Sometimes, winter in Indiana can feel like it takes FOREVER. It’s cold, the nights last a little too long, the days are much too short, and sometimes it seems like the sky doesn’t know how to do anything but snow. Well, today, we’re going to reminisce about one such winter in Indiana… one where the Hoosier State spent 880 consecutive hours below 32 degrees. You read that right, and if you were there, there’s no way you don’t remember this one – it was wild.
On December 29th, 1977, things seemed relatively normal for a Hoosier winter.
Tom Gill/Flickr But when temperatures dipped below freezing, nobody realized at the time that this was going to last… for a while, to say the least.
Temperatures would not reach any higher than 32 degrees for another 34 days.
Indiana Dunes National Park/Flickr During these 35 days, there would be snow, a historic blizzard, and all sorts of fun goings-on to make everything even better (note the sarcasm). It’s worth mentioning that during the infamous Indiana Blizzard of 1978, Indiana received its highest snowfall totals ever. This winter was not messing around.
So, just how long is 880 hours?
rsetup/Flickr 880 hours is 3,168,000 seconds. It’s 440 two-hour drives. It’s an outrageously long time that no doubt felt like an eternity at the time.
On average, Indianapolis sees about 29 days in which the mercury fails to rise to at least 32 degrees.
Joseph Gage/Flickr The winter of 1977-1978 was so intense that it knocked this average out of the park - and then some.
It also brought with it record-breaking snowstorms (including that awful blizzard we mentioned), and several fatalities.
Tom Gill/Flickr Don’t get us wrong, winter in Indiana is amazing… most of the time. Sometimes, though, it’s a little bit much, and we think that the cold snap of ‘77-‘78 qualifies as “much.” It was, after all, pretty absurd.
Thankfully, nothing like that has happened since, though there have been a few times when we nervously eyed our porch thermometers after several days of below-freezing temps, willing them not to stay that low for too long.
Joseph Gage/Flickr
Of course, none of this means Indiana winters aren’t still absolutely beautiful… just look at the breathtaking photography above. It’s hard not to appreciate the beauty of it all, despite the occasional discomfort. If you’re like us, and you can’t get enough of winter in Indiana, you might want to also read about the best things to do in Indiana in December and beyond!
Tom Gill/Flickr
But when temperatures dipped below freezing, nobody realized at the time that this was going to last… for a while, to say the least.
Indiana Dunes National Park/Flickr
During these 35 days, there would be snow, a historic blizzard, and all sorts of fun goings-on to make everything even better (note the sarcasm). It’s worth mentioning that during the infamous Indiana Blizzard of 1978, Indiana received its highest snowfall totals ever. This winter was not messing around.
rsetup/Flickr
880 hours is 3,168,000 seconds. It’s 440 two-hour drives. It’s an outrageously long time that no doubt felt like an eternity at the time.
Joseph Gage/Flickr
The winter of 1977-1978 was so intense that it knocked this average out of the park - and then some.
Don’t get us wrong, winter in Indiana is amazing… most of the time. Sometimes, though, it’s a little bit much, and we think that the cold snap of ‘77-‘78 qualifies as “much.” It was, after all, pretty absurd.
Were you around for the wild winter of ’77? Tell us about it in the comments if so – we love hearing your stories and learning about your experiences!
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