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OT: 27th anniversary of The Blizzard of '93
Posted on 3/12/20 at 1:41 pm
Posted on 3/12/20 at 1:41 pm
Who here remembers this? I was in kindergarten at the time but have vivid memories of that night. Dad pulled back the blinds leading out to our patio and all I remember seeing was a total white out with occasional flashes of lightning illuminating the snow that was falling.
We lost power and had to go to my grandparents' house until it was restored (which took almost a week). The roads were completely iced over so we had to wait for one of my dad's co-workers, who had chains attached to the tires of his truck, to come pick us up and take us there. Oxford, AL had I think 13-14 inches of snow on the ground. It was quite the winter wonderland.
AL.com article
We lost power and had to go to my grandparents' house until it was restored (which took almost a week). The roads were completely iced over so we had to wait for one of my dad's co-workers, who had chains attached to the tires of his truck, to come pick us up and take us there. Oxford, AL had I think 13-14 inches of snow on the ground. It was quite the winter wonderland.
quote:
The National Weather Service called it the "Superstorm of 1993" while Wikipedia calls it "The Storm of the Century."
The storm that formed over the Gulf of Mexico and hit Alabama March 12-13, 1993, was a monster storm. It was as strong as a category 3 hurricane but with the cold temperatures all the rain turned to snow. At its height it stretched from Central America to Eastern Canada.
In forecasting the storm, a spokesperson for the National Weather Service in Huntsville stated "We're not crying wolf this time." The Huntsville Times reported "Lightning flashed and thunder roared across the snow-draped land in an eerie display of nature's power. Many residents watched the storm in darkened, cold houses as power lines snapped from falling limbs."
AL.com article
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Posted on 3/12/20 at 1:46 pm to RollTide1987
I was a student at Bama at the time. Pretty sure it occurred on Spring Break though because I was at my parents house. Maybe they closed the school for it? Can't really remember. We lost power for a few days and huddled around the fireplace and drank and played board games. We had snow drifts that almost completely covered the front of our house. Dad and I got out and shoveled it away from the house because he was concerned about water damage as it melted.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 1:48 pm to RollTide1987
Ah yeah. I was in college. I don’t recall watching the lightening nor do I recall recognizing the strong winds. I do however recall the snow and working in it as a surveyor’s assistant before it had all melted and my toes being very cold.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 1:49 pm to RollTide1987
Oh man, that was great. Except no one was really prepared for what was coming, and when the reality set in we ended up spending days without power, adequate food, or beer. Only time I've ever seen thunder snow.
I can still remember Birmingham being shut down except for those National Guard humvees driving around.
Didn't the original Comedy Club off Green Springs burn down during this?
I can still remember Birmingham being shut down except for those National Guard humvees driving around.
Didn't the original Comedy Club off Green Springs burn down during this?
Posted on 3/12/20 at 1:53 pm to paperwasp
quote:
Didn't the original Comedy Club off Green Springs burn down during this?
Yep, and all of Carrot Top's props burned in it.
Mom and dad had the foresight to hit the store a day or two before it hit, so we had plenty of food and beer. Sleeping at night sucked though, but I had some decent camping equipment that helped.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:00 pm to RollTide1987
The Blizzard of 93 and the Ice Storm of 82 stand out in my memory.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:02 pm to Bobby OG Johnson
quote:
The Blizzard of 93 and the Ice Storm of 82 stand out in my memory.
There was also a pretty big snow storm almost exactly a year before the 93 blizzard. There was a HUGE snowball fight on the Quad. Or maybe that was the 93 blizzard. I get the two events confused all the time.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:08 pm to RollTide1987
Grew up in south Baldwin co. I was just out of high school and hadn't started college yet. Seeing snow on the sand in Orange Beach was surreal.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:22 pm to PCRammer
I remember walking home from a bar late night to my apartment down the middle of University Blvd, no cars and about a foot of snow.
it was a pretty cool scene
it was a pretty cool scene
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:23 pm to RollTide1987
I remember but was not in country at the time. I was in the Mog for Operation Restore Hope. Just finished the rainy season season from hell.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:28 pm to RollTide1987
I do. I was 7 and we had around 7 families staying at our house until power was cut back on at their house. I’ve never had better chances to downhill sled.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:31 pm to RollTide1987
Was living on the Southside of Birmingham in Forest Park at the time. I walked up to the top of Red Mountain to an overlook point to see the city in whiteout condition. Felt like I just conquered Mt. Everest.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 2:40 pm to The Spleen
I was at BAMA as well and I think it all started to come down about Wednesday. My roommate and I were eating lunch and watching TV at our apartment, when James Spann started talking snow. We went to the fridge and determined we would die of starvation if we didn't head to our parents homes in Warrior. Got snowed in in Warrior for the next 5-6 days.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 3:10 pm to UAgrad93
Yeah I think I'm confusing the 92 snow storm with teh blizzard. I definitely was at my parent's house for most of the blizzard. 92 snow storm hit on the Saturday at the end of spring break, and there was still some snow on the ground Monday when classes started back.
