Chilling Insights: 60+ Fascinating Facts About Blizzards You Need to Know [Free Fact Cards]

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Discover the chilling wonders of blizzards with these facts about blizzards. From the science behind these icy storms to survival tips, dive into the frozen world of blizzards.

Picture a winter wonderland covered in a soft blanket of snow. But blizzards are like snowstorms on steroids! They’re not just about the snow but also about the wind. When strong winds blow the snow around, it becomes hard to see and hard to move. This can make roads and paths all snowy and tricky. People often stay indoors during blizzards to stay warm and safe, and they might even drink hot cocoa by the fireplace while watching the snowflakes fall.

Did you know that blizzards have a special recipe? To be called a blizzard, a storm needs to have a lot of snow, really strong winds, and low visibility. It’s like nature’s way of saying, “Hey, I’m going to make everything super snowy and windy, so get ready!” When all these things come together, a blizzard is born. And guess what? Blizzards usually happen in colder places where winter loves to show off frosty magic.

Blizzards can be challenging, but they can also be pretty incredible. Snowflakes are like tiny pieces of art, and during a blizzard, they dance all around, creating a winter ballet in the sky. The wind howls like a friendly wolf, and the whole world seems to slow down under a snowy spell. People bundle up in warm coats, cozy scarves, and fuzzy mittens to brave the blizzard, make snow angels, or build snow forts. So get ready to explore the enchanting world of blizzards and learn how these frosty storms turn ordinary days into frosty adventures!

Fascinating Facts About Blizzards

1. A white-out is a name given to the surface weather conditions in snow-covered areas. 
2. Visibility is significantly reduced during a white-out, with the horizon completely obscured and only dark objects being discernible.
3. Blizzards only happen on cold fronts. The wind picks snow off the ground or when it falls down.
4. Blizzards result in trees falling and plants dying. This damages forests, which then releases excess carbon dioxide, causing an imbalance in the local ecosystem and impacting plants and wildlife.
5. Hurricanes form along the Atlantic Ocean parallel to the East Coast of the United States, causing Blizzards.

6. Blizzards begin as snow storms but are categorized as blizzards after sustaining winds of 35 miles per hour.
7. In 1888, in the United States, a blizzard went on for two days and it featured up to four feet of snow that was experienced in cities like New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. This blizzard caused a lot of havoc in that there were 400 deaths. 
8. Most blizzards occur between December and February.
9. Blizzards can start because of lakes! It’s called “lake-effect snow,.” When icy winds blow across a warmer lake, they grab moisture and turn it into snow. If the air stays cold enough, that snow falls on the nearby land, creating a lake-effect blizzard.
10. Extreme cold during blizzards can lead to frozen pipes and other infrastructure issues.

11. The blizzard usually occurs in the northwest area during a substantial snowfall.
12. The deadliest blizzard in the world occurred in Iran in 1972. It is believed that as much as 26 feet of snow fell down during the blizzard, leading to around 4,000 fatalities.
13. Farmers in ‘blizzard country’ often plant wheat in the fall. The snow protects it and the moisture from the melting snow in spring gives it a head start in the growing season.
14. As soon as you receive a storm warning, get prepared. You could lose electricity (this includes hot water and heat), so stock up on non-perishable foods, blankets, flashlights, extra batteries, and candles beforehand.
15. In 2018, the “Bomb Cyclone” blizzard brought heavy snow and strong winds to the eastern U.S.

16. When stuck in a blizzard without protection, eating snow is not a good choice because it lowers the temperature of the body.
17. Snowmageddon was a major blizzard that affected the majority of the Northeastern United States between February 5th and 6th in 2010. 
18. The word “blizzard” was first used to describe a cannon shot. That changed in the 1870s when an Iowa newspaper used it to describe a snowstorm.
19. To warn people about a possible blizzard, a ‘blizzard watch’ is issued. This is sent out when it is determined that a blizzard may occur within the next 12 to 48 hours.
20. Blizzards can happen even without snow falling.

