A blizzard is a storm of snow, ice, or hail with intense intensity, usually occurring in high mountain areas. They are very dangerous and throughout history have caused numerous disasters in large cities. They have also resulted in the deaths of many mountaineers and climbers.
If you want to know the characteristics of blizzards and how they form, keep reading 
Features of the blizzard
Blizzards are also known as snowstorms, snow flurries, or whiteouts . When a blizzard occurs, temperatures are usually well below freezing. One of their main characteristics, and what makes them most dangerous, is their strong winds. For mountaineers, they can pose a risk of death, as they severely reduce visibility and cause temperatures to drop drastically.
During a blizzard, due to the strong winds, wind chills can reach as low as -20 degrees Celsius. Winds can be sustained or gusty, reaching speeds of 56 km/h or more . Blizzards typically last about 3 hours, reducing visibility to less than half a kilometer. If you'd like to learn more about other weather phenomena, you can consult the article on types of meteors.
What Causes a Blizzard?
Almost anywhere snow falls frequently can be affected by a blizzard. It's more common in polar regions, near polar regions, or high mountain areas. Currently, the areas where blizzards are most frequently recorded are, for example, the United States and northern Arizona. In these areas, a low-pressure system moves south, and if a high-pressure system develops over the Great Basin, a blizzard will occur.
Blizzards typically develop on the northwest side of a severe storm system. The big difference between high and low pressure is what makes the winds strong. We remember that the winds are generated through the pressure difference between one point and another. The more difference there is in that atmospheric pressure, the stronger the winds will be.
On the other hand, the water that remains frozen in the atmosphere forms crystals that adhere to one another. As the ice crystals join together, they form snowflakes with up to six points . Furthermore, when snow falls and strong winds occur, visibility is reduced by half. If you would like to read more about this topic, you can visit the article on heavy snowfall.
Dangerous effects
Obviously, blizzards are dangerous depending on where you are. If you are at home, you will be protected. But if it catches you being abroad it will be dangerous. If you do not carry protection with you, the wind chill can cause hypothermia and, therefore, death.
If you're inside a vehicle, driving becomes completely impossible. Visibility is reduced to 0,40 kilometers , and gusts of wind batter the car. This can disorient the driver and lead to an accident.
When blizzards are very intense, they can cause electrical circuit failures and blackouts. This happens because the strong winds and thick snow damage the wiring. Blizzards can also be a deadly phenomenon, as seen in Argos, the first winter storm to freeze the United States.
The blizzard in the mountains
We will dedicate an entire section to describing the situation with blizzards in the mountains. As mentioned before, many mountaineers, hikers, and climbers have died because of them. When temperatures drop below -15 degrees Celsius and visibility is reduced, the situation becomes extremely dangerous.
When you are in high mountains, the wind hits your body with hardly any obstacles unlike in cities. Keep in mind that in cities we have buildings that cut off the wind's circulation. In addition, in the mountain there are numerous elements that are not attached to the ground and can hit us. For example, the ice grains that form, small branches and stones that are moved by the wind.
When a hiker is climbing a mountain and is surprised by a blizzard, there are some effects that interfere with the journey.
Euphoria
The first feeling you get when you're climbing a mountain and a blizzard catches you by surprise is euphoria. You might feel motivated to climb despite the difficulties involved. This can make you blind to the dangers of the situation.
Loss of visibility
If at the time we are climbing the mountain we are not wearing protective glasses, the materials mentioned above can hit us. If it hits us in the eye, it can cause serious problems.
Imbalance
In a mountain there are narrower places where balance plays a fundamental role. The strong gusts of wind caused by the blizzard can make us unbalance and fall. Also, if it is continuously affecting our face and eyes, it makes us more impatient and lose concentration. This can lead us to make mistakes. It is highly recommended not to turn your back to the wind so that the backpack does not overcome us due to its weight.
Disorientation
With the initial euphoria and lack of visibility, our confidence grows. This is because we face a significant challenge. However, without clear visibility, we lose sight of concrete reference points. We might mistakenly believe we're on the right track. This reduced visibility leaves us without reference points and, ultimately, leads to a period of demoralization.
Psychological burden
If we are fully in a blizzard, the attitude we have at that moment is conditional to get out of it. It is possible that time can play a trick on us. We can think that several minutes can become hours. In this situation you have to have a strong determination.
Hypothermia
With low temperatures and gusts of wind, hypothermia sets in quickly. Clothing seems to offer no warmth, even with multiple layers. If exposed to the cold, our body temperature will drop to dangerous levels. If the clothing is of poor quality or we are soaked with sweat, heat loss will be even faster.
When faced with a blizzard on a mountain, the best course of action is to descend. It doesn't matter which route you take; as long as you lose altitude, the danger decreases.
With this information you will be more prepared to face a blizzard.