blizzard

blizzard winter storm characterized by high winds, low temperatures, and driving snow; according to the official definition given in 1958 by the U.S. Weather Bureau, the winds must exceed 35 mi (56 km) per hr and the temperature 20°F (-7°C) or lower. Blizzards are most common in the N Great Plains states—South Dakota is sometimes called "the Blizzard State" —but they also occur as far south as Texas and as far east as Maine.

blizzard A storm of blowing snow with high winds and low temperatures. Blizzards are a notable climatic feature of the northern and central parts of the USA in winter, and are related to depression tracks. In the USA, a blizzard is defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a storm with winds of at least 56 km/h, temperatures below −6.7°C, and enough falling or blowing snow to reduce visibility to less than 0.4 km. In a severe blizzard, wind speed is at least 72.5 km/h, temperatures below −12.2°C, and visibility is close to zero.

blizzard XIX. of unkn. orig. (first (U.S.) senses ‘sharp blow’, ‘shot’).