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What is a Blizzard? | Winter Science | Weather Science | SciShow Kids

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What were some of the biggest blizzards in history?

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In Connecticut they called it 'Storm Larry.' But to anyone old enough to remember, the words '1978 blizzard' conjure up some very snowy memories.

The 1978 blizzard started with snow during the morning of February 6. It didn't stop for 33 hours, dumping two feet of snow on New England. Sometimes it fell as fast as four inches an hour. Parts of Boston's South Shore and Woonsocket, R.I., got hit with the most: 54 inches.

Two feet of snow had already fallen in previous storms, causing the collapse of the Hartford Civic Center the month before.

The 1978 blizzard killed about 100 people and injured about 4,500. In central and southern New England, the snowfall turned to ice at night, leaving everything covered with ice. The snow turned to rain on Cape Cod, but the wind wreaked plenty of havoc.

Wind speeds reached 79 mph at Logan Airport, 92 mph at Chatham Weather Station on Cape Cod, and unofficial reports said wind gusts exceeded 100 mph. From Provincetown to Eastern Maine, the northeasterly winds flooded the coast. Ten thousand people evacuated.

In Connecticut, 547 National Guardsmen cleared roads and returned people to their homes - if they still had homes. In Massachusetts, a massive effort to clear Logan's runway allowed 200 troops from Ft. Bragg and Ft. Devens to manage the emergency response.

Here are 15 facts you may not remember about the 1978 blizzard.

1978 Blizzard

1. The snow took New England by surprise. No one advised people to stay home. Weather forecasters knew something was coming, they just didn't know what. Only CBS's Harvey Leonard seemed to have a clue: "We are going to get hit hard."

2. The sun and moon aligned to cause spring high tides that produced record floods. In Massachusetts, the flood destroyed 2,000 homes between Marblehead and Plymouth and damaged another 10,000. One flood tide ran into the next; with four successive flood tides, it seemed the tide never went out. The South Shore and Revere, Mass., took the hardest hits from the flood tides and towering waves. When Mrs. Joseph Conley returned to her home in Scituate after the storm, the tide surge demolished everything but the toilet. She was lucky. A giant wave ripped five-year-old Amy Lanzikas from her mother's arms while they were being rescued in a firefighters' skiff. Amy and a Scituate neighbor, Edward Hart, drowned during the rescue attempt.

3. People left school and work early so they could get home, but the snow fell so fast that staying put would have been safer. Thousands of cars had to be abandoned on the highways. Snowdrifts trapped 3,000 cars and 500 trucks along eight miles of Rte. 128 alone. Fourteen people died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sitting in their snowbound vehicles. Connecticut Gov. Ella Grasso abandoned her car on the highway and walked to the Hartford Armory. In New England's cities, the 1978 blizzard stranded thousands more cars that took days to dig out.

4. Boston Mayor Kevin White could only make his way home slowly from Palm Beach. He won little sympathy by complaining about the cold weather in Florida and that he 'didn't even swim in the pool.'

5. Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, on the other hand, was everywhere during the 1978 blizzard -- in his cardigan sweater. He happened to be on a radio call-in show with David Brudnoy on the evening of February 6. He heard from Revere residents on the second-floor of their houses wondering whether they'd survive. As panic set in, Dukakis began to direct the emergency response on the Brudnoy show. "I am pleading with Winthrop Shore Drive residents to evacuate their homes!" he said, between calls from constituents complaining about discrimination enforcement and civil service exams.

6. Many people ended up trapped in their workplaces, living off vending machine food during the 1978 blizzard. People slept in pews at St. Bartholomew's Church in Needham, Mass., which sheltered 2,000. In Dedham, Mass., 300 stranded motorists ate popcorn and watched movies at the Showcase Cinema just off the highway. Hockey fans in Boston who came to watch the Beanpot college tournament got stranded at Boston Garden. For several days they ate hot dogs, slept in the bleachers and, as Boston Globe writer Dan Shaughnessey pointed out, used 'combs and deodorant left behind by Terry O'Reilly and Wayne Cashman.'

7. In Massachusetts, the flood tides and giant waves dragged Motif No. 1, Rockport's famous fishing shack, into the harbor. The high tides wiped out the Outermost House on Cape Cod and submerged the Peter Stuyvesaant, a restored riverboat outside of Anthony's Pier 4 in Boston. Motif No. 1 was restored, but the Peter Stuyvesant was not.

8. The postal service couldn't deliver the mail for the first time since the Great 1938 Hurricane. One letter carrier got stranded in Providence, so he slept on sacks at the post office for two nights. He had to field a phone call from a woman complaining she didn't get her mail.

9. In Massachusetts, the MBTA actually performed well. On the Monday after the storm, the driving ban was still in effect. The MBTA carried 50 percent more riders than it did on an ordinary day. The load strained the equipment so that the MBTA had to curtail commuter rail service by 25 percent for two months.

10. Someone wrote 'ELLA HELP' in the snow on a lake in Montville, Conn. Gov. Ella Grasso saw the message from a helicopter. She transmitted a communique through the National Weather Service asking anyone with a four-wheel-drive vehicle to volunteer. Many did. Grasso ordered all roads and highways closed to everything but emergency vehicles, and asked schools and businesses to shut down. So did Gov. Michael Dukakis in Massachusetts and Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy in Rhode Island. President Carter declared Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut federal disaster areas.

11. Many remember the storm fondly because it built a sense of community. In Cumberland, R.I., for example, it took 10 days to plow out the roads. People gave a neighbor money to go shopping. He hauled a sled two miles to the IGA and back with food. Cross country skiers and snowmobilers evacuated people from cars stranded on I-95. Snowmobiles and sleds took people to hospitals.

12. In Hull, Mass., Lillian Willis and Joanne Fallon prepared meals in a local middle school for 1,400 people in 36-hour shifts over 10 days. On the fourth day, Willis' shoes fell apart.

13. The storm suspended work and school, so people played in the snow. UConn students made Star Wars sculptures. Brown students jumped out of dorm windows into the snow and made an eight-foot-high snowball. But according to one report, 4 percent of the Brown students and employees needed medical attention during the 1978 blizzard. Peter Gosselin, 10, jumped off his porch roof into the deep snow, hit his head and died in a snowbank. He wasn't found for three weeks.

14. After the 1978 blizzard ended, entrepreneurs quickly capitalized on it. One company made a board game called the Great Blizzard Travel Game, which at one point you could buy for $59 on eBay. Others made T-shirts that said, "I Survived the Blizzard of 1978." And "We Survived the Blizzard of '78" bumper stickers were as ubiquitous as Michael Dukakis' cardigan sweater.

15. Dukakis actually had four or five cardigans. After the 1978 blizzard, people gave him a sweater when he appeared at a speaking event. He eventually gave 40 cardigans to the Goodwill. (Rhode Islanders, by the way, were treated to the sight of Gov. Joseph Garrihy in a flannel shirt.)

To see a video of the 1978 storm, click here. This story was updated in 2019. Images: Boston City Hall By City of Boston Archives from West Roxbury, United States - Snow near City Hall, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65429193; Boston during cleanup By City of Boston Archives from West Roxbury, United States - Workers and residents during blizzard cleanup, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=65420068.

