Buzz
This week, the northeast was overwhelmed by snow, with some areas seeing more than three feet of accumulation. As people shoveled their way through the snow, they may have paused to reflect on the nature of their struggle. Was it just a snowstorm, or was it a full-blown blizzard? What's the actual difference?
A snowstorm is the typical winter phenomenon, involving snow, sleet, ice, or freezing rain, often with frigid temperatures. These storms can lead to dangerous roads and hazardous conditions, so they should always be taken seriously.
A blizzard, however, is a more extreme weather event. For a storm to qualify as a blizzard, it must meet three critical conditions: winds of 35 miles per hour or more, visibility reduced to a quarter-mile or less, and these conditions must persist for a minimum of three hours.
Neither a snowstorm nor a blizzard is inherently more severe than the other. A blizzard may only cause poor visibility and strong winds for a few hours without significant snow accumulation. In fact, it might not even have active snowfall if strong winds are blowing around existing snow. (Blizzards are rarer along the coast since heavier snow is less likely to be blown around.) However, blizzards are generally more dangerous, as conditions can worsen to the point where visibility is almost nonexistent, and the wind chill can lead to frostbite or hypothermia.
This week's storm was a nor’easter, which refers to a low-pressure system originating off the Mid-Atlantic coast, gaining strength as it moves northeast.
While this recent storm was remarkable, it's not the worst on record. The infamous Great Blizzard of 1888 brought up to 55 inches of snow and wind gusts reaching 85 miles per hour to the northeast. Water and gas lines froze, and walking became nearly impossible. Of the 1,000 people expected at the New York Stock Exchange that day, only 30 managed to make it in.
