Nearly four decades ago, Hungary experienced an extraordinary combination of heavy snowfall, strong winds and extreme cold that brought much of the country to a standstill. Beginning in early January 1987, successive snowfalls blanketed large areas with 20 to 50 centimeters (8 to 20 inches) of snow, while powerful winds created towering drifts that blocked roads, railways and access to entire settlements.

The situation was compounded by Siberian air masses that drove temperatures far below normal. In many areas, daytime highs failed to rise above minus 10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit), and nighttime lows plunged even further.

Photo by Fortepan / Tamás Urbán

Vehicles were abandoned, public transportation ceased in numerous regions, and schools and workplaces were closed in the most severly-struck regions for days. In some rural areas, residents relied on military and civil defense assistance to receive food and medical supplies.

The winter of 1987 has since become a benchmark in Hungary, frequently cited whenever heavy snow causes modern-day disruptions.

Photo by Fortepan / Zoltán Szalay

By comparison, the current snowfall, while significant and challenging for transport operators and local authorities, has not reached the same level of severity in either accumulation or duration.

Meteorologists note that such extreme, prolonged winter events have become increasingly rare, as Hungary’s winters have generally grown milder over the past decades.