Record Snowstorm Shuts Down A University, The Most Memorable Storm Of My Life

I’m fascinated by how many fellow meteorologists I’ve met over the years have mentioned a particular storm that stood out to them, perhaps sparking their initial interest in meteorology.

December 3, 1990, 35 years ago today, was the most memorable winter storm of my lifetime.

A classic “Panhandle hook” low pressure system surged northeastward from the Texas Panhandle and generated a snowstorm over the upper Midwest, including southern Wisconsin.

In just 24 hours, Madison, Wisconsin, measured 17.3 inches of snow, still its record 24-hour snowfall since 1884. Whipped by high winds, snowdrifts reached 7 feet high in the capital, leaving streets choked with snow and vehicles stranded. Widespread power outages were reported and nine people died while shoveling snow in the Badger State.

At the time, I was a freshman at UW-Madison and trudged through the snow and wind to my two morning classes. As I was walking home up Bascom Hill, I saw Chancellor – and future Secretary of Health and Human Services – Donna Shalala coming down the hill saying, “Class is canceled.” It was one of the few times since World War II that the school closed.

What should a student do if they have a snow day?

I joined dozens of students using the dorm’s lunch trays to go sledding on Observatory Hill. But only for a while – the wind and snow were brutal.

Other students went skiing on Bascom Hill. This delightful video tells the story of a few intrepid students as they somehow wandered around campus during the blizzard. Let’s say there were more pedestrians and skiers than motorists.

Snowball fights, snow football games outside the dorms, and the surreal feeling of typical daily life coming to a halt are some of the things I will forever miss about the snow before the internet age.

Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at Weather.com and has covered national and international weather since 1996. Extreme and bizarre weather are his favorite topics. Contact him on Blue sky, X (formerly Twitter) And Facebook.