Much of Iowa remains under a blizzard warning this morning, travel is impossible in parts of the state and strongly discouraged elsewhere --- but here in the south and southeast --- well, we've lucked out. The wind is roaring, but relatively little snow has fallen.
Oddly enough --- this storm, perhaps the most widespread and dangerous of the season --- occurred near the 80th anniversary of the big blizzard of 1939 --- Feb. 27-28 of that year --- described in some parts of the state as the worst storm since 1888. It generated banner headlines in The Chariton Leader, The Des Moines Tribune and other newspapers statewide.
You'll note that this report, from The Leader of Tuesday, Feb. 28, guesstimates the snowfall total at 5 inches --- as it turns out closer to 10 had fallen. But there were no Des Moines-based meteorologists to provide breathless minute-by-minute reports. Lucas County's official weather record was in the hands of Clark Burr, a state-certified meteorologist whose reports were filed from his farm home southwest of Chariton in Warren Township.
Here's how that Leader report reads underneath a series of decked headlines: "Winter's Worst Blizzard Hits County," "Rural Roads Are Blocked, School Attendance Low," "Mail Carriers Are Turned Back by Drifts Today; Snowfall Estimated at Five Inches; Temperature 30 Degrees."
The winter's worst storm struck Lucas county Monday night and strong winds today were still whipping snow into heavy drifts.
Traffic was paralyzed, particularly in rural areas.
Flurries of snow, scooped up by the wind, frequently made visibility poor despite the fact that skies were clearing.
City and rural residents alike found themselves snowbound this morning. Scores of cars were either stalled in drifts or marooned in garages.
Chariton schools had about 50 percent attendance, Superintendent J.R. Cougill reported.
The Rock Island Improvement Co. Mine No. 3 was idle because of the storm. WPA crews were unable to work on outdoor projects. Also idle were CCC enrollees.
Snowfall could not be accurately measured due to drifting, but it was estimated at five inches by Meteorologist C.C. Burr --- a high mark for the winter. At noon the temperature stood at 30 degrees.
Rural mail carriers started to make their rounds this morning but were turned back by drifts, it was reported at the post office. Delivery trucks bringing merchandise to Chariton were hours late. At the Hotel Charitone it was reported that the Burlington Transportation Co. had discontinued bus service for 24 hours. Scores of travelers remained at the hotel.
The steady clunk-clunk of shovel against snow could be heard throughout the city today as residents attempted to clear sidewalks and driveways. A large crew of city workers was engaged in opening streets. Removal of the snow appeared to be more than a one-day job, however.
The storm area extends from the Texas Panhandle to Wisconsin. The blizzard showed its greatest fury in Iowa over a section bounded by Council Bluffs, Mason City, Corydon and Dubuque. Schools were closed throughout the state. Highways in many sections were reported blocked and all Iowans were warned to stay off the highways unless travel was absolutely essential.
Audubon reported 17 inches of snow. Mount Ayr reported 15 inches. Des Moines reported 13 inches, the heaviest snowfall there since the winter of 1888.
Downtown restaurants and cafes profited heavily from the storm. Scores of persons employed in stores and offices, many of whom were late for work this morning because of the heavy snow, remained downtown for lunch. Shoe stores reported a sharp pick-up in sales of galoshes.
+++
Conditions had improved substantially by Thursday, when The Herald Patriot published, and temperatures had climbed to 40. An estimated three-quarters of rural mail routes were passable as roads were opened.
In Chariton, the Wednesday death of Sam Tickle, 62, at his home on Brookdale Avenue, had been attributed to a heart attack brought on by shoveling snow.
Few other Lucas Countyans had suffered, although the Herald-Patriot did report that "many Chariton fight fans who went to Des Moines for the Paycheck-Massera fight Monday night either returned by train or remained in Des Moines until Tuesday evening. Several persons, however, attempted to return Monday night and were marooned for hours near Liberty Center."
According to The Tribune, Cresco's 18 inches, followed by 17 inches in Audubon and Charles City, were the biggest snowfalls in the state. Mount Ayr had 16 inches; and Lamoni, Leon, Knoxville and Des Moines, 14 inches. Traffic, other than by train, remained paralyzed in much of the state --- and in Des Moines, street cars were stalled and the schools were closed.
No comments:
Post a Comment