The blizzard of 1977 hit western New York as well as southern Ontario and kept it up through February 1st...after starting on January 28th. Snowfall totals were as high as 254 cm in the worst hit areas!! So now, take that mountain of snow and pair it with those powerful winds and you had drifts blowing up 30 to 40 ft (9 to 12 m) high....this day in weather history.