What is Winter storm?
{{for|the band|Snowstorm (band)}} [[File:December 2004 Winter Storm 1.JPG|280px|thumb|[[Ice]] on trees in [[Columbus, Ohio]] during the Winter Storm of December 2004]] '''Winter storms''' or '''snowstorms''' happen when warm, wet air meets with cold air. The warm, wet [[air mass]] and the cold air mass can each be {{convert|1000|km}} or more in [[diameter]]. Snowstorms affecting Northeastern [[United States]] often get their [[water|moisture]] from air moving north from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and cold air from [[air]] masses coming down from the [[Arctic]]. In the Northwest United States warm, wet air from the [[Pacific Ocean]] cools when it is pushed upward by the [[mountain]]s. Many different things can affect the direction of movement, [[moisture]] content and [[temperature]] of air masses. All of these differences affect the type and severity of the snowstorm. Winter storms and [[blizzard]]s can make several meters of snow that blow into big drifts. Sometimes the drifts can be over {{convert|3|m}} tall. They could even cover a house. == History == Lots of popular winter storms are part of [[North America]]'s history. In 1846 the Donner Party traveled away by covered wagons from [[Illinois]] headed for Sutter's Fort near Sacramento, [[California]]. As an answer of bad decisions and slow going, they tried to go across the big Sierra Nevada Mountains in the late [[October]]. Usually, [[California]] is still warm at that time of the year. As the party crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains, they did not see any [[snow]] and was not worried. However, after they left, a huge [[snowstorm]] hit. The party was forced to camp near Truckee, [[California]]. The snow was so deep that the [[wagon]] wheels became stuck, so they could not move anyplace. They tried to wait the [[storm]] out, but when one [[blizzard]] ended, another began immediately before they had time to escape. Their food became short, so some of the people decided to hike out and find help rather than to starve to death. Most of them died in the freezing w