Blizzards-Purple


 * Blizzards**  **By Sarah C. and Conder S.**



**Introduction**

Cold and deadly, a blizzard contains large amounts of snow being blown by winds over 35 mph. (1) As a result, this causes visibilities less than a 1/4 of a mile. (1) Throughout history, blizzards have been known to cause a dangerous environment, where severe injuries, and even death can occur. A widely known example would be The Great Blizzard of 1888 in New York. (4) These types of severe winter storms can form from two air masses coming together and temperatures below freezing. media type="youtube" key="Ebvb2ZGBxB4" height="19" width="380" Dangers

Due to the combination of wind and temperature, blizzards can cause very low wind chill factors. Without the proper apparel, low wind chill factors can cause frostbite or hypothermia. (1) Frostbite is a severe reaction to the exposure of extreme cold and can permanently damage the exposed skin. (2) The area affected by frostbite is frozen and the underlying tissues may die and decay. (2) However, when the frostbite is severe, it can also affect the muscle and bone underneath. (2) This eventually leads to the amputation of the human appendages and loss of digits. (2) In contrast, hypothermia also affects the mind as well as the physical condition. When the human body cools to a temperature below 96 degrees Fahrenheit (35.56 degrees Celsius), it is losing more heat than it is producing. Some of the effects are slurred speech, uncontrollable shivering, loss of coordination, and in general, mental confusion. (1) To add to the danger, the older the person is, the less sensitive he is to the cold. (2) Thus, while the body temperature has dropped to a life-threatening level, the man himself might not feel it. As an after affect, hypothermia may cause the person to drift into a coma or simply die from the cold. (2) However, the blizzard is also widely known for laying down a hazardous surrounding. For example, when a drier, more powdery snow is combined with the high winds of a blizzard, it may cause dangerous whiteout conditions. (5) Conditions such as these can reduce the visibility to near zero, making it difficult or even impossible to travel, whether in an automobile or plane. (5) Any traffic can quickly end in a severe accident or even death. Furthermore, the pipes inside the house can freeze and burst if the temperatures are low enough. (1) If so, then the cold can quickly set in and cause the already mentioned illnesses. The house itself can also be harshly damaged, with roofs under the strain of the heavy snow, it is possible that for them to collapse and damage the inhabitants. On the other hand, when talking about a city as a whole, it is possible for the blizzard to disrupt or block communications to the outside, isolating the city. (6) Heavy snow and strong winds are capable of snapping electrical wires, causing power outages, and sinking ships. This becomes a serious issue when supplies, such as food and drinkable water, become scarce. (1) Click here to see more impacts a blizzard can make on a single city.

Conditions of Formation Storms capable of causing blizzards usually form when the jet stream travels towards the south. When summer sets in for the southern hemisphere and winter comes for the northern counterpart, the unequal distribution of heat causes the jet stream to tip to the south. (3) The change in direction results in the collision of the warm tropical air with the cold polar air, forming a front. (3) Frontal wedging occurs and as the tropical air rises over the cold air, some of the polar air also gets forced upward. Consequently, the forced air expands and cools adiabatically to its dew point. Thus, condensation occurs and coupled with condensation nuclei, clouds such as the nimbostratus can form. Because the relative humidity of the air is already at 100%, other rising parcels of air deposit their condensation in the clouds until gravity finally brings them down. As a result of the low temperatures, the deposited condensation in the cloud freezes and forms into snowflakes. On the contrary, the type of precipitation that finally reaches the ground changes on the position of the cloud. (3) If it is at the farthest from where the two air masses meet at the ground, then the snowflakes will most likely retain their form by the time they hit the surface. If the cloud is instead closest, then the snowflakes will most likely melt as they fall, transitioning back into their liquid state. However, in order for a blizzard to fully mature it needs strong winds to blow the snow crystals around. Wind is the result of the air's attempt in balancing out the pressure between two different locations. The difference between the high pressure zone and the low pressure zone is called the pressure gradient. If the pressure gradient is high, then the low pressure zone requires more air to become the high pressure zone's equal. (5) Hence, the wind speed is high. The high pressure gradient can be supplied by mid-latitude cyclones or hurricanes where the high pressure, cold air forces the low pressure, warm air upwards. (3) The forced lifting makes it possible for heavy precipitation and the difference in pressure between the warm air mass and cold air mass can be high enough for the strong winds a blizzard needs.  Historical Example : The Blizzard of 1888

