How Winter Storms Become Blizzards

Winter storms need at least 35 miles per hour winds and other intense conditions to be considered a blizzard.

By Mac Stone
Jan 25, 2023 2:00 PM
Blizzard
A few people walk in a snow storm that looks like a blizzard. (Credit: justkgoomm/Shutterstock)

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In March of 1888, areas in the Northeast received as much as 55 inches of snow over the span of a couple of days. On Feb. 5, 1978, both Boston and Providence were met with 27 inches of snow, hurricane-force winds and coastal flooding. In Dec. 2022, Buffalo received over 55 inches of snow as a blizzard impacted nearly 60 percent of Americans.

For as long as they’ve been recorded, blizzards have impacted the United States. As they’ve continued to make an impact, scientists have learned more about how these dangerous winter storms form.

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