Connecticut, 1996

Blizzard in Connecticut, January 7 to 8, 1996

January 7 to 8, 1996 · NWS OKX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

A storm of historic proportion moved northeast across the region. Extremely heavy snow accompanied this storm.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS OKX wrote it up.

A storm of historic proportion moved northeast across the region. Extremely heavy snow accompanied this storm. Snowfall totals ranged from 14 to 26 inches. For some areas, this was a record snowfall. The heavy snow combined with strong winds to create blizzard conditions for several hours. All forms of transportation were crippled. All area airports were closed, some for a couple of days. Millions of dollars were spent for snow removal. Millions of dollars were lost for area businesses that had to close. Schools were closed throughout the region. Several people were injured during the next several days as numerous roofs collapsed due to the extremely heavy load of snow. This storm was dubbed the BLIZZARD OF '96.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 blizzard. Local standard time, as filed.

Blizzard, Southern New London

When
January 7, 4:00 PM EST to January 8, 3:00 PM EST
Where
Southern New London forecast zone
Coordinates
41.504, -72.101 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Blizzard
Sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile for three hours or longer.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Connecticut in 1996Every state in 1996This day in weather historyWarnings in Connecticut, January 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5561745.