As a major winter snowstorm nears, you might be asking: What's the difference between winter storm and blizzard warnings. Here's the difference.

NEW YORK (AP) — A massive snow storm pummeled the northeast United States on Monday, trapping millions of people in their homes amid strong wind and blizzard warnings, transportation shutdowns, and school and business closures.

Cities and towns along the East Coast scrambled to prepare for a bout with heavy snow and damaging winds after forecasters issued blizzard alerts for communities from Maryland to Massachusetts. The National Weather Service warned that once the storm intensifies Sunday it could prove significantly more severe than projections made

A blizzard warning has been issued for New York City and the surrounding area as a major snowstorm develops along the coast.

People living in the impacted areas were told not to travel until conditions improve, as driving in a snow squall