01.07.11

The Chicken Disaster of 1988

Posted in Winter Weather at 8:00 am by Rebekah

From January 5 – 8, 1988, a winter storm dumped over a foot of snow and sleet across the southern United States. Over 3 million chickens were killed in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas, following the collapse of dozens of poultry houses due to the weight of snow and ice.

Snowfall totals from the Rockies to the mid-Atlantic coast. Most states affected received at least 8 inches of snow. Far northwestern South Carolina reported an unofficial snowfall total of 27 inches. Courtesy of NCDC/Storm Data. Click to enlarge.

Timeline

• Monday, January 4th: A cold front associated with a deep trough over the central and eastern U.S. brought well-below-average, sub-freezing temperatures deep into the Southeast
• Wednesday, January 6th: A new shortwave trough developed and tracked over the Southern Plains, inducing the formation of a weak surface low just off the Texas Coast…snow was already falling in Oklahoma, and began to fall in far northern Mississippi and Alabama and southern Tennessee
• Thursday, January 7th: The surface low set up near Mobile, Alabama, allowing slightly warmer air to advance northward…this resulted in precipitation changing to sleet and freezing rain…later in the evening, much of the precipitation turned back to snow
• Friday, January 8th: Snow tapered off in the Southeast, although strong winds continued to cause significant snow drifts…meanwhile, the surface low strengthened along the East Coast and brought snow to the mid-Atlantic states and New England

Aftermath

Sub-freezing temperatures continued even after the storm had passed, allowing snow and ice to remain on the ground for several days.

Many schools were closed for the week and roads were closed for days throughout much of the Tennessee River Valley. Many flights in the areas affected were delayed or canceled during the storm. Some power outages lasted for several days in the southern states more affected by the ice.

About 60 people died as a result of the snow and cold this week.

Governor Guy Hunt declared a state of emergency for northern Alabama, after about 2 million chickens were killed due to the collapse of their shelters, resulting in over $15 million of damage. Over half a million chickens also perished in eastern Texas, and another half a million died in northern Georgia.

Sources: NWS Huntsville January 1988 Winter Storm; Winter storm across the nation (Ocala Star-Banner); Dead chickens called public health threat (The Tuscaloosa News); Storm may boost poultry prices (The Dallas Morning News).

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