It is caused by low temperature, strong winds, and snow. These winds combine with snow and blowing snow to produce extreme conditions. Blizzards usually form when the jet stream dips far to the south, allowing cold air from the north to meet with warm air from the south.

Some areas are more likely to get blizzards than others. In North America, blizzards are common in Northeastern United States, Blizzard conditions also occur in the mountain ranges in western North America. Blizzards also often occur across Russia, and into the northern Europe. They have also been known to occur across the United Kingdom.

One big blizzard hit the United States in 1888. It hit the northern eastern part of the United States. In that blizzard 400 people were killed, 200 ships sunk and the snow reached to 50 ft. high. A little earlier that same year the northern eastern were hit again, it left children trapped in schools and killed 235 people. 105 years after the blizzard of 1988 was another blizzard nicknamed “Storm of The Century”. It hit the U.S in 1905. Snow covered 26 states and reached Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Highways and airports where closed. When the storm was over it affected a quarter of the U.S. population. 270 people died and 48 were presumed dead at sea. In the United States, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as 35 mph winds which lead to blowing snow and cause visibilities of ¼ mile or less, lasting for at least 3 hours. Temperatures are generally below 20 degrees F.

Blizzard: moderate or heavy snow.