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15 Facts About the 1978 Blizzard - New England Historical Society

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In Connecticut they called it 'Storm Larry.' But to anyone old enough to remember, the words '1978 blizzard' conjure up some very snowy memories. The 1978 blizzard started with snow during the morning of February 6. It didn't stop for 33 hours, dumping two feet of snow on New England.

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What does a blizzard need and how to stay safe!

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What does a blizzard need and how to stay safe!

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blizzard vs snow storm explained - cnn video

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Blizzard vs snow storm explained - CNN Video

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Snow storms are often referred to as blizzards, but that's not accurate. Watch this video to understand which weather conditions must occur before a snow storm can be called a blizzard.

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Blizzard Causes, Effects and how to survive

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Blizzard Causes, Effects and how to survive

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A blizzard is an extreme snowstorm followed by a very strong and constant wind which last three hours or more. Difference between snowstorms and blizzards is in the power of the wind. The speed of the wind that can cause a blizzard is at least 35 mph (56 km/h). The result of it is wind blowing and drifting snow which causes decreasing of visibility to 0.25m (400 m). It doesn't take a lot of time to escalate from snowstorm, or even normal snowing to a blizzard. Blizzards usually bring seriously danger low temperatures, strong winds, ice, freezing rain, and slush.

Causes of a Blizzard

The three most important things necessary to form a blizzard are a cold air, moisture, and a warm rising air. Cold air, air that is below freezing is necessary for snowing. Sometimes blizzards are created by strong winds picking up snow that already had fallen. The temperature must be cold in the clouds and in the ground to form a snowflake. If the air on the ground is not cold enough, the snow will melt which can cause rain or freezing rain. Humidity or moisture in the air is a water vapor.

Wind blowing across the ocean or a large lake is a very good source of water vapor. Lakes and oceans affect blizzards with winds moving over the water, while water evaporates from the surface, vaporing the air. On the other hand, cold air cannot hold a lot of water vapor. Warm, rising air is important for forming clouds.

Blizzard can form only if the warm air rises over the cold air. That can happen in two circumstances. The wind brings a cold air to the Equator from the poles and bringing warm air to poles. When warm air and cold air are brought together, a front is formed and rainfall happens. Those are the main reasons why blizzards are happening and what it takes for a blizzard.

Effects of Blizzards

Blizzards can be a very dangerous for a number of reasons. Some of the blizzard winds can be as powerful and some can be even more powerful than hurricanes. Blizzards can last up to five days with endless snowing and wind blowing. Some of them can cause completely whiteout, and that happens when a lot of falling snow reduces all the visibility. That can be a big problem in the area with a frequent traffic.

For people, it is highly recommendable to stay in homes. Being out in a blizzard can be a very unpleasant experience which can even be fatal. Spending time in a blizzard, unprotected, or unprepared can lead to a freezing to death, hypothermia and frostbites. Any of these conditions require medical intervention. The best way to prevent these problems is to stay locked up in the house.

How to Survive a Blizzard?

If there is no possible way of escaping from blizzard, there are few very important advice which can be decisive in surviving the blizzard. To avoid hypothermia during a blizzard staying hydrated is vital. Having a bottle of water can make a difference in extreme circumstances. Body temperature needs to stay as high as possible. Keeping blood flowing by moving around is recommendable.

People usually think eating snow can be as helpful as a bottle of water, but that is a trap. Eating cold snow reduce body temperature which can cause hypothermia. If it's necessary, building snow cave is a very good thing to do, especially if there is no help on a way. Small snow caves or snow shelters are very helpful because it prevents direct exposure to a snow and blocks the wind.

Due to it serious conditions, during the blizzard, it is not recommendable to even be in the car. Traveling in a vehicle is a dangerous because of low visibility. The best way to prevent car accident during a blizzard is not to use it. If it is necessary, preparation is a key to survive a blizzard in a car. The vehicle needs to be properly equipped with winter gear, and a car should have food and water just in case of any unexpected problem.

Interesting Facts About Blizzards

Fact 1. Blizzard can shut down the whole city, sometimes even for days. That means that there are no transportation, schools, companies cannot be open during extreme weather conditions. People can be locked in their own homes for days.

Fact 2. Strong winds and snow often destroy cables and wires, so people could lose electric power during the blizzard. That means that people can't use computers, phones, light, electrical appliances which can cause further problems.

Fact 3. Some of the blizzards are so powerful that can cause big problems in the cities even after the blizzard. Some cities were closed for days after blizzard because of a huge amount of snow has been accumulating on the ground. Snow-clearing can be a stuck for days just to enable traffic and to make it work normally.

Fact 4. National weather services or simply forecast can issue a blizzard warning or a blizzard watch when there is a potential for a blizzards or snowstorm. It is important during warnings or watches to prepare for an emergency and follow all the steps to be as safer as possible.

Fact 5. Blizzard watch was issued 12 to 24 hours before the actual blizzar d. Blizzard watch can be downgraded to a winter storm warning, or upgraded to a blizzard warning.

Fact 6. Winter storm warning is a statement which means that there is a high possibility that winter storm can happen in the next 36 hours. Blizzard warning is a statement issued when there is a strong wind blowing for 3 hours or more.

Fact 7. Blizzard can also be formed after snowfall when winds causing whiteouts.

Fact 8. The first blizzard ever to be declared was in 1977, it was declared by Federal Emergency in New York and Ohio.

Fact 9. It is not advised to walk by car or foot during blizzard conditions as it increases the chance of hypothermia.

Fact 10. Even if you must travel by car during a blizzard, make sure that you have an emergency aid kit in case your car breaks down or get stuck in snow.

Biggest Blizzards in the History

There are many serious and devastating blizzards through history. The deadliest blizzard in a history happened in Iran, in 1972. More than 4000 people died, while snow completely covered more than 200 villages. This blizzard lasted almost a week, dropping 26feet (8 meters) of snow. Wisconsin-size area was completely covered in a snow.

Through the history of United States, there are more than few seriously devastating blizzards. One of the worst blizzards happened in 1888, it is also known as the Great Blizzard of 1888, or a Great White Hurricane. Almost the whole East Coast was paralyzed, from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine, also, some parts of Atlantic province of Canada was struck by this blizzard. Snowfalls of 20-60 inches (50-150 cm) fell all over the East Coast. It lasts only 3 days, but the damage was approximately 25 million dollars in 1888, which is equal to 670 million dollars in 2017.

The recent ones are the Great Blizzard of 1978, devastating blizzard that hit the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes. It lasts for 5 days, with approximately 20 inches of snow. That is the biggest blizzard in Ohio history, resulting with 51 people died, while more than 5000 members of Ohio National guard were called for rescuing the people. Blizzard was described as a nuclear attack. The whole town was completely shut for 2 days.

In 1993 happened The Storm of the Century, or The Great Blizzard of 1993, the blizzard that was stretched from Canada to Honduras. This blizzard was one of the largest and the most spread in the history, affecting at least 26 states, and almost whole eastern Canada. It lasted 3 days with 40 inches of snow. The damage was more than 2 billion dollars.

