30 Years Later: Remembering the chills and heavy snow during the 'Storm of the Century'
While western Pennsylvania residents continue to enjoy an incredibly mild winter, it can be hard to visualize the massive snowstorm that disrupted the region 30 years ago.
Locally known as the Blizzard of '93 and the "Storm of the Century," the massive winter storm enveloped most of the region in a blanket of heavy snow that kept many families at home for the long weekend that had started on Saturday, March 13. At the time of the storm, meteorologists reported the snowfall was the worst the region had seen in over 43 years, rivaling the Thanksgiving storm that had occurred in 1950.
Like any winter storm, some of the early signs of winter weather preparation were seen across the region before the first flakes started floating through the air. Shelves were cleared of bread and milk ahead of the extreme weather, as many ran for the essentials to stay indoors. Others also grabbed some indoor entertainment, with Beaver County movie rental stores such as Center Home Video and Wilson's Video Corner seeing massive booms in sales ahead of the snow.
As the storm swept across America, it would quickly change the causal snow day into a state of emergency. The storm would result in the death of 177 people along the East Coast of the United States, with a total of 38 deaths in Pennsylvania being linked to the storm. The most common cause of death was heart attacks, which were caused by snow removal. In Beaver County, four deaths were caused by heart attacks during snow shoveling.
In Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh would receive a total of 25.2 inches of snow, falling just short of the 27.4 inches seen during the Thanksgiving storm in 1950. Beaver and Lawrence counties averaged more than 21 inches, while snow-savvy Erie reported 27.3 inches. The higher elevations of Somerset (30 inches) and Latrobe (36) saw even more accumulation, while Tobyhanna (43) topped them all. Even Harrisburg and Philadephia saw more than 20 inches of snow. A Tennessee town, Mount LeConte, reported 56 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
The high amount of snow caused a lot of work for road crews at PennDOT, who had to work consistently to keep major roadways cleared. Many sideroads and community streets throughout the county were left covered in snow for days, keeping many at home during the storm.
Not all groups stayed inside during the storm, as Pittsburgh's Irish community braved the harsh weather to add some green to the blizzard during their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Amid a state of emergency and a wall of snow, the passionate parade organizers continued their festive march and Pittsburgh residents flooded the streets with coffee, hot cocoa, beer and Bloody Marys. In a comment to the Associated Press, Miss Smiling Irish Trish Cloonan told reporters "there's nothing that keeps the Irish down."
While the road conditions were becoming increasingly worse during those early hours of the storm, air travel was completely halted as wind and visibility conditions locked many planes in place at the Pittsburgh International Airport. Some planes headed further along the coast also sought shelter at the airport in Findlay Township, resulting in hundreds of people taking refuge inside the airside terminal for over 24 hours.
From spring break adventurers to families traveling for reunions, many of these air-bound travelers remained grounded throughout the weekend and stuck inside the safety of the terminal, sleeping on the floor or playing poker to pass the time. The McDonald's in the terminal was able to keep hungry visitors fed throughout this time, with many of the older employees making dangerous trips along the roads and working overtime to fill necessary shifts.
While today's students are seeing the concept of "snow days" change to virtual school days, students across Pennsylvania saw the cancellation of classes until Tuesday, March 16, as the state dealt with the snow cleanup. For many of these local kids, the closed roadways and time away from school responsibilities were the perfect conditions for plenty of sledding. Some adults also joined in the fun, with one Beaver Falls resident using a snowmobile to get around town.
While some kids turned to snow shoveling for extra cash, one report from The Times indicated another popular option for kids was slowly taking over: video games. While not nearly as popular as today, the early days of the Nintendo Entertainment System had a big impact on this storm, with Times staff member Torsten Ove writing that "School was canceled, yet few were out and about. Blame it on Nintendo."
Businesses that were able to open their doors saw a lot of success during this storm, as stores that provided winter weather supplies were quickly picked thin as people grabbed shovels, rock salt and other items. Local businesses managing snow plows also kept busy throughout the storm cleanup, with a Moon Township business reporting over 300 calls for snow removal throughout the storm.
Despite the struggle through the storm, western Pennsylvania residents were able to battle the storm and help each other through the worst of the snow. Stories following the storm detailed the amazing work of the close-knit communities in the region helping their neighbors stay safe, getting groceries for elderly neighbors and helping with any other needs that arose from the emergency conditions.
Regardless of the lack of snow this year, residents remembering the storm can be comfortable knowing that the local community spirit never changes.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Remembering the Blizzard of 1993 after 30 years
