What is the minimum wind speed in kilometers per hour for a snowstorm to be classified as a blizzard?

A snowstorm is classified as a blizzard based on specific criteria that include visibility and wind speed. For a storm to earn the label "blizzard," it must have sustained wind speeds of at least 56 kilometers per hour. This high wind speed contributes significantly to the blowing and drifting snow, which can drastically reduce visibility to less than a quarter of a mile or about 400 meters. The combination of strong winds and low visibility creates hazardous conditions typically associated with blizzards.

In contrast, the other wind speed thresholds provided do not meet the necessary criteria for blizzard classification, which is strictly defined in meteorological terms. This identifies the threshold of 56 kph as the correct standard for recognizing a blizzard's intensity and the associated dangers.