There have been a series of great blizzards throughout history. However the most fatal storm that had ever struck was the Blizzard of 1888. (4) This storm may not have had the most snow, or the lowest temperatures, but it did have a huge and lasting impact on the United States of America. (4) The intense blizzard stretched from the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine. Ships were grounded at their ports, over 400 lives were lost, telephone poles and wires snapped cutting down communication, and fires sparked throughout the cities. (4) Over $25 million worth of property damage was due solely on fires. (6) All of these things were the result of "The Great White Hurricane." It's estimated that in some parts of the storm as much as 50 inches of snow fell, and with 48mph winds visibility was down to almost none. (6) As a result of the transportation crisis, people came up with the idea for the subway, which would ensure a convenient way to travel in case of any severe winter storm. (6) However, taking into account all the cities that were hit by the blizzard, New York suffered the worst by far. At first, only light rain fell from the skies but as the day progressed, the rains grew in strength and turned into snow. (6) Eventually, snow had amounted to about 5 feet with drifts over 30 feet. (6) Winds were over 80mph, supply wagons containing food and milk were unable to make deliveries, most of the stores were closed, and food at home was running out. (6) As if this wasn't enough, when shopkeepers and home owners tried shoveling out a pathway, the winds would blow twice as much back for one fling of the shovel. (6) Click here to read about another historic blizzard in 1950.



Safety

In the middle of the winter, at the height of the storm season, one should regularly check on the local weather websites and news. There are two different types of warnings that one should stay alert for. The "Winter Storm Watch", states that severe conditions are possible within the next day or two. (1) If a winter storm watch is announced your weather source, then it is best to stay inside and stay tuned as much as possible for the upcoming days. When seeing that the Winter Storm Watch has changed to a Winter Storm Warning, it means that the severe conditions are inevitable and have begun or are about to begin. (1) The following action should be to confirm with yourself that you have the following supplies at home to stay safe. (1)   1. Flashlight and extra batteries   2. A portable, battery powered, radio  -Preferably the NOAA Weather Radio. 3. Extra food and water. Ex: dried fruit, cereal, bread, chocolate, etc. -The food should contain plenty of calories without the need to be cooked. 4. Extra medicine  5. First-Aid supplies  6. Heating fuel  -Fuel supplies may not reach you for days after a severe blizzard. 7. Alternative heating source. Ex: space heater, fireplace, wood stove, etc. -When electricity is down or when your pipes have leaked, it is important to stay warm. 8. Fire extinguisher  9. Smoke detector  -Test it regularly to ensure it is in working condition. If there is no heat available in the building you are currently in, then close off unneeded rooms and block the cracks under the doors. (1) This can be accomplished by stuffing towels or rags underneath. At night, windows need to be covered to retain heat in the room. (1) If you are stuck in or unable to find more adequate shelter than your car or truck, make sure that the exhaust pipe is not blocked and run the motor every hour for ten minutes to gather heat. (1) In addition, make yourself visible to the rescuers by turning on the dome light at night and tying on a colored cloth (the most ideal color would be red) to the antenna of the automobile. (1) The gas tank should also be full to avoid the formation of ice in the system. (1) Lastly, it is important at all times whether at home or in your car that you STAY INSIDE. On the other hand, to prepare for such an event, have the following materials available for use in your car or truck. (1)   1. Blankets/Sleeping bags   2. Extra food and water  -The food should contain high calories and be non-perishable for the convenience of long-term storage. 3. Flashlight with extra batteries  4. First-Aid Kit  5. Wind Shield Scraper Sources

(1) USSARTF. "Blizzards." //U.S. SAR Task Force Main Page//. United States Search and Rescue Task Force. Web. 13 Jan. 2012. <[]>.

(2) NOAA. "Frostbite and Hypothermia." //National Weather Service - Central Region Headquarters Home Page //. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office. Web. 13 Jan. 2012.<@http://www.crh.noaa.gov/oax/safety/frostbite.php>.

(3) The Weather Channel. "Blizzards." //The Weather Channel //. The Weather Channel. Web. 15 Jan. 2012. <@http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/winter/blizzard.html>.

(4) "The Blizzard of 1888." Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 17 Jan. 2012 <@http://www.infoplease.com/spot/blizzard1.html>.

(5) "Blizzards." //National Weather Service - Western Region Headquarters//. NOAA. Web. 21 Jan. 2012. <@http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/fgz/science/blizzard.php?wfo=fgz>

(6) Christiano, G. J. "The Blizzard of 1888; the Impact of This Devastating Storm on New York Transit." w //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">ww.nycsubway.org - New York City Subway History, Photos & More //<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">. NYC Subway. Web. 22 Jan. 2012. <@http://www.nycsubway.org/articles/1888-blizzard.html>.

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