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History Lesson: Huge Blizzard Followed Balmy January Day In 1967

1967 Blizzard
A stalled police car at the Michigan Avenue entrance of outer Lake Shore Drive during the Blizzard of 67' (Credit: Pete Peters/Chicago Sun-Times)

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A word of caution about our warm temperatures.

The Blizzard Of 1967

Once upon a time, a record-breaking warm January day in Chicago was followed by a record-breaking blizzard.

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, 1967, Chicago experienced a high of 65 degrees.

Two days later, the worst blizzard in Chicago's history hit.

A total of 23 inches of snow came down between 5 a.m. Jan. 26 until 10 a.m. on Jan 27.

About 800 CTA buses and 50,000 cars were abandoned on city streets and expressways.

A total of 26 Chicagoans lost their lives, including a man run over by a snowplow and a girl caught in crossfire between police and looters in the infamous blizzard of 1967.

After Tuesday, record-setting temperatures in the 60s, there is a bit of snow in the forecast for Wednesday--but just a small accumulation is possible.

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