21. A blizzard with heavy snowfall can contribute to the overall water supply, as the melted snow provides water for rivers, lakes, and groundwater.
22. The Blizzard of 1888 is also known as “The Great White Monster.” This epic storm was like nothing people had seen before and left a mark on the East Coast that lasted for days. 
23. The most intense blizzards can have wind speeds as strong as category one or category two hurricanes.
24. Blizzards are most often experienced in the Great Plains and upper Midwest of the United States.
25. Rochester, New York, receives the largest amount of snow in the United States every year, experiencing some of the biggest blizzards in the country.

26. Traveling by car or foot is highly discouraged during blizzard conditions. It increases the chance of hypothermia, accidents, and death.
27. In 2019, a bomb cyclone blizzard caused a 100 car pile-up in Colorado on I-25..
28. China is up there with the countries in the world that have experienced the most blizzards. The country’s central and southern regions have a vibrant history of experiencing blizzards.
29. These horrible blizzards can be up to 25-30 feet deep. A basketball hoop is 10 feet high, so a blizzard can get snow as deep as the height of two or three hoops.
30. A very dangerous type of blizzard is a whiteout. 

31. In a whiteout, downdrafts, and snowfall are so thick that people cannot tell the ground and sky apart.
32. The northwest side of an intense winter storm system is often where blizzard conditions occur.
33. A snowstorm is considered a severe blizzard if the sustained winds are greater than 45 mph. 
34. A blizzard in 1922 killed 98 people in Washington, D.C., when a theater collapsed.
35. Blizzards can also occur after snowfall when high winds cause whiteouts.

36. The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 killed over 350 people in the United States and Canada’s southeast region.
37. Many blizzards stem from Nor’Easters, storms traveling up the east coast of America. Moisture gathers from the Atlantic and dumps large accumulations of snow all the way from Delaware to Maine.
38. Some blizzards can result in many feet of snow accumulating on the ground – causing major issues for traffic and snow-clearing crews.
39. Central Canada and the Midwest in the United States are considered to be ‘blizzard country’. To deal with the regular blizzards in these regions homes are often built with steep roofs.
40. During the 1880s, when several severe snowstorms in the United States and England, the term ‘blizzard’ became popular.

41. In the U.S., blizzards are most common in the upper Midwest and the Great Plains.
42. When a blizzard is in the forecast, you may receive a “Winter Storm Watch,” which means there is a possibility of a storm taking effect.
43. A blizzard warning is issued when blizzard conditions are occurring or expected to occur within 12 to 18 hours.
44. Blizzards can also occur after snowfall when high winds cause whiteouts (fallen snow blowing around) and snowdrifts (huge mountains of snow), which decrease visibility.
45. If you must travel by car during a blizzard, having an emergency aid kit is vital in case your car breaks down, you get into an accident, or become stuck in the snow.

46. A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibility of less than a 1/4 mile for more than 3 hours.
47. Blizzards can cause roof collapses due to the weight of accumulated snow.
48. Blizzards often cause severe damage to buildings and can bury structures under many feet of drift snow.
49. A ground blizzard occurs after snow has fallen and strong winds blow around loose snow on the ground, creating whiteouts and snowdrifts.
50. A blizzard watch is issued when blizzard conditions are possible within 12 to 48 hours.

51. When blizzards occur, they can shut down cities and make them inaccessible. 
52. To avoid hypothermia if caught outdoors during a blizzard, stay hydrated and nourished. Keep the blood flowing by moving around.
53. If caught outdoors it’s a good idea to build a snow cave to block the wind. It is also important to keep the body moving to keep the blood flowing.
54. Any geographical location that has snowfall can have blizzard or blizzard like conditions.
55. More than 350 people died in the Great Appalachian Storm in 1950 in Canada and the United States. 

56. The snowiest city in the United States is Rochester, NY. It averages 94 inches of snow each year.
57. In February 2010, a blizzard dubbed “Snowmageddon” struck the United States.
58. The Storm of the 20th Century took place in March 1993. It was iconic for its hurricane wind force and massive size. And stretched from Canada to mid-America. The blizzard caused roughly 300 deaths and 10 million power outages.
59. A blizzard is a storm that lasts at least three hours and produces a large amount of snow.
60. A ground blizzard is what happens after a snowfall when strong winds blow around the loose snow on the ground. This creates white-outs and snowdrifts.
61. The Saskatchewan blizzard of 1945 was the worst recorded in Canadian history.

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