Outside Looking In

Minneota received 10 inches of snow in the latest storm on Friday, which seems like a lot to get in one lump sum. But it's mild in comparison to some of the severe winter storms we've had in this area and this state in the past.
For me, the worst storm I can remember was the 1991 Halloween Blizzard that started on Oct. 31 and lasted until Nov. 3. That storm blanketed the majority of the state and produced over 27 inches of snow in some areas. I had just started to take my kids out Trick-or-Treating in their wagon when the snow started falling. Within only 15 minutes, the snow was halfway up the wagon wheels.
The Minneota area was among the fortunate, though, getting only around seven inches of snow in this storm that was determined by the National Weather Service to be one of the largest and longest lasting blizzards in state history.
There have been many other significant blizzards throughout Minnesota history.
Arguably one of the worst blizzards occurred from Feb. 13-15 in 1866. Drifts up to 20 feet buried barns in the western part of the state. That storm struck at night, which lessened the number of deaths.
The first use of the term "blizzard" came during a March 14-16, 1870 storm in which 16 inches of snow was recorded in some areas of northern Iowa and southwest Minnesota. "Blizzard" was first used as a boxing term to indicate a volley of punches being thrown and later used during a heavy snowfall.
In 1873, 70 deaths were recorded in a Jan. 7-10 storm that produced heavy snowfall and arctic temperatures. Hundreds of cattle were killed, and trains were immobilized for days in huge drifts.
The Minneota and Canby area reported over 20-foot snowdrifts on Oct. 16, 1880. On the Tom Brown farm north of Minneota, 18-year-old Sam Kile was among the threshers hired to work on the farm. The morning of Oct. 16, the blizzard was raging, and the men all went to the barn to do chores. Kile's hat blew off and, despite the protests of the others, ran off to find it. That was the last time they saw Kile alive. He was found three weeks later imbedded in a snowdrift around 300 yards from the barn. HIs hat was later found a mile and a half away.
On Jan. 12-13 in 1888, the day started out as mild. The sun was shining, children were in school, and people went about their business as usual. High winds and heavy snow came up very quickly and temperatures quickly fell to -37 degrees as the storm intensified. Children were sent home from school in the storm, and many died. In all, over 200 deaths were recorded from this storm.
The Armistice Day Blizzard of Nov. 11, 1940 has been one of those severe winter storms that other storms are judged by. Many hunters were caught up in this slow-moving system that intensified as it moved along, contributing to the 49 storm-related deaths this day.
A fierce blizzard hit the Minneota area, and most of southwestern Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 1972. Winds over 70 mph were recorded with up to 10 inches of snow. Many buses attempting to get children home safely in this fast-moving storm instead were forced to seek shelter in farm homes.
On Jan. 10-12 in 1975, a devastating blizzard forced most state roads to be closed for as long as 11 days due to drifts over 20 feet high caused by 80 mph winds. Over 15,000 head of livestock were lost throughout the state. There were 14 deaths from those caught in the blizzard, and 21 more who died from heart attacks. One of those surviving this horrific storm was Lon Kvanli of Montevideo, who was 18 years old and got stuck in his snowmobile. Unable to walk in the blinding snowstorm, he dug out the side of a drift and spent the night in there until the storm quieted down. He then walked to a nearby farmhouse the next morning and survived with no injuries. As if by divine intervention, Kvanli became a minister and has preached in Mitchell, SD for many years.
Gordon Lightfoot's famous song "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" was spawned from the Nov. 10, 1975 severe winter storm that produced 71 mph winds and created 15-foot waves on Lake Superior. The Edmund Fitzgerald, carrying a full load of iron ore, capsized and sunk, while all 29 crewmen aboard died.
The Metrodome roof collapsed due to heavy snow during near-blizzard conditions on Nov. 19, 1981.
Another severe winter storm in southern Minnesota occurred on Feb. 4, 1984. Winds up to 80 mph caused huge drifts even though only six inches of snow fell. Many people were stranded in vehicles and fish houses, with 16 deaths reported. In Bingham Lake, 35 miles north of Worthington, six people were found in a stranded vehicle by a rescue-snowplow crew. A man, his wife, their three young children, and the man's mother were all taken to the hospital in Windom and the call was issued for help from anyone trained in emergency care that could make it to the hospital. Around 50 people responded, but none of the family members survived.
In the winter of 1968-69, over 90 inches of snow fell in Minneota and the surrounding area. School was closed for 15 days that winter and had to be extended into June to make up for lost time.
Maybe 10 inches isn't so bad after all.