Blizzard

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/blizzard

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the geographical extent?Can span hundreds to thousands of kilometers, affecting large regions
2. What is the associated phenomena?Includes ground blizzards (wind-driven snow) and whiteouts (extreme low visibility)
3. How do blizzards form?Blizzards usually form where cold air from the north meets warm, moist air from the south. A strong low‑pressure system pulls the cold air in and creates the wind and snow.
4. Why does wind make a blizzard dangerous?The wind lifts and swirls snow, turning it into a whiteout that hides the horizon. This makes it hard to see and travel safely.

Pressure Gradient: The rate of change of atmospheric pressure over a distance, influencing wind speed.
Whiteout: A condition of severe snow or ice where visibility is extremely limited, making the horizon indistinguishable.
Ground Blizzard: A blizzard condition caused by strong winds blowing snow already on the ground, without new snowfall.