Tim from Springfield (IL) Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 While parts of central and northern IL are among the areas dealing with at least a foot of snow today--this storm system is transpiring on the exact 40th anniversary of what is likely considered the worst ice storm in Central Illinois history--the Easter weekend ice storm of 1978 (Mar. 24-26, 1978--Easter was March 26th that year). Decatur Herald-Review story from today's paper remembering the storm, with photos. Ironically, according to the article the initial forecasts were for a day similar to this morning in SPI/DEC--40 degrees and cold rain:https://herald-review.com/news/state-and-regional/years-later-central-illinois-remembers-ice-storm-the-kingpin-of/article_9823b136-5bf3-5046-9dff-899837f436b7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story I'm surprised the Springfield State Journal-Register hasn't had anything yet--unless it's coming in tomorrow's paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indystorm Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 Thanks for sharing. Fascinating stories. Ice storms are my greatest winter fear. The blizzards in Chicago in Jan. 67 and Indpls in 78 were enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SchaumburgStormer Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 This is the one that took the WAND tower out near Argenta. I remember my parents talking about this, just unbelievable amount of ice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 From what I can piece together, it looks like northern/central IL, northern/central IN, northern OH and southern MI got hit pretty good with the worst of it seeming to be in central IL. According to Storm Data, over a million people lost power just in IL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim from Springfield (IL) Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share Posted March 24, 2018 47 minutes ago, SchaumburgStormer said: This is the one that took the WAND tower out near Argenta. I remember my parents talking about this, just unbelievable amount of ice WAND's tower wasn't the only TV transmitter taken out by the ice storm--the same storm took out the Bluffs, IL transmitter of the former WJJY-TV Channel 14 of Jacksonville, IL (which had been built similar to the ill-fated WAND tower). However, that very short-lived station (1969-71) had already gone dark for almost 7 years by the fateful Easter weekend of '78. But at that time, there were plans to repurpose that tower to what later became the "Network Knowledge" regional network of low-powered PBS stations in Macomb and Quincy in addition to Jacksonville/Springfield (but try to get most of the three weaker stations' eventual coverage areas using one tower at WJJY's former power levels). The ice storm delayed that project until 1984-85. History of the "Network Knowledge" stations also alludes to the ice storm at the time of the network's development: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_Knowledge Great website on the history of WJJY-TV, which began with so much enthusiasm, hope, and potential--until the bills and ratings arrived: http://www.brainmist.com/wjjy_tv/wjjy_tv.htm Also a YouTube video with pictures of the 1978 ice storm damage: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim from Springfield (IL) Posted March 24, 2018 Author Share Posted March 24, 2018 Springfield State Journal-Register now has coverage online, although this story has been shared before (might be something in the Sunday print paper tomorrow): http://visuals.sj-r.com/frozen-the-easter-weekend-ice-storm-of-1978/?_ga=2.166738743.847229909.1521925400-705652069.1521925400 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Central Illinois Posted March 24, 2018 Share Posted March 24, 2018 This is the one that took the WAND tower out near Argenta. I remember my parents talking about this, just unbelievable amount of ice Yeah they had pictures in the local newspaper...they said back then the tower was valued at over a million dollars. They also said only 1 radio station (WSOY) worked through the 2 weeks the power was outSent from my iPhone 8+ using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janetjanet998 Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 5 hours ago, Hoosier said: From what I can piece together, it looks like northern/central IL, northern/central IN, northern OH and southern MI got hit pretty good with the worst of it seeming to be in central IL. According to Storm Data, over a million people lost power just in IL. so was this just a one night event? It would have been hard to get ice to accumulate with the higher march sun angle during the day..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 14 minutes ago, janetjanet998 said: so was this just a one night event? It would have been hard to get ice to accumulate with the higher march sun angle during the day..... The Storm Data descriptions make it sound like it was mainly evening of the 24th into the morning of the 25th, but I checked some area obs from the 25th and there were places that reported freezing rain during the day. Look at Midway Airport on the 25th... never went above freezing. https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KMDW/1978/3/25/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Chicago-Midway&req_state=IL&req_statename=Illinois&reqdb.zip=60638&reqdb.magic=4&reqdb.wmo=99999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim from Springfield (IL) Posted March 25, 2018 Author Share Posted March 25, 2018 9 minutes ago, Hoosier said: The Storm Data descriptions make it sound like it was mainly evening of the 24th into the morning of the 25th, but I checked some area obs from the 25th and there were places that reported freezing rain during the day. Look at Midway Airport on the 25th... never went above freezing. https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KMDW/1978/3/25/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Chicago-Midway&req_state=IL&req_statename=Illinois&reqdb.zip=60638&reqdb.magic=4&reqdb.wmo=99999 And according to Weather Underground's area obs for SPI, the changeover to freezing rain began at 6AM Mar. 24 (Good Friday), and then nearly continuous (with a few breaks) until about 2AM early Easter morning (the 26th). Then periods of light snow on Easter morning into early afternoon.https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSPI/1978/3/26/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Chicago-Midway&req_state=IL&req_statename=Illinois&reqdb.zip=60638&reqdb.magic=4&reqdb.wmo=99999 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Pretty classic look for ice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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