The Dayton region has weathered significant storms in the past, but the winters of 1978, 2004 and 1968 stand out.
| Top 10 snowfalls at Dayton International Airport | |
|---|---|
| DATE | SNOW |
| Jan. 26, 1978 | 12.2 |
| Dec. 22, 2004 | 11.5 |
| March 22, 1968. | 11.2 |
| March 8, 2008. | 10.3 |
| Jan. 1, 1964 | 9.8 |
| March 1, 1963. | 9.1 |
| Jan. 7, 1979 | 8.4 |
| Jan. 2., 1996 | 8.4 |
| Nov. 25, 1950 | 8 |
| March 30, 1987. | 7.9 |
| Source: Dayton International Airport |
The Great Blizzard of 1978 — dubbed a “once in a lifetime storm” — blew in with near-hurricane strength winds and record-breaking snow totals.
Local interstates were closed for days, the National Guard was called in, and for the first time since the 1913 flood, there was no mail delivery.
The storm killed more than 70 in the Midwest, with 51 of the deaths in Ohio.
In 2004, the Christmas snow storm of blew through the region Dec. 22, dropping tons of snow and causing bone-chilling temperatures.
When it was all over, 11½ inches of snow was measured at the Dayton International Airport, 13 inches of snow in downtown Dayton and 24 inches in Greenville.
Holiday travel was disrupted, neighbors helped each other push automobiles out of drifts, and the Ohio National Guard cleared downtown Dayton streets.