What is a blizzard and how it manifests

Blizzards and snowstorms are sometimes confused, as stated by National Geographic. However, a snowstorm must have specific characteristics before it can be considered a blizzard. Some weather systems around the world say that a blizzard is a weather event that takes place when low temperatures, high wind speeds in excess of 56 km/h and heavy snowfall occur at the same time. This reduces visibility dramatically to just 400 meters or so and the whole event must happen over the span of at least three hours to qualify as a blizzard.

The danger of blizzards, caused by the heavy snowfall and the powerful winds especially, is that car accidents can be more frequent, due to low visibility and drivers that don't reduce speed, or pedestrians can get lost more easily. Imagine walking through Silent Hill without a map; replace the fog with a blizzard and you're done for.

Additionally, blizzards can pose a threat to people that aren't sheltered in a vehicle or a building by exposing them to very low temperatures, leading to frostbites or hypothermia.

Where do blizzards occur

Blizzards can occur anywhere on Earth, and they are more frequent in locations around the Arctic Circle, due to the lower temperatures and more powerful winds sweeping across the North Pole area. So, countries and regions such as Sweden, Finland, Siberia, as well as Canada and Greenland are battered with blizzards more often, which is why some parts of these regions are straight up uninhabitable.

However, blizzards can happen in countries found more towards the south where all conditions can be met, Romania included. The Bărăgan area especially is susceptible to blizzards due to the constant powerful winds that sweep through the area even during summer time, let alone during winter time. Practically anywhere on Earth where snow falls, there's a chance of a blizzard, greater or lower, depending on the overall conditions.

In the future, climate change could extend the geographical area of blizzards and the regions that are confronted with this phenomenon could deal with stronger episodes.

3 of the worst blizzards in history

Nowadays, we have a pretty good understanding of how blizzards work and we have multiple ways of protecting ourselves from them, but in the past, people weren't so lucky.

One of the worst blizzards of all time took place in Norway back in 1719. During a short-lived invasion of Sweden, the Swedish soldiers were forced to retreat, but they were caught in one of the worst blizzards ever. Over 4.000 soldiers lost their lives or were seriously injured during this extreme weather episode.

Another series of deadly blizzards took place in 1886 in Kansas, USA. In the first week of January on that year, Kansas was hit by two blizzards, killing at least 100 people, while the heavy snowfall blocked the railways, leading to a halt in transporting supplies, food and passengers. What's worst is that over 100.000 cattle perished, as well as pigs and other animals, with some counties losing 75% of their farm capacity.

The blizzard of 1972 in Iran was another devastating event and one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country. The city of Ardakan, found within the very arid deserts that almost never receive snowfall saw heavy precipitation in 1972. The blizzard hit the area quick and merciless, killing 4.000 people in the city. Additionally, 2.000 people were reported missing at the time from the catastrophe, while in several smaller villages nearby, no one survived to tell the story.

Before the snowstorm hit, Iran was facing the 1460 day of its worst drought on record. 200 villages were heavily affected, transportation was dragged to a halt and people who chose to stay indoors were far from safe, as snow between 3 and almost 8 meters buried them alive.

How do we protect ourselves from a blizzard

There are several things we can do in order to ensure our safety during a blizzard, the first being to pack an emergency bag or kit. This can come in handy if you suffer from a specific illness, such as asthma or diabetes, but can help you treat any potential injuries. Also pack batteries for a radio, a flashlight and a knife, as well as a radio, to stay informed, as the internet may not be working. A power bank or a couple of them are also a necessity and you can find them pretty cheap these days, but only buy from a reputable brand.

Having enough food and water is essential during a blizzard, so in case authorities announce that such an event could take place, make sure to stock up enough supplies. Choose foods that aren't perishable and take into account that you might not have access to gas or electricity, so pick foods that can be eaten quickly. Beans, tuna and any canned ready-to-eat foods are your best bet.

If you happen to be on the move when a blizzard hits, seek shelter as soon as possible, preferably a place where you can warm yourself up. If you're in a car, crank up the heat enough so you can stay warm. If you have an EV, make sure you have plenty of juice in the batteries, as they will deplete faster.

These are just some of the pieces of advice that you can use in order to get through a blizzard episode safely. Make sure to always stay informed, especially when cold weather starts to settle in and always make sure you have enough supplies, just in case.