My usually short dash home became an odyssey as snow drifts marched across streets and the furious flurries of flying flakes made each intersection a nerve-wracking crossing of blind hope. But I, at last, was home and safe. Whereas the previous night had been a winter wonderland of light snowflakes dancing in the wind, this night a screaming banshee wind drove stinging, hard ice crystals against all that stood in its path. From inside, I heard the angry chatter of ice pellets racing across the attic roof. And around the corners of the house, the moaning wind sang a sorrowful blues.
Blizzards are a time for rest, and who can argue with the wind.
Technically, blizzards are more than just a heavy snowstorm. The snow that fell last night drowned the city in a sea of snow, but the mild temperatures and gentle breezes did not qualify the storm for blizzard status. In addition, these conditions must last for at least three hours. The official Environment Canada definition for a blizzard is similar but there are also regional specifics. All regional definitions contain the same wind speed and visibility criteria but differ in the required duration and add a temperature criterion.