Mild winter of 1854-55 followed by 1856 snows Nebraska winters and winter with storm from

Nebraska Timeline

Nebraska winters and winter weather have furnished ample material for reminiscences by Nebraskans. Territorial settler Clarke Irvine recalled in an account published by the Nebraska State Historical Society in 1892 (Transactions and Reports, Vol. III):

“The winter of 1854-55 was so remarkably mild that everybody who had come to Nebraska, was thrown off his guard and imagined it enjoyed an Italian climate. And the northwest [section of Nebraska] is peculiar in this, that occasionally, it will have a winter so dry and mild and constantly full of calm sunshine, as to surprise strangers. Neither California nor Florida ever affords such wholesome, delightsome weather owing to the dry, clear atmosphere. Such winters are rare and that was one of them. The blizzard was unknown to us.

“The first perfect example of a blizzard came in December 1856, beginning with a snow storm from the northeast, early one forenoon — a fine warm, heavy, snow storm, giving us around Ft. Calhoun about two feet by night. At night the blizzard began from the northwest and lasted more than 48 hours. It was one of the worst ever known, and was followed about once every week or two by others almost as bad, and during some days in February, the mercury fell below 40. And yet, they were followed by the most beautiful winter weather imaginable; calm, clear and cold. It was a labor requiring time, and money to MILD WINTER OF 1854-55

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