Decoding Winter Weather Lingo

Winter storms are rolling in, and with them come a bunch of confusing terms. What's the deal with all these weather words? Let's break it down. First up, blizzards. You might think a blizzard is just a bunch of snow, but it's more than that. The National Weather Service says a blizzard happens when there's a ton of snow or blowing snow, winds over 35 mph, and visibility less than a quarter mile for at least three hours. Surprisingly, heavy snowfall isn't always necessary. Strong winds can pick up already fallen snow and create blizzard conditions. These winds can also cause dangerous wind chill values, making it feel way colder than it actually is. Blizzards can also lead to power outages, frozen pipes, and fuel shortages. Then there are Nor'easters. These storms happen along the East Coast and can bring heavy rain or snow, strong winds, and even coastal flooding. They usually form between Georgia and New Jersey and move northeastward, hitting New England the hardest.Heavy snow is another term you'll hear a lot. In New England, it means at least 6 inches of snow in 12 hours. But what about wind chill? It's a number that tells you how cold it feels outside, considering both the actual temperature and the wind speed. The stronger the wind, the colder it feels. When it gets really cold, the National Weather Service issues warnings and advisories. An extreme cold weather advisory is the mildest, warning of dangerous cold conditions. If the cold is extremely dangerous but uncertain, they issue an extreme cold watch. And if extremely dangerous cold conditions are expected or occurring, they issue an extreme cold warning. In these cases, it's important to dress warmly, cover exposed skin, and let someone know where you're going. So, what's the storm coming to Rhode Island? It's currently just a winter storm, but it's expected to bring a lot of heavy snow and blowing snow for at least 12 hours. A cold weather advisory has been issued for the whole state.