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Seattle Snow

On January 15, 1943 it was the worst Seattle had seen in 20 years, but the US Army would not let the news organizations report on the snow, or how crippled the city was, citing National Security.  Between the 15th and the 23rd, The temperatures got down to 6 degrees, and there were high winds.  War plants, including Boeing and shipyards in Seattle and Bremerton, ran out of natural gas and lost electric power.  Puget Sound residents were ordered to heat their homes to no warmer than 60 during the day, and lower at night.

 
The Post-Intelligencer had some fun with the regulations... "The thermometer changed its position more than somewhat Friday night and a lot of restricted military information fell in the streets of Seattle and vicinity early yesterday morning. The stuff looked like cornflakes, but for a few more hours, at least, we are not permitted to tell you whether it was cornflakes or not. We are not even permitted to tell you whether Lawrence C. Fisher, the weather man, reported for work yesterday morning with his great coat buttoned up to his neck. Mr. Fisher dresses with considerable caution these days, realizing that the amount and type of his attire may serve to tip off some skulking foreign agent of the weather possibilities within the forbidden interval."
 
BUT, Seattle's greatest snowstorm was 21.5 inches, on Feb 1, 1916.
 
1st Ave and Columbia Street

 
 
14th Ave and East Madison St

 
 
Looking north on 8th Ave from James St