One of the greatest snowstorms in Southeastern United States and Middle Georgia history occurred February 9-11, 1973. This storm dropped one to two feet of snow across a region that typically sees only an inch or two of snow per year. New all-time snowfall records were established in a number of locations including Rimini, SC with 24 inches; 18 inches in Darlington, SC; and 16.5 inches in Macon, GA. Snowfall in Wilmington, NC reached 12.5 inches with 7.1 inches recorded in Charleston, SC, both setting all-time records which were broken just 16 years later during the Christmas snowstorm of 1989. Measurable snow fell along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida and flurries were reported as far south as Lisbon and Clermont, Florida just outside of Orlando. In Georgia: 19.3 inches in Thomaston Georgia 18.5 inches in Butler Georgia 16.5 inches in Macon Georgia 15 inches in Fort Valley Georgia Meteorological History A cold front brought chilly air into the Southeastern states on February 8, 1973. This front moved off the Gulf Coast and into the Gulf of Mexico that evening and low pressure began to develop along the stalled front that night. Winds spiraling around the developing low transported Gulf moisture northward over the cold air, and a mixture of sleet, snow, and freezing rain was reported from coastal Texas through Louisiana by sunrise on February 9th. The low moved east along the nearly stationary front in the Gulf and reached central Florida during the evening hours of February 9th. Ice changed over to snow before ending across southern Louisiana and Mississippi with isolated totals over 3 inches. Snow began to spread northeastward across Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas with freezing rain and sleet forming a transition zone across coastal South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama between the snow and rain. Snowfall totals across Alabama were heaviest in a narrow band between Dothan and Montgomery, including totals over a foot reported from the communities of Highland Home, Pittsview, and Union Springs. The low strengthened quickly the morning of February 10th, dragging cold air southward across Georgia and Florida. This changed precipitation over to all snow as far south as Tallahassee, Florida; Valdosta, Georgia; and Savannah, Georgia. Moderate to heavy snow developed across central Georgia, most of South Carolina and eastern North Carolina. Thunder even accompanied the snowfall in Augusta, GA around 3 a.m., in Florence, SC at 6 a.m., Wilmington, NC at noon, and in New Bern, NC at 2 p.m. Snowfall rates increased to one to two inches per hour and held there for most of the day, producing a 50-mile wide stripe of snowfall totals over one foot extending clear across Georgia including 18.5 inches in Butler, 16.5 inches in Macon, and 14 inches in Columbus, Georgia. Interestingly the snow remained entirely south of Atlanta with only cloudy skies reported there. The low continued to strengthen as it moved east of the North Carolina coast during the evening of February 10th. Snow began to taper off across Georgia and most of South Carolina, however light snow and flurries were carried south into the northern half of the Florida peninsula with measurable snow falling in Jacksonville. Wind gusts exceeded 40 mph and led to areas of blowing snow with visibility falling to near zero in many locations across eastern North Carolina during the evening of February 10th -- truly blizzard conditions in an area that hardly sees any snow in a typical winter. By the time the snow ended an amazing 24 inches had fallen in the Clarendon County town of Rimini, South Carolina. Other significant snowfall totals included 18 inches in Darlington, 17 inches in Florence, and 16 inches in Columbia, South Carolina. In eastern North Carolina 16.5 inches fell in Whiteville, 16 inches in Morehead City, 13 inches in New Bern, and 12.5 inches in Wilmington. Impact This storm shut down travel and isolated entire communities across south Alabama, central Georgia, South Carolina, and eastern North Carolina for several days. In some places over a decade's worth of snow fell in less than two days! A quote from the South Carolina state climatologist, reprinted in a storm summary from the National Climatic Data Center, sums up the situation well: "About 30,000 tourists traveling to or from Florida and more northern states, were stranded on the State's highways. Many were rescued by helicopter and some by other vehicles. When the hotels and motels were filled, they were housed in armories, schools, and churches. Farmers gave aid to travelers stranded near their homes. Many farm homes had 50 to 60 unexpected guests for a day or two." The snow was accompanied by strong winds and followed by severe cold. Drifts up to 7 or 8 feet could be found in same locations and all highways in the central part of the State were closed for from 2 to 4 days. Many tons of food and supplies were airlifted by helicopter to snowed-in families. At least 200 buildings collapsed, as did thousands of store awnings and carports. The snowfall totals in this event were so large they completely overwhelmed the meager snow removal equipment available. School children in Montgomery County, Alabama had to spend a night in their classrooms as snow fell so heavily buses could not safely take them home. In Forsyth, Georgia around 1,000 travelers sought shelter, most of whom were traveling south toward Florida along Interstate 75. I-75 was closed along an almost-200 mile stretch from central Georgia to near the Florida border, with state troopers estimating there were "thousands of stranded cars" along the highway. In Macon, Georgia every road was closed at the height of the storm and the city's mayor declared a curfew and a state of emergency. The cities of Columbus, Georgia and Phenix City, Alabama suffered similar impacts. Snow drifts up to 8 feet height were reported in central South Carolina and virtually all roads were closed for two to four days. Helicopters were used to airlift food to stranded residents. In Columbia two roofs collapsed due to the weight of the snow. Nighttime temperatures dipped as low as 5 degrees in Columbia, SC after the storm. Interstate 95 was closed in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where approximately 1,000 travelers became stranded. At the height of the storm 1,600 people in Fayetteville took advantage of emergency shelters at the National Guard Armory and a nearby auditorium. The Raleigh airport was closed for part of two days due to snow. NC Highway 12 on the Outer Banks was overwashed and buried by sand. The town of Buxton lost up to 200 feet of beach in spots with several houses and hotels damaged or destroyed. Even in "sunny" Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol reported a traffic fatality on an icy bridge in the panhandle region.
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