The most recent one happened in January, in 2016 in the United States. Blizzard produced 3 ft (90 cm) of snow. It lasted for 9 days, leaving more than 3 billion dollars damages. In this blizzard, there are at least 55 fatalities. One of the worst blizzards in US history left a lot of damages leaving 631.000 people in power outages.
Bottom line
A Blizzard is a serious snowstorm with strong winds with speed at least 35 mph, lasting three or more hours. Three important factors are necessary for forming a blizzard- a cold air, moisture, and a warm rising air. Sometimes blizzards can be created by strong winds picking up snow that already had fallen. They can be very dangerous and it is important to follow instructions from National Weather Services when there is a possibility of a blizzard.

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Blizzard: Causes, Effects and Interesting Facts | Earth Eclipse

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A blizzard is an extreme snowstorm followed by a very strong and constant wind which last three hours or more. Difference between snowstorms and blizzards is in the power of the wind. The speed of the wind that can cause a blizzard is at least 35 mph (56 km/h).

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When dealing with a blizzard, you can always expect three things: snow, ice, and strong winds. Individually, these are a problem on their own, but when they are combined together the result can be catastrophic.

The Weight of Snow

Snow itself doesn't seem all that heavy. But when a large amount accumulates on rooftops, it can become very heavy and cause the roof to collapse inwards. Now with a hole in your roof, the melted snow and slush fall inside your home, which then begins the cycle of water damage .

Your personal items and irreplaceable things can be destroyed and hard to save. Additionally, a weighted down tree branch, or even the entire tree, can break and fall onto or into your home causing potentially severe structural damage on top of any damage causes from moisture entering your home.
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Before the Storm

Before a blizzard hits, salting your roof and gutters may be a good idea. Taking the proper precautions can mean the difference between a simple snow storm and severe structural damage.

The snow and ice can cause a backup in your gutters and produce an ice dam, where snow melts and then refreezes, which can then also cause serious water damage. The same goes for frozen pipes that burst.

With the water damage internal, you may not even know the flooding has started.

High winds can also prove to be a serious problem during blizzards. Objects can become airborne and slam into the side of your house, or even break glass, therefore giving snow and ice the opportunity to enter your home and produce water damage.

Taking Precautions

Now that you know what to expect from the blizzards, here are some steps that you can take in order to lessen the effect of the storm:

1. Make sure that your roof is up to code and that the shingles on your roof have been properly installed

2. Think about installing resistant glass to limit wind damage

3. Regularly have your foundation checked for leaks or cracks

4. Use a roof rake to keep gutters clear of ice dams which can cause significant leaks

5. Clear snow off of outside vents and furnaces that exhaust from combustion of oil or gas

6. Keep doorways clear of snow in order to have easy access to your home

7. If the blizzard causes a power outage, keep the heat inside by making sure all windows and doors are closed. In addition, keep the fireplace flues closed and limit opening the refrigerator and freezer to prevent food from spoiling.

8. Always have an ample amount of emergency supplies such as extra food, water, and blankets.

Being Prepared

Even if you feel you are prepared for an upcoming blizzard, they certainly can be very unpredictable. The best course of action to take is to make sure you and your family are safe and have whatever supplies you may need to ride out the storm. When you determine there is water damage, the sooner the situation is assessed and handled, the sooner your life can get back to normal.
References:
Watcher Insurance Agency (2016). How Do Blizzards Cause Home Damage? Retrieved from:
http://www.wachterinsurance.com/blog/blizzards-cause-home-damage/

CBS Money Watch (2016). It's Blizzard Season, Is Your Home Ready? Retrieved from:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/as-a-big-winter-storm-ramps-up-is-your-home-covered/

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Blizzard Damage and Destruction - How To Stay Safe

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Snow itself doesn't seem all that heavy. But when a large amount accumulates on rooftops, it can become very heavy and cause the roof to collapse inwards. Now with a hole in your roof, the melted snow and slush fall inside your home, which then begins the cycle of water damage .

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The first snow of the season catches everybody off guard. We keep up with weather reports, take all the right precautions and get ready to dig in. Somehow, we're always amazed at how severe our winter storms can be.

As the city's leading storm cleanup contractors, we stay busy this time of year helping property owners recover from storm and water damage. The combination of high winds, snow and sleet takes a serious toll on area homes.

Besides slick steps and frozen sidewalks, what kind of damage do blizzards cause to Chicago homes?

10 Ways That a Blizzard Can Wreak Havoc on Your House

Winterizing your home is an important seasonal routine. It makes a big difference in how well the house weathers freezing temperatures. Still, it's unsettling to experience first-hand just what damage blizzards can cause.

1. Frozen Pipes Burst

Even when you've done your best, plunging temperatures can freeze insulated pipes. As the water inside plumbing turns to ice and expands, it causes problems ranging from small cracks and leaks to complete system failures. The resulting water damage can be severe.

2. Ice Dams Form on the Roof

Accumulated snow on the roof begins to melt and then freezes into layers of ice along roof edges. The process forms a thick ridge of ice dams putting additional strain on already-stressed roof edges, fascia and eaves.

3. Roof Runoff Soaks the House

Often, the damage from accumulated snow and ice on the roof can't be seen. As temperatures rise and fall through the day, the snow pack on top of your house melts and then refreezes. The process causes water to seep into brickwork, siding and even ceiling joists causing hidden structural problems.

4. Snow Causes Roof Collapse

Just 1 cubic foot of wet snow on the roof can weigh 12 pounds. Multiply that by your overhead square footage, and it's easy to understand how the massive weight can cause a roof to collapse. This type of dangerous snow damage results in extensive structural repairs.

5. Tree Branches Break and Fall

Blizzards soak trees with freezing rain that turns into heavy coatings of ice. The weight pulls down small branches and shears heavy limbs. Large, falling branches damage the roof, tear up siding and crush outdoor fixtures.

6. Gutters and Downspouts Split

What kind of damage do blizzards cause inside your roof's drainage system?

When winter storms wash debris through gutters, plunging temperatures slow down the water flow.

Eventually, frozen water inside gutters and downspouts expands causing splits, and its weight buckles the system.

7. Outdoor Things Become Airborne

Chicago's 2011 blizzard shut the city down for several days with wind gusting between 30 and 50 miles per hour. That kind of force turns ordinary objects like lawn chairs and trash cans into airborne projectiles that smash windows, damage roofs and dent cars.

8. High Winds Rip Off Shingles and Flashing

That same wind velocity tears up loose shingles and peels back flashing. Its force leaves your home vulnerable to water damage ranging from small leaks in the attic to breeches in roofing underlayment. Blizzard conditions also wear down the protective granulation on roof shingles.

9. Melting Snow Floods the Basement

When things finally begin to thaw out, heavy snow and ice runoff quickly soaks yards and fills up street gutters. The soil around your foundation becomes saturated with moisture that seeps into the basement through small cracks. In a matter of hours, you have water flooding downstairs.

