Recollections of a blizzard

Having grown up in South Dakota, and now living my adult life in North Dakota, blizzards are not unfamiliar to me.  I'll always remember the blizzard of '66 which paralyzed our whole state for 3 days!!!  It took many livestock and most homes were cold. 

 

 Being we heated with coal, we were toasty warm, but Dad worried about the cattle.  On the third day of the blizzard he and my brother, Duard, set out for our farm which was 1 mile South of Eureka. The wind had let up so they took the chance to check on our herd which was locked in the barn.  My brother, Russell, stayed home to help mom carry the coal to the furnace so we would stay warm. 

 

About half way down to the farm, Dad and Duard got the pickup stuck in a snowbank and walked the rest of the way.  They found our cattle just barely alive and almost out of oxygen.  I stood in that barn this Summer with Jacob and told him the story I was told so often. 

 

 Dad and Duard managed to climb the snow mountains and got to the barn.  The cattle had lost so much weight from no feed or water for 3 days that they hardly looked alive--but they were.  God was merciful to us!!!

 

The snow had piled up 8 feet high and there was only a small air hole for them.  It is doubtful that they would have lived another day.  Dad and Duard dug by hand a large enough hole to throw some hay in to the starving animals and to refresh their air supply.  The hay had to be dug out of the snow and then carried to the herd as the tractor was buried. They figured that the cows could eat snow to keep hydrated until the storm had ended. 

 

As the grateful herd munched on the hay, my father and brother headed back to the pickup.  They were extremely cold upon their arrival back at the vehicle and were very grateful to be inside once again.  However, although the vehicle started, it was badly stuck and refused to move.

 

We at home were praying hard that not only the cattle but our family members would be ok.  It was taking too long.  We didn't know that they got the pickup stuck and had to make much of the journey on foot!!  The looks on the faces of my mother and brothers told me that things could possibly be bad--that Duard and Dad may not return AT ALL!!! 

 

Mother lit some lamps as the blizzard snuffed out the late afternoon sunlight.  WHERE WERE THEY???  WHY DIDN'T THEY COME???

 

My little 6 year old mind began to fret as I heard my mother talking to my brother.  Should we call for help?  Would anyone be able to help them in the blizzard.  TIME DRUG ON!!

 

Out in the blizzard, Dad and Duard realized that they had better head for home on foot before it got dark.  There wasn't enough gas in the vehicle to keep them warm all night and there was no cell phone to call home and discuss the situation with mom. 

 

After warming up in the running pickup, father and son again went out into the swirling snow.  It was half a mile and cold and hard to see but they pressed on!! 

 

FINALLY we heard the outside door open and they were home.  What rejoicing but it didn't last long!  

 

My dad had frostbite on his face and Duard, being the younger/smaller one had frostbite on his hands and face.  I was scared.  I couldn't stop crying because they were so stiff and quiet and cold. 

 

My mom was in shock but I can still remember dad mumbling through his frozen cheeks to get snow.  Mom got a pan and Russell got snow and I watched as they slowly warmed up the frostbit limbs by rubbing them in snow.  I learned later that the transition from frozen to healthy must be done slowly or extreme pain follows.

 

 After awhile, the color started to come back into the faces of our heroes and some of the weariness lifted from the faces of those who carefully watched them.  THEY WERE GOING TO BE OK!!!!  When Dad was finally able to speak, he shared that the herd was safe.  I'll always remember my mother's yelp of delight!! 

 

Never had our home seemed such a refuge to me than that evening as darkness closed in and we were ALL TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!  "Thank you, God, for bringing them home safely," I prayed as I drifted off to sleep!!!  Tears of gratitude dried on my cheeks in the frigid air--the same tears of gratitude that are flowing down these old cheeks right now!!!

 

So, during every blizzard since then, I pray for those who must be out in it to care for others!  Even now I have begun praying that my guys get home safely from the plant this evening.  PLEASE FATHER, GET EVERYONE HOME SAFELY TONIGHT!!!

 

So, our home school did a little study of blizzards years ago.  We learned that a blizzard is when there is at least a 40 MPH wind while it's snowing.  That's pretty simple to understand.

 

I decided to share this article with any of my readers who have not had to deal with blizzards.  Perhaps it will inspire you, too, to pray that everyone who is in the path of a blizzard takes precautions and are safe!  Also, please pray for all livestock in the path of blizzards--that God will protect them and nourish them during these wretched storms called blizzards!!

 

KEEP WARM!

Dawn

 

PS.  This is what a blizzard looks like from the safety of my living room.  Snow coming down with LOTS of wind.  If I only could share the sound of the wind with you.  The wind's howling makes everything seem colder!  PRAY FOR US ALL WHO LIVE HERE--PLEASE!!!  I already saw reports of accidents on the interstate North of us.  );

 

 

What Defines a Blizzard?

By Grace Muller, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

February 15, 2013, 7:40:25 AM EST

What is a blizzard?

Blizzards are dangerous winter storms that are a combination of blowing snow and wind resulting in very low visibilities. While heavy snowfalls and severe cold often accompany blizzards, they are not required. Sometimes strong winds pick up snow that has already fallen, creating a ground blizzard.

Officially, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as a storm which contains large amounts of snow OR blowing snow, with winds in excess of 35 mph and visibilities of less than 1/4 mile for an extended period of time (at least 3 hours). When these conditions are expected, the National Weather Service will issue a "Blizzard Warning". When these conditions are not expected to occur simultaneously, but one or two of these conditions are expected, a "Winter Storm Warning" or "Heavy Snow Warning" may be issued.

Blizzard conditions often develop on the northwest side of an intense storm system. The difference between the lower pressure in the storm and the higher pressure to the west creates a tight pressure gradient, or difference in pressure between two locations, which in turn results in very strong winds. These strong winds pick up available snow from the ground, or blow any snow which is falling, creating very low visibilities and the potential for significant drifting of snow. 

Where did the term blizzard come from?

In the 1870's, an Iowa newspaper used the word "blizzard" to describe a snowstorm. Previously, the term blizzard referred to a cannon shot or a volley of musket fire. By the 1880's, the use of the word blizzard was used by many across the United States and in England.

The Upper Midwest and Great Plains of the United States tends to be the region that experiences blizzards most often. With few trees or other obstructions to reduce wind and blowing snow, this part of the country is particularly vulnerable to blizzards. However, blizzards can occur in any location that has a climate that experiences snowfall. Northern Arizona can experience blizzard conditions when a strong low pressure system moves across southern Arizona and high pressure builds strongly into the Great Basin. However, these conditions are rarely met due to the infrequency of strong low pressure systems moving through the state.

What makes a blizzard dangerous?

Blizzards can create life-threatening conditions. Traveling by automobile can become difficult or even impossible due to "whiteout" conditions and drifting snow. Whiteout conditions occur most often with major storms that produce a drier, more powdery snow. In this situation, it doesn't even need to be snowing to produce whiteout conditions, as the snow which is already on the ground is blown around, reducing the visibility to near zero at times.

The strong winds and cold temperatures accompanying blizzards can combine to create another danger. The wind chill factor is the amount of cooling one "feels" due to the combination of wind and temperature. During blizzards, with the combination of cold temperatures and strong winds, very low wind chill values can occur. It is not uncommon in the Midwest to have wind chills below -60F during blizzard conditions. Exposure to such low wind chill values can result in frostbite or hypothermia. For more information, go to the NWS wind chill web page.

Blizzards also can cause a variety of other problems. Power outages can occur due to strong winds and heavy snow. Pipes can freeze and regular fuel sources may be cut off.

Source: NOAA

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