I drove my little Honda Civic through the blizzard from Bryant Dr area to Cottondale area and was pretty much the only idiot on the road. Thankfully I had a stick shift and just kept it in 2nd gear most of the way and engine braked down the hills. I don't think I hit the brakes until I pulled in my parent's driveway.
I drove my little Honda Civic through the blizzard from Bryant Dr area to Cottondale area and was pretty much the only idiot on the road. Thankfully I had a stick shift and just kept it in 2nd gear most of the way and engine braked down the hills. I don't think I hit the brakes until I pulled in my parent's driveway.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 5:49 pm to The Spleen
You are. The 92 storm was a Saturday. I went to the basketball game in Auburn and got snowed in.
93 was a flat out quad snowball fight -drink all day and night party.
93 was a flat out quad snowball fight -drink all day and night party.
Posted on 3/12/20 at 6:37 pm to RollTide1987
Seen this pop up on Twitter
quote:
NOAA Satellites - Public Affairs
@NOAASatellitePA
#SATELLITE SPOTLIGHT: #OTD in 1993,
@NOAA
's European partners' #Meteosat caught this #infrared loop of the #StormOfTheCentury pounding the Eastern U.S. It brought heavy #snow from #AL to #ME, along with high #winds, and a #StormSurge & #tornadoes to #FL. LINK
Posted on 3/12/20 at 8:01 pm to TizzyT4theUofA
I was also 7!
My dad was in Mobile and we were at home in Jacksonville. We were having a good time, popping popcorn and playing games until the power went out. Then things got really serious and Mom was trying to figure out how we were going to stay warm because our house was all electric.
About an hour after the power went out, we looked out the window and saw headlights. It turned out to be an older man and his wife from our church. The man had talked to Dad on the phone and knew we didn't have heat so they braved the storm in their car to come rescue us. Trees had fallen since they'd left their house and we had to take a different way back. It's honestly a miracle that we made it, and I vividly remember the thunder and lightning. We finally got to their house, and while they didn't have any power either, they had a big fireplace and we were warm and safe.
The next evening we were all sitting in their living room when there was a loud knock on the door. For some reason I answered it and there stood my Dad! He'd barely made it back from Mobile, then walked over a mile through the snow in cowboy boots to get to where we were. One of my best memories.
My dad was in Mobile and we were at home in Jacksonville. We were having a good time, popping popcorn and playing games until the power went out. Then things got really serious and Mom was trying to figure out how we were going to stay warm because our house was all electric.
About an hour after the power went out, we looked out the window and saw headlights. It turned out to be an older man and his wife from our church. The man had talked to Dad on the phone and knew we didn't have heat so they braved the storm in their car to come rescue us. Trees had fallen since they'd left their house and we had to take a different way back. It's honestly a miracle that we made it, and I vividly remember the thunder and lightning. We finally got to their house, and while they didn't have any power either, they had a big fireplace and we were warm and safe.
The next evening we were all sitting in their living room when there was a loud knock on the door. For some reason I answered it and there stood my Dad! He'd barely made it back from Mobile, then walked over a mile through the snow in cowboy boots to get to where we were. One of my best memories.
Posted on 3/13/20 at 6:54 am to RollTide1987
The city of Birmingham bought snow plows after that.
We haven't had 13-14 inches of snow total since 1993.
We haven't had 13-14 inches of snow total since 1993.
Posted on 3/13/20 at 10:34 am to Bobby OG Johnson
That's a freak storm if there has ever been one. Mid-March is usually when it starts getting warm in the southeast. We had over a foot of snow on the ground. Freaking crazy.
Posted on 3/13/20 at 10:37 am to RollTide1987
quote:
That's a freak storm if there has ever been one. Mid-March is usually when it starts getting warm in the southeast. We had over a foot of snow on the ground. Freaking crazy.
When I was in 8th or 9th grade, we had a few inches of snow in mid April. It didn't close schools, just delayed them, but still pretty weird. It was all melted by the next morning. Probably around 87 or 88.
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