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WEATHER EVENTS PART 25 YEARS (1958-1982)

1958 - Jan. 21: ten inches of snow and strong winds blocked roads. Feb. 19: first time in 30 days our morning low was above 0 degrees. June 11: a storm of wind, hail and rain hit the area, considerable damage.

1959 - Sept. 26: High winds, heavy rains and small twisters hit areas southwest and north of town. The Harlan Pruess, Ray Huffman and Ken Lund farms were damaged.

1960 - Feb. 10: 40 mph winds and a 10 inch snowfall tied up traffic, no mail or bus service. July 25: Rains anywhere from 2 ½ “ to 4 ½”.

1961 - June 5 & 6: 5 inches of rain. Some damage at Memorial Park. Sept. 11 & 12: More than 6 inches of rain along with high winds caused heavy damage at the ballpark.

1962 - Feb. 17 & 18: Snowstorm dumped over 10 inches on area closing many roads. Schools closed. March 4: Roads blocked again by heavy snow and high winds.

1963 - July 19: A series of violent storms hit area. High winds, heavy rains and intense lightning caused heavy damage to trees, buildings and power lines. Rainfall varied from 4 ½ inches to 6 inches.

1964 - July 22: A violent windstorm and some hail hit area. Farms in area received damage to buildings, crops and trees.

1965 - April 11: A devastating tornado caused considerable damage to many farms surrounding the Lowden area on Palm Sunday. As many as three funnels were seen.

1966 - June 23-July 6: Area has been sweltering in 100 degree heat the past two weeks. Dec. 27 & 28: Seasons’ first snowstorm brought 7 inches of snow along with strong northwest winds.

1967 - Jan. 24: A heavy thunderstorm with heavy rain and winds up to 50 mph hit the area. Tornadoes touched down east of here, near Wheatland. Temperature climbed to 62 degrees.

1968 - May 22: Heavy thunderstorm swept the area with heavy rains and some small …

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… hail. No damage reported. Dec. 28: Heavy snowstorm hit the Lowden area.

1969 Jan. 5 & 6: A snowstorm and winds to 35 mph caused blizzard conditions. Schools were closed. June 25: Severe thunderstorms with 70 mph winds and 1.3 inches of rain hit the area.

1970 – April 1: 8.5 inches of snow and 38 mph winds surprised everyone on April Fool’s day. July 14: Severe thunderstorm with 93 mph winds and 2 inches of rain caused heavy damage here.

1971 – Jan. 3: More than 16 inches of snow and 35 mph winds blocked many roads. Dec. 14 & 15: Thunderstorms dumped more than 3 inches of rain on the area with winds to 41 mph.

1972 – Mach 29 & 30: Nine inches of snow along with 35 mph winds. Oct. 10: Severe thunderstorm and golf-ball size hail damaged crops and roofs.

1973 – April 8-10: Spring blizzard and rainstorm with 10 inches of snow and 2 inches of rain. Northeast winds gusted to 48 mph piling the snow in huge drifts. Month of September: rainfall was 9.2 inches.

1974 – Jan. 12: Temperature -30 degrees. June 20: Severe windstorm and twisters struck here. Winds gusted from 90 to 100 mph causing considerable damage. A twister blew a Chicago & Northwestern train off the tracks.

1975 – Feb. 23 & 24: Snowstorm hit area. 12 inches of snow and northeast winds over 40 mph. Nov. 9: Heavy thunderstorm with 68 mph winds and .9 inches of rain. Tornado passed over southeast edge of town and hit near Toronto.

1976 – Jan. 25: Heavy snowstorm dumped 7 inches of snow along with strong winds. Very dry year – total rainfall – 22.91 inches; Dry months – January - .57 in.- September - . 72 inches, November - . 29 inches, December - .25 inches.

1977 – Very cold January – Average temperature 4.57 degrees, 23 nights of below zero temperatures, never got above freezing all month. December: Cold and snowy, snowfall – 27.5 inches, average temp. - 17.72 degrees and 10 nights of below zero temperatures.

1978– June 25: Severe thunderstorm, small hail, 70 mph winds and 1.6 inches of rain hit this area. December: Average temperature – 18.33 degrees; Snowfall – 30.5 inches; storm on 1st & 2nd – 11 inches of snow, storm on 30th & 31st – 11. 5 inches of snow.

1979– January: month was coldest on record and snowiest, average temperature 1.67 degrees, snowfall – 37.8 inches; 24 nights of below zero temperatures, 6 days on which high temperatures failed to get above zero; January 11-13: 19 inches of snow fell. Total for 1978-79 winter was 90.5 inches.

1980 – April 11: snowstorm left 5 inches of snow. April 14: snowstorm left 6 inches of snow. August: rainfall – 11 inches, severe storm on August 4 with 60 mph winds and 1.7 inches of rain. Severe storm on August 20th with winds to 55 mph and 2 inches of rain.

1981 – March: very dry, rainfall - .3 inches. July 12: Temperature hit 100 degrees. August 14: Thunderstorms produced 3.35 inches of rain. October 23 & 24: Record low temperatures with 16 degrees both mornings.

1982 – January: very cold and snowy, average temperature – 4.94 degrees, snowfall – 10.5 inches, below zero temperatures on 20 nights, 7 days of below zero temperatures. January 10: Weekend brought blizzard and blowing snow; 65 mph winds; temperature -27 degrees; wind chill -98 degrees.

By Steve Gottschalk

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     Dennis Boedeker had the winning entry in the “Biggest Potato” contest sponsored by the E & A Cafι in September 1977. His potato weighed 3 lbs. and was shaped like a poodle. He received a free dinner for his gardening expertise.