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15 Mind-Blowing Facts About Blizzards

When the winter season starts, people become weary as there might be blizzards that may occur. Blizzards are massive snowstorms that usually occur when winter temperatures go to the extreme. It is characterized by heavy winds and high temperatures. Blizzards are dangerous and are known to usually cause accidents and even kill people. Therefore, this article will explore some 15 mind-blowing facts about blizzards to give the reader a better understanding of what they are and their characteristics.

1 Origin of the name blizzard

The name blizzard was first used by a newspaper in Iowa in the 1870s. the paper used the term to describe a heavy snowstorm and the name quickly spread across the United Kingdom and the United States of America and it was later used to mean a dangerous snowstorm. This is a rather unique way that the name came to be as you would expect that there was a history behind the word and why it was ideal to be used to describe such a situation.

2 The greatest blizzard recorded

The most severe blizzard that has ever been recorded happened in 1888 in the United States. The 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. Furthermore, children were stuck in classrooms without the necessities to survive the two-day blizzard. The melting of the snow after the blizzard also caused flooding in rivers which made roads impassable.

3 Blizzards can make cities inaccessible

A picture showing the severity of a blizzard. , , via Wikimedia Commons

When blizzards occur, they can shut down cities and make them inaccessible. This means that people will be locked up in their houses as they wait for the blizzard to end. The heavy winds that come along with blizzards also end up destroying electric cables and thus cause problems as people are not able to use electric appliances or heat their homes. Furthermore, blizzards result in a lot of snow that will take a lot of resources for them to be cleared in places like roads to make the towns accessible again.

4 What is a blizzard watch

Due to the many effects that come with a blizzard, there is usually a blizzard warning that issued by the national weather services if there is a chance that a blizzard may occur to give people time to prepare for emergencies in case, they are locked in. The warnings are normally issued 24 hours before when the blizzard is predicted to start and as time goes the warning can be upgraded or downgraded depending on how the weather looks like.

5 Blizzards in the United States

A picture showing the depth of snow during a blizzard. , , via Wikimedia Commons

Most blizzards that occur in the United States usually happen in the east coast area. This is a result of Nor’Easters, which are storms that migrate up the East Coast of America and are common along the East Coast. Snowfalls from Maine to Delaware are caused by moisture accumulating from the Atlantic. Because of the risks and inconveniences that snowstorms can cause, the Midwest of the United States and central Canada are frequently referred to as “blizzard country”.

6 What to do when you are  outside during a blizzard

If you are outside during a blizzard, you should try to make a snow cave to protect yourself from the wind as blizzards are usually characterized by really strong winds. One should also try to set up a fire to keep themselves warm and increase their chances for survival. Furthermore, one should stay hydrated during this time and if a person does not have water at hand, they can melt snow and drink it as taking unmelted snow will result in low body temperature. Additionally, to ensure that there is proper blood flow, one can do strategic exercises to ensure that blood is pumped to all parts of the body.

Check out this article on the 10 coolest facts about winter here

7 What to do if you get caught in a blizzard

Even though getting caught in a blizzard while inside your house is better than being in a blizzard outside, there are measures that one needs to take to ensure that they are safe during this time. To be better prepared, one can assemble things like flashlights, batteries, blankets and canned food as blizzards are known to take down electric cables with the wind. Having backups will make it easy for someone who is trapped in a blizzard to get through it as they will have the supplies necessary for them to be safe in a blizzard.

8 The occurence of a blizzard

The occurrence or development of blizzards is not random. When the jet stream is angled sharply to the south, they become visible. An unstable effect is created when the cold air from the north collides with the warm air from the south, unleashing the blizzard’s ferocity. Furthermore, blizzards can also be created when strong winds pick up the already-fallen snow

9 Travelling in a car during a blizzard is dangerous

A road during a blizzard. , , via Wikimedia Commons

It is quite dangerous to be travelling in a car when there is a blizzard because there is a lot of snow and strong winds that pick the snow up leading to poor visibility and thus making it unsafe to be driving during such conditions. If caught in a blizzard while in a car, the driver should ensure that they have essentials like blankets, jackets, tow ropes, and road flares to help them if they get stuck. Furthermore, one should have non-perishable snacks at hand to ensure that they are well nourished.

10 Walking on foot during a blizzard is hazardous

Being on foot when there is a blizzard is very dangerous as someone can be injured or even die. The extreme temperatures that are experienced when there is a blizzard mean that hypothermia comes in quite quickly and this results in limited vision which may make someone lose their sense of direction and thus get lost. Therefore, if one is on foot and they have lost their sense of direction, they are more likely to get hurt and even die as they have no idea where they are going.

11 It feels colder than it actually is in a blizzard

A painting of people enduring a snowstorm. , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Temperatures that make it seem like it is colder than it actually is. For instance, the wind speed during a blizzard is usually between 30 and 35 mph. This will make the air that touches your skin feel colder than it actually is. Therefore, frostbite usually develops quickly during this weather. The chill effect of the wind increases as the temperatures drop

12 Blizzards determine how houses are built

People who live in places that are prone to blizzards usually build their houses with steep roofs so that they ensure the snow does not pile up on the roof and cause damage to it. The steep roof allows the snow to easily fall off when they land on the roof. Furthermore, having steep roofs makes it easy for homeowners to keep their houses warm as the snow is not piled on the roof.

13 How a blizzard occurs

A blizzard comes about when the high-powered pressure system meets head-on with the low-powered pressure system. Frigid air is pulled from the poles by the wind  to the equator and it collides with the warm air that is in the equator creating a front and this results  in a snowfall

14 Blizzards can occur even if snow is not falling

It is not necessary for there to be heavy snowfall for a blizzard to occur. When a person thinks of a blizzard, one imagines snow falling down and thus causing a blizzard. However, this is not the case in that loose snow that fell days ago is picked up by the wind and they can contribute to creating the right conditions for a blizzard to occur.

15 During a blizzard visibility is low

A road in a blizzard. , , via Wikimedia Commons

When a blizzard occurs, it results in a whiteout where one can only see as far as a quarter mile. The only thing one can see beyond a quarter of a mile is only white. These conditions make driving very hard and it is usually not advisable to drive in such conditions as one can get into an accident as they are not seeing as clearly as when there is no blizzard.

The winter season is quite challenging as the weather conditions may bring someone down and blizzards makes matters worse. Therefore, knowing what to do in case of a blizzard helps the reader adjust and make the necessary adjustments to ensure that they are quite comfortable during this time. The facts above will be a good place to start learning about blizzards and what to do when caught in one.

Check out this article on the 15 scary facts about thunderstorms here