Blizzards combine heavy snow with strong winds that reduce visibility to nearly nothing.

The longer version

A blizzard is defined by wind as much as by snowfall. Strong gusts lift falling flakes and already settled snow into the air, filling it with a dense moving curtain that cuts visibility to a few metres even when little new snow is coming down.

The wind also drifts snow into deep banks and strips it from open ground. Cold, loose snow blows most easily, so the most severe events often follow a fresh fall. Blowing snow can reduce visibility long after the sky has cleared, and the gusts are largely what give these storms their reputation.

Where this entry sits

Clouds, wind, rain, and storms shape daily life in ways that most people barely notice. This collection explains snow, lightning, rainbows, the turning seasons, temperature, the instruments forecasters rely on, and scraps of old weather lore. The full list sits on the Weather and Climate page, where every entry is listed in order.