Blizzards

A blizzard is a winter storm that has strong winds, significant wind chill, and poor visibility due to blowing snow. The Meteorological Service of Canada uses the following general criteria for issuing blizzard warnings: strong winds reaching 25 mi/h (40 km/h) or greater, visibility of less than 0.6 mi (1 km); cold temperatures; and conditions lasting in duration at least four hours. Blizzards, which can last for days, can create a variety of dangerous conditions. Heavy snowfall and whiteout conditions can make travel difficult to impossible. In whiteout conditions people have become lost even when going only short distances. Exposure to low wind chill caused by strong winds and cold temperatures can result in frostbite and/or hypothermia, both of which pose risks to health and safety. Blizzards are also known to cause power outages, falling trees and branches due to high winds and/or accumulation of heavy snow, frozen water pipes due to the cold temperatures, and flooding from melting snow. Extreme weather events are on the rise, with an increase in frequency and duration attributed to climate change.

Cold temperatures and the presence of ice and snow make winter in many countries a naturally hazardous season. Winter weather conditions can quickly become dangerous, often with little or no warning. Environment Canada issues a variety of severe winter weather watches and warnings to alert the public about the approach of hazardous winter conditions. Winter storms and excessive cold claim over 100 lives each year in Canada. In Canada, blizzards occur most often in the southern prairies, the Atlantic region, and the eastern Arctic. Personal preparedness measures can be undertaken by learning more about the different kinds of winter hazards and how to plan ahead for possible emergencies. Government environmental and weather agencies issue alerts when severe winter weather is on the way and provide information on the causes, characteristics, and potential effects of various winter hazards, including blizzards.

One of the worst blizzards in American history is widely known as the Great Blizzard of 1888. The blizzard brought 40–55 inches of snow to the northeast coast. Along with the heavy snow came snow drifts as high as 50 feet and 45-mile-per-hour winds. Many people were trapped in their homes for weeks because of the weather conditions and the inaccessibility of the railroads. In addition to the trains, telegraph lines, water mains, and gas lines were also located above ground. It is estimated that the storm resulted in over 400 deaths and many more injuries. Thousands of wild and farm animals froze to death in the blizzard. In the wake of the storm, officials realized the dangers of above-ground telegraph, water, and gas lines and moved them below ground. In New York City, a similar determination was made about the trains, [Page 50]and within 10 years, construction began on an underground subway system that is still in use today. With hindsight, there are many instances where poor judgment led to death or injury from blizzards.

Individuals are cautioned not to venture out in a blizzard. If people must go outside, they should dress properly to stay warm, wearing thin layers of loose-fitting clothing to trap body heat and promote air circulation. Outer clothing should be tightly woven, hooded, and water repellent. Because most body heat is lost through the head, people should always wear a hat when it is cold outside. If it is extremely cold, one should cover the mouth and exposed skin with a scarf, neck tube, or face mask and pay particular attention to the wind chill index, which can create dangerously cold conditions. People should be on alert for signs of frostbite by checking for numbness or white areas on the face and extremities (ears, nose, cheeks, hands, and feet, in particular). One should get medical assistance immediately if there are any signs of confusion, slurred speech, stiff muscles, or uncontrollable shivering. These are all symptoms of a potentially fatal condition called hypothermia, which occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can generate it.

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