Watch the James River in downtown Richmond. Baltimore was paralyzed as it received the most snowfall within 24 hours since 1872. The Knickerbocker Storm of 1922. Over 15 ft. of snow fell on Mount Shasta, Calif., between Feb. 13 and 19, 1959. Catastrophe Services. Damages were estimated to cost $20 million. Why don't hurricanes form at the equator? Temperatures were below freezing leading up to the event and throughout. From the worst to the least severe, here are the 10 harshest blizzards to hit the United States. Art Block Collections. The wintry weather brought record-low temperatures, some of which still stand today, as well as record snowfall. A SunTrust bank eventually rose in its place. #GoBills | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ThwcANSfaT. It was designed by Reginald Geare, an architect making a name for himself building upscale cinemas for the movie-going Americans of the roaring 20s., At around 9 p.m, just as the opening credits were rolling, a crack split across the ceiling and pieces of plaster rained onto the audience. 1978: The Two Historic Blizzards. Two blizzards in February 2010 broke snowfall records in the mid-Atlantic region, such as a whopping 32.4 inches (82.3 cm) of snow at Washington's Dulles International Airport. Snow fell in regions as far south as Georgia and the Florida panhandle, and 55 people died in the storm. The Library of Congress unifies all content provided by states and permanently maintains the digital information. Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, reported 37 inches, and Garrett County, Maryland, was buried in 40 inches. As one reporter put it, it wasas suddenas turning off an electric light.. According to a statement, the ceremony will conclude with the dedication of a memorial sculpture honoring the tragedys victims. $62. January 28, 2013. A week-long period of low temperatures and severe winter storms, lasting 39 February 1972, resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 people. (Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division). The theater's architect, Reginald Wyckliffe Geare, and owner, Harry M. Crandall, later killed themselves.[5]. The after-effects of Snowzilla are still upon us, and stories of tragic outcomes continue to emerge. The blizzard struck between Jan. 26 and 27, shut down the citys OHare Airport, and stranded 20,000 cars. The Category 5 storm also created tornadoes and widespread flooding, affecting 120 million people. Flickr/NOAA Photo Library The Knickerbocker Storm struck on January 27th and snow fell all along the Atlantic coast of the country. The raging blizzard quickly chilled the air, and fierce winds built 20-foot (6 m) snowdrifts. Winds also led to coastal flooding in New England. In a split second, the entire roof came down in one piece, Ambrose says. Tornado damage caused by the 1975 Super Bowl Blizzard. Eventually, the heavy, wet snow split the roof down the middle, bringing down the balcony as well as a portion of the brick wall. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. That day, news of the tragedy hit front pages around the world. The theatre was showing the movie Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford. You can view footage of the aftermath of the disaster from Jeff Krulik. $27. The Knickerbocker Storm of 1922 Over two feet of snow fell on Washington D.C. in late January 1922,. Winner will be selected at random on 06/01/2023. Ever since "That Night," the well-documented tragedy at Ford's Theatre has been seared into America's consciousness. Yes, and it's nasty. This alley in downtown Chicago held the bodies of over 600 people after the fateful Iroquois Theatre fire. . Beginning around noon on the 27th, as much as 24 inches had fallen by the next morning, according to local papers. Ten years ago, D.C. bore the brunt of what came to be called Snowmageddon one of the most severe winter storms in capital weather history. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. While weather reporters may use the words "historic," "epic," "significant" and "record-breaking" a little too often these days when they talk about winter storms, the United States has seen some truly monstrous blizzards. From February 14 to 19, the Great Blizzard of 2003 covered the East Coast in several feet of snow. An estimated 22,400 square miles (58,000 km2) of the northeast United States were affected by 20 inches (51 cm) of snow from this snowstorm. Coming a week before spring, on March 12, 1993, the hit was hard to take. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As a result, the cyclone took three days to move up the East Coast of the United States, which was double the normal estimated time used by forecasters of that era for storm systems that move up the coast. The shell of the Knickerbocker Theater in Adams Morgan, looking northeast. Are this year's pre-winter blizzards a sign of more to come? On Jan. 12, 1888, temperatures dropped from a relatively balmy few degrees above freezing to a wind chill of minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 40 degrees Celsius) in the Dakota Territory and Nebraska. The storm system was abnormally slow, and that was a key element that may have caught forecasters by surprise. (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, January 29, 1922, Image 1, Image provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC Persistent link: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1922-01-29/ed-1/seq-1/. The Iran blizzard of February 1972 was the deadliest blizzard in history. Over the past 150 years or so, the U.S. has seen a slew of major snowstorms that have resulted in hundreds of deaths, destruction and lessons learned about critical infrastructure including a theater collapse in Washington, D.C. Official and unofficial records vary, but here are some of the most impactful snowstorms in U.S. history. One hundred years later, the roof collapse remains the deadliest disaster in the Districts history. ), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knickerbocker_storm, http://ghostsofdc.org/2015/03/16/the-knickerbocker-theater-tragedy/, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2017/01/27/haunting-faces-scenes-and-stories-from-the-knickerbocker-theatre-roof-crash-95-years-ago/?utm_term=.8e519b1586cb, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/21/AR2009012101298.html. The Knickerbocker collapse, the investigation and the public outcry that followed led to improvements in D.C. building codes that helped prevent