IN JANUARY I PINE for a good old blizzard. Why? Because I love them and the snow shoeing that follows. But all that longing got me wondering when is it, in fact, a blizzard, and when is it merely a large snowstorm? What’s the difference? Getting it right matters, and if I know anything about this work it is to use reliable sources when writing.
The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as consisting of large amounts of falling or blowing snow with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 of a mile for greater than 3 hours. When those conditions are expected, the National Weather Service may issue a “Blizzard Warning.”
When a less severe, but still dangerous, winter storm is expected a “Winter Storm Watch” or “Winter Storm Warning” may be issued. A “Winter Storm Warning” means a winter storm is imminent or already occurring.
Got a good personal essay that connects to a weather story? Need to get your terms straight, your facts right, or merely wile away some time noodling your piece? Use reliable sources when writing. How? Go hang out with the National Weather Service for a while. After a visit there, check out the Library of Congress online, which is where I got the cool old photo of Murdo, South Dakota after a blizzard. Taken by photographer John Vachon, it is one of millions of treasures that you can view online.
