Storm of the Century? A more recent mega-snowstorm in 1993 was
thought to be one of the biggest winter storms of the twentieth
century. It became known as the "storm of the century," although
many veterans of winter weather thought that was just media
hype. But it truly was one of the greatest storms in terms of
both area of coverage and intensity. The storm brought harsh
weather to the entire eastern portion of the country on that
mid-March day. Very heavy snow accumulated in the south.
Birmingham, Alabama, picked up a foot. Snow covered the ground
from Mississippi to the Florida Panhandle. The heavy snow spread
northward along the East Coast to Maine. On Saturday, March 13,
every airport in the eastern states was closed. Snowfall ranged
up to four feet on Mount Mitchell, North Carolina. Atlanta,
Georgia, picked up 3 inches. Chattanooga, Tennessee, picked up
21 inches. During the peak of the storm, about 30 percent of the
entire country was hit by the rough weather. Braving the
Elements March is named after