Dear Tom,
I remember a huge snowstorm in April 1975 that brought traffic to a standstill.
Mariana Kiefer Johnson, Chicago
In April 1975 I was trying to return from an Arizona spring break, and a snowstorm shut down O’Hare.
Ralph Bornhoeft, Green Oaks, Ill.
Dear Mariana and Ralph,
Both of you are remembering the 9.8-inch snowstorm that paralyzed the Chicago area on April 2-3, 1975. After a night of rain and sleet the precipitation changed to snow during the day on April 2.
The heavy, wet snow quickly clogged the expressways, forcing many motorists to abandon their cars. O’Hare Airport was shut down, stranding thousands of travelers. The Chicago Blackhawks had to cancel a home game for only the second time in history when a plane carrying their opponent, the Kansas City Scouts, was diverted to Indianapolis. The storm caused at least eight fatalities, most from heart attacks while people shoveled snow.
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Write to: ASK TOM WHY, 2501 Bradley Pl., Chicago, IL 60618 or: asktomwhy@wgntv.com
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