Combine high snowfall, freezing rain, and strong winds and you’ve got yourself a blizzard.If you’ve ever heard a blizzard warning on the winter storm watch, then you and your family must have had to prepare for the inevitable storm. Blizzard conditions can be extremely dangerous, which is why preparing for the extreme cold and lack of heat and resources is very important.What exactly should you do when facing a winter storm? Going outside is unlikely because of the high wind speed and blocked roads, and staying in can be difficult if you are unprepared. We have all the information for you, as well as some interesting facts about snowstorms, the great blizzard of 1888, and the deadliest blizzard.If you enjoyed this article, check out our other pages on what the three stages of a thunderstorm are and Arizona dust storm facts.Ways To Keep Safe In A SnowstormSnowstorms usually do not arrive unannounced. The government and weather office issue a storm warning if a blizzard is expected to hit in the next 12-48 hours. This gives people enough time to stock up on supplies and prepare for the extreme conditions that are about to descend on them.There are some things to do before a blizzard is expected to hit. Check all the windows and ceilings of your home are closed and make sure there is no damage or openings through which snow or cold air can enter. Prepare emergency kits and a first aid kit, and make sure to have a plan in hand if things go badly. Ensure you have enough food and water to last for at least a week, as well as adequate warm clothing and blankets in case you lose electricity to deal with the extreme winter weather. Have a battery-powered radio handy to keep updated on weather changes.During the storm, refrain from stepping outside the house as there is bound to be too much snow and extreme weather conditions. Stay indoors and keep warm by dressing in layers, and eat regularly as the body consumes more calories to generate body heat in the cold. Do not drink or eat anything cold, instead have warm dishes like broths, soups, and stews, which will help keep your immunity and body temperature up.If you do step out of the house, make sure to have a mobile on you at all times, as well as enough gas in your car in case of emergencies. Check if your route is clear in advance to avoid being stuck during your journey. Always stay in contact with someone, and inform your family where you are headed in case your car breaks down or run into any problems on the way. If you become drenched by the snow, change into dry, warm clothes before you catch wind chill.After the storm has passed, wait until the roads have cleared fully before traveling again. Make sure everyone in your family as well as in the community is safe and has overcome the worst of the weather, and that no one is suffering from hypothermia or frostbite. Do not panic if roads are blocked or the power is down, it will be fixed once conditions are completely clear.Crazy Facts About SnowstormsCentral Canada and the upper midwest of the USA are often called ‘blizzard country’ due to the frequency of snowstorms occurring there during winter.Intense snowfall alone is not what makes a snowstorm. Very strong winds, as well as the presence of sharp, needle-like ice crystals, are what make snowstorms truly dangerous. The government will usually issue a blizzard watch, which is a blizzard warning, around 12-48 hours before blizzards occur.A large component of a snowstorm is snow. There are around 35 types of snow crystals that have been identified to date! Snowflakes form up in the atmosphere when temperatures are below freezing.Blizzards can even be classified as being a federal emergency when conditions are too harsh. The first blizzard of 1977 occurred in January and affected southern Ohio and upstate New York, and the deadly high-speed winds were classified as too dangerous to step out in. Another severe blizzard which was much worse took place in 1993, in both Canada and America. It had a strong hurricane wind force and was huge, causing 10 million power outages and around 300 fatalities.The State and Federal Governments are usually the ones to provide funds and relief to people affected most by extreme blizzard conditions. The funds are used to provide food and shelter to displaced people, and form cleanup crews to clear away debris and fix homes and buildings.The most snow during a snowstorm was 189 in (4.8 m) in 1959 at Mount Shasta in California.Formation Of A SnowstormSnowstorms, also known as blizzards, form in areas with low temperatures and high winds. According to National Geographic, the conditions of winter storms are wind speeds of 35 mph (56 km/hr) and continuously falling snow which decreases the range of visibility to only 0.25 mi (0.4 km) for a minimum of three hours. Blizzards can cause inaccessibility to roads, cause traffic accidents due to limited visibility and slippery roads, and can cause hypothermia and frostbite if proper precautions to stay warm are not taken.Snowstorms are formed by the descent of freezing cold air to moist, warmer air at lower altitudes. The air must be cold enough to maintain the composition of snow from its formation until the ground, without it turning into rain on the way. The rising of warm air over cold air is what causes precipitation, which freezes into snow as it makes its way down. The point where the two air currents meet is called a front and is usually where snowfall occurs. Snow forms as the freezing winds freeze small drops of precipitation in the clouds, which become heavy and fall to the ground as they grow in size. Large amounts of snowfall with added high-powered winds are what usually constitutes a storm. Some blizzards can have awfully fast winds, being as violent as those of a category one or two hurricanes!Countries Where Snowstorms Are Most CommonBlizzards are more common in countries that are close to the poles, as they are more susceptible to low temperatures and high snowfall. Warm currents blowing from the equator and other tropical regions towards these places can set off a chain of reactions that causes a snowstorm.Blizzards are most commonly observed in the United States, Canada, Antarctica, northern parts of Europe, Russia, and other parts of Asia in the northeastern and central regions.In the United States, snowstorms are most common in the Great Plains region, which is located between the Mississippi region and the Rocky Mountains, and in the upper midwest which consists of the states of Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. They are also prevalent in the east coast area, where moisture gathers from the Atlantic Ocean and dumps large accumulations of frozen precipitation of heavy snow in the area, as well as causing frequent gusts of high-powered wind. Though these regions are more likely to experience snowstorms, the deadliest blizzard in US history actually hit the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts in 1888. In the same year, a deadly blizzard also swept across the Great Plains and was infamously dubbed the Schoolhouse blizzard, or the great blizzard of 1888 as it claimed the lives of many children attempting to return to their homes from school before the blizzard fully set in. Blizzards usually last for around 12-24 hours, however, these snowstorms kept people trapped inside their homes for almost a week. This caused mass cabin fever across the country.However, one of the most severe blizzards in the world actually occurred in Iran in Asia in 1972. An estimated 26 ft (8m) of snow fell over a one-week period and caused over 4000 fatalities. Most of the people affected were those living in villages, who did not have adequate warning in advance to prepare food stocks and heat resources. This led to many lives being claimed by the sheer cold. The snow brought everything to a complete standstill, cutting off the power, electricity, and burying vehicles and transport lines underneath.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning these snowstorm facts, then why not take a look at is Bahrain an island, or how often does it snow in Las Vegas?
Combine high snowfall, freezing rain, and strong winds and you’ve got yourself a blizzard.
