Blizzard

The blizzard is a severe snowstorm in North America that is caused by a strong inrush of cold air from a northerly to north-westerly direction. Here, the cold air penetrates backwards to the east from migrating low-pressure areas far into the south. This is possible because of the lack of transverse mountains. The name is probably derived from the German word "blitzartig" and thus characterizes the rapid onset of cold air.

The Blizzard Black is a Blizzard that also digs up farmland with it. The following phenomena are typical of a North American blizzard:

• Low temperatures, 10 degrees Fahrenheit (= about 25 degrees Celsius) or colder.
• High wind speeds: 35 miles per hour (equivalent to about 56 km/h) or more.
• Large amounts of snow, reducing visibility to 500 feet (about 150 meters) or less.

True blizzards are fairly rare. If they come about, then most likely in Canada and in the Northern Plains of the USA. Nevertheless, they can also haunt the entire Northeast of the USA and cause chaotic weather conditions. Blizzards have even brought snow to the north of the sunny state of Florida.

The name of a strong snowstorm as a blizzard was later adopted in other regions such as Antarctica.