What Happened On February 3rd?

Today on February 3rd of 1972, the “Black Blizzard,” also known as the worst blizzard in history, began the day with a few snowflakes in Iran.

Light snowfall had been reported in western Iran over the previous days, but there was an increased escalation on this morning. Weather reports warned of a snowstorm approaching from the west, but its true ferocity wasn’t fully anticipated.

As the day progressed, snow began falling more heavily in western provinces like Kurdistan and Kermanshah. Initial excitement of winter quickly turned into concern as the snowfall continued to intensify, covering village after village in thick meters of snow.

Public transportation began to disrupt, and early reports revealed power outages in some areas. Communication lines, particularly in rural regions, began to experience difficulties, while temperature change was drastic as it dropped down to −13 °F.

While the severity of the storm was evident, the full extent of its destructive potential was unknown. People prepared as best they could for a typical winter snowstorm, as the unprecedented blizzard was brewing on the horizon.

Spanning all the way through February 9th, the brutality of the blizzard created unbearable conditions, comparable to that of Antarctica. Roofs caved under the weight of snow, burying families alive or leaving them exposed to the harsh elements. Liberation was nearly impossible, as snow-packed roads hindered rescue teams from reaching zones in time. Even when they were able to reach locations, limited resources made it impossible to save everyone.

An estimated 4,000 lives were lost, and villagers were trapped beneath under 26 feet of snow.

Although there is nothing to do about the natural phenomenon, villagers have since then improved the infrastructure of buildings and homes. With that, they also improved their weather forecasting skills, so that they would be more prepared in the future.