Mahoning Valley, Ohio, Weather Oddities
Ohio's Mahoning Valley generally has rather predictable weather. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters are cold with the threat of intense lake effect snow. We really do not have what you could call fall and spring here, but our weather typically lends what feels like six months of winter and six months of summer. There have been some weather events that simply threw everyone for a loop, though.
[Related: Find more news about Youngstown.]
1985 Tornado
About 20 miles from the center of Youngstown, Ohio, in the Mahoning Valley, a category F5 tornado caused mass devastation on May 31, 1985. Tornadoes certainly occur in Ohio, but they are not usually of the F5 category and not often in the Mahoning Valley. This specific history-making weather event resulted in injuries to 310 people and the deaths of 18 more people. The damage was assessed to be between $50 million and $500 million.
1978 Blizzard
Northeast Ohio is no stranger to snow and lots of it, but this blizzard dumped more snow on the Valley than had been previously recorded. On top of the immense snow, there were also winds blowing at more that 50 miles per hour. This January 26, 1978, blizzard caused the cities in the Valley to literally shut down completely, including public transportation. It took several days for the city to mobilize again, and it wasn't until three days later that Interstate 75 reopened. Up to 15 inches of snow was reported with drifts as high as 20 feet.
New Year's Eve 2011 Earthquake
This is one I absolutely remember. The epicenter of this earthquake was about four kilometers northwest of Youngstown, Ohio, in the Mahoning Valley. It had a magnitude of 4.0. This may not seem very big to those on the Pacific coast, but this is quite huge for those of us here in northeast Ohio who are simply not used to earthquakes. No immediate damage was reported.
[Related: Youngstown Weather Forecasts.]
2010 Summer Heat Wave
In the summer of 2010, the Valley had nine straight days of temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature in this area during the summer is 71 degrees Fahrenheit. Add in the humidity that is common in northeast Ohio, and things were a mess here. People were getting sick, and there were warnings all over the news about how we should stay indoors and out of the sun and heat.
2007 Ice Storm
This is northeast Ohio, and we get ice. However, on February 25, 2007, the ice in the area was far more than anyone expected. Around 1 p.m., Mahoning County had 0.25 inches of ice recorded. Driving was nearly impossible, even with new tires and four-wheel drive. Just walking out the get the mail took strategy not to fall.
Published by R. Elizabeth C. Kitchen - Featured Contributor in Health & Wellness
Rose is a freelance medical writer with a background in health care. She has been a freelance medical writer for five years. Rose is also an editor and writes on a variety of other subjects, such as sports... View profile
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40 Comments
Post a CommentI grew up in North Jackson, just west of Youngstown, Ohio. I remember the winter of 77 and 78 , it was like driving in a snow tunnel on the road we lived on, also standing out in a blizzard waiting for the bus to pick us up, and they finally called off after waiting outside for 2 hrs. I also remember the tornado of 1985, I was between jobs, and i remember watching the clouds boil in N. Jackson with my Mom. Then the reports of so much damage in Newton falls, Niles and on the strip .
I have lived in so many different places in this country and I would still rather be home. As Michael Stanley sang, "it's my town"
I live in Youngstown I was born in Youngstown well i live like 2 miles away from Youngstown lol but anyways this is like a home to me. It might not be the greatest home but it is my childhood my life and nothing is greater. I want Youngstown to be a better place. With no crime. Has jobs. I want to see it rise as if it was the city of all the cities! So don't make fun of are home. Yes i said home and that is what it is to people especially...ME! HOME! Don't post rude comments about are home! :) PLEASE?
~Jessica
I had to add more to this I grew up here never did drugs never been to jail. I remember it was always something to do now it very limited for these kids, parents just want to get rid of there kids now family values has benn pushed aside now i remember get up go to school come home do chores ,homework, eat at the table with family then go play on your street where everyone knew you and if you got in trouble phone calls came to your house or the person delt with it right there then called your parents then you got it again at home! Im 44 years old i have many friends here alot of them are police men and women I talk to them the job is tough for them I take my hat off to them also. question how would you feel if you was a cop and you see the kids you try and mentor covered with a sheet? Doing the wrong thing? Our last two police chiefs has gone through hell trying to get things right . Its not an easy job yes we need more police here but everyone needs too step up and do their part in this its our town we can sit here and let it die or take it back fix it up and be proud again!!!!! I LOVE YOUNGSTOWN , OHIO !!! ITS MY HOME!!!!!!
I really agree Youngstown every town has its quirks and we had our bad times and now we are coming out of it slowly we have had a good mayor and even got a better one now. People kill me wanting to leave here and cant make it anywhere else then come back. First of all it takes a village ! Ever heard of that?! Crime will stay if we let it stay come together people Youngstown has much to offer!!!! Nuff Said!!!
Ehh it's not so bad we got worse issues here
Where is this girl from? Obviously not the Mahoning Valley. This is the third article I've read from her and they all have glaring mistakes and/or some of the worst advice in the world, especially about Youngstown and it's subburbs. She recommended Bill's Place (a bar on the west side where security uses a metal detector at the door) to watch the Superbowl. I think they also have like, A TV there. It's a dump. By the way, I haven't been able to find I-75 in Youngstown, because it doesn't exist! Her articles are some of the most half-a$$ed researched articles I have ever read. She fits in really well with the local newspaper in Youngstown, the Vindicator. Worthless journalism. If anyone listened to her advice they would never come back here, and we already have that reputation before they stop at terrible bars in the area.
We are becoming the new San Diego of the the states. What a wonder winter this, and the past few years, have been. Almost to the point of balmy with the few beautiful winter landscapes we all crave around the holidays. Great summers last few years and just enough spring and fall. Global warming changes are slowly changing the weather patterns and folks will be scrambling to find the best of all worlds. The east coast is getting colder.(Gulf stream slow-down, and the west coast, where it never rained is now being washed into the ocean by storms that never existed in recent times. Fires ravage the south west with over a 100 days over 100. Storms along the Gulf are bigger and more frequent, and the middle of our lands are in constant fear of thosands of tornados unlike never before. No thanks. I'm just fine right where I'm at.
It was definitely the blizzard of 1977 although i was 6 then my father remembers it very clearly. we lived in diamond Ohio luckily we had a power generator to power the house for heat. I even have a game call the blizzard of 1977.
It was definitely the blizzard of 1977 although i was 6 then my father remembers it very clearly. we lived in diamond Ohio luckily we had a power generator to power the house for heat. I even have a game call the blizzard of 1977.
Ytown is the hole of holes.