Which is worse - blizzard warning or winter storm warning?

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Kim_in_MN
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Which is worse - blizzard warning or winter storm warning?

#1 Postby Kim_in_MN » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:59 pm

They just switched our winter storm warning to a blizzard warning :roll: ; I am guessing that is more severe, because looking at the NOAA map the blizzard warning is in the center of the winter storm warning . . . lovely. Is there a website that explains the difference? I can't find it on the NOAA site - probably just don't know where to look. :wink:

We were without power for about 9 hours from 2 a.m. on - it just turned on again and of course I had to check the weather sites!! Here is our weather forecast for the day: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf/ (I am in the county north of Fargo, on the Minnesota side)

Kim
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#2 Postby truballer#1 » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:13 pm

winter storm warning issued when a significant winter storm is occurring or likely to, and the storm could be a threat to life and property. Blizzards are the most dangerous type of winter storm. Snow and strong winds are combined which produce a blinding snow with visibility often near zero. White-out conditions, deep snow drifts, and life threatening wind chills
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Re: Which is worse - blizzard warning or winter storm warnin

#3 Postby donsutherland1 » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:56 pm

Kim,

Blizzard warnings are more severe than winter storm warnings, as they incorporate high winds along with the heavy snow.
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Re: Which is worse - blizzard warning or winter storm warnin

#4 Postby PhillyWX » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:04 pm

donsutherland1 wrote:Kim,

Blizzard warnings are more severe than winter storm warnings, as they incorporate high winds along with the heavy snow.


Don is right.

Blizzard warnings incorporate a 35 mph wind requirement over a period of a three hours plus the snow requirement.

Kim, from a native MNer (lived in Minneapolis for many years), greetings! Enjoy your snow but don't go outside in that stuff. I've been in a few blizzards in my day and they're not fun!!
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#5 Postby CaptinCrunch » Mon Nov 28, 2005 2:12 pm

I wish I had a BLIZZARD!! :onfire:
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#6 Postby Tstormwatcher » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:08 pm

me too. :jacket: :1095:
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#7 Postby boca » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:02 am

I switch weather forecasts for 1 week for anyone up north.
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#8 Postby JQ Public » Tue Nov 29, 2005 1:30 am

Actually Blizzards don't necessarily mean there will be heavy snow. Afterall it could be a ground blizzard from the snow that remains on the ground from earlier snows. I think 4-5" of snow could cause blizzard conditions if blown around just so.
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#9 Postby Tri-State_1925 » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:04 am

The debate between blizzard warnings and heavy snow warnings would be better...

Last year was the first time I've ever seen or heard of the heavy snow warning, and was very confused...
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#10 Postby Kim_in_MN » Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:22 pm

CaptinCrunch wrote:I wish I had a BLIZZARD!! :onfire:


You would have been welcome to ours! We had freezing rain first, then the winds came and started snapping the power poles; we were without power for 44 hours at my house and the rural areas still don't have power. I am telling Santa I want a generator for Christmas!!

Kim
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#11 Postby hurrican19 » Wed Nov 30, 2005 9:08 pm

I was without power for 336 hours from Rita :lol: It was hoooooooooooot after the storm (101°F for about 3 days afterwards, then a cool front moved through, dropped the high to 80°F), I'd much rather the cold, but not too cold as to not freeze to death! lol! You're most welcome to send all the cold weather down to Texas you want to! Wouldn't even mind some GOOD couple of feet of snow ;) No ice though. We Texans don't work if we even get 1" of snow, we can't drive in it! :lol:
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#12 Postby Kim_in_MN » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:04 pm

hurrican19 wrote:I was without power for 336 hours from Rita :lol: It was hoooooooooooot after the storm (101°F for about 3 days afterwards, then a cool front moved through, dropped the high to 80°F), I'd much rather the cold, but not too cold as to not freeze to death! lol! You're most welcome to send all the cold weather down to Texas you want to! Wouldn't even mind some GOOD couple of feet of snow ;) No ice though. We Texans don't work if we even get 1" of snow, we can't drive in it! :lol:


Oh, I will take a blizzard any day over what you guys get during hurricane season. My main worry is having pipes freeze and burst - you can always put more clothes on to stay warm!

Kim
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#13 Postby Brent » Wed Nov 30, 2005 11:25 pm

Tri-State_1925 wrote:The debate between blizzard warnings and heavy snow warnings would be better...

Last year was the first time I've ever seen or heard of the heavy snow warning, and was very confused...


We actually had a Heavy Snow Warning down here during the Blizzard of 1993 as opposed to a Blizzard Warning or Winter Storm Warning(it started as that but got "upgraded")

*sigh* I want snow... :cry:
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#14 Postby hurrican19 » Thu Dec 01, 2005 9:33 am

Kim_in_MN wrote:Oh, I will take a blizzard any day over what you guys get during hurricane season. My main worry is having pipes freeze and burst - you can always put more clothes on to stay warm!

Kim


:D Yeah, I'd always much rather put on additional clothing! That's why I hate it at the office when people have the heater on like 85°, I mean, geez, the coldest the highs get down here on an AVERAGE year is about 40°-45°, granted, it's a real damp cold. Send some cold our way, pleeeeeeeease? :lol:
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