What Is a Ground Blizzard?
A ground blizzard is a blizzard caused mainly by strong winds lifting loose snow that is already on the ground. Unlike many other winter storms, heavy falling snow is not required.
As snow is blown through the air, visibility can deteriorate significantly. In severe conditions, roads, vehicles and surrounding features may become difficult or impossible to see.
Ground blizzards can be particularly dangerous because conditions may become severe even after a snowfall has ended. Strong winds moving across an existing snowpack can be enough to create hazardous travel conditions.
Related Conditions
| Condition | Description |
|---|---|
| Blowing Snow | Loose snow lifted and carried through the air by wind. |
| Whiteout | A condition where poor visibility and contrast make the horizon and surrounding features difficult to see. |
| Snowdrift | A pile or bank of snow created when wind carries and deposits loose snow. |
| Drifting Snow | Snow moved along or close to the ground by wind and deposited in other areas. |
| Wind-Packed Snow | Snow that becomes compressed and hardened after being exposed to persistent wind. |
Related Alerts
| Alert | Description |
|---|---|
| Blizzard Warning | Warns of strong winds and severely reduced visibility in snow or blowing snow. |
| Blowing Snow Advisory | Issued when blowing snow is expected to significantly reduce visibility. |
| Wind Warning | Issued when strong winds are expected to reach warning criteria and create hazardous conditions. |
| Winter Storm Warning | Warns of significant hazardous winter weather affecting an area. |
| Extreme Cold Warning | Warns when very cold temperatures or wind chill create dangerous conditions. |
What Causes a Ground Blizzard?
A ground blizzard develops when strong winds move across an area covered by loose snow. The wind lifts the snow from the surface and carries it through the air, sometimes reducing visibility to near zero.
Fresh, dry and powdery snow is particularly easy for wind to move. After a snowfall, loose snow can remain available at the surface even after the storm that produced it has moved away.
Wind is the other major ingredient. Open areas such as fields and exposed highways are especially vulnerable because there are fewer obstacles to slow the wind. As wind speeds increase, more snow can be lifted from the surface and carried through the air.
This produces severe blowing snow without requiring significant new snowfall. In some cases, the sky above may even be relatively clear while visibility near the ground remains extremely poor.
Ground blizzards can continue as long as winds remain strong and there is enough loose snow available to be transported. Conditions usually improve once winds weaken, the available snow becomes more compacted or the snow surface develops a crust that makes it harder for the wind to lift.
Meteorologists therefore pay close attention to both existing snow cover and expected winds when forecasting the risk of a ground blizzard. Our guide on how meteorologists predict blizzards explains how these conditions are forecast.
FAQ
A ground blizzard is caused mainly by strong winds lifting snow that is already on the ground. Other blizzards may involve both falling snow and blowing snow.
Yes. A ground blizzard can occur with little or no falling snow because the snow reducing visibility is being lifted from the ground.
Yes. Because a ground blizzard does not require falling snow, skies above the blowing snow can sometimes be relatively clear.
Strong winds can fill the air near the ground with snow, making roads, vehicles and surrounding objects difficult to see. Severe conditions can reduce visibility to near zero.
Yes. Enough wind-driven snow can produce whiteout conditions by severely reducing visibility and making the horizon and surrounding features difficult to distinguish.
A ground blizzard can continue for several hours or longer if strong winds persist and enough loose snow remains available on the ground.
Yes. Rapidly changing visibility, blowing snow and drifting snow can make roads difficult to see and travel hazardous, even when no new snow is falling.