GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Today marks a 130th anniversary in Green Bay.
A two day snowfall started on this day in 1888, and by the end, Green Bay had 24 inches of snow on the ground.
Jeff Last of the National Weather Service in Green Bay said it goes without saying that it must of caused a few problems.
“In the 1800’s it would take much longer to move that snow off of roads.”
Last said records show a big low pressure system moved up the Midwest, putting northeast Wisconsin right at the bulls eye for heavy snow. Last says records show, Green Bay was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“It was your typical big low pressure system that moved up the Midwest,” Last said.
He added that it would have put Northeast Wisconsin right in the center of the storm.
While 24 inches would cause tons of delays and transportation problems, it was even worse back then because they did not have the technology to prepare for the worst.
“Back in the late 1800’s, that was not possible. That storm was probably a surprise.”
Warning systems have been proven to help limit the frustrations that heavy snowfall can cause, and a lack of technology back then would have made things really difficult.
“Even though we have more equipment, it would still create quite a bit of problems because we depend so much on commerce.”
Last said it is not uncommon for large snowfall to occur in March, so we are not out of the clear just yet.
