Blizzard Research Paper

1663 Words4 Pages

Introduction

According to Richard Wild, the first use of the word ‘blizzard’, to define a set of weather conditions, was used in 1860 to describe a mid-west weather event in which “warm and balmy” condition suddenly took a turn for the cold. The result: freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall and massive drifts of snow (1996, web). A blizzard is the most severe of all types of snowfall. Its effects exceed those of heavy snow warnings, flurries, blowing and drifting snow and traveler’s warnings. Blizzards are caused through a confluence of cold-air, moisture and lift (which is necessary to raise the cold air and form it into clouds which produce precipitation) (Weather Almanac, 2004, p. 81). In the case of a blizzard warning, inhabitants can expect winds of over 35 mph, heavy accumulation of light, powdery snow and low visibility. These conditions make it difficult for individuals to get to and from work and school, which, in turn, makes it difficult for businesses to function, governments to deliver services and utility companies to deliver essential services (e.g. electricity, gas, etc.).

The Blizzard of 1888; Importance of Topic

The Great Blizzard of 1888 (which lasted from March 11 to March 14) hit the northeast U.S. with a snowfalls of over four feet, whiteouts and winds between 40 and 50 miles-per-hour. The storm received a great deal of attention because it shut down New York City, stranded many of its inhabitants and created life-threatening hazard as precipitation rested on overhead wires causing them to collapse. As Polly Fry notes, several conditions must exist in order to distinguish a blizzard from a snowstorm: a blizzard must have winds of over 35 mph, reduced visibility because of the “blowing or drifting ...

... middle of paper ...

...ge that it is simply a fact of life. Part of the reason blizzards are difficult to define is because peoples perceptions of what constitutes a blizzard vary.

Works Cited

“Arctic Climatology and Meteorology.” NSIDC.org. 2011. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.

Fry, Polly. "Blizzards." Dictionary of American History. Ed. Stanley I. Kutler. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 2003: 485-487.

Hayden, Edward E. West Indian Hurricanes and the March Blizzard, 1888. New York: Forest & Stream Publishing, 1889.

“In a Blizzard’s Grasp.” NYTimes.com. 1888. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.

“Nor’easters.” Web.Archive.org. 2002. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.

Wild, Richard. “A Historical Review on the Origin and Definition of the Word Blizzard.” DrRichardWild.co.uk. 1996. Web. 26 Oct. 2011.

"Winter Storms." Weather Almanac. Ed. Richard A. Wood. 11th ed. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2004: 81-92.

Open Document