1978 Blizzard Conditions Could Be Seen Again As Potentially Record Breaking Snowstorm Heads Towards Northeast

1978 Blizzard conditions could return again to the Northeast this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters warned the snowfall, which is expected to begin lightly on Friday morning, before escalating to 1978 Blizzard-like conditions by the afternoon across the Northeast. New England destinations from Hartford, Connecticut to Portland, Maine are expected to get at least a foot of snow, with winds gusting as high as 75 miles per hour on Friday.

The worst of the storm is expected to hit Boston. The National Weather Service predicted that Beantown could receive up to two feet of snow, making it the first major snow fall the city has had in nearly two years.

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino preemtively closed city schools on Friday. Menino pleaded with Bostonites to stay home.

"We are hardy New Englanders, let me tell you, and used to these types of storms," the mayor said at a press conference, according to Reuters. "But I also want to remind everyone to use common sense and stay off the streets of our city. Basically, stay home. Stay put after noontime tomorrow."

Thursday is the 35-year anniversary of the 1978 Blizzard that tore across the region. The storm caused snowdrifts of eight to 10 feet across New England, killing roughly 100 people.

In 1978, Tommy Letis was operating a snowplow for the state of Connecticut.

"[New Haven, Connecticut] was totally closed down," Letis recalled to local news station WTNH. "No one could do anything but walk out of there."

He remembers seeing other snow plows breaking down as he traveled around, free several residents who were trapped in their cars.

"Seven days straight, 24 hours a day," he said. "We plowed and we hauled sand so we just kept going. We were young and needed the money."

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