Advertisement

Manitoba hit with one of the worst blizzards on record 50 years ago

Fifty years ago Winnipeg was hit with one of the worst blizzards on record, bringing the city to a standstill. University of Manitoba

WINNIPEG — It may be a cloudy and snowy Friday, but at least a massive blizzard isn’t heading towards the city.

Fifty years ago on March 4, 1966, a huge snow storm swept through the city shutting it down in a matter of hours. It was one of the worst blizzards on record.

The “mega blizzard” forced buses to stop running, and snowmobiles had to take nurses and doctors to work. More than 1,500 people were stuck downtown and slept overnight inside Eaton’s and The Bay department stores.

Story continues below advertisement

Snow drifts buried cars, and also were so high they drifted right up to roof tops, according to the Weather Network. The blizzard was considered responsible for the deaths of two men who died of heart attacks while walking to their homes, at the height of the storm.

Sponsored content

AdChoices