Blizzards

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Blizzards Extreme Heat and Cold
Project by Tania Facchineri, Daniela Amato,
Alyssa Faoro, Brooke Pashley
Submitted to Mr. Halpin Date December,
13, 2002
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What are blizzards and How do they form?
Blizzards are severe winter storms that involve
very low temperatures(-20 to 40C), and strong
winds. The winds usually exceed 35mph. Blizzards
are a type of storm that occurs when warm and
cold air masses intermix and attempt to equalize
their temperatures.
Blizzards form when warm air
moving north collides with a cold air mass that
has been pushed down from the Arctic. During a
blizzard it doesnt actually have to snow. The
winds will stir up the snow on the ground and
well end up with a blizzard.
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What time of Year do Blizzards Occur?
Blizzards occur during the winter solstice
between the months of November through March in
the Northern hemisphere, and May through
September in the Southern hemisphere. An
occasional blizzard may occur during the end of
October in the North and April in the South.

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In Which Area Of the World are Blizzards Most
Common?
Blizzards are most likely to occur in the
Eastern Coast of the U.S. and portions of the
Plains. In Canada blizzards
occur in the Southern Prairies, the Maritimes,
and the Eastern Arctic. It is least likely to
occur in places of warm, tropical climates such
as Florida, Arizona, and Hawaii. The only type
of blizzard that may occur in these regions are
Sand Blizzards.
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The Potential for Destruction
Blizzards have a high potential for destruction.
Accumulation of snow on tree branches cause many
trees to break and fall on cars, houses, and
block streets. Highways and airways experience
major delays because of the large amounts of snow
and lack of visibility. People are forced to stay
home from school and work, also their daily
activities are limited. Elderly people are at
high risk for severe injury or death because of
the lack of aiding.
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Have there been any such Occurrences in this Area?
On January 31st, 2002 a blizzard struck the city
of Windsor. This unexpected blizzard took out
power lines, damaged the natural surroundings,
and caused deaths. Students all over Windsor and
Essex-County were forced to leave and stay home
from schools, and others were unable to attend
work. This was the most recent blizzard in our
area. The Blizzard of 2002 had a strong after
affect on the city of Windsor and is still talked
about today.
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Some of the Biggest and Deadliest Blizzards

• 1888 March 11-14 in Eastern U.S-400 people
• died- 1940 November 11-12 Midwest U.S.-144
  people
• died- 1956 Feb. 1-29 West Europe-1,000 people
  died- 1958 Feb. 15-16 North Eastern U.S-171
  people
• died- 1967 Dec. 12-20 South West U.S-51
  people died- 1988 in New York- 400 people died-
  1993 March 13-14 Eastern U.S-200 people died-
  1996 Jan. 7-8 Northeastern U.S- 100 people
• died- 1996 Aug. 22 Himalayas India -239
  people died

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Factors of Weather that Interact to Produce
Blizzards
Cold Climates (-20 to 40C)
Wind (up to 35mph)
Moisture (lake effect)
Snow fall or on the ground
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Other Exciting Details and Facts about Blizzards

• Approximately 100 people die each year because of
  blizzards. (70 of deaths occur on the roads in
  automobiles)
• Blue Canyon, California usually gets 241 inches
  of snow each year. The snowiest large city is
  Syracuse, New York which gets 112 inches of snow
  on the average each year.
• Most objects get their colour because they absorb
  a particular frequency or colour of visible
  sunlight. Snow reflects sunlight, and thus
  doesn't absorb any colour.

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Extreme Heat
HEAT is a form of transformed energy and is
transmitted by convection, radiation, or
conduction. Extreme heat conditions are formed
when temperatures are 10 degrees or higher in a
certain region. This usually occurs for several
weeks in the summer solstice most frequently
occurring in July and August in the Northern
hemisphere. Effected regions in North America
include East, mid-West, North-east and in the
South. Areas with high humidity are the most
unbearable. On June 20, 1953 extreme heat
occurred in Windsor at 330pm with temperatures
reaching 35C. Heat conditions such as these
cause many deaths, dehydration and disorders such
as heat stroke or sun stroke, heat exhaustion,
heat cramps, and sunburns. An interesting fact is
because men sweat more than women, men are more
vulnerable to heat illness because they become
dehydrated quicker.
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Extreme Cold
COLD is a low temperature range that is very
uncomfortable. Extreme cold occurs when there
are actual temperatures below freezing and when
the low temperature and cooling effect of the
wind combine to create wind chill. Cold
conditions occur in the winter solstice during
the months of December through March, in the
Northern hemisphere. This would least likely
occur in the summer due to the warmer weather.
Near the poles are the most common places that
extreme cold would occur because the temperatures
are at their lowest in these areas. In Snag
Airport, Yukon, at 720am on February 3, 1947 the
temperatures dropped to -50C. Exposure to the
cold can cause frostbite, hypothermia, or even
death. People that are most vulnerable to
extreme cold are infants and the elderly.
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The End