On this day in 1966 Manitobans were walloped with one of the biggest blizzards in the province's history.

Environment Canada says that a total of 35.6 cm of snow fell with winds blowing at 113 km/h.

The blizzard paralyzed the province for two days leaving many people stranded.

high as buses and buildings and the high winds made getting anywhere almost impossible. Fortunately, for Aggie and her husband, the baby was "too afraid to come out in that blizzard" and was only born on March 30th. 

Winnipeg historian George Siamandas writes that "Thousands of people were stranded at City Hall and at Stores like Eatons and the Bay. And 1,600 people were reported stranded at Eatons and

Simpson Sears employees bed down for the night in the shoe department on the main floor. (Winnipeg Tribune/University of Manitoba Archives) the Bay. Eatons looked after 700 of its own staff and 400 customers. The women slept on the 9th floor and the men on the 7th. Fifty hockey players from Winnipeg neighbourhoods were stuck in Lorette."

The blizzard lasted a total of 20 hours with near-zero visibility for 14 hours straight.

Rob Paola is a retired meteorologist and reports on his blog that blizzard conditions began around 2 a.m. He says that some portions of the Red River Valley were hit by blizzard conditions for up to 36 hours.

There was only 30 cm of snow already on the ground when the blizzard began and flooding that year was minimal.

The 1997 blizzard on April 5 saw more snowfall with 43.2 cm.