Blizzard, decoded. Wind, snow, and nowhere to see.
A blizzard is not the biggest snowfall of the year. It is a windstorm in snow: strong gusts pick snow up, throw it sideways, and erase the world past your windshield. This page is the short version of what officially counts as one, why a "mere" few inches can still shut a city down, and the one rule that matters when a warning names your town.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
Wind and whiteout, not inches.
Forecasters call it a blizzard when sustained winds or frequent gusts hit 35 miles per hour or more while falling or blowing snow cuts visibility below a quarter mile, and that combination lasts at least 3 hours. Snow totals do not enter the definition at all — a storm that drops two inches on a windy prairie can be a blizzard, while a calm foot of snow in the mountains is not. The danger is the whiteout: when you cannot see the road, the ditch, or the car ahead, driving stops being risky and starts being guesswork, and that is when pileups happen.
THE GROUND BLIZZARD.
No new snow required.
What is a blizzard?
A blizzard is sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or more combined with falling or blowing snow that reduces visibility below a quarter mile, lasting at least 3 hours. Snowfall totals do not enter the definition — it is about wind and whiteout, not inches.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
Warning means stay put, and the car is your shelter.
What is a ground blizzard?
A ground blizzard is the same wind-and-visibility combination, except the snow is already on the ground rather than still falling. A strong cold front sweeping across yesterday's snowpack can white out a road hours after the flakes stopped, even under a clear-looking sky.
What is the difference between a Blizzard Warning and a Winter Storm Watch?
A Winter Storm Watch means blizzard conditions are possible — check your supplies and your travel plans. A Blizzard Warning means those conditions are expected or already happening — stay off the roads and stay inside until it passes.
What should I do if I am stranded in a blizzard?
Stay with your car — it is easier for rescuers to find than you are on foot in a whiteout. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and run the engine only in short bursts for heat. Never walk away from the car looking for help in whiteout conditions.
Does Brzzy warn me about blizzards?
Brzzy shows your local forecast with hourly updates, live radar, severe weather alerts, GIF forecasts, and activity ratings that weigh the sky for your plans. Brzzy is free to download on iPhone.
Download Brzzy on the App Store
More from Brzzy: Full weather glossary · Snow · Freezing
Blizzard, decoded. Wind, snow, and nowhere to see.
A blizzard is not the biggest snowfall of the year. It is a windstorm in snow: strong gusts pick snow up, throw it sideways, and erase the world past your windshield. This page is the short version of what officially counts as one, why a "mere" few inches can still shut a city down, and the one rule that matters when a warning names your town.
WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS.
Wind and whiteout, not inches.
Forecasters call it a blizzard when sustained winds or frequent gusts hit 35 miles per hour or more while falling or blowing snow cuts visibility below a quarter mile, and that combination lasts at least 3 hours. Snow totals do not enter the definition at all — a storm that drops two inches on a windy prairie can be a blizzard, while a calm foot of snow in the mountains is not. The danger is the whiteout: when you cannot see the road, the ditch, or the car ahead, driving stops being risky and starts being guesswork, and that is when pileups happen.
THE GROUND BLIZZARD.
No new snow required.
What is a blizzard?
A blizzard is sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or more combined with falling or blowing snow that reduces visibility below a quarter mile, lasting at least 3 hours. Snowfall totals do not enter the definition — it is about wind and whiteout, not inches.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
Warning means stay put, and the car is your shelter.
What is a ground blizzard?
A ground blizzard is the same wind-and-visibility combination, except the snow is already on the ground rather than still falling. A strong cold front sweeping across yesterday's snowpack can white out a road hours after the flakes stopped, even under a clear-looking sky.
What is the difference between a Blizzard Warning and a Winter Storm Watch?
A Winter Storm Watch means blizzard conditions are possible — check your supplies and your travel plans. A Blizzard Warning means those conditions are expected or already happening — stay off the roads and stay inside until it passes.
What should I do if I am stranded in a blizzard?
Stay with your car — it is easier for rescuers to find than you are on foot in a whiteout. Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, and run the engine only in short bursts for heat. Never walk away from the car looking for help in whiteout conditions.
Does Brzzy warn me about blizzards?
Brzzy shows your local forecast with hourly updates, live radar, severe weather alerts, GIF forecasts, and activity ratings that weigh the sky for your plans. Brzzy is free to download on iPhone.
Download Brzzy on the App Store
More from Brzzy: Full weather glossary · Snow · Freezing
