A blizzard is a severe winter storm combining heavy snowfall, strong winds, and extremely low visibility. During a blizzard, powerful winds (usually 35 miles per hour or faster) whip falling or already-fallen snow into swirling clouds that make it nearly impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. These conditions last for at least three hours, turning familiar streets into disorienting white mazes.

Blizzards create whiteout conditions where the ground, air, and sky blend into one massive sheet of white, making it dangerous to drive or even walk outside. The wind doesn't just blow the snow: it hurls it sideways with tremendous force, piling it into enormous drifts that can bury cars, block doors, and reshape entire landscapes overnight. Temperatures during blizzards can drop dangerously low, and the wind makes it feel even colder.

Not every snowstorm qualifies as a blizzard. A storm might dump two feet of snow on your town, but if the wind stays calm and you can see clearly, meteorologists wouldn't call it a blizzard. The combination of wind, snow, and near-zero visibility is what makes blizzards particularly treacherous. People caught in blizzards can become lost just steps from safety, which is why weather services issue blizzard warnings to keep people safely indoors until the storm passes.