A snowstorm can have different intensities.
A blizzard is a blizzard or snowfall: a precipitation of snow on the earth's surface that also includes intense winds .
It should be noted that a storm is an agitation of the atmosphere that can include gusts, precipitation and other types of phenomena. Snow , for its part, is frozen water that falls from the clouds.
There is, however, no exact or precise definition of a snowstorm. The fall of snow is always known as snowfall: depending on the intensity , we can speak of weak or severe snowfall . When snowfall is accompanied by gusts of wind and hail , the snowstorm is called a blizzard .
Origin of a snow storm
The occurrence of a blizzard depends on different factors, such as elevation , latitude , and temperature .
This makes the phenomenon frequent in certain regions, while in others it never occurs. They normally take place in very high mountains, since the temperatures there are well below 0 °C.
A snowstorm is also known as snowfall or blizzard.
Related terms
There are other terms that are sometimes considered synonymous with snowstorm, in addition to those set out in the previous paragraphs. For example, if a snowstorm occurs together with strong winds, it is possible to speak of a snow blizzard or, simply, blizzard . It is important to clarify, on the other hand, that this term is usually used to define any storm with strong winds , whether snow or rain .
If the snow storm occurs in an area that is not very high, then we can use the term snowfall ; However, the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ) indicates that this word is one of the synonyms of snowfall in Ecuador , Chile and Argentina , which means that the nuance of altitude is lost there. In Spain , more precisely in some parts of the Cantabrian Mountains , there is the word sleet , a phenomenon that combines strong winds with a storm of water and snow.
Damage caused by a snow storm
Snowstorms can cause all kinds of damage . Basic services such as telephone and electricity may be interrupted due to snow accumulation on infrastructure. It is common, on the other hand, for the authorities to make the decision to suspend classes in the event of a snow storm since the circulation of vehicles is dangerous.
Cities accustomed to experiencing snow storms usually have different equipment and systems that help minimize the consequences of this phenomenon. With road machines, for example, they can sweep snow from the streets and thus quickly restore traffic.
The phenomenon in fiction
Just like rain, snow is an element that can be ideal for the setting of a fictional story , whether to create moments of reflection, romantic encounters or even tension and suspense. A storm considerably hinders our mobility and visibility, given that we do not have natural tools to navigate a phenomenon of this type (for example, we cannot see underwater, we slip easily on wet terrain and we do not have claws to move forward). a snowy road), and this makes it very tempting when creating chase scenes.
In the film "The Shining" , released in 1980 directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall , snow plays a very important role in accentuating the tension of the plot. A writer accepts a guard position at a mountaintop hotel during the off-peak season, and the contract allows for his wife and young son to accompany him. As the days go by, he begins to suffer a series of personality disorders that lead him to violently persecute and attack his family, something that worsens given the lack of communication in the place.