Worst Blizzard Ever: Winter Storm Juno Is No Match For The Blizzard Of 1888

If you haven't heard the news, a blizzard is coming to New York City. The winter storm could dump up to 3 feet of snow on the city by the time it leaves late Wednesday. The words "historic" and "unprecedented" are being used to describe the first nor'easter of 2015, but how does it really compare with some of the most famous storms to hit the northeast? Here's a look at some of the worst blizzards in history.

The Blizzard of 1888

No list would be complete without mention of this famous nor'easter. Taking place very late in the season, March 11-12, 1888, the blizzard dumped snow from the Chesapeake Bay all the way up to Maine. New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., were practically shut down by the winter storm, the National Weather Service reported. Albany, New York, saw 46.7 inches of snow while New York City had 21 inches over two days and wind gusts reaching 75 mph. It took two weeks for NYC to recover from the unexpected blizzard.

President's Day Blizzard 2003 (Feb. 17)

While it does not have the highest snowfall total, 19.8 inches recorded in Central Park, the winter storm caused $20 million in damages to the city. Flights were canceled, and no buses left Port Authority Bus Terminal. The blizzard followed back-to-back nor'easters that hit the region on Dec. 25-26, 2002, and Jan. 3-4, 2003.

The Great Midwest Blizzard (Jan. 26-27, 1967)

The blizzard dropped 23 inches of snow in 24 hours on Chicago. The winter storm stretched from New Mexico to the Ohio Valley. Kalamazoo, Michigan saw 28 inches of snow, and many areas reported winds of 50 mph. The blizzard was responsible for 76 deaths.

Armistice Day Blizzard (Nov. 11-12, 1940)

High winds, with gusts up to 80 mph, were responsible for the downing of hundreds of trees. Heavy snowfall occurred in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota, which received up to 26 inches of snow. The blizzard was blamed for 144 deaths.

The Superstorm (March 12-13, 1993)

The "Storm of the Century" affected the eastern third of the U.S., stretching from the western Gulf of Mexico all the way up to Massachusetts. The storm led to more than $3 billion in damages across the country.

The Blizzard of 1996 (Jan. 6-9)

Most of the northeast saw at least two feet of snow while parts of West Virginia received four feet of snow. NYC received 20.2 inches during the winter storm and winds gusts of 50 mph. The storm was responsible for 60 deaths and $1 billion in damages.

The Storm of February 2006

On Feb. 11-12, a blizzard hit NYC and dumped a record-setting 26.9 inches of snow. The nor'easter caused flight cancelations at the local airports while there were widespread delays on the buses and subways.