Whiteout can be very dangerous for motorists caught in the storm.
Visibility can be reduced to zero when the snow and winds combine. 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.