Definitions

blizzard    n.  1. a violent windstorm with dry, driving snow and intense cold.    2. a heavy and prolonged snowstorm covering a wide area.    

blizzard    a winter storm officially becomes a blizzard when sustained winds reach 35 mph, or greater, and the combination of snow and blowing snow reduces visibility to a distance of ¼ mile or less for lengthy periods of time.    

hypothermia    n.  subnormal body temperature.    

sleet    n.  1. the frozen coating that sometimes forms on trees, roads, wires, etc., when rain or partly frozen rain falls while the temperature is low.    2. precipitation in the form of frozen raindrops; ice pellets.    3. Chiefly Brit. the precipitation of snow and rain simultaneously.    

wind chill,    the coldness felt on the exposed human flesh by a combination of temperature and wind velocity. Also called wind chill factor.    

Introduction

Sometimes winter storms are accompanied by strong winds creating blizzard conditions with blinding wind-driven snow, severe drifting, and dangerous wind chill. Strong winds with these intense storms and cold fronts can knock down trees, utility poles, and power lines. In the West and Alaska, winds decending off the mountains can gust up to 100 mph or more, damaging roofs and other structures.

Extreme cold often accompanies a winter storm or is left in its wake. Prolonged exposure to the cold can cause frostbite or hypothermia and become life-threatening. Infants and elderly people are most susceptible. Prolonged periods of extreme cold can cause water pipes to freeze and burst in homes that are poorly insulated or without heat.

Heavy accumulations of ice can bring down trees, electrical wires, telephone poles and lines, and communication towers. These ice storms can disrupt power and communications for days while utility companies work to repair the damage. Even small accumulations of ice may cause extreme hazards to motorists and pedestrians.

Heavy snow can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies, and disrupting emergency and medical services. Accumulations of snow can collapse buildings and knock down trees and power lines. In rural areas, homes and farms may be isolated for days, and unprotected livestock may be lost. In the mountains, heavy snow can lead to avalanches. The cost of snow removal, repairing damgaes, and loss of business can have large economic impacts on cities and towns.

Definitions and Introduction | Regional Information | Extreme Cold | What Makes A Winter Storm? | Winter Storm Facts | Survival Tips