Blizzard Blizzard by Courtney , Jessica, AJ

What is a Blizzard? The official definition of a Blizzard is A large amount of falling OR blowing snow with winds in excess of 35mph and visibility of less then ¼ of a mile for an extended period of time (greater then 3 hrs. )

Where Blizzards occur Blizzards can occur any were there is snow and a front most of the time blizzards occur in the northwest and northeastern parts of the U.S and all over Canada their also common in Europe and Asia. A blizzard is when cold air mixes with snow and high speed winds that exceed 5Km http://www.extremestorms.com/blizzards.htm

How Blizzards are classified Blizzards aren’t really classified like hurricanes or tornadoes however their winds are classified depending on their speed, 32-38mph-Modern Gales 39-47mph-Fresh Gales 48-54mph-Strong Gales 55-63mph-Whole Gales 64-72mph-Storm 75+ -Hurricane

Safety Before hand seek some form of shelter immediately the longer your out side the greater your chances of getting hypothermia If you are outside dig a cave in the snow, stay hydrated but do NOT eat the snow melt it first then drink it. If your electricity goes out be careful what you use as an alternative heat source. Fireplaces and kerosene heaters can be dangerous without proper ventilation.

Safety Close off unnecessary rooms and make sure no cool air can come in threw it. Let sunlight come in threw the window during the day but make sure the windows are covered and locked at night Pets should be moved inside when the temperature goes below freezing You must also cover all uncovered body parts to prevent frost bite.

How can you prevent damage in a blizzard Put insulation around pipes so they don’t freeze and burst Have a fire extinguisher in the house Cut away tree branches that could fall on a house/buildings Install storm windows Clean out your gutters Learn how to shut of water valves incase pipes burst

The End