A DEVASTATING BLIZZARD
Friday May 2 to Monday May 5, 1919 at Irricana
“Worst blizzard I have ever seen” was the comment from one of the old-timers who lived in the area.1
Rain turned to snow early Friday morning and got worse that night. “Awful night on cattle.” On Saturday there was snow and blowing snow from the northwest. Drifts were ten feet high. Cattle were lying dead in drifts with nothing but horns and hoofs sticking out.
The storm continued on Sunday and Monday. Farmers were up early to feed their animals. Someone discovered about 60 head lying dead on a road allowance west of Irricana. One herd owner thought he lost half of his 600 head.
Tuesday, May 6 was a beautiful day. Everyone was skinning animals everywhere. One of the neighbors was paying eleven cents per pound for cowhides and planning to ship out a carload.
According to historical weather data2 the Irricana area received from 10 to17 inches of snow those four days. However, only 20 miles to the west less than half that amount came down.
KIK COUNTRY, K.I.K. Historical Committee, 1974.
Alberta Climate Information Service, Government of Alberta
