Blizzard Conditions Most Common in Northern Plains, Study Finds
Blizzards, characterized by strong winds and reduced visibility, are a significant winter weather phenomenon in the United States. According to the National Weather Service, blizzard conditions require blowing or falling snow, winds of at least 35 mph, and visibility reduced to a quarter mile or less for at least three hours. A 2017 study highlights that the Northern Plains, including North Dakota, South Dakota, and northwestern Minnesota, experience the highest frequency of blizzards, with a 61% annual likelihood of at least one event. Other areas, such as parts of Iowa, Nebraska, and eastern Colorado, have a one-in-three chance annually. Blizzards are most common in December and January, though spring events occur twice as often as fall ones. The average blizzard spans 32,229 square miles, roughly the size of South Carolina, and often results in one death and three injuries per event. 
