The Blizzard of 1978 vs. The Storm that Tried 

By George V. Howe

You call that a blizzard? If you grew up anywhere near Boston, you don’t compare snowstorms by inches. You compare them by how many days of school were cancelled or better yet, how dramatically someone says, “Yeah, but it wasn’t ’78.” So let’s settle this the only way New Englanders know how — with sarcasm, exaggeration, and a large regulaaah Dunkin’ in hand.

Round 1: Snowfall

1978: About 27 - 30 inches in and around Boston. Drifts taller than your Uncle Frank. Snowbanks that lasted until the Red Sox home opener.

2026: Roughly 18 – 24 inches. Which is still a lot, unless you’re over 60, in which case it’s “a dusting with ambition.” And by the way it’s going to be 50 degrees and sunny this weekend. 

Winner: 1978. When snow came in feet, not “respectable totals.”

Round 2: Wind & Drama

1978: Hurricane-force wind. Whiteout conditions. Coastal homes rearranged like patio furniture. The Atlantic Ocean basically knocked on Scituate’s door and said, “You good?”

2026: Strong winds. Impressive gusts. Plenty of sideways snow. But fewer “we’re not in Kansas anymore” stories.

Winner: 1978 again. If your storm doesn’t sound like it’s trying to repossess your roof, does it even count?

Round 3: Transportation Chaos

1978: People stranded on highways. Cars abandoned everywhere. Roads became frozen parking lots. Society paused. Bread and milk were not merely purchased — they were hoarded like gold bullion.

2026: Travel bans issued early. Flights canceled. People worked from home in sweatpants while saying things like, “Wow, that’s really coming down now.” The biggest hardship was unstable Wi-Fi.

Winner: 1978, for sheer cinematic catastrophe.

2026 gets points for comfort. It’s hard to call it “apocalyptic” when your kids are still on Instagram. 

Round 4: Technology

1978: Forecasting: “Looks like some snow.” Outcome: Biblical. No apps. No live radar. Just vibes.

2026: Five days of warnings. Hour-by-hour models. Storm trackers with dramatic music. You could watch your doom in high resolution.

Winner: 2026 for preparation. 1978 for surprise plot twist.

Round 5: Storytelling Power

Here’s where 1978 truly dominates. Mention the Blizzard of ‘78 in a room full of New Englanders and someone will lean back in their chair with a non-filtered cigarette and begin: “You don’t understand…” The 2026 storm? It gets: “Yeah, that was a big one.” That’s it. No mythology. No epic music. No generational trauma bonding.

The Real Difference

The Blizzard of ’78 was a shared survival story. The 2026 storm was a well-managed inconvenience with excellent radar graphics.

In 1978:

• You battled Mother nature…and lost.
• You dug out neighbors.
• Highly likely you lost some pets.
• You possibly met your future spouse while pushing a Buick out of a snowbank.

In 2026:

• You refreshed your weather app.
• You ordered DoorDash before the travel ban.
• You posted a snow selfie.

Final Verdict

Was February 23–24, 2026 a major Boston snowstorm? Absolutely. Was it the Blizzard of ’78? Not unless your driveway ended up in the Atlantic. Because in Boston, every storm is measured in inches. But ’78 was measured in legend.