A Blowing snow advisory was issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when wind driven snow reduces surface visibility and possibly hampers traveling. Blowing snow may be falling snow, or snow that has already accumulated but is picked up and blown by strong winds. This advisory was discontinued beginning with the 2008-09 winter storm season, replaced by the Winter Weather Advisory for Snow and Blowing Snow. However, if the storm is judged to be dangerous by local forecasters, a Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow and blowing snow may be issued.
A similar bulletin is issued by Environment Canada's Meteorological Service of Canada but as a Warning.
Example of a blowing snow advisory
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PEORIA IL 659 AM CST MON JAN 2 2009 ...NEAR ZERO VISIBILITY BEING REPORTED ACROSS PARTS OF WESTERN ILLINOIS EARLY THIS MORNING... .AN INTENSE WINTER STORM WAS MOVING ACROSS WESTERN ILLINOIS EARLY THIS MORNING BRINGING SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ON STRONG NORTH WINDS. A BAND OF SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WAS REDUCING VISIBILITY DOWN TO ZERO IN MANY LOCATIONS ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 7 AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 22. THIS BAND OF SNOW WILL MOVE EAST THROUGH PEORIA...LAKEWATER AND DULUTH THIS MORNING. THE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW SHOULD BE TAPERING OFF FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE LATE MORNING HOURS WITH VISIBILITIES IMPROVING. KSZ030-031-043>046-065-066-081-090-221800- /O.CON.KDDC.SB.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-091238T0659Z/ PERRY MO-RANDOLPH-STE GENEVIEVE MO-JEFFERSON MO-MONROE-JERSEY-MACOUPIN-ST LOUIS MO-ST CHARLES MO-MARION- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...PEORIA...DULTH... HILLSBORO...RANDOLPH CITY...BURNETTE...LAKE MACOUPIN...FESTUS...DESOTO... LAKEWATER...MONROE PORT...MOUNT MARION...ST. PRESLEY...SAINT LOUIS...SUNSET HILLS... ARNOLD...FENTON...MAPAVILLE...OTTO 659 AM CST MON JAN 2 2009 ...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY... A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST TODAY. WIDESPREAD 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED TO ACCUMULATE ON 25 TO 35 MPH NORTH WINDS THROUGH THE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS SATURDAY. WIND GUSTS WILL EXCEED 40 MPH AT TIMES. THE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW WILL CAUSE VISIBILITY TO BE REDUCED TO A QUARTER MILE OR LESS IN SOME LOCATIONS. CONDITIONS SHOULD BE IMPROVING LATER THIS MORNING AND AFTERNOON AS THE STORM SYSTEM MOVES EAST OF THE REGION. TRAVEL SHOULD BE POSTPONED UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVE BY MIDDAY. A SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS. $$ GERARDReferences
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