Hazard's of a blizzard:
Large quantities of snow can cause the roof of the building to collapse. Electric wires and telephone cables can snap under a load of heavy ice. Broadcast antennas can become choked with ice, threatening any communication. Falling temperatures can cause hypothermia if caught in a storm without a source of heat. Motorists trapped in the storms can freeze to death, or they might freeze trying to walk to shelter. Blizzards can reach hurricane forces.
Watches and warnings:
Today's forecasters can give us enough time to prepare for a blizzard. When you hear a blizzard is approaching, take the warning seriously.
Large quantities of snow can cause the roof of the building to collapse. Electric wires and telephone cables can snap under a load of heavy ice. Broadcast antennas can become choked with ice, threatening any communication. Falling temperatures can cause hypothermia if caught in a storm without a source of heat. Motorists trapped in the storms can freeze to death, or they might freeze trying to walk to shelter. Blizzards can reach hurricane forces.
Watches and warnings:
Today's forecasters can give us enough time to prepare for a blizzard. When you hear a blizzard is approaching, take the warning seriously.
- If possible, stay off of highways, especially in open rural areas where blowing snow can cause whiteouts. Also avoid bridges.
- If you are in a vehicle that gets stuck, stay with the vehicle, but don't keep the engine running just to keep warm. Carbon monoxide from the exhaust can kill you. If you need warmth, start the engine for a few minutes but roll the window down a little bit.
- Take blankets, extra warm clothing, food, candles, and matches routinely on winter car trips.
- At home, have enough supplies on hand to help you cope with electrical failure that may last several days.
A Blizzard Watch is an advisory issued which means winds greater than 35 miles per hour (30 kn; 56 km/h), mixed with falling or blowing snow, and visibilities of 1⁄4 miles (0.4 km) or less is forecast for a period of 3 hours or more. A blizzard watch is issued 48 to 12 hours before an expected blizzard event. As the forecast solidifies, a blizzard watch will either be downgraded to a winter storm warning or winter weather advisory for blowing snow (depending on accumulation amounts) or upgraded to a blizzard warning.