other tragedies like it. That conjured up memories of another huge blizzard in 1899 and a search for information on that and other previous storms. In an ironic turn of events, Mellons body was identified in the morgue by her khaki knickerbockers (a type of baggy breeches). Several thousand onlookers gathered near the theater to watch in horror. In the evening, hundreds of people are trapped in the Knickerbocker Theater when the roof collapses due to . Find the perfect knickerbocker storm damage stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The site of the Knickerbocker Disaster today. Nicknamed the White Hurricane, this major winter storm stuck the Great Lakes on November 7-10, 1913, resulting in a dozen major shipwrecks, with an estimated 250 lives lost. Heavy snows and winds killed 58 people. However, the Storm of the Century marked the first successful five-day forecast by the National Weather Service of a storm's severity, and a State of Emergency was declared in some regions before snow even started falling. [2] This snowstorm is the biggest in the history of Washington since official record-keeping began in 1885 (although it is dwarfed by the 36 inches (91 cm) of snow in the WashingtonJefferson Storm of January 1772). How many people died in the Knickerbocker Storm? John F. Kennedy Airport saw an average snowfall of 2 inches per hour at one point. The weight of the snow collapsed the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre, killing 98 people. Report scam, The National Endowment for the Humanities, State and Jurisdictional Humanities Councils, Chronicling America: History American Newspapers. On January 28, 1922, the Knickerbocker Theatres snow-covered roof collapsed, killing 98 people and injuring another 133. However, WashingtonsEvening Starreported that the Weather Bureaus climatological records for those years had gone missing: When request was made of the observatory at the bureau for figures, officials were forced to reply that they couldnt find the book. More from This Artist Similar Designs. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to stay informed and engaged. Those who shouted were those who were under the weight of a roof and a balcony. Over 400 people died, including 100 seafarers, and the damage totaled $20 million. After the second snowstorm in February, 68.1 percent of the country was blanketed by snow. The firemen, whose ordinary task is to combat fallen structures, find their way among the debris, were appalled. When the crash first came, it was followed by the screams of women and the shouts of men. Most Saturdays, David and his teammates stopped by the Knickerbocker after their ballgames. A group of men approach a trolley stuck on the rail line, while other cars are lined up on the city streets during the Knickerbocker blizzard, Washington, DC, 1922. . Its not common knowledge now, says Ambrose. Official and unofficial records vary, but many states have reported storms dumping feet of snow across regions. The Category 5 storm caused at least 160 deaths. D.C.s Biggest Disaster Struck 100 Years Ago At The Knickerbocker Theater. Think outside the box this Mothers Day and opt for gifts other than flowers and chocolate. Virtual Tour. Snowmageddon was sandwiched between two other blizzards at the beginning and end of February, prolonging the cleanup process. It hit the floor so forcefully that a gust of compressed air blew out the doors and windows, ejecting at least two people outside and inadvertently saving their lives. The blizzard started out as a slow-moving, low-pressure system centered off the Atlantic coast. Inside, moviegoers had settled into their seats following intermission of the silent film, Get Rich Quick, Wallingford. Audience estimates in early news reports varied anywhere from 150 to 1,000 attendees; the eventual death toll was determined to be 98, with 133 injured. The collapse of the roof at the Knickerbocker Theater, which took 98 lives (many of them children), was described by the Washington Post as the "greatest disaster in . Here Are The 7 Most Dangerous Places In Washington DC After Dark, 10 Best Places To Stay In Washington DC For Any Traveler, Everyone In Washington DC Should Visit This Epic Flea Market At Least Once, 5 Must-Visit Flea Markets In Washington DC Where Youll Find Awesome Stuff, Its Impossible To Forget These 6 Horrific Winter Storms That Have Gone Down In DC History, One Of The Worst Disasters In U.S. History Happened Right Here In DC, 10 Things Youll Remember If You Grew Up In The 80s In Washington DC, A Massive Blizzard Blanketed DC In Snow In 2010 And It Will Never Be Forgotten. Meanwhile, various theories emerged on what may have contributed to the roofs collapse, one of the more interesting being the music performed during the silent film. Like Snowzilla, the Knickerbocker Storm of 1922 took aim at the Mid-Atlantic from the South moving slowly northeast along the coast where it clashed with very cold temperatures. Courtesy NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) Collection Image ID: wea00994. The damage cost businesses $150 million, and 60 people died. Architect Geare and four of his employees were indicted with manslaughter by a grand jury, but none were ever convicted. Twenty-five inches fell in that span, establishing a 24-hour snowfall record. A bank operates on the site, and no plaque or memorial commemorates the lives lost there. Although no one was sued, both the architect and owner of the Knickerbocker Theater, sadly, committed suicide several years later. The Knickerbocker Theatre on opening day, 1917. The storm takes its name from the cave-in at the Knickerbocker Theater, which killed 98 people and injured 133. Chronicling America is freely available on the internet, and users may search the millions of digitized pages and consult a national newspaper directory to identify newspaper titles available in all types of formats. The storm would be remembered as the Knickerbocker Storm and was truly one of the most devastating storms in Washington DC. Crandall. In September 1923, a new venuethe Ambassador Theatreopened at the site of the razed Knickerbocker Theatre. Though the region has experienced severe snowstorms in the decades since (during the so-called Snowmageddon of February 2010, Dulles International Airport measured 32 inches of accumulation), the loss of life caused by the theater collapse makes the Knickerbocker Storm the worst in D.C.s history, according to Ambrose.

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