Course Info: Forecasting Blowing Snow

Forecasting Blowing Snow

Course Description

Blowing snow occurs when snow and ice particles near the surface combine with strong winds and gusts to significantly reduce visibility. Blowing snow can lead to hazardous blizzard conditions that profoundly impact those in their path, posing risks to transportation, infrastructure, and daily life, particularly in Arctic regions. This training provides a conceptual model for blowing snow, reviewing the key ingredients required, and the factors that can impact the visibility. It then leverages this conceptual model to develop your ability to forecast blowing snow and blizzard conditions. In this lesson, you will work through forecast and monitoring shifts for a blowing snow case study focused on Baker Lake (Qamani'tuaq) in Nunavut, Canada. During each of these shifts, you will analyze model forecasts, observations, and other products to assess the risk for blowing snow and blizzard conditions, and predict the details of the blowing snow event.

Intended Audience 

The intended audience for Forecasting Blowing Snow is any operational forecaster unfamiliar with this winter weather or Arctic phenomena. With its broad scope, the lesson should also appeal to students and members of the general public with an interest in winter weather or the Arctic.

Publication Date

March 27, 2025

Questions or Comments? 

We welcome any comments or questions you may have regarding the content, instructional approach, or use of this lesson. Please e-mail your comments or questions to Bryan Guarente: (guarente@ucar.edu). For technical support, please visit our Registration and Support FAQs.