A boy stands by his humorous “Snow For Sale” sign in Hoffman Estates after the snowstorm of 1979.
Daily Herald File Photo
Snow: It's that four letter word that no one likes to say or hear.
And Snow and blizzard combined? Those are the words that send people into panic mode — and straight to the grocery store to stock up on staples. Over the years, suburbanites have all experienced big snow falls like the blizzard of 1979, which dumped 18.8 inches of snow on Chicago and the suburbs. It was the fourth-worst snowstorm in city history, and it destroyed chances for a second term for Mayor Michael Bilandic, who took over the city's reins after the 1976 death of Richard J. Daley.
Jane Byrne went on to defeat Bilandic, undoubtedly due to that storm.
The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm with considerable falling or blowing snow, winds of more than 35 mph and visibility of less than a quarter-mile for at least three hours.
Other major snowstorms in the area were in 1967, which was responsible for 60 deaths, as well as in 1999 and 2011. About 75 million tons of snow from that 1967 storm was sent by train to Florida for children who'd never seen snow.
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A girl tunneled her way away from her friends landed her on page one of the Daily Herald after a major snowstorm in the Mt. Prospect area in 1970. The temperature was 0 degrees that day.
Daily Herald File Photo
It was backbreaking work to shovel your driveway and free your car out as a major snowstorm in 1970.
Daily Herald File Photo
Snow in the 1970s undoubtedly created many snow days from school. The snowstorm of 1979 had people jumping off their roofs into the snow ... the crazy things we do when we are kids.
Daily Herald File Photo
A snowplow clears a street in the Des Plaines area after the major snowstorm of 1970. The temperature was 0 degrees that day.
Daily Herald File Photo
Fresh snow does cause many headaches but also provides many beautiful images like this one captured in 1979.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snow of 1970 made it difficult for this paperboy with his loaded down paper bag to make his deliveries.
Daily Herald File Photo
Major snowstorm in 1969 snarled traffic on the roads in and around the Des Plaines area.
Daily Herald File Photo
A parent and child cross-country ski in the street after the Des Plaines and Mt. Prospect areas were hit by a major storm in 1970.
Daily Herald File Photo
A car sits stranded car in the Des Plaines area after the major snowstorm that hit in 1970.
Daily Herald File Photo
The major snowstorm of 1979 brought fun and excitement to these kids in Arlington Heights. With the help of a wheelbarrow, they created a massive ramp to slide down.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches that caused major headaches at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Here a snowplow works to clear a runway. O'Hare was closed and all flights grounded for 96 hours from January 13th to the 15th after this storm.
Daily Herald File Photo
Snow in the 1970s undoubtedly created many snow days from school.
Daily Herald File Photo
A car sits stranded in the Des Plaines area from the major snowstorm that hit in 1970.
Daily Herald File Photo
A truly typical scene after every snowfall is someone in their driveway with a snowblower.
Daily Herald File Photo
Heavy snow can weigh down trees to the point where they snap, just like this tree in the Palatine area.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches that caused major headaches at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Huge piles of snow blanketed the area outside the runways so planes couldn't get people to their destinations. O'Hare was closed and all flights grounded for 96 hours from January 13th to the 15th.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches that caused major headaches at Chicago's O'Hare airport. Huge piles of snow blanketed the area outside the runways and delayed air travel for 96 hours.
Daily Herald File Photo
A truck hauls a huge pile of snow past an American Airlines jet after the snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches causing major headaches at Chicago's O'Hare airport. O'Hare was closed and all flights were grounded for 96 hours from January 13th to the 15th.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches that caused major headaches for days. Dump trucks haul away and pile up the snow that was plowed off the runways at Chicago's O'Hare airport. O'Hare was closed and all flights grounded for 96 hours from January 13th to the 15th.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches that caused major headaches for days. Dump trucks pile up the snow that was cleared from the runways at Chicago's O'Hare airport.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 dumped 29 inches that caused major headaches at Chicago's O'Hare airport.
Daily Herald File Photo
The snowstorm of 1979 hit hard as this Des Plaines resident piled it up as the snow continued to fall.
Daily Herald File Photo