1977,1978 and 1979 were particularly snowy years in Champaign County.
1977 got off to a cold and snowy start. Throughout the month of January, record low temperatures closed schools across the county, and ice and snow drifts made many country roads impassable. By months end, fuel reserves throughout the state were depleted, prompting many to worry about remaining warm (Courier, January 27, 1977).
The following year brought the notorious Blizzard of ’78, which hit Champaign County on January 25 of that year. In the span of a few days, Champaign-Urbana received a total of 7 inches of snow. I-57 was closed for days, and President Jimmy Carter declared a state of emergency across the Midwest. In total, Champaign County received 17.4 inches of snow that January, well above the average snowfall of 5.4 inches (Morning Courier, January 29, 1978).
The situation was no better the following January, when falling temperatures, snow-packed roads, and wind brought transportation to a halt across the county. All flights out of Willard Airport were canceled, and Amtrak trains to Chicago were delayed by more than four hours. The Champaign-Urbana Courier also reported power outages along Prospect Avenue in Champaign, and in Thomasboro (Morning Courier, January 14, 1979).
Stay warm this winter, and browse more snowy photographs from the archives' collection on our Flickr page.
Breaden B.
Archives Assistant