Blowing snow

Blowing snow^[1] is snow lifted from the surface by the wind, at eye level (1.8 m or 6 ft) or more,^[2] that will reduce visibility. Blowing snow can come from falling snow or snow that already accumulated on the ground but is picked up and blown about by strong winds. It is one of the classic requirements for a blizzard. Its METAR code is BLSN. If the snow remains below 1.8 m (6 ft), it will be called drifting snow (METAR code: DRSN). The snow which is being blown about may deposit as snowdrifts.