The blizzard that swept through the Central and Southeast United States on January 10-11, 1975, stands out as one of the most formidable challenges the region has ever faced. Often hailed as the worst blizzard of the century in the area, this relentless storm left an indelible mark on the lives of those who experienced its ferocity.
The storm's origins can be traced back to Oklahoma, where a weather system set in motion a chain of events that would bring snow to a large part of the Midwest. As the system moved northeastward, the collision of cool air and moisture unleashed snowfall that blanketed South Dakota from the afternoon of January 10th through the morning of January 11th.
South Dakota found itself in the grip of the blizzard, enduring winds that reached up to 80 miles per hour. Wind chills fell to 50 below to 70 below zero. The storm dumped an impressive seven inches of snow on Sioux Falls while other areas, spanning from Nebraska to Minnesota, received over a foot of accumulation.
Power outages became a widespread issue as power crews struggled to keep up with the storm's relentless assault. A 2000-foot-high broadcast tower, serving KELO-TV, KSFY-TV, KELO-FM, and KPAT-FM (now KKRC-FM) east of Sioux Falls, succumbed to the elements, collapsing under the weight of the snow and wind.
The impact on travel was severe, prompting the South Dakota Highway Patrol to discourage all but emergency travel. According to the National Weather Service, the Sioux Falls airport recorded visibilities below a quarter mile for an astonishing 24 consecutive hours.
Many were stranded in the storm including a man who spent 40 hours in his car after sliding off Interstate 29 about 35 miles north of Sioux Falls. The Argus Leader reported he was rescued by livestock truckers when they saw him waving through a peephole he had scraped through the frost on the inside of his stuck vehicle. Two teenagers also spent 42 hours stuck in a van on Interstate 90. The two survived on two cans of soup and a loaf of bread. They were rescued by highway crews.
Tragedy also cast its long shadow during the blizzard, claiming eight lives in South Dakota. Two college students from Sioux Falls succumbed to exposure after leaving their stalled car near Valley Springs, while a family of six in Summit tragically perished due to asphyxiation caused by sewer gas fumes when an exhaust became clogged with ice and snow.
The National Weather Service Today in Weather History describes tens of thousands of livestock and poultry losses that also occurred with the storm over the upper Midwest, with 140 farm buildings damaged or destroyed. Losses to livestock and property were over 20 million.
The blizzard of '75 serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and strength of communities in the face of nature's fury. Decades later, the stories of survival and loss continue to echo, shaping the collective memory of a storm that tested the endurance of both individuals and the region as a whole.
