Craig Koplien: Weather or Not

If You Were Here, You Remember This

Story Created: Apr 9, 2008

Story Updated: Apr 9, 2008

If You Were Here, You Remember This

Craig Koplien

email:  ckoplien@todaystmj4.com

If you lived in southern Wisconsin in April, 1973, you'll never forget it.

On April 9th, 1973, an historic snowstorm occurred in Wisconsin, bringing daily activities to a near stand-still for 2 days.  Many roads, including interstates, were shut down for around 48 hours.

Milwaukee officially recevied just under a foot of snow.  Madison got just over a foot.  But the snow totals were only part of the issue.

The snow was accompanied by powerful winds that gusted to around 60mph .  The winds led to drifts up to 10 feet high!

Many locations had thunder and lightning along with the snow.

The winter had been relatively mild and without much snow up to that point.  Undoubtedly, most probably believed we had escaped winter's wrath for the season.  Clearly, that wasn't so.

Conditions were so bad that new plowing strategies and equipment upgrades were implemented for subsequent winters.

Less than 2 weeks after the snowstorm, heavy rains combined with the melting snow caused major flooding on the Root, Fox and other area rivers.

When people talk about the fact that it doesn't seem to snow as much as it used to (this winter not withstanding), this is one of the snowstorms they are remembering.
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