In those parts of the United States subject to winter storms, blizzards tend to occur in January and February. Nevertheless, they have been known to pop up anytime from late September through late April. Other regions of the world have similar storms that are referred to by other names. The buran of Russia, the purga of northern Siberia, and the boulbie of southern France all are similar in nature to the American blizzard and can be life threatening.
Blizzards can produce a variety of dangerous situations.
The aftermath of a blizzard can have a physical and economic impact on a community or region for days, weeks, or even months. Power outages may occur when strong winds or heavy snows bring down power lines, trees, and utility poles. Regular fuel sources may be cut off. Heavy accumulations of snow may cause structures to collapse. Motorists may be trapped in their cars.