 If you've ever wondered about the difference between a snowstorm and a blizzard, you're in luck. A storm where precipitation falls as snow is called a snowstorm. A blizzard is a snowstorm with wind speeds of at least 35 miles per hour. The wind blows the snow, making it hard to see. Blizzards last for three or more hours and often lead to high snow accumulation from falling and drifting snow. When the wind stops blowing, snow is left in snowdrifts. The great blizzard of 1888 greeted 50-foot high snowdrifts along the Atlantic coast. Any winter storm can bring dangerous freezing temperatures, wind, snow, and ice. Be aware and get prepared by checking the forecast.