Blizzards vs. Nor'easters: A US Winter Weather Guide

In the United States, winter storms come in many forms, but few are as powerful as blizzards and Nor'easters. While both can lead to a much-hoped-for snow day, they are distinct weather events.

What is a Blizzard?

A blizzard is defined by the National Weather Service by its wind and visibility, not snowfall amount. A storm officially becomes a blizzard when it contains sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 miles per hour or more, and falling or blowing snow that reduces visibility to under a quarter-mile for at least three hours.

This is why our snow day calculator pays close attention to wind gusts and temperature, as these are critical factors in creating blizzard conditions that make travel unsafe, especially for school buses in states like Illinois and Ohio.

What is a Nor'easter?

A Nor'easter is a large-scale cyclonic storm that forms along the East Coast of North America. Its name comes from the direction of its powerful winds, which blow from the northeast. These storms are notorious for bringing heavy snow, rain, and coastal flooding to densely populated areas, including Massachusetts and New York.

Because Nor'easters can impact millions of people, school districts are quick to issue closures. Our snow day predictor closely monitors these storm systems and associated government-issued warnings to provide the most accurate forecasts.