A ground blizzard can occur when blowing snow left behind from past storms is blown around by strong winds. The visibility during blizzard conditions tend to be worse in the country than in the city because of lack of buildings to break the flow of the wind. During early January 1997 widespread blizzard conditions occurred across the northern plains as a result of a blast of arctic air from Canada. Severe blizzards have 45 mph or stronger winds, substantial blowing snow and temperatures of 10 degrees F or colder. As the wind increases, heat is carried away quicker decreasing the body temperature.
Animals also suffer when the wind chill is bitter cold.
People and other animals do not tend to survive well for long periods of time outside in a blizzard. Two life-threatening conditions can result. Here is what the wind can feel like with bitter cold temperatures. Caused by prolonged exposure of the body, frostbite damages the tissue of the extremities, i.e. fingers, toes, ear lobes, and noses. Two warning signs of frostbite are a loss of feeling in the extremities, or a white or pale appearance.