Ingredients of a blizzard: Snow, wind and lack of visibility

What makes a blizzard a blizzard? Not just snow, it turns out.

To be classified as a blizzard, a storm must have wind gusts of at least 35 mph, reduced visibility - a quarter mile or less - and blowing or falling snow, said meteorologist Brian Ciemnecki of the National Weather Service in Upton.

These conditions must exist for at least three continuous hours, Ciemnecki said.

"It's not contingent on an amount of snow," Ciemnecki said. "It's the conditions."

While Wednesday's storm cannot be classified as a blizzard just yet, it is expected to start down that road by 3 or 4 p.m., Ciemnecki said. That's when strong, gusting winds and whiteout conditions are expected on Long Island, forecasters said.

"We're still on track for a blizzard," Ciemnecki said.

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