10. Power Outages Complicate Everything

Technically, an outage doesn't damage your home, but it can be responsible for serious problems. A house without heat sets the scene for frozen burst pipes. If you don't have a backup system for the sump pump, you face basement flooding. Both situations result in extensive water damage.

Dangers of Blizzard Cleanup

When pipes rupture and sump pumps fail, you need professional water damage cleanup as soon as possible. Standing water soaks and weakens floors and walls, and freezing outdoor temperatures don't stop mold from taking hold in the damp materials inside.

We know that you can handle some of these problems on your own, but always be careful. The dangers of cleanup after a blizzard include electrical hazards, backed-up sewage and unstable infrastructure.

If you feel like the project is too big or you have any doubts at all about your personal safety, bring in a professional restoration company right away.

Call Us First 24/7

While our list covers 10 common types of blizzard storm damage, we'd like to hear about your experiences. Tell us what you've dealt with at your home during our worst winters. Just post your input through our Comments Section.

In our years of experience as storm cleanup contractors, we know you can't prepare everything. If blizzards or freezing temperatures damage your home, we're ready to help with a 24/7 response. ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba stands as one of the most trusted storm cleanup companies in Chicago and the suburbs, so call us first.

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What Kind of Damage Do Blizzards Cause to Homes? | 10 Types

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The first snow of the season catches everybody off guard. We keep up with weather reports, take all the right precautions and get ready to dig in. Somehow, we're always amazed at how severe our winter storms can be.

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What is a blizzard? How does a blizzard form?

According to The Weather Channel a blizzard is a storm with "winds of at least 35 mph, and visibility reduced by falling and/or blowing snow to less than 1/4 mile." These conditions must last for at least 3 hours. Snow forms when two air masses collide one with warm air and one with cold air they collide and make a front if there is more cold air it creates a snow if there is more warm air it will just rain. When this snow is combined with the wind, and decreased visibility, it forms a blizzard.

How blizzards affect people....

- A blizzard can shut down a city, sometimes for days. Transportation can be impossible. This means kids miss school and adults cannot get to work. People can be stuck in their homes for days.

- Electrical wires often go down because of the heavy wind and snow. This leaves people with no electricity. Without electricity, people can't use computers, TVs, appliances, and lights.

- If people are caught outside in a blizzard, they risk getting frost bite and hypothermia.

- A blizzard can cause lots of property damage, such as roof cave-ins and windows breaking. Trees can fall on houses, cars, etc.

- Blizzards can be the cause of lots of car accidents. Cars can be stranded on highways too.

-Blizzards are life threatening storms. People have died in blizzards.

- Blizzards can hurt the economy. People can't get to work. Jobs don't get done. Businesses and stores lose money.

How blizzards affect the land....

- Trees, plants, and crops can die in a blizzard, because of the extreme cold.

- Tree branches and limbs can break.

- Flooding can happen after a blizzard. This happens when there is a warm up after having large amount of snow. The snow starts melting faster than land can absorb it.

How blizzards affect animals....

- Blizzards can be life threatening to pets, farm animals, etc. They can die if exposed to the cold. They can also get lost and not be able to find their way home during a blizzard.

- Pets should not be left outside during a snow storm or a blizzard.

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According to The Weather Channel a blizzard is a storm with "winds of at least 35 mph, and visibility reduced by falling and/or blowing snow to less than 1/4 mile." These conditions must last for...

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Learn how to prepare for winter weather, survive during winter weather, and be safe after winter weather. Prepare for Winter Weather Stay Safe During Generator Safety Associated Content Winter storms create a higher risk of car accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart…

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A bison exhales and the frigid winter air condenses the moisture to a fog. He dips his head low-a burly, mussed mass of fur caked with snow-and sweeps his muzzle across the snow. Another snort, another sweep. The plains are cold and blanketed in snow, and he is hungry.

Surviving winter
Despite roaming vast distances in the Northern Great Plains, bison do not move south as the weather grows cold and inhospitable, though they may move to lower elevations where snow is not so deep. Temperatures plummet well below zero, bitter winds whip across the landscape, and bison still remain. The massive animals (weigh up to 2,000 pounds and can hit speeds of 40 miles per hour) feed on grasses and sedges year-round. When blizzards blanket the plains with deep snow, bison use their heads as a plow of sorts to push aside the accumulation and reach the forage below.

And they make little fuss about the types of grass they eat, making survival a bit easier. They share habitat with other hooved species, including pronghorn, but tend to focus on different types of vegetation reducing competition.

The hump on bison's backs actually helps with this process: it consists of powerful muscles supported by long vertebrae that allow them to shift vast amounts of snow as they swing their heads from side to side.

Imagine the highways bison created in the deep snow for other wildlife when there were millions of them. That would have made a world of difference for animals like pronghorn, which are not adapted for movement in deep snow.

Bison also grow a winter coat of woolly underfur with coarse guard hairs that protects them from the elements. It's key for surviving extremely low temperatures in areas swept by strong winds.

Protecting a hearty species
Bison are survivors. They live throughout North America in places of extreme heat and blizzards, and survived near extinction in the late 1800's. WWF is committed to ensuring the species thrives again-at scale and in numbers-in suitable landscapes. We're working with tribal partners and national parks to establish at least five herds of 1,000 bison in the Northern Great Plains by 2020.

The largest native grazer of America's Northern Great Plains used to number in the tens of millions. Westward expansion of European settler and market hunting drove that number to a dangerous low. WWF works with public, private and tribal entities to help identify opportunities and create places where bison can thrive in large herds and contribute to the well-being of Great Plains communities.

They need room to roam, and we need to do our part to provide those places.

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How bison survive winter in the Northern Great Plains

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Despite roaming vast distances in the Northern Great Plains, bison do not move south as the weather grows cold and inhospitable, though they may move to lower elevations where snow is not so deep. Temperatures plummet well below zero, bitter winds whip across the landscape, and bison still remain.

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A blizzard is a severe snowstorm. It brings low temperatures, strong winds, and a lot of blowing snow. Blizzards start when a high pressure system touches a low pressure system.

The word blizzard is sometimes used incorrectly by news media to talk about big winter storms, even if the storm is not a blizzard.

The difference between a blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind, not the amount of snow. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have sustained winds or frequent gusts that are greater than or equal to 56 km/h (35 mph) with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 m or 0.25 mi or less and must last for a prolonged period of time-typically three hours or more.

Some areas are more likely to be hit by blizzards than others, but a blizzard can occur in any place where snow falls. In North America, blizzards happen often in the northern-east states, and in the provinces of Canada. In this region, blizzards can happen more than twice each winter.

They also occur often in the mountain ranges of western North America. Because these regions have low populations, blizzards sometimes are not reported.

A very dangerous type of blizzard is a whiteout. In a whiteout, downdrafts and snowfall are so thick that people cannot tell the ground and sky apart. People caught in a whiteout lose their sense of direction very fast. This is a large danger to pilots when they are flying airplanes, because they cannot tell how close they are to the ground, and may crash.

Who cleans up after blizzards?

The community cleans up after a snowstorm/blizzard occurs. Blizzards only usually go for 3 hours so everything won't be too damaged, meaning it won't be as hard as an earthquake or tsunami to clean.

