From d9ff54dd242c974b48798e29182a82e07a9c522f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Andrew Blackford <62357205+acblackford@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 10:09:45 -0600
Subject: [PATCH] added climo block and figure

---
 stories/blizzards.stories.mdx | 31 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 31 insertions(+)

diff --git a/stories/blizzards.stories.mdx b/stories/blizzards.stories.mdx
index cd1de5bbc..1889825b4 100644
--- a/stories/blizzards.stories.mdx
+++ b/stories/blizzards.stories.mdx
@@ -60,5 +60,36 @@ taxonomy:
 
   </Chapter>
 
+  <Chapter
+    center={[-87,40]}
+    zoom={6}
+    datasetId='tornadoes-2024-tracks'
+    layerId='tornadoes-2024-paths'
+    datetime='2024-05-31'
+  >
+    
+  ### Climatology of Blizzards
+
+  In the United States, blizzards predominantly affect a region often referred to as "Blizzard Alley”, encompassing parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, southeastern Wyoming, and eastern Colorado. The flat terrain and scarcity of natural windbreaks, such as forests or mountains, allow cold Arctic air masses to sweep down from Canada unimpeded, leading to frequent blizzard conditions, far more than any other region in the country. 
+      
+  Several key factors contribute to the high frequency of blizzards in this region:
+  * Flat Topography: The expansive Great Plains offer little resistance to wind, enabling strong gusts to develop and sustain.
+  * Lack of Vegetation: The absence of significant tree cover means there are few obstacles to slow down or block wind flow.
+  * Proximity to Arctic Air Masses: The region's location allows cold air from the Arctic to move southward easily, interacting with moist air masses to produce snow.
+  * Frequent Storm Systems: Low-pressure systems often develop east of the Rocky Mountains, intensifying as they move into the Plains, bringing heavy snowfall and high winds. 
+
+  <Figure>
+    <Image
+      src={new URL('./blizzards-climo-1959-2014', import.meta.url).href}
+      alt='U.S. blizzard climatology, 1959-2014.'
+    />
+    <Caption>
+    [Number of blizzards by county from 1959-2014.](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58b98f7bd1758e4cc271d365/t/5c5b279c24a69469aa5a4d44/1549477788244/Colemanandschwartz.pdf)
+    </Caption>
+  </Figure> 
+
+  While Blizzard Alley is the most blizzard-prone area, other parts of the United States also experience these severe storms: The Northeastern U.S. is known as a secondary Blizzard Alley, as this region frequently experiences nor'easters—powerful storms that can produce blizzard conditions. Additionally, the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains is susceptible to blizzards due to storm systems intensifying as they descend from higher elevations.
+
+  </Chapter>
 
 </ScrollytellingBlock>
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