Archer W.: How did people know a big snowstorm was coming?
Jason Samenow: The truth is people didn’t really know the 1888 storm was coming. For most, what some called the “Great White Hurricane” was a surprise. In 1888, weather forecasts were generally not good because the meteorologists did not have the same tools that we have today to predict the weather.
For example, there were no satellites peering down at the earth from space that took pictures and videos of the clouds and where they’re moving. And now forecasts are quite accurate, even up to 7 to 10 days into the future. When the storm of the century approached in 1888, forecasters knew there might be some rain or snow, but they had no idea that such a violent storm was about to hit.
Archer W.: Thank you, Jason. That was Jason Samenow of the Capital Weather Gang.
