A severe winter storm combining heavy or blowing snow with sustained winds of at least 35 miles per hour, reducing visibility to a quarter mile or less for an extended period. Ground blizzards can occur even without new snowfall, as strong wind lifts and redistributes snow already on the ground. Blizzards are among the most disruptive winter hazards, capable of stranding travelers and knocking out power across wide regions.
Facts
PeriodicityMust persist for a prolonged period to qualify as a blizzard rather than an ordinary snow storm: the US National Weather Service requires sustained winds or frequent gusts of at least 56 km/h with blowing snow for three hours or more, while Environment Canada requires conditions to persist at least four hours, or six hours north of the arctic tree line. 1 ScaleDefined by wind and visibility rather than snowfall amount: the US threshold is sustained winds of 56 km/h or more with visibility reduced to 400 meters or less, while Environment Canada's threshold is winds exceeding 40 km/h with the same visibility limit; blizzards can stretch across hundreds or thousands of kilometers. 1 First DescribedThe word is first recorded for weather in 1829, defined then as a 'violent blow'; it reached its modern definition by 1859 in the western United States and became common in the press during the severe winter of 1880 to 1881. 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceA severe snowstorm marked by strong sustained winds and low visibility from blowing or drifting snow, lasting a prolonged period; a ground blizzard is already-fallen snow being blown by wind rather than new snowfall. 1 Connections
Demonstrated By
Tundra, Biomes Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sources
1. Blizzard (Wikipedia)
WikipediaWikipedia 'Blizzard', Definition and etymology section
To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have sustained winds or frequent gusts that are greater than or equal to 56 km/h (35 mph) with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 m or 0.25 mi or less and must last for a prolonged period of time
Wikipedia 'Blizzard', lead section
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time
Wikipedia 'Blizzard', United States storm systems section
the first recorded use of it for weather dates to 1829, when it was defined as a "violent blow". It achieved its modern definition by 1859, when it was in use in the western United States.
Wikipedia 'Blizzard', lead section (scale sentence)
The difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind, not the amount of snow.
Wikipedia 'Blizzard', lead section (distinguishing-appearance sentence)
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time
View the Source National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationDemonstrated By: TundraView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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