Armistice Day Blizzard - 70 Years Later

The Armistice Day blizzard of 1940 was the type of storm that engenders legends.  It was a mild fall across the Upper Midwest with temperatures reading well above average on that fateful day; Chicago was already at 55° at 7:30 am.

Going back in meteorological time, forecasts and warnings were much different in 1940 than what they are today.  Up until 1934 the Weather Bureau Offices operated 12-15 hours a day with basic observations taken twice daily - 8am and 8pm.  Satellite images were something of the future and very few upper-air observations were taken.  The Chicago District was responsible for producing forecasts for 8 different states that were issued mid morning and mid evening.  Forecasts were usually brief and general.

The storm started in the Pacific Northwest a few days prior and had taken out the Tacoma Narrows Bridge.  By the 10th of  November the system had moved across the Rocky Mountains and redeveloped over Colorado.  Moving into the Midwest blizzards were felt across South Dakota with a devastating ice storm over Nebraska.  Meanwhile very warm air moved into the Mississippi River Valley.

By the time the 11th arrived, folks woke to temperatures in the 50s.  During the day severe weather occurred across the Midwest with a tornado reported in Davenport, IA - 2-3 inches of heavy rain over the Mississippi River Valley and snow in Minnesota and Western Iowa.  By the time the storm had passed over more than 150 lost their lives, a foot of snow had fallen, 20 foot drifts buried cars, trains were stranded and roads were closed for days.

A very nice report was put together by the Quad Cities National Weather Service.  There you will find much more information!