A snowstorm is characterized by strong winds of at least 56 km/h and lasting for an extended period—typically three hours or more. Snowstorms are always accompanied by heavy snowfall, strong winds with gusts reaching up to 200 km/h, and can cause temperatures to drop to nearly -50 °C.
What is a snowstorm?
Snowstorms are extremely dangerous natural disasters.
Snowstorms have two slightly different meanings. According to one definition, snowstorm conditions can occur without snowfall. The more common meaning of a snowstorm refers to a cold winter where a storm accumulates significant snowfall, often combined with strong winds that cause drifting snow. This is an extremely dangerous natural disaster.
Impacts of Snowstorms
Snowstorms lead to traffic congestion, and lightweight structures may collapse under the weight of the snow. Moreover, mountain climbers can also encounter accidents due to avalanches.
A severe snowstorm features wind speeds exceeding 72 km/h and temperatures of -12 °C (10 °F) or lower. In Antarctica, snowstorms are combined with winds that sweep across the edges of rocky plateaus at an average speed of 160 km (about 100 miles) per hour.
Formation of Snowstorms
The conditions for a snowstorm to form include a flow of warm air above cold air, which creates extremely cold winds and precipitation.
Snowstorms occur when the temperature is below 0 °C at ground level and among the clouds, with sufficient moisture in the air to allow for cloud and snow formation.
According to the National Weather Service, a snowstorm lasts at least 3 hours with wind speeds from 56 km/h accompanied by snowfall that reduces visibility to below 400 meters.
The process of snowstorm formation.
- What is a storm? How do storms form, and why do they occur?
