1848: Ice jam causes Niagara Falls to run dry

1848: Ice jam causes Niagara Falls to run dry

Author: AccuWeather March 29, 2022 Duration: 1:57
According to the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, ice jams on bodies of water are caused by melting snow and ice in the springtime. Warm temperatures and spring rains cause snow and ice to melt very rapidly. All this extra water causes frozen rivers and streams to swell up, and the layer of ice on top of the river begins to break up. The rushing river carries large chunks of ice downstream, and sometimes a group of ice chunks get stuck in a narrow passage of a river or stream. The ice chunks form an ice jam or ice dam, that blocks the natural flow of the river. Ice jams can be dangerous for people living in towns nearby. Because the river is blocked, the rushing water has nowhere to go and it can cause flooding in the surrounding area. On March 29th, 1848 a very unusual ice jammed formed. Centered on that day for about 24 hours, Niagara Falls ran dry. The Niagara River was reduced to a trickle as a massive ice jam formed near Buffalo. Strong winds has blown ice from Lake Erie into the River entrance and completely blocked it. It was only when the ice shifted the next day that the water resumed its flow over the falls.

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Every day has a story written in the wind and rain, and This Date in Weather History uncovers those narratives. With AccuWeather Meteorologist Evan Myers as your guide, this daily podcast connects the present to pivotal moments where weather dramatically altered the course of events. You might hear about a forgotten blizzard that stranded a city, a hurricane that redirected a war, or a simple shift in the breeze that allowed a historic discovery. It’s more than just a list of facts; it’s a look at how the atmosphere has been a relentless and fascinating character in the human drama. Each brief episode offers a specific, grounded tale, revealing how the climate has shaped cultures, economies, and personal lives in ways we often overlook. Tune in for a thoughtful blend of meteorology and historical context, delivered with the authority of AccuWeather. This podcast turns the calendar into a map of atmospheric intrigue, reminding us that the past is always present in the sky above.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

This Date in Weather History
Podcast Episodes
1870: The coining of the term "Blizzard" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:09
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Duration: 3:02
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1990: Record high temperatures in Eastern US [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:44
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1911: Snow depth record for US in Tamarack, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:42
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Duration: 2:26
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1862 - The Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:36
The Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack occurred on March 9, 1862,. It was the first battle between ironclad warships. The Northern-built Merrimack, a conventional steam frigate, had been salvaged by the Confederates fro…
2008: Major storm moves across Tennessee Valley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23
Cold air had been holding across the Midwest during the first week of March in 2008. Storms had been frequent in that region during that time, but none of them particularly strong. That changed on March 8, 2008. A major…
2017: Powerful tornado rips through Oak Grove, KS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18
The first week of February 2008 was a tough one for the western US as a powerful storm moved onshore. The storm’s height culminated on February 7. There were several areas of very heavy rain with some places having nearl…
1899: Cyclone Mahina [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28
Tropical systems that reach Hurricane strength in a region near Australia are known as Cyclones. Cyclones that impact the northern and east coast of Australia are fairly common, but the strongest systems usually steer no…

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