Blizzards!

Blizzards!

The Great White Hurricane On a March Sunday in 1888, rain fell across the northeast coast of the United States. The temperature dropped quickly as night fell. The rain turned to ice, then to snow. By Monday morning, howling winds whipped the falling snow into huge drifts. The “ Great White Hurricane" lasted three days and buried the cities of Boston and New York.

When the storm was over, more than four hundred people had died. The Blizzard of 1888 had caused millions of dollars in damage. Ships at sea were sunk. Trains were frozen to their tracks, and roads were clogged with snow several stories high. It would be well into the summer before the last of the snow would melt.

Extreme Storms Since the Blizzard of 1888, there have been many big snowstorms in the United States. Only some, however, were blizzards. It takes three things to make a blizzard--strong winds, blinding snow, and freezing cold. In a blizzard, winds blow steadily at more than 35 miles (56 km) per hour. Wind gusts may even reach a hurricane force of 75 miles (119 km) per hour or more.

The strong gales carry falling snow and pick up snow already on the ground. The air becomes a spinning cloud of white, making it difficult to see. This is known as a whiteout. In a whiteout, no one can see anything more than a quarter of a mile (402m) away. Safe travel is nearly impossible.

The biting winds also make chilly air feel even colder than it really is. Blowing gales create something called wind chill. Wind chill causes the body to lose heat faster. It feels like it is in air that is much colder. Wind chill can cause bare skin to freeze, leading to a painful condition known as frostbite.