Blizzard warning
New York City police and Office of Emergency Management vehicles parked near Times Square in New York City during a 2015 blizzard warning.
A blizzard warning (SAME code: BZW) is a hazardous weather statement issued by Weather Forecast Offices (WFO) of the National Weather Service (NWS) in the United States, which indicates heavy snowfall accompanied by sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph (16 m/s) or greater are forecast to occur for a minimum of three hours. A blizzard tends to reduce visibilities to 1⁄4 mile (400 m) or less. A Severe Blizzard Warning is a variation issued in some cases of winds above 45 mph (20 m/s) and temperatures below 10 °F (−12 °C). Most local weather offices will activate and broadcast the SAME alarm tone on relevant NOAA Weather Radio stations for both varieties of warning. When the Wireless Emergency Alerts system was launched in 2012, blizzard warnings were initially sent as alerts to mobile phones; this practice was discontinued in November 2013.
In Canada, comparable warnings are issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC). As of 2010, Blizzard Warnings issued by local MSC forecast offices are based on sets of regionally determined criteria:[1]
- National warning below tree line – Warning requires sustained winds of 40 km/h (25 mph) or greater with widespread reductions in visibility to 400 m (0.25 mi) or less from blowing snow or a combination of blowing and falling snow to occur at least four hours.[2]
- Northern (Arctic) warning above tree line – Criteria are the same as national warning but for blizzard conditions forecast to occur for at least six hours.[2]
The warnings are relayed by Weatheradio Canada and media outlets like The Weather Network.
Example of a blizzard warning (US)[]
The following is an example of a blizzard warning issued by the National Weather Service Office in Duluth, Minnesota.
028 WWUS43 KDLH 040931 WSWDLH URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Duluth MN 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 MNZ021-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.BZ.W.0001.211205T1100Z-211206T1200Z/ Southern Cook- Including the city of Grand Marais 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...BLIZZARD WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 5 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Blizzard conditions expected. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 16 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Southern Cook County. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Grand Portage Reservation. * WHEN...From 5 AM Sunday to 6 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ MNZ020-037-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ Southern Lake-Carlton and South St. Louis- Including the cities of Two Harbors, Silver Bay, and Duluth 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches, except 10 to 16 inches for the higher terrain of the North Shore. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph. * WHERE...Southern Lake and Carlton and South St. Louis Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Fond du Lac Band. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ MNZ010-018-025-026-035-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0000Z-211206T0600Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ Koochiching-North Itasca-North Cass-South Itasca-Northern Aitkin- Including the cities of International Falls, Bigfork, Walker, Grand Rapids, and Hill City 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 10 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Koochiching, North Itasca, North Cass, South Itasca and Northern Aitkin Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Mille Lacs Band, Big Sandy Lake area and the Bois Forte Band, Deer Creek and, Nett Lake areas. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ MNZ011-019-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ North St. Louis-Central St. Louis- Including the cities of Ely and Hibbing 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 11 inches. * WHERE...North St. Louis and Central St. Louis Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Bois Forte Band, Lake Vermilion and, Nett Lake areas. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ WIZ001>003-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ Douglas-Bayfield-Ashland- Including the cities of Superior, Washburn, Bayfield, and Ashland 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Douglas, Bayfield and Ashland Counties. This includes the Tribal Lands of the Red Cliff Band and the Bad River Reservation. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ WIZ004-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0005.211205T0900Z-211206T1800Z/ Iron- Including the city of Hurley 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM SUNDAY TO NOON CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 7 to 11 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Iron County. * WHEN...From 3 AM Sunday to noon CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ MNZ012-042145- /O.UPG.KDLH.WS.A.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ /O.NEW.KDLH.WS.W.0005.211205T0600Z-211206T1200Z/ Northern Cook and Lake- Including the city of Isabella 331 AM CST Sat Dec 4 2021 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 AM CST MONDAY... * WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 9 to 15 inches. Winds gusting as high as 35 mph. * WHERE...Northern Cook and Lake County. * WHEN...From midnight tonight to 6 AM CST Monday. * IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult to impossible. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The worst conditions should be during the day on Sunday. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. The latest road conditions can be obtained by calling 5 1 1. Road conditions can also be found at 511mn.org for Minnesota or 511wi.gov for Wisconsin. && $$ For more information from the National Weather Service visit http://weather.gov/Duluth
Example of a blizzard warning (Canada)[]
FPCN16 CWNT 071600 Warnings Hall Beach 12:41 PM EST Thursday 07 February 2013 Blizzard warning for Hall Beach continued Blizzard conditions today. This is a warning that blizzard conditions are imminent or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions.. listen for updated statements. A strong storm system located over Davis Strait that produced blizzard conditions at Clyde River is weakening. Blizzard conditions are still affecting Hall Beach but as winds decrease today blizzard conditions will begin to improve at Hall Beach later this afternoon.
See also[]
References[]
- ^ [1] Archived April 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "Environment Canada – Weather and Meteorology". ec.gc.ca. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "IEM::Valid Time Event Code". Iowa Enviromental Mesonet. Retrieved 15 December 2021.
External links[]
Categories:
- Weather warnings and advisories