In 1961 New York Plunged Into An Arctic Freeze

Feeling sick of winter yet? If trudging through the snow and shoveling off your driveway has you down, don’t fret. Things are not as bad as they could be. Winter in New York can be brutal, but this year’s snowfall and low temperatures are nothing compared to some of our record-breaking seasons of years past. For instance, 1961 was one of the worst winters ever seen in the northeast. The season featured three major storms that dumped massive quantities of snow in New York. Bundle up and check out the stats:

December 1960 saw an early season storm that was unusually strong. States from West Virginia to Maine saw moderate to heavy snowfall, often accompanied by strong winds.

Stuardo Herrera/Flickr

Over 286 people died in the northeast United States, and many businesses were closed for several days after the storm.

Studio Sarah Lou/Flickr

On December 12, the New York Stock Exchange opened an hour late for the first time in 25 years. Christmas shopping sales fell by 7% nationally that year, partially due to the storm’s effects.

Anthony Quintano/Flickr

The area didn’t get much of a rest, as another major storm hit just a few weeks later.

Andreas Komodromos/Flickr

The January 1961 nor’easter is sometimes called the Kennedy Inaugural Snowstorm, as it occurred on the evening of President Kennedy’s swearing in ceremony. Heavy snow was seen from Virginia up to southern New Hampshire.

Richard Due/Flickr

The third and final of the season’s major snowstorms hit in early February 1961. Snowfall reached nearly 18 inches in some areas, and many schools and businesses again shut down.

Several seconds/Flickr

The 1960-1961 winter in New York was the second in a row to feature snowstorms with a foot or more of snowfall.

Dave Winer/Flickr

Do you remember the 1960-1961 winter in New York? What other frigid winters can you remember? Share your experiences in the comments!