On Jan. 26 and Jan. 27, 1967, Kane County, IL, endured its worst snowstorm ever. In Chicago, the snow started at 5:02 a.m. on Jan. 26 and by 10:10 a.m. on Jan. 27, a record 23 inches of snow dropped on the City of Broad Shoulders and the metropolitan area. The previous record snow for the city was 19 inches on March 25 and 26, 1930. During the storm, winds gusted to 53 mph at Midway Airport. The high winds caused considerable blowing and drifting. Drifts 4 to 6 feet high were widespread throughout the area.

The heaviest snow fell in the morning and early afternoon of Jan. 26, with the maximum rate of accumulation 2 inches per hour during the late morning. A thunderstorm was reported at Meigs Field. Snow tapered off by evening but intensified again overnight.

Two days before the blizzard, on Jan. 24, the high temperature was 65 degrees and the low was 44, both records that still stand today. Thunderstorms occurred in the evening of Jan. 24. There were reports of wind damage, and funnel clouds were spotted in the southwest section of the city. The wind gusted to 48 mph at Midway. The wall of a building under construction at 87th and Stony Island toppled, killing one man and injuring four others.

The Impact

Snow began on Thursday morning, Jan. 26, but most people made it to work and school without much trouble. But by noon about 8 inches was already on the ground and O’Hare Airport was shut down. Some businesses and schools released employees and students early. The commute home, even for those who started early, was a nightmare. Many workers did not get home, or arrived very late. Many stayed at work or in hotels.

By Friday morning, the city was at a standstill. The airports and local transportation were shut down. In the city of Chicago, 20,000 cars and 1,100 CTA buses were stranded in the snow. People walked to stores to clear the shelves of bread and milk. Helicopters were used to deliver medical supplies to hospitals, and food and blankets to stranded motorists. Expectant mothers were taken to hospitals by sled, bulldozer and snow plow. At least a dozen babies were born at home. Looting became a problem on the west and near south sides of the city. Another problem in the aftermath of the storm was low supplies of heating oil. Trucks couldn’t get access to buildings.

By Saturday the 28th, Chicago was beginning to dig itself out. Commuter trains were running and CTA buses were operating most lines. The city sent a workforce of 2,500 people with 500 pieces of equipment out to clear the streets. Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan sent heavy equipment to help with the snow removal. But the thousands of abandoned vehicles hampered the clean up. Snow was hauled by dump truck to the Chicago River. O’Hare finally opened around midnight Monday, allowing people who had been stranded for days to finally get home. Most schools didn’t reopen until Tuesday. By then most transportation was back to normal.

By the time it was over, 60 people were dead and there was an estimated $150 million in business losses (about $904 million in 2006 dollars).  The 1967 snowstorm probably caused the biggest disruption to the commerce and transportation of Chicago of any event since the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

O’Hare Airport

Lakeshore Drive from the 16th Street overpass

The Record Book

• A Look Back at the January 1967 Big Snow — 16.4 inches on Jan. 26, 1967 (this was surpassed when 18.6 inches fell on Jan. 2, 1999)
• Greatest snowfall in a 24-hour period — 19.8 inches Jan. 26-27, 1967 (surpassed by Groundhog Day Blizzard 1/31-2/2/11: 20.0 inches Feb. 1-2, 2011)
• Greatest snowfall from a storm — 23.0 inches Jan. 26-27, 1967
• Greatest snow depth — Additional snows brought the snow depth to 27 inches by February 6, 1967. (This was surpassed when 29 inches covered the ground January 14, 1979.) A total of 36.5 inches of snow fell on the city during the 11 day period from January 26 through February 5, 1967, which is close to normal snowfall for an entire season! Snow covered the ground until March 10.
• Greatest snowfall for a season — The winter of 1966-1967 set the record for Chicago with a total of 68.4 inches. (The record was surpassed in 1969-1970, 1977-1978, and 1978-1979.)

No traffic moving at the Edens/Kennedy junction