Storm of the Century

It was hailed as the storm of the century.

In 1993 East Tennessee was paralyzed by a blizzard.

As light snow began to fall on Friday night, March 12, 6 Storm Team Chief Meteorologist Matt Hinkin noticed that computer models were indicating the possibilty of a "good snow" for Knoxville.

Map of Storm Path,
March 1993

Low pressure was rapidly intensifying along the Gulf Coast and started moving northeast.

Early predictions warned of perhaps six inches of snow, "if" all the indgredients came together.

Those estimates changed almost hourly as the storm rapidly developed.

The track of the storm was a perfect snow maker for Knoxville as it moved through northern Georgia, then up through the Carolinas and into the northeast.

East Tennessee came to a near standstill for several days

What made the storm significant was the strength of the low pressure and the intensity of the wind.

That time remains etched in the minds of many East Tennesseeans.

"I think when I was sledding I actually almost broke my arm because we had a creek at the end of the hill, and so when I was sledding I ran into it," remembered Anna Sehaeffer Koetter. "And I started crying because I was little, so my older brother picked me up and ran me home."

"It was a time I will never forget and I hope some of the kids around here will experience it again," said James Blake.

Grocery stores were packed. Flights in and out of McGhee Tyson Airport were canceled. Power was out in many areas for more than a week, forcing shelters to be opened and schools to close.

Some area schools were closed for two weeks.

It's possible that you may not see this much snow in one storm the rest of your life because a super snow storm like that may only occur once every 100 years.