Transcript Blizzards
Blizzards Questions • What is a blizzard? • How do blizzards form? • What are 3 effects of blizzards? Blizzard Year What happened Blizzard of 1888 Schoolhouse Blizzard Armistice Day Blizzard Storm of the Century • How do you stay safe in a blizzard? Definition • Blizzard: A severe winter storm with low temperatures (under 10 degrees), strong winds (over 55 mph), and heavy blowing snow lasting at least 3 hours – Most winter snow storms are NOT blizzards – Blizzards can occur anywhere there is snow and high winds How Blizzards Form How Blizzards Form: • Cold, dry Canadian air moves south and mixes with a warm, moist air mass moving north from the Gulf of Mexico • Blizzards need 3 things to form: • The air needs to be cold at the surface • The atmosphere has to have a lot of moisture • There has to be wind to lift the warm air over the cold air. Whiteouts • Whiteouts: A condition that may happen during a blizzard where shadows, nearby objects, landmarks, clouds, and even the horizon are not visible. • Land and sky seem to blend together. • All you see is white! • All sense of direction, depth perception, and even balance may be lost. Whiteouts • Whiteouts happen when rays of sunlight are bounced in all directions between bright white clouds • Real whiteouts occur mostly in the Arctic and Antarctic during the spring Effects of Blizzards • Effects of Blizzards: – It may be difficult to see or breathe during a blizzard. – Traffic accidents – Cities may shut down as snow traps people – Possible death from freezing temperatures • The number one cause of death during a winter storm are heart attacks while shoveling Famous Blizzards • The Blizzard of 1888 • Happened in 1888 in the Northeastern United States. • Snowdrifts reached heights of 15 to 50 feet high. • People were stuck in their houses for over a week • 400 people were killed, and 200 ships sunk Famous Blizzards • Schoolhouse Blizzard • Happened in 1888 in the Plain States • The day had been calm and mild, and people left their homes to enjoy the warmth • Children got trapped in schoolhouses, and people got stranded at work • Overall, over 500 people were killed Famous Blizzards • The Armistice Day Blizzard: • Hit New York and surrounding states in 1940 • Caught many people off guard with rapid and extreme temperature change. • It was 60°F in the morning but snowing heavily by noon • Some of those caught unprepared died by freezing to death in the snow and some while trapped in their cars. • 154 people died Famous Blizzards • The Storm of the Century • Hit the U.S in 1993 • It dropped snow over 26 states and reached as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico. • In many southern US states, more snow fell in this storm than ever fell in an entire winter. • At least half of the U.S. population was affected • 270 people died and 48 were reported missing at sea. Safety • To stay safe during a blizzard: • Fill bathtubs with water in case pipes freeze. • Make sure windows and doors are tightly closed and anything movable in the yard is tied down or brought inside. • Bring pets indoors as they may not survive the cold temperatures • Stock up on food, especially food that doesn't need to be prepared with electricity • Have batteries for flashlights and radios. • Unless it is absolutely necessary, stay indoors.