A blizzard is a severe snowstorm, characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of 56 km/h (35 mph) with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or less and must last for a prolonged period of time — typically three hours or more. Ground blizzardsrequire high winds to stir up already fallen snow.
Blizzards can bring near-whiteout conditions, and can paralyze regions for days at a time, particularly where snowfall is unusual or rare. The 1972 Iran blizzard, which caused approximately 4000 deaths, was the deadliest in recorded history.
The Great Blizzard of '49 was the worst blizzard the US
has ever known. This famous blizzard also known as the "Great White Death" was actually a series of blizzards that lasted for seven weeks. They began in Wyoming and Colorado, then spread over most of the West. To save cattle and sheep, the U.S. Air Force dropped 1,500 tons of hay. More than 100 people and 1 million heads of livestock were killed in this deadly blizzard.
|Just Before a Blizzard|
When driving< D0 not travel during winter storms unless u absolutely need to. Make sure the car is running alright before the blizzard and make sure there is a full tank of gas. If u are driving stay away from fallen power lines and turn on the panic button and flashers.
Out doors< Dress in several layers of clothing and wear a hat. Mittens are better to wear then gloves. Remember the wind increases cooling affect so its easier to get frostbite
At Home< Stock emergency supplies like food and water encase the power goes out. Be very careful with candles and fires and use only approved indoor heating devices.
White Out : A white out is when the snow is coming down so hard some times you can hardly see anything a white out happens when a blizzard is going and the winds are super strong. Whiteouts are usually stronger in the country rather then the city because the lack of buildings to stop wind flow.
Wind Chill: wind chill is the combination of the effects of wind and cold air on heat loss from the body. Wind chill is mostly affective on the exposed parts of your body. As the wind increases, heat is carried away quicker decreasing the body temperature. Animals can also be affected by wind chill also no matter how thick there coats.
Hypothermia: hypothermia is a life threatening . Witch causes uncontrollable shivering memory loss. Disorientation , slurred speech, drowsiness. Hypothermia becomes life threatening when the body temperature begins falling
Frost Bite: Caused by exposure to the body frost bite damages the tissues of your fingers toes earlobe etc. One of the signs of frost bite is not being able to feel your body. to treat frostbite try and get as warm as possible.
Did you know
The number one causes of death during a winter
storm is a heart attack while shoveling.
Did you know that it is never too cold to snow? It can snow when its below or above freezing.
- Ground Hog Day Blizzard of 2011
- The New York blizzard in 2010
- Third North American blizzard of 2010
- Second North American blizzard of 2010
- First North American blizzard of 2010
- February 2007 North America Winter Storm
- Saskatchewan blizzard of 2007
- Blizzard of 1999
- Great Blizzard of 1993
- Halloween Blizzard of 1991
- Chicago Blizzard of 1979
- Northeastern United States Blizzard of 1978
- Great Blizzard of 1978
- Blizzard of 1977
- Chicago Blizzard of 1967
- North American blizzard of 1947
- Armistice Day Blizzard of 1940
- Great Lakes Storm of 1913
- Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, North American Great Plains
- Great Blizzard of 1888, Northeastern U.S.