22 Blizzard Facts For Kids

1. A blizzard is a severe winter storm that consistently has strong winds and reduced visibility for an extended period.
2. A winter storm is classified as a blizzard when for three or more hours wind will meet or exceed 35 MPH, visibility is reduced to less than a quarter of a mile and snow is falling.
3. A ground blizzard occurs after its stopped snowing, but blizzard like conditions occur from heavy winds blowing and drifting snow.
4. A blizzard can produce hurricane-force winds and in the right conditions cause a lot of property damage.
5. A blizzard can create huge snowdrifts, which are large mounds of snow and look like sand dunes.
6. A blizzard can create whiteout conditions and reduce visible to near zero, creating hazardous road conditions
7. A blizzard can make it highly dangerous to venture outside, your chances of getting frostbite and hypothermia increase dramatically.
8. A blizzard or blizzard like conditions usually occur on the northwest side of a power winter storm.
9. Blizzards are more common between October and April in the United States.
10. Blizzards are more common in the United States upper Midwest and Great Plains region but can occur in any geographical area that can experience snowfall.
11. There is a region of the United States known as blizzard alley. Based on blizzard data between 1959 and 2000, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and parts of Colorado and Wyoming see more blizzards than any other U.S. states.
12. You can be prepared for a blizzard by watching the news to see if there is a blizzard watch or blizzard warning.
13. The National Weather Service issues a blizzard watch if the conditions for a blizzard are possible in the next 12 to 48 hours.
14. The National Weather Service issues a blizzard warning if the conditions for a blizzard are occurring or expected to occur in the next 12 to 18 hours.
15. Blizzards are powerful winter storms and have set numerous records, with large amounts of damage and loss of life.
16. A common blizzard myth is it needs to be snowing for the conditions to occur. A ground blizzard can occur with zero snow precipitation, there just needs to be strong winds and snow on the ground.
17. Historic blizzard records show these powerful winter storms can cause widespread damage and death.
18. The 1972 Iran Blizzard is the deadliest blizzard in world history. It occurred between February 3rd and February 9th in 1972. It’s estimated that 26 feet (312 inches) of snow fell during this blizzard and killed more than 4,000 people.
19. The Great Blizzard of 1888 is the deadliest blizzard in U.S. history. It occurred between March 11th and March 14th in 1888. It’s estimated 4.83 feet (58 inches) of snow fell during this blizzard and killed more than 400 people.
20. The Blizzard of 1978, also commonly known as the Northeastern United States blizzard of 1978, produced record-breaking snowfall in Boston, MA and Providence, RI. It occurred between February 5th and February 7th in 1978. It produced 27.1 inches of snow in Boston and 27.6 inches of snow in Providence.
21. The Great Blizzard of 1993, also commonly known as the Storm of the Century, is the largest storm system with blizzard conditions in U.S. history. It occurred between March 12th and March 14th in 1993. It’s estimated this storm produced up to 56 inches of snow in some locations and even caused up to 4 inches of snow in the Florida Panhandle.
22. The Blizzard of 1996, also commonly known as the North American blizzard of 1996, was a massive nor’easter that caused blizzard conditions all along the United States East Coast. It occurred between January 6th and January 10th in 1996. Warmer temperatures and rain followed this nor`easter, causing rapid melting snow and heavy flooding. This is one of three nor`easters in U.S. history to get rated a five (Extreme) on the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS).

Blizzard Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then the below images will be helpful for your research on blizzards. Below are six pictures of people in a blizzard and blizzard conditions. These pictures should help you better understand the power of this severe winter storm.

---