How deep the snow gets

These horrible blizzards can achieve up to 25-30 feet deep. A basketball hoop is 10 ft high, so a blizzard can get snow as deep as the height of two or three hoops.

How do blizzards occur?

Firstly you need cold enough air to cause snow to fall in the clouds and ground level water and moisture is needed to form clouds and precipitation. The moisture is called water vapour to make the clouds a source of water vapour is cold air blowing across large lakes or the sea but the cold air doesn't actually make too much snow, its a combination of cold and warm air that does it. The warm air normally meets the cold air if the wind is being pulled towards the equator when they are brought together a front is formed and precipitation is formed and the warm air can go up to the clouds and the blizzard forms from there.

How strong are a blizzard's winds?

There is sustained wind or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or greater.

How cold can blizzards get?

Blizzards can get down to -12 degrees or lower. This makes it fairly easy to get hypothermia in a blizzard. Mostly freezing electrics and machinery making life very hard in the Hypothermic temperatures.

A blizzard brings strong winds that can cause power outages, damage property and disrupt emergency communication. As a result, people can end up without food and water supply.

Blizzards are dangerous as they may lead to injuries and even deaths on the road due to low visibility.

You should avoid being caught outdoors in a blizzard as skin left exposed to such severe conditions could lose all sensitivity within minutes. As a result, you can suffer from hypothermia and frostbite. In extreme cases it may lead to death.

Blizzards may negatively affect the environment, killing plants and animals that other species rely on in their food chain. This forces some animals to find alternative means of getting food or die if food is scarce.

Blizzards impact accumulation of water vapor in the atmosphere, which then leads to greater precipitation throughout the year.

Famous U.S. blizzards

The Great Blizzard of 1888 was very damaging for the Northeastern United States. In that blizzard, 400 people died, 200 ships sunk, and snowdrifts were 10 or 15 feet high. In the Great Plains, states were hit by the Schoolhouse Blizzard that trapped children in schools and killed 235 people.

In 1880-1881 there was a winter that people in the Dakotas called the "Hard Winter". The author Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote her book The Long Winter about that winter's story. It talks about one blizzard after another, and how it changed Laura's family and everybody around her. The book is almost all true. Her story of two men from the town of DeSmet, South Dakota, going after some wheat stored some miles south of DeSmet in February 1881 is true, and Ingalls later married one of the men, Almanzo Wilder. If the two men had not found and brought back the wheat, the people would have starved. The snow and ice thawed in April, and the railroads could start again. The train picture above was photographed on March 29, 1881, not far from DeSmet.

34 people died during a 3-day spring blizzard on March 1920 in North Dakota. One of the people who died was Hazel Miner, a teenage girl who died of freezing to death when she got lost on her way home from her one-room-school.

The Armistice Day Blizzard in 1940 surprised many people with how fast the temperature dropped. It was 60 °F (15.6 °C) in the morning, but by noon, it was snowing. Some of the people froze to death in the snow. 154 people died in the Armistice Day Blizzard.

105 years after the Great Blizzard of 1888, a giant blizzard, named the Storm of the Century, hit the U.S in 1993. It dropped snow on 26 states and reached as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico. In many southern U.S. areas, such as parts of Alabama, more snow fell in this storm than ever fell in an entire winter. Highways and airports closed across the U.S. The blizzard also made 15 tornadoes in Florida. When the storm was over, 270 people died and 48 were reported missing.

Other famous blizzards

Related pages

Images for kids

Blizzard into Tochal Skiing resort, Tehran and involved skiers.

Conditions approaching a blizzard whiteout in Minnesota, on March 1, 2007. Note the unclear horizon near the center.

Stereoscopic view card showing "Blasting ice with dynamite from in front of steamer on the ways, by Stanley J. Morrow" ~ A view of Yankton's riverfront after the flood of March 1881.

In Spanish: Ventisca para niños

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BLIZZARDSBLIZZARDS are defined by the National Weather Service as winter storms with sustained or gusting winds of 35 mph that produce blowing or drifting snow that reduces visibility to one-quarter mile or less for over three hours.

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What is a blizzard by Academic Kids Encylcopedia

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What is a blizzard by Academic Kids Encylcopedia

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Weathermen always going on about storm fronts and barometers, what does that mean exactly? Tim and Moby give you a hailstorm of weather information.

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Nor'easters can occur in the eastern United States any time between October and April, when moisture and cold air are plentiful. A Nor'easter is named for the winds that blow in from the northeast and drive the storm up the east coast along the Gulf Stream, a band of warm water that lies off the Atlantic coast. They are known for dumping heavy amounts of rain and snow, producing hurricane-force winds, and creating high surfs that cause severe beach erosion and coastal flooding. Winter Storms

How do winter storms form?
Winter storms derive their energy from the clash of two air masses of different temperatures and moisture levels. Winter storms usually form when an air mass of cold, dry, Canadian air moves south and interacts with a warm, moist air mass moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. The point where these two air masses meet is called a front. If cold air advances and pushes away the warm air, it forms a cold front. When warm air advances, it rides up over the denser, cold air mass to form a warm front. If neither air mass advances, it forms a stationary front.

What are snowflakes?
Snowflakes are made of ice crystals. Each snowflake is six-sided and made of as many as 200 ice crystals. Snowflakes form in clouds where the temperature is below freezing. The ice crystals form around tiny bits of dirt that has been carried up into the atmosphere by the wind. As the snow crystals grow, they become heavier and fall toward the ground. Why is snow white?
Bright snow blinds us with its gleaming white color because it reflects beams of white light. Instead of absorbing light, snow's complex structure prevents the light from shining through its lattice formation. A beam of white sunlight entering a snow bank is so quickly scattered by a zillion ice crystals and air pockets that most of the light comes bouncing right back out of the snow bank. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed equally over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance. So while many natural objects get their blue, red, and yellow colors from absorbing light, snow is stuck with its white color because it reflects light.

What is thundersnow? How is snow formed?
Snow is commonly formed when water vapor undergoes deposition, which is when water vapor changes directly to ice without first becoming a liquid, high in the atmosphere at a temperature of less than 32°F and then falls to the ground. What is sleet?
Sleet is just rain drops that freeze into ice pellets before reaching the ground. Sleet usually bounces when hitting a surface and does not stick to objects. However, it can accumulate like snow and cause a hazard to motorists.
What is an ice storm?
An ice storm is a type of winter storm caused by freezing rain. The U.S. National Weather Service defines an ice storm as a storm which results in the accumulation of at least 0.25-inch of ice on exposed surfaces.
What is freezing rain?
Freezing rain is just rain that falls onto a surface with a temperature below freezing. This causes it to freeze to surfaces, such as trees, cars, and roads, forming a coating or glaze of ice. Even small accumulations of ice can cause a significant hazard. How do ice storms form?
Ice storms form when a layer of warm air is between two layers of cold air. Frozen precipitation melts while falling into the warm air layer, and then proceeds to refreeze in the cold layer above the ground. This creates freezing rain or a glaze of ice.

What is frost? What is a frost quake?
Frost is white ice crystals that form on a surface, like the ground or leaves of a plant. Frost is created when the air temperature drops below freezing and the water vapor in the air freezes into ice crystals.

How is lake-effect snow formed?
As the cold air flows over the warm lake water, the relatively warm water heats the air's bottom layer as lake moisture evaporates into the cold air. Since warm air is lighter or less dense than cold air, the heated air rises and begins to cool. As the air cools, the moisture that evaporated into it condenses and forms clouds and snow begins falling from the cloud if the air is humid enough. (Graphic Credit: USA TODAY.) What is a Nor'easter?

What is Wind Chill? What is an Alberta Clipper? Click Here to calculate the Wind Chill.
An Alberta clipper is an area of low pressure that generally forms over Alberta, Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains. They develop east of the Rockies because air flowing eastward over the mountains creates favorable conditions. Once an Alberta Clipper forms it usually moves very rapidly to the southeast across the USA's northern Plains and then to the east off the mid-Atlantic Coast. Clippers usually cause only light precipitation with very few producing major snowstorms. However, if conditions are favorable, some Alberta clippers can rapidly intensify off the East Coast once the storm taps the relatively warm moist air over the Atlantic Ocean. The storms that rapidly intensify sometimes spread heavy snow over New England and southeastern Canada. Generally, the main weather features associated with Alberta clippers are some light snow and a reinforcement of cold air over the USA.
What is frostbite? How do blizzards form?

A blizzard is a long-lasting snowstorm with very strong winds and intense snowfall. You need three things to have a blizzard; cold air at the surface, lots of moisture, and lift. Warm air must rise over cold air.
What is an avalanche?
An avalanche is a moving mass of snow that may contain ice, soil, rocks, and uprooted trees. The height of a mountain, the steepness of its slope, and the type of snow lying on it all help determine the likelihood of an avalanche. Avalanches begin when an unstable mass of snow breaks away from a mountainside and moves downhill. The growing river of snow picks up speed as it rushes down the mountain. Avalanches have been known to reach speeds of 245 miles an hour (394 kilometers per hour)—about four times as fast as the speediest downhill skier.
Click Here to learn more about Avalanche Saftey.
Know the Lingo
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORIES - Issued for accumulations of snow, freezing rain, freezing drizzle, and sleet which will cause significant inconveniences and, if caution is not exercised, could lead to life-threatening situations.

Thundersnow is when thunder and lighting occur during a snowstorm. This occurs most often in late winter or early spring. To get thundersnow, you need a mass of cold air on top of warm air, plus moist air closer to the ground. Thundersnow starts out like a summer thunderstorm. The sun heats the ground and pushes masses of warm, moist air upward, creating unstable air columns. As it rises, the moisture condenses to form clouds, which are jostled by internal turbulence. The "tricky part" for making thundersnow is creating that atmospheric instability in the wintertime. For thundersnow to occur, the air layer closer to the ground has to be warmer than the layers above, but still cold enough to create snow. During thundersnow events, heavy snowfall is to be expected. In some cases, two inches per hour is possible.

Click Here to see if there are any active warnings in your area.

Winter Storm Safety Tips
BEFORE A WINTER STORM: Have a disaster plan and prepare a disaster supplies kit for your home and car. Include a first aid kit, emergency food supply, bottled water, battery-operated radio, flashlight, protective clothing, and blankets. Don't forget, be aware of changing weather. DURING A WINTER STORM: Stay indoors and dress warmly. Eat regularly, because food provides the body with energy for producing its own heat. Also, drink lots of water. If you must go outside, wear layered clothing, mittens and a hat. Watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite. Remember to keep dry. Always change wet clothing to prevent the loss of body heat. If you must drive, carry a cell phone. Always, keep the gas tank full. Don't forget, let someone know where you're going, just in case your car gets stuck. If you're car gets stuck, stay with it and wait for help unless help is visible within 100 yards. Use maps and car mats to stay warm.

AFTER A WINTER STORM: Avoid driving until conditions have improved. Avoid overexertion! Heart attacks from shoveling snow are the leading cause of deaths during the winter. Also, check on neighbors to make sure they're okay.

Frost quakes are non-tectonic seismic events, meaning they are not caused by the shifting of the Earth's tectonic plates. Also known as cryoseisms, frost quakes are caused by a sudden rapid freezing of ground and bedrock, usually when temperatures go from above freezing to below zero. As moisture absorbed in the rock and soil freezes, it expands. This puts a great amount of stress on the areas around it. Eventually, the stress is too much and the soil and rock will crack in an "explosive" manner, creating a loud sound and even shaking the ground surface. Since temperatures are coldest in the overnight hours, most people experience frost quakes in the middle of the night. Winter Storm Activities
Lesson Plan: Here is a great lesson plan on learning about winter weather. In this activity, kids investigate aspects of winter weather, such as temperature and wind. They familiarize themselves with weather-related words. It's a great activity for K-2nd graders.

Cold air moves over warm water and is warmed from below. Moisture evaporates in the air.

Warm moist air rises downwind of lakes and forms heavy snow.

Lesson Plan: Here is a great lesson plan on learning about winter weather. In this activity, kids learn how winter storms form and about the different types of fronts. It's a great activity for 3rd-5th graders. Note: This is a PDF file, so you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Measuring Snow Experiment: Here is a great experiment that lets kids measure snow. They let the snow melt and then measure it again. It teaches kids that snow is very dense and is why it holds more space than water.

The wind chill is the temperature your body feels when the air temperature is combined with the wind speed. The higher the wind speed the faster exposed areas of your body lose heat and the colder you feel.Melting Snow Experiment: Here is another experiment that teaches kids the difference between the freezing and melting process. It allows kids to take the temperature of a glass of snow. Then, watch the snow melt and observe how the temperature changed.

Frost Experiment: Here is a great experiment that lets kids make frost. They can see how dew turns into frost in a matter of minutes.Examining Snowflakes Experiment: Here is a great experiment that lets kids see snowflakes up close. They can examine the snowflake's six sides.
Pressure Experiment: Here is an experiment that shows how pressure is created in our atmosphere by sucking an egg in a bottle. This is a very cool experiment!
Science Fair Project Ideas: Here is a complete list of science fair project ideas. Discover the science behind the weather that impacts us every day.
Make A Barometer Experiment: Here is an experiment that allows the kids to make a barometer.

Evaporation Experiment: Here is an experiment that shows kids how evaporation takes place.

Frostbite is damage to the skin due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures, usually below 32° F.

WINTER STORM WATCH - Alerts the public to the possibility of a blizzard, heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet. Winter Storm Watches are usually issued 12 to 48 hours before the beginning of a winter storm.

WINTER STORM WARNING - Issued when hazardous winter weather in the form of heavy snow, heavy freezing rain, or heavy sleet is occurring. Winter Storm Warnings are usually issued 12 to 24 hours before the event is expected.

BLIZZARD WARNING - Issued for sustained or gusty winds of 35 mph or more, and falling or blowing snow creating visibilities at or below 1/4 mile. These conditions should persist for 3 hours.

FROST/FREEZE WARNING - Issued when below freezing temperatures are expected.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW ADVISORY - Issued when accumulation of lake effect snow will cause significant inconvenience.

LAKE EFFECT SNOW WARNING - Issued when heavy lake effect snow is occurring.

WIND CHILL ADVISORY - Issued when the wind chill temperature is forecast to be between -15°F to -24°F.

WIND CHILL WARNING - Issued when the wind chill temperature is forecast to be -25°F or lower.

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Weather Wiz Kids weather information for kids

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Weather Wiz Kids is a fun and safe website for kids about all the weather info they need to know. It contains tools for weather education, including weather games, activities, experiments, photos, a glossary and educational teaching materials for the classroom.

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Virtual Field Trip to the Weather Channel

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Virtual Field Trip to the Weather Channel

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The Weather Channel: Connect with Weather

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Brainpop

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Though the 2015 winter has been brutal for many East Coast cities in the United States, few have had it as bad as Boston. The city was bombarded by an astounding 7.5 feet of snow, caused by four blizzards that rammed through the area in just three weeks. With spring still a few weeks away, the foul weather is not expected to let up anytime soon. While the dreary prospects would be enough to dampen the spirits of most, hardy Bostonians have opted to embrace the excess white fluff and enjoy it in some unusual ways.

In Cambridge, an enterprising resident named Pier is offering a man-made igloo for an affordable $10 a night on rental site Airbnb. According to the posting, the icy structure that comes with a Tarp and yoga mattress is perfect for one but can even fit two, if they are willing to spend the night curled up. Since the igloo is not heated, Pier does recommend a sleeping bag if the renter wishes to spend a comfortable evening.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, a five-story mound created from the dumping of excessive snow has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Residents who have dubbed it "The Alps of MIT" or "Mount Cambridge" are completely disregarding the "No trespassing" signs, as they ski and sled down the man-made mountain. Some are even using it to brush-up on their "mountain-climbing" skills by climbing all the way to the top, with professional gear in tow.

Former Louisiana State All-American swimmer Julius Gloeckner decided to test his skills by trying to "swim" in the three-feet of snow that lay outside his home. Then there is an unnamed couple that was seen having a drink around a cozy fire, inside a man-made snow pit. There have also been a few Yeti sightings - In keeping up with modern times, some of the Abominable Snowmen even tweeted as they traversed the almost empty snow-covered streets.

While most of these antics are just fun and harmless, there is a new craze that is alarming city officials. Called the "Boston Blizzard Challenge," it entails residents trying to outdo each other by jumping into the snow from their windows, patios, and even roofs. Though it may look perfectly harmless given the large piles of snow, officials are apprehensive about the potential for injuries.

Their biggest concern is that residents will encounter sharp buried objects or underestimate the depth of the snow and hit the ground harder than they anticipate. To try stop this craziness that appears to be taking over the city, Boston's Mayor Marty Walsh held a special press conference on February 17th and urged people to "stop their nonsense right now." Hopefully, Bostonians will heed the warning and stick to safer activities like skiing and sledding on the snow-laden city streets!

Resources: usatoday.com. news.yahoo.com, nydaily.com

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Boston Residents Tackle Severe Winter Weather With Good Humor And A Little Insanity

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Though the 2015 winter has been brutal for many East Coast cities in the United States, few have had it as bad as Boston. The city was bombarded by an astounding 7.5 feet of snow, caused by four blizzards that rammed through the area in just three weeks.

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Global Warming and its Affects on the Ocean

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Global Warming and its Affects on the Ocean

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Human Impact with Greenhouse Gases

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The ocean covers about 70 percent of Earth's surface. The ocean plays a large part in Earth's environment. One of its largest roles is to soak up energy (heat) and distribute it more evenly throughout the Earth. The ocean also helps to absorb Earth's CO2.

Why is the ocean important?

After all, we live on land.

But our world is a water world. The ocean covers 70% of Earth's surface. The average depth of the ocean is about 2.7 miles. In some places, the ocean is deeper than the tallest mountains are high! The ocean contains about 97% of all the water on Earth.

The ocean plays a starring role in whatever happens with the environment. One big part of its role is to soak up energy (heat) and distribute it more evenly around the Earth. Another part is to soak up CO ₂.

How does the ocean soak up energy?

How can a water balloon teach us about climate change? Watch this video and find out.

The ocean does an excellent job of absorbing excess heat from the atmosphere. The top few meters of the ocean stores as much heat as Earth's entire atmosphere. So, as the planet warms, it's the ocean that gets most of the extra energy.

But if the ocean gets too warm, then the plants and animals that live in it must adapt-or die.

Algae and plankton are at the bottom of the food chain. Plankton includes many different kinds of tiny animals, plants, or bacteria that just float and drift in the ocean. Other tiny animals such as krill (sort of like little shrimp) eat the plankton. Fish and even whales and seals feed on the krill. In some parts of the ocean, krill populations have dropped by over 80 percent. Why? Krill like to breed in really cold water near sea ice. What would happen if there were no sea ice? What would happen if there were very little plankton or krill? The whole food web could come unraveled.

Coral is another ocean creature in trouble. Coral is a very fragile animal that builds a shell around itself. It lives in harmony with a certain kind of colorful algae. The algae make food using sunlight, a process called photosynthesis. They share the food with the coral, and, in turn, the coral gives the algae a safe and sunny place to live. The two of them get along fine, living in clean, clear, shallow waters where the Sun shines through brightly. Fish love coral too, because there are lots of nooks and crannies for them to hide in.

But the algae cannot carry out photosynthesis in water that is too warm. The algae either die, or the coral spits it out. Scientists are not sure exactly what happens, but it's bad for the algae, the coral, and the fish. The corals lose their colorful food sources and become weak. This sad event is called coral bleaching, and it is happening on a grand scale in many places around the world.

How does the ocean soak up CO₂?

Fish and other animals in the ocean breathe oxygen and give off carbon dioxide (CO ₂), just like land animals. Ocean plants take in the carbon dioxide and give off oxygen, just like land plants. The ocean is great at sucking up CO ₂ from the air. It absorbs about one-quarter of the CO ₂ that we humans create when we burn fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas.) If not for the ocean, we'd be in even worse trouble with too much CO ₂.

However, the ocean and everything in it are paying a price. The ocean is becoming more acidic.

What does this mean? Liquids are either acid or alkaline. Each liquid falls somewhere along a scale with acid at one end and alkaline at the other.

However, when the ocean absorbs a lot of CO ₂, the water becomes more acidic. The alkalinity of the ocean is very important in maintaining a delicate balance needed for animals--like the mussels in this picture-to make protective shells. If the water is too acidic, the animals may not be able to make strong shells. Corals could also be affected, since their skeletons are made of the same shell-like material.

How does the ocean affect the climate?

One way the ocean affects the climate in places like Europe is by carrying heat to the north in the Atlantic Ocean. Way up north, cold water in the North Atlantic ocean sinks very deep and spreads out all around the world. The sinking water is replaced by warm water near the surface that moves to the north. Scientists call this the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt. The heat carried north helps keep the Atlantic ocean warmer in the winter time, which warms the nearby countries as well.

NASA missions that very accurately measure the hills and valleys in the ocean and changes in sea level help scientists understand what is happened with ocean currents.

Does the salt in the ocean do anything?

The amount of salt in the ocean water also affects currents. Saltier water is heavier than less salty water. When salty ocean water freezes, the ice can no longer hold on to the salt. Instead, the salt mixes with the water below making it saltier and heavier. Glaciers, land ice and icebergs are made of fresh water, so what happens when this ice melts? Good question!

The water in the North Atlantic sinks because it's cold, but also because it's salty. Being both cold AND salty makes it really heavy, so it can sink very far. But if too much ice melts in the North Atlantic, the water could become less salty. If that happens, what about the Ocean Conveyor Belt? Would it stop warming the North Atlantic? Could Europe get really cold? Scientists say it seems unlikely, but NASA satellites are keeping a close eye on the melting ice and the ocean currents to try to understand this complicated system better.

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The ocean covers about 70 percent of Earth's surface. The ocean plays a large part in Earth's environment. One of its largest roles is to soak up energy (heat) and distribute it more evenly throughout the Earth. The ocean also helps to absorb Earth's CO2. After all, we live on land.

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Causes, Dangers and History

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By definition, a blizzard is an extended, severe snowstorm. In order to qualify as a blizzard, winds have to be at least 35mph and rage for a longer period of time-at least three hours or more. The amount of snowfall has little to do with a storm qualifying as a snowstorm, but rather the intensity of the wind and length of time. There are two other classifications for blizzards:

-Severe blizzard: winds over 45mph, temperatures at 10 Fahrenheit or lower, near zero visibility.

-Ground blizzard: no falling snow, snow from the ground is blown by the strong winds.

A nor'easter gets it's name from the direction of the oncoming winds. This occurs on the Atlantic side of Canada and East Coast of the USA. These storms can start as far south as the Gulf of Mexico or the North Atlantic Ocean. However, the most common usage of the name is in the coastal regions of Atlantic Canada and New England. These storms are similar to a hurricane. One of the deadliest blizzards in the USA-the Great Blizzard of 1888-was a nor'easter, killing 400 people after dumping 40-50 inches of snow.

What causes blizzards?

Blizzards are usually formed when the jet stream pitches very far south. This allows the cold air that comes from the north to collide with warm air coming from the south. This creates a strong storm system, usually developing on the northwest side of such storm systems.

Any area which is mostly flat is susceptible to blizzards, though there are some areas in the US, Australia, and the UK that suffer from blizzards more than others. However, the deadliest blizzard in recorded history occurred in Iran in 1972.

Dangers of blizzards

Blizzards are one of nature's deadlier storms, as the conditions make travel and movement hazardous. Snowstorms disrupt traffic, but blizzards make any kind of travel nearly impossible. Almost every blizzard results in at least a few deaths, with some of the bigger ones resulting in hundreds of people dying.

Visibility is drastically reduced, in some cases to as little as 3 meters or what is called zero visibility. In a ground blizzard, though no new snow is falling, the snow already on the ground is whipped up and around by the winds to where visibility is also close to zero.

Travel under these conditions is close to impossible. Cars have to come to a complete standstill as they can drive off the road. Because blizzards rage for so long, people can get trapped in their cars, freezing to death as they wait for it to clear. Once the storm is over, cars are often buried under mounds of snow, making it difficult for rescue teams to find them. Hypothermia sets in as people trapped outdoors try to find shelter and warmth.

Blizzards have been known to come suddenly and while it is possible to be warned in advance, it's not always possible to be entirely prepared for the intensity of the blizzard. Clearing roads is not possible until after the blizzard has passed and then takes a long time due to the intensity of the build up. The aftermath of the blizzard can be almost as dangerous as the storm itself, as people trapped inside vehicles, unheated buildings, or outdoors take longer to be found and brought to warmth and safety.

History of blizzards

Though not as common as snowstorms, tornadoes, or even hurricanes, blizzards are deadly every time they hit. Not all blizzards are mentioned here, not even all of the most severe. This is just a sample of the havoc that blizzards can wreak.

-The white winter of 1880-1881 is one of the earliest blizzards mentioned in history books. This is considered the worst winter in US history. Because the first blizzard hit in October, before most farmers had the opportunity to bring in their crops. One after the other the blizzards continued to hit, making travel impossible, even by train. People were at the brink of starvation and train services stopped completely by January 1880 as no matter how often they cleared the tracks, another storm would come and cover them again. The snow never thawed and on February 2, 1881 a nine day blizzard hit again. By then, towns and farmers had to tunnel through the snow to get to livestock, wood for heating, and supplies. Once the snow started melting, huge areas were flooded, washing away huge areas around the Missouri river. The town of Yankton, currently South Dakota, was nearly completely washed away by the overflowing river.

-The Iran Blizzard of 1972 is the deadliest recorded blizzard. Starting on February 3, until February 9, more than 10 feet of snow fell, the worst areas in Southern Iran getting up to 26 feet of snow. Whole villages died, one being completely buried beneath the snow. Approximately 4000 people died.

-The Armistice Day Blizzard in 1947 came somewhat unexpected, resulting in a lot of deaths. On the morning of the blizzard, the weather was warm, resulting in many hunters going out to take advantage of ideal conditions. Within a few hours, the blizzard hit, raging through the night and into the next day. 145 deaths were reported as a result of the 1,000 mile wide storm. Many hunters were not dressed warmly enough to withstand the wind and snow. Many were stranded on islands in the Mississippi, or drowned trying to get back to land.

-The Schoolhouse Blizzard in 1888 is different from the nor'easter and in some ways more heart breaking. Because the day started out relatively fair, people went about their lives, with children going to school and adults going to work. The storm hit early in the day, leaving thousands stranded; mostly children in their one-room schoolhouses. 235 people died; including children.

Although meteorologists are now able to more accurately predict blizzards, the storms still have the ability to cripple whole cities at a time, and deaths are almost always inevitable. Over the years, rescue missions during and after blizzards are becoming better and preparedness goes a long way towards preventing large amounts of casualties. It has also become considerably easier to notify people of oncoming storms, with more reliable predictions and getting the word out quickly and effectively.

Countries which are not used to large amounts of snow, extreme cold, and long periods of strong winds tend to have a harder time coping when the storms hit. Regardless of where the blizzards hit, there is never a way to be completely prepared. There is always a chance of power outages, communications systems breaking down, people going for long periods with little or no heat, and getting trapped outdoors or in a vehicle. During winter months, people are advised to pay close attention to weather warning coming over the radio or TV. There are weather websites set up to help people prepare for blizzards and post warnings when a snowstorm is being upgraded to a blizzard.

Blizzard Related Articles

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By definition, a blizzard is an extended, severe snowstorm. In order to qualify as a blizzard, winds have to be at least 35mph and rage for a longer period of time-at least three hours or more. The amount of snowfall has little to do with a storm qualifying as a snowstorm, but rather the intensity of the wind and length of time.