National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Lake-effect Snow and Whiteout Conditions in the Great Lakes Region; Below-average Temperatures in the East

Heavy lake-effect and lake-enhanced snow will persist downwind of the Great Lakes and produce some whiteout conditions that could cause difficult travel conditions. A coastal low will produce moderate to heavy snow over parts of southern and eastern New England into the afternoon. Below average temperatures are expected across the eastern U.S., particularly with chilly morning temperatures. Read More >

March 31, 1979
Counties:  Barren
F-scale:  F3
Deaths:  1
Injuries:  19
Path width:  100 yards
Path length:  13 miles
Time:  4:25pm
Grazulis narrative:  Moved southeast from three miles southeast of the intersection of I-65 and the Cumberland Parkway.  A child was killed when a concrete block grocery store caved in.  Two trailers, two cars, and ten barns were destroyed.
Noted discrepancies:  SPC and NCDC rank this as an F3, Grazulis calls it an F2.  SPC and NCDC give a path length of 13 miles, Grazulis gives 12 miles, Storm Data says 8 miles.