1979 Chicago blizzard facts for kids
| Category 4 "Crippling" (RSI: 14.42) | |
53rd Street in Hyde Park after the blizzard
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| Type | Blizzard Winter storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 13, 1979 |
| Dissipated | January 14, 1979 |
| Lowest pressure | Unknown |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 21 inches (53 cm) |
| Damage | More than $1 billion USD |
| Power outages | Across the city |
| Areas affected | Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana, U.S. |
The Chicago blizzard of 1979 was a huge blizzard that hit northern Illinois and northwest Indiana on January 13 and 14, 1979. It was one of the biggest snowstorms Chicago had ever seen. About 21 inches (53 cm) of snow fell in just two days.
People only expected 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 4 inches (10 cm) of snow. But by the end of January 14, the snow on the ground reached 29 inches (74 cm) deep. The blizzard lasted for 38 hours. Winds blew as fast as 39 miles (63 km) per hour. Five people died during the storm, and about 15 others were hurt because of the harsh conditions.
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Impact of the Blizzard
The blizzard caused many problems for people living in Chicago and nearby areas. Travel became very difficult, and daily life was disrupted for weeks.
Travel Troubles
O'Hare Airport had to close down. All flights were stopped for 96 hours, from January 13 to 15. This meant no planes could take off or land for four days.
The cold weather and snow also froze the tracks of the Chicago 'L' train system. Because the trains weren't working well, many people tried to use CTA buses. The buses became very crowded. Bus rides that usually took 30 to 45 minutes ended up taking several hours. Buses also had to take long detours to avoid huge piles of snow in the streets. This made commutes even longer.
After the Storm Ended
Even after the blizzard stopped, the snow stayed on the ground for a long time. It caused problems for many weeks.
Snow Removal Challenges
The snow stayed on the ground until March 6, which was 51 days later. Snowplows were very slow to start clearing the roads. When they finally did, they struggled to keep up with all the snow. Much of the snow was not moved for two months. This led to ongoing delays for public transportation. It also caused big problems with trash collection around the city.
Political Impact
Many people blamed the city's slow response on Mayor Michael Anthony Bilandic. He had become mayor after Richard J. Daley passed away in 1976. Newspapers at the time wrote many articles criticizing Mayor Bilandic.
Jane Byrne was running against Bilandic in the Democratic primary election. She used the city's poor response to the blizzard to her advantage. She won against Bilandic in the primary election on February 27, 1979. Later, she became the first female mayor of Chicago.
