What is a Blizzard?

What is a Blizzard?

Hey there! Do you love playing in the snow? We sure do! Sledding, building snow forts, and taking snowy walks are so much fun. But sometimes, it’s not safe to go out in the snow, especially during a blizzard.

How Blizzards Form

A blizzard is a special kind of snowstorm. It starts when two big areas of air meet: one cold and one warm. The warm air rises above the cold air, creating the perfect conditions for lots of wind and snow.

What Makes a Blizzard?

For a snowstorm to be called a blizzard, three things need to happen:

1. Strong Winds: The wind must blow at least 55 kilometers an hour, which is as fast as a car driving down the street! This wind can blow around things like lawn furniture and garbage cans.
2. Low Visibility: Visibility is how far you can see. In a blizzard, you might only see a couple of blocks away, or even less. Sometimes, you can’t see anything at all, which is called a “whiteout.”
3. Duration: The snowstorm must last for at least three hours.

Blizzard Facts

Blizzards are usually very cold, but they don’t have to be a certain temperature to be called a blizzard. They also don’t need to have a lot of snow, but they often do. Some blizzards leave behind snow that’s taller than you!

Blizzards happen in places where warm and cold air meet often. In the winter, the middle of the United States and Canada get lots of blizzards because cold air from the North Pole meets warm air from near Mexico. Other places like the Northeastern US, parts of the UK, Romania, Iran, and China can also experience big blizzards.

Enjoying the Snow Safely

We just had a blizzard where we live, but now that it’s not snowing, it’s a great time to go outside and build a snowman. Remember, it’s important to stay safe during a blizzard by staying indoors. But once it’s over, you can have lots of fun in the snow!

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