Half-incher of '77 snarled bay area

You think it's cold? Well, it could be worse.

How much worse? Consider this:

On a frigid Jan. 19 morning in 1977, something happened in the Tampa Bay area that hasn't taken place in the 32 years since: Snow. (We're not counting that one time in 1989 because the white stuff didn't stick.)

The '77 snow caused so much havoc that nearly all the major interstate roads were either closed or at a standstill because of hundreds of accidents. At least two people were killed.

Schools closed for a "snow day," farmers kissed their crops goodbye and newspaper photographers recorded it.

And for many children, it was an enchanting introduction to "white stuff." There was about half an inch of it. A blip on the radar screen for those in the northern part of the country, but still enough to scrap together a tiny snowman in Tampa.

The high that day was 40 degrees; the low 27, according to the National Weather Service.