Vermont is no stranger to blizzards. The snowy and cold winter storms come year in and year out. But before we had the infrastructure and massive snow removal capacity that we have today, a blizzard could wreak havoc on the small towns of Vermont, and, way back in 1888, that is exactly what happened. It was arguably the worst Vermont blizzard thus far, and although it took place a bit over a century ago, the tales of the storm have not been lost in history. Note: finding photos of the 1888 blizzard taken in Vermont proved to be difficult. Therefore, photos are from other New England states affected by this epic event.
Often referred to as The Great White Hurricane, the blizzard of 1888 took the residents of Vermont by surprise in early March.
F. W. Allderige/Wikipedia
Southern Vermont saw more than 40 inches of snow in two days, making it the worst blizzard Vermont has ever witnessed.
French, J.A., Keene/Wikipedia
For four days, the capital, Montpelier, was unreachable from New York and Boston, and countless damages resulted from the whirling winds and heavy snowfall.
French, J.A., Keene/Wikipedia
Powerful gusts of wind during and after the storm caused giant snowdrifts to form, some reported as being ten to fifteen feet in height.
French, J.A., Keene/Wikipedia
All rail travel was blocked for three to four days.
Keene Public Library/Flickr Everything shut down and came to a total standstill.
The 1888 winter storm, because of its unexpected start and remarkably strong winds, made for one mammoth of a storm - but the people of Vermont and New England are resilient, then and now, and were able to cope with such an event.
Keene Public Library/Flickr
Even after the storm had passed, there was so much snow and nowhere to move it.
Keene Public Library/Flickr Streets became like luge tracks, with banks so tall residents on one side of the street couldn’t see their neighbors on the other side.
Which blizzards can you recall that posed significant challenges to Vermonters? Do you agree that this storm was the worst in Vermont’s history? Share with us your thoughts by leaving a comment! We love hearing from you. Now that you’ve learned about this epic, record-breaking Vermont blizzard, take a look at what life is like inside the snowiest town in Vermont.
F. W. Allderige/Wikipedia
French, J.A., Keene/Wikipedia
French, J.A., Keene/Wikipedia
Keene Public Library/Flickr
Everything shut down and came to a total standstill.
Keene Public Library/Flickr
Streets became like luge tracks, with banks so tall residents on one side of the street couldn’t see their neighbors on the other side.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Vermont Blizzard November 07, 2021 Tori Jane Are blizzards in Vermont common? Blizzards anywhere in the contiguous United States are relatively uncommon, with just 11 blizzards occurring per year – and that includes everywhere that’s snowy during the winter. As we’ll cover in a moment, Vermont can, however, have some pretty brutal winters. The most recent blizzard to hit Vermont occurred in 2010 when a gigantic one slammed the east coast with several feet of snow, ice, and wind. From January 2nd to January 3rd, parts of Vermont saw up to 33 inches of snow in some places, despite the forecast only calling for about 14 inches. This was the last time a blizzard occurred in this state; as of the time of this writing, it’s been eleven years since that storm, and we have yet to see another quite like it. For more information about the record-setting blizzard of 2010, check out this article. What is winter in Vermont like? Winter in Vermont is, to put it lightly, brutal. In fact, it has the sixth-coldest winters in the entire nation, and some parts of the state – namely, the mountainous parts – have winters that seem to last for half of the year! January tends to be the coldest month of the year, with temperatures hitting a frigid ten degrees or less on several days of that month. Oftentimes, temperatures can and do dip below zero. The record thus far for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Vermont occurred in December 1933, when the mercury plunged to an astonishing (and beyond frigid) -50 degrees Fahrenheit. The single-largest snowfall ever recorded in Vermont was an impressive 33.1 inches, though some sources indicate that some places received as much as 40+ inches. One thing is for sure: Vermont is wonderful if you’re a fan of winter (which, honestly, we totally are).
The OIYS Visitor Center
Vermont Blizzard
November 07, 2021
Tori Jane
Are blizzards in Vermont common? Blizzards anywhere in the contiguous United States are relatively uncommon, with just 11 blizzards occurring per year – and that includes everywhere that’s snowy during the winter. As we’ll cover in a moment, Vermont can, however, have some pretty brutal winters. The most recent blizzard to hit Vermont occurred in 2010 when a gigantic one slammed the east coast with several feet of snow, ice, and wind. From January 2nd to January 3rd, parts of Vermont saw up to 33 inches of snow in some places, despite the forecast only calling for about 14 inches. This was the last time a blizzard occurred in this state; as of the time of this writing, it’s been eleven years since that storm, and we have yet to see another quite like it. For more information about the record-setting blizzard of 2010, check out this article. What is winter in Vermont like? Winter in Vermont is, to put it lightly, brutal. In fact, it has the sixth-coldest winters in the entire nation, and some parts of the state – namely, the mountainous parts – have winters that seem to last for half of the year! January tends to be the coldest month of the year, with temperatures hitting a frigid ten degrees or less on several days of that month. Oftentimes, temperatures can and do dip below zero. The record thus far for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Vermont occurred in December 1933, when the mercury plunged to an astonishing (and beyond frigid) -50 degrees Fahrenheit. The single-largest snowfall ever recorded in Vermont was an impressive 33.1 inches, though some sources indicate that some places received as much as 40+ inches. One thing is for sure: Vermont is wonderful if you’re a fan of winter (which, honestly, we totally are).
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Blizzards anywhere in the contiguous United States are relatively uncommon, with just 11 blizzards occurring per year – and that includes everywhere that’s snowy during the winter. As we’ll cover in a moment, Vermont can, however, have some pretty brutal winters. The most recent blizzard to hit Vermont occurred in 2010 when a gigantic one slammed the east coast with several feet of snow, ice, and wind. From January 2nd to January 3rd, parts of Vermont saw up to 33 inches of snow in some places, despite the forecast only calling for about 14 inches. This was the last time a blizzard occurred in this state; as of the time of this writing, it’s been eleven years since that storm, and we have yet to see another quite like it. For more information about the record-setting blizzard of 2010, check out this article.
What is winter in Vermont like?
Winter in Vermont is, to put it lightly, brutal. In fact, it has the sixth-coldest winters in the entire nation, and some parts of the state – namely, the mountainous parts – have winters that seem to last for half of the year! January tends to be the coldest month of the year, with temperatures hitting a frigid ten degrees or less on several days of that month. Oftentimes, temperatures can and do dip below zero. The record thus far for the coldest temperature ever recorded in Vermont occurred in December 1933, when the mercury plunged to an astonishing (and beyond frigid) -50 degrees Fahrenheit. The single-largest snowfall ever recorded in Vermont was an impressive 33.1 inches, though some sources indicate that some places received as much as 40+ inches. One thing is for sure: Vermont is wonderful if you’re a fan of winter (which, honestly, we totally are).
