On March 11, 1888, a severe blizzard began sweeping across the northeastern United States. The storm buried cities from New Jersey to New England under deep snow, with strong winds and freezing temperatures. Transportation systems collapsed as trains stalled and telegraph lines fell. Hundreds of people died, many in New York City and surrounding areas. The storm exposed weaknesses in urban infrastructure, especially overhead wires and elevated transit. In response, some cities began moving utilities underground and rethinking public works planning.
