BlizzardsTan

Blizzards Maggie M. and Abby G.  Tan Class

Introduction Blizzards are known for strong winds and heavy snow.(1)Blizzards can be dangerous because they can shut down roads, power lines, and emergency medical transportation.(3) They have a center of low pressure and low visibility. (1) A large pressure gradient results in strong winds which are destructive to property. Blizzards don't always bring snow.(1) If there is snow on the ground, the strong winds can pick up the snow and blow it causing difficult visibility. (1)  Dangers The conditions during a blizzard can be life threatening.(3) Transportation, such as traveling in a car or bus, can be very difficult and sometimes impossible depending on the severity of the blizzard .(3) White out conditions occur when snow is blown by the strong winds,making visibility extremely difficult.(3) When traveling in these conditions it's easy to slide on snow cover roads or crash, due to low visibility.(3) In the Mid-west, it's not uncommon for wind chill temperatures to reach -60ºF during a blizzard, which can cause pipes to freeze.(3) The cold temperatures are another life threatening danger, as they may cause severe hypothermia or frostbite.(3) In addition to frigid temperatures, frozen pipes, and dangerous transportation, electrical power can be lost.(3) The strong winds and heavy snow can knock down power lines and trees, eliminating communication, and causing damage to property and people. If someone is in serious need of help during a blizzard, it can be very difficult, or impossible, to get in touch with emergency medical care. (2)



Conditions of Formation  Blizzards form when the jet stream dips far enough into the south.(1) This causes cold air from the north and warm air from the south to collide and create the necessary conditions for a blizzard.(1) For a storm to be called a blizzard, there must be visibility of 1/4 mile or less for at least 3 hours as well as temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit.(1,3) The difference between the low pressure in the storm and the high pressure to the west means a large pressure gradient, therefore creating strong winds of at least 35 MPH.(1,3) Cold and dry polar air create temperatures needed for snow to form.(1) Blizzards generally form in flat areas such as plains, which do not have trees or uneven grounds to block the wind.(1) When there is cold air over warm air (over warm water), the warm, moist air rises because of convergence, where it cools adiabatically, and expands until it reaches its dew point, where it forms clouds, producing precipitation. The combination of the cold temperatures and the precipitation produce clouds and then snow. Because blizzards are a low pressure center storm, and the air around them is high pressure, there is a large pressure gradient, which produces strong winds.

Historical Examples

__ The Blizzard of 1888 (March 11-14) __ This blizzard in NY was one of the most severe blizzards on record in the Northeast.(2) It began with light snow around 3pm, and by midnight there was 3 inches. By the next morning there was 18 inches of snow on the ground, and by midnight 33 inches.(2) By Tuesday the 13th there was another foot and the blizzard ended by 3am on the 14th.(2) The total snowfall of this blizzard was 46.7 inches, but the snowdrifts were much higher.(2) As a result, the city of Albany, NY had blocked streets and no functioning phone lines, which prevented the delivery of coal, which was vital to heating houses.(2) __Blizzard of 1978 ( February 6-7)__ This storm impacted the coast of New England, Long Island, Western New England and Vermont.(2) Massachusetts endured high wind speeds. For example, Logan airport recorded 83 MPH winds and Cape Cod recorded 92 MPH winds.(2) These strong winds caused the snow to drift, reducing visibility.(2) Most areas of Vermont received two feet of snow, and Boston received 26.7 inches, which was one of the largest snow storms recorded.(2 __Superstorm of 1993 (__March 13-14) This blizzard affected the entire eastern third of the US.(2) There were severe blizzard conditions in the northeast, as well as severe weather in the southeast, and flooding and snow in the Mid-Atlantic states.(2) The low pressure moved up from the Gulf of Mexico along the east coast. (2) As a result, the air pressure in Albany was 28.68 inches of mercury, the fifth lowest pressure on record.(2) Because of the strong winds and heavy snow, there was a state of emergency in the northeast.(2) The storm total in Albany was 26.6 inches of snow, and other areas received up to 40 inches of snow.(2) At the peak of the storm, there were 5-6 inches of snow falling per hour.(2)

 Links [|The Blizzard of 1885 and 1889] <span style="color: #f50000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> [|The Blizzard of 1941]

<span style="color: #e00000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 22px;">Safety <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Car safety- <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here are a few tips to prepare for a blizzard if you are in a vehicle: Keep a winter car kit somewhere in the vehicle where it can be easily accessed. The things recommended to be contained in a car kit are: flashlights with extra batteries, first aid kit with pocket knife, several blankets or sleeping bags, extra newspapers for insulation, matches, extra set of mittens, socks, and a wool cap, rain gear and extra clothes, small sack of sand for creating traction under wheels, small shovel, small tools (pliers, wrench, screwdriver), booster cables,set of tire chains or traction mats, brightly colored cloth to use as a flag, canned fruit and nuts, nonelectric can opener, and bottled water. As well as a car kit, have a mechanic check your vehicle to make sure all parts are working correctly. Also, make sure to get good winter tires installed for the cold weather and snow. Make sure to also keep a wind shield scraper and broom in your car to wipe off snow and ice. Before going on long trips make sure you plan by listening to the radio and checking weather websites. Lastly, don't let your gas amount go below 1/2 a tank.

Home safety- Make sure to be aware of what weather may be heading toward your area so you can plan accordingly and be prepared. Do this by reading the newspaper, checking online or watching the news. In case of electricity loss, have canned food and non-perishable food on hand as well as, a flashlight, extra batteries, and drinking water. If the electricity goes out, be prepared with an alternate source of heat to stay warm and prevent frostbite or hypothermia.

<span style="color: #f50000; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 24px; line-height: 22px;">Sources 1)The Weather Channel Interactive. ""Blizzards" - Storm Encyclopedia." 1995-2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. <http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/winter/blizzard.html>. 2)United States. "Major Winter Storms" Web. 20 Nov. 2010. <http://www.erh.noaa.gov/aly/Past/WINTER.htm>. 3)United States. "Blizzards" //National Weather Service - Western Region Headquarters//. By National Weather Service Forecast Office. Web. 21 Nov. 2010. <http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/science/blizzard.php?wfo=fgz>. 4)"Formation of Blizzards." //Oracle Think Quest//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. a <library.thinkquest.org/C0126189/blizzard_formation.htm>. 5)"Beef State: The Blizzard." //NET Website Portal//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.netnebraska.org/extras/beefstate/blizzard.htm>. 6) Washington post. "Snow day: winter storms stretch across the U.S.." //Washington Post - Politics, National, World & D.C. Area News and Headlines- washingtonpost.com//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2010. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2009/12/10/GA2009121002758.html>. 7) "Blizzards." //U.S. SAR Task Force Main Page//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov <http://www.ussartf.org/blizzards.htm>. 8) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"2008 March Blizzards." StormTrack 9 : WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery. Web. 30 Nov. 2010. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><http://stormtrack9.freedomblogging.com/2008/03/page/2/>.