National Weather ServiceBlizzard WarningVTEC BZ.WArchive to October 1, 2026
Blizzard Warning: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 125 blizzard warnings in 2025 and 122 a year on average in 2008-2025; Alaska, Minnesota and North Dakota got the most in 2021-2025. 2026 through September: 92, 11% above the average of 83 for those months in 2008-2025.
What is a blizzard warning?
A blizzard warning means sustained winds or frequent gusts of 35 mph or more with falling or blowing snow that cuts visibility below a quarter mile, for three hours or more. A warning means the hazard is happening, about to happen, or very likely: act now to protect people and property.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many blizzard warnings a year?
National count: each blizzard warning counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2026 (through September) | 92 |
| 2025 | 125 |
| 2024 | 126 |
| 2023 | 111 |
| 2022 | 122 |
| 2021 | 95 |
| 2020 | 96 |
| 2019 | 139 |
| 2018 | 114 |
| 2017 | 77 |
| 2016 | 85 |
| 2015 | 100 |
| 2014 | 102 |
| 2013 | 138 |
| 2012 | 148 |
| 2011 | 141 |
| 2010 | 139 |
| 2009 | 177 |
| 2008 | 163 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
When in the year?
Sum of 2008-2025; the busiest month is labelled.
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
Which states get the most blizzard warnings?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A blizzard warning covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 50 | 52 | 49 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 15 | 21 |
| North Dakota | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| South Dakota | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Nebraska | 7 | 8 | 12 |
| Montana | 6 | 7 | 4 |
| Iowa | 6 | 6 | 13 |
| Kansas | 5 | 5 | 13 |
| Wyoming | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Colorado | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Michigan | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Wisconsin | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| California | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| West Virginia | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Washington | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Texas | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Nevada | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Maine | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| New York | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Oregon | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Maryland | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Missouri | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Idaho | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Indiana | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Virginia | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Illinois | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arkansas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vermont | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tennessee | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Source: Iowa Environmental Mesonet archive of National Weather Service watches, warnings and advisories (VTEC); National Weather Service. Data as of October 1, 2026.
The latest blizzard warnings in AreaZine's record
NWS CheyenneWarningMay 18, 2026
Blizzard Warning: North Snowy Range Foothills, WY
Expired 3:00 p.m. MDT, May 18, 2026
NWS FairbanksWarningMay 10, 2026
Blizzard Warning: Western Arctic Coast, AK
Expired 4:00 p.m. AKDT, May 11, 2026
NWS FairbanksWarningMay 1, 2026
Blizzard Warning: Western Arctic Coast, AK
Expired 7:00 p.m. AKDT, May 1, 2026
NWS FairbanksWarningApril 23, 2026
Blizzard Warning: Western Arctic Coast, AK
Expired 1:00 p.m. AKDT, April 23, 2026
NWS GlasgowWarningApril 23, 2026
Blizzard Warning: Central and Southern Valley and McCone, MT
Expired 3:00 p.m. MDT, April 23, 2026
NWS FairbanksWarningApril 21, 2026
Blizzard Warning: Lower Kobuk Valley, Baldwin Peninsula and Northern Seward Peninsula, AK
Expired 10:00 p.m. AKDT, April 23, 2026
NWS FairbanksWarningApril 20, 2026
Blizzard Warning: Kivalina and Red Dog Dock, AK
Expired 4:00 a.m. AKDT, April 21, 2026
NWS FairbanksWarningApril 18, 2026
Blizzard Warning: St Lawrence Island, AK
Expired 10:00 a.m. AKDT, April 20, 2026
This list is AreaZine's record of the NWS alert feed, kept since April 6, 2026; the counts above come from the complete IEM archive.
Source: National Weather Service alerts (api.weather.gov).
Blizzard Warning or blizzard watch?
A blizzard watch (for a wide area, hours or days ahead) means the conditions are possible: be ready; a blizzard warning (from the local NWS office, for the area at risk) means the hazard is happening or imminent: act now. A blizzard watch meant blizzard conditions were possible in the coming days. Since October 2017 the NWS covers that possibility with the winter storm watch. A watch means the conditions for the hazard are possible or favourable, but it is not yet happening: be ready to act if a warning follows. The NWS issued 0 blizzard watches in 2025, against 125 blizzard warnings. The blizzard watch record.