Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia , frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks from overexertion. Winter storms including blizzards can bring extreme cold, freezing rain, snow, ice and high winds.
What are the most dangerous characteristics of a blizzard?
A severe blizzard is considered to have temperatures near or below 10°F , winds exceeding 45 mph, and visibility reduced by snow to near zero. which in turn results in very strong winds. jet stream dips far to the south, allowing cold air from the north to clash with warm air from the south.
What are the dangers of a blizzards?
Blizzards are extremely dangerous because people can lose their way in the blinding snow. The strong wind can create a cold wind chill, making the temperature feel even colder. The cold temperatures and wind can bring on frostbite or hypothermia .
Where do blizzards happen most often?
In the United States, blizzards are common in the upper Midwest and the Great Plains but occur in most areas of the country except for the Gulf Coast and the California coast. Blizzards can occur all over the world, even in the tropics where it is cold on high altitude mountaintops.
What are safety precautions for blizzards?
- Stay indoors and dress warmly.
- Eat regularly. ...
- Drink water. ...
- If you must go outside, wear layered clothing, mittens and a hat.
- Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
- Keep dry. ...
- If you must drive, carry a cell phone.
- Keep the gas tank full.
What time of year do blizzards occur?
Most blizzards, as you’d expect, happen from December to February —that’s meteorological winter, and peak snow season. But when they happen outside that timeframe, it’s actually more common to get them in spring than in the fall.
What tools are used to predict blizzards?
Doppler radar
Doppler Radar is the meteorologist’s window into observing severe storms.
What was the deadliest blizzard in history?
The Iran blizzard of February 1972 was the deadliest blizzard in history. A week-long period of low temperatures and severe winter storms, lasting 3–9 February 1972, resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 people.
Which state has the most blizzards?
“The continental U.S. averages about 11 blizzards a year with the worst occurring in the upper plains,” he said. “The Red River Valley in eastern North Dakota and western Minnesota have the most recorded blizzards in the last four decades.”
How long do blizzards last?
To be categorized as a blizzard, the storm must last for at least three hours and produce a large amount of falling snow. Blizzards also have winds measuring over 56 kilometers (35 miles) per hour.
How common are blizzards?
The number of blizzards each year has doubled in the past two decades, according to preliminary research by geographer Jill Coleman at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. From 1960-94, the United States averaged about nine blizzards per year. But since 1995, the average is 19 blizzards a year , she said.
What are 5 Survival Tips for blizzards?
- Working flashlight 2. ...
- Move all animals to an enclosed shelter 2. ...
- Full or near full gas tank 2. ...
- Stay inside 2. ...
- Find a dry shelter immediately 2. ...
- Prepare a lean-to, wind break, or snow-cave for protection against the wind 2. ...
- Stay inside your vehicle 2.
How do blizzards impact humans?
Blizzards affect people by shutting down cities and transportation systems , damaging property, hurting the economy and causing injuries and loss of life. Blizzards affect the environment by damaging or destroying trees, plants and crops and causing flooding when large amounts of snow melt.
What is an interesting fact about blizzards?
A blizzard is a severe snow storm with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibility of less than a 1/4 mile for more than 3 hours. Blizzards can also occur after snowfall when high winds cause whiteouts (fallen snow blowing around) and snowdrifts (huge mountains of snow), which decrease visibility.
How do you know when a blizzard is coming?
wind gusts over 35 mph . visibility of less than a quarter-mile (though if you’ve ever been caught in a blizzard, you’ll probably swear it’s closer to a few inches) duration of at least 3 hours.
Where do blizzards start?
Blizzards start out as normal storms with a low-pressure area forming near Colorado or in the north, in Alberta . As the weather system strengthens, its low pressure sucks in cold air from the north and warm air from the south.
