern Nebraska, and the fall reached 6 inches at Ainsworth and Chadron in the western part of the state where roads were banked and hazardous. Two to five inches of snow spread over Wyoming Friday night [12th]. Denver collected 2 inches. The cold front passed La Junta, Colo. On 63-mile winds. High dust clouds were churned in New Mexico by the gusty airstream. Light rain and snow are due in Iowa Saturday night from a storm center developing in western Kansas and Nebraska. As the storm system moves eastward, the Weather Bureau said, it will bring light rain to Iowa, with the rain changing to snow as the system progresses.” (Associated Press. “Weather wintry to west.” Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA. 3-14-1959, p. 1.)

Source

Associated Press. “Discomfort to Many from Storm.” Iola Register, 3-16-1959, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/iola-register-mar-16-1959-p-1/

Associated Press. “Weather wintry to west.” Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA. 3-14-1959, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/keokuk-daily-gate-city-mar-14-1959-p-2/

Associated Press. “Weekend Fatality List of Four.” The Iola Register, KS. 3-16-1959, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/iola-register-mar-16-1959-p-1/

Lincoln Journal and Star, NE. “Syracuse Man Killed as Sneak Blizzard Brings Misery to City.” 3-15-1959, p. B1. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-evening-journal-mar-15-1959-p-11/

UPI (United Press International). “All Sections of Michigan Hit by Storm.” Traverse City Record-Eagle, MI. 3-16-1959, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/traverse-city-record-eagle-mar-16-1959-p-1/

UPI. (United Press International). “Snow-Weary Midwest Walloped Again.” Traverse City Record-Eagle, MI. 3-16-1959, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/traverse-city-record-eagle-mar-16-1959-p-1/

Weather Bureau. Storm Data, Vol. 1, No. 3, March 1959. Accessed 12-21-2022 at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/IPS/sd/sd.html?_finish=0.6135283252175862