The worst winter storm in Ohio history struck before dawn on Thursday, 26 January 1978. The Blizzard of '78 continued through Thursday and into Friday. Transportation, business, industry, and schools were closed statewide for two days, with the normal pace of society not returning to the state for five days.

Nearly all economic activity was disrupted in the worst-hit areas. The storm killed about 100 people in the Northeast and injured about 4,500. It caused more than US$520 million (US$2.16 billion in 2021 terms) in damage.

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