Topics in Blowing Snow Forecasting
2 Rules and Techniques for Forecasting Blowing Snow
| Drifting Snow* | Blowing Snow** | Blizzard | |
| Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC) | Winds: < 35 km/h (19 kt) | Winds: 35-39 km/h (19-21 kt) | Winds: >= 40 km/h (22 kt) Visibility: < 1 km Temps: <= -10°C |
| MSC Arctic Weather Centre | Winds: > 40 km/h (22 kt) Visibility: < 1 km Temps: <= 0°C or less Duration: >= 6 hours |
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| MSC Prairie Storm Centre | Winds: > 40 km/h (22 kt) Visibility: < 1 km Temps: <= -25°C or less windchill Duration: >= 4 hours |
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| U.S. National Weather Service | not defined | not defined | Winds: > 56 km/h (30 kt) Visibility: < 0.4 km Temps: not defined Duration: >= 3 hours |
*Drifting snow - snow on the move at a height less than 2 m.
**Blowing snow - horizontal visibility is restricted to 10 km or less because snow particles are raised by the wind to a height of > 2 m