When was the last time you saw it snow in South Carolina? Chances are, if you live in the upstate, then you’re thinking it was just last year. And if you’re along the coast, then you may be reaching a little farther back into your memories to find the date. But no amount of snow falling over the Palmetto State in recent years quite compares to the far reaching effects of the Blizzard of ’73.
On February 8, 1973, the snow began falling — and not just in the upstate.
Nearly two feet of snow fell in the midlands at the average rate of an inch per hour in that first 24 hours. The tiny community of Rimini, located 10 miles northwest of Interstate 95, still holds the South Carolina record for most snowfall in a 24-hour period: 24 inches.
Many of them were making their way home from winter vacations farther south and were merely passing through the Palmetto State. And while Interstate 95 was like a parking lot, traffic came to a grinding halt on many other roads as well. The photo of stopped cars along a highway seen here was taken on US 601.
Motels along I-95 were filled with motorists who were caught in the storm. Many were rescued by emergency personnel, while others walked to nearby homes where they were graciously taken in until the storm passed.
Numbers of stranded travelers soared to an estimated 30,000 individuals. The Sumter News reported 11 deaths as having been directly caused by the blizzard.
More than 200 buildings in South Carolina collapsed under the weight of the snow. Drifts were reported as high as eight feet. The total damage of the storm was estimated at $30 million.
Even the coast saw a record eight inches of snow during the three-day storm. For sure, the Blizzard of '73 is one storm South Carolinians (and beyond) will never forget.
Watch the video below from YouTube user SouthCarolinaETV of the Governor's visit to the hardest hit areas in the midlands to see some shocking footage from this snowmageddon.
Do you remember the Blizzard of ’73 and its effects on South Carolina? Share your memories in the comments below.
