Great Blizzard of 1888
Weather map on March 13, showing the storm over Massachusetts | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 11, 1888 |
| Dissipated | March 14, 1888 |
| Blizzard | |
| Highest gusts | 80 mph (130 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 980 hPa (mbar); 28.94 inHg |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 58 inches (1.5 m) in Saratoga Springs, New York |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 400 |
| Damage | $25 million (1888 USD) $900 million (2025 USD) |
| Areas affected | Eastern United States, Eastern Canada |
Part of the 1887–88 North American winter | |
The Great Blizzard of 1888, also known as the Great Blizzard of '88 or the Great White Hurricane (March 11–14, 1888), was one of the most severe recorded blizzards and deadliest blizzard in American history. The storm paralyzed the East Coast from Chesapeake Bay to Maine, as well as the Atlantic provinces of Canada. Snow from 10 to 58 inches (0.25 to 1.5 m) fell in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and sustained winds of more than 45 miles per hour (72 km/h; 39 kn) produced snowdrifts in excess of 50 feet (15 m). Railroads were shut down and people were confined to their homes for up to a week. Railway and telegraph lines were disabled, and this provided the impetus to move these pieces of infrastructure underground. Emergency services were also affected during this blizzard.