National Weather ServiceBlizzard WatchVTEC BZ.AArchive to October 1, 2026
Blizzard Watch: what it means and how often it is issued
The National Weather Service issued 559 blizzard watches from 2008 to 2017, 56 a year on average, and has not issued the product since 2017; Alaska, Minnesota and North Dakota had the most.
What is a blizzard watch?
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.
Source: National Weather Service directives and glossary.
How many blizzard watches a year?
National count: each blizzard watch counted once, whatever the number of states it covers. 2026 is an outline: the year is not over.
The numbers
| Year | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 22 |
| 2016 | 41 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2014 | 54 |
| 2013 | 61 |
| 2012 | 64 |
| 2011 | 55 |
| 2010 | 51 |
| 2009 | 102 |
| 2008 | 67 |
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 watches?
Yearly average per state, 2021-2025. A blizzard watch covering two states counts in both.
| State | A year, 2021-2025 | A year, 2008-2025 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| North Dakota | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| South Dakota | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Colorado | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Iowa | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Nebraska | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Wyoming | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kansas | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Montana | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Massachusetts | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Illinois | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Maine | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Indiana | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connecticut | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Jersey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New York | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Texas | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| California | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| District of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kentucky | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Virginia | 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.
Blizzard Watch or blizzard warning?
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 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. The NWS issued 125 blizzard warnings in 2025, against 0 blizzard watches. The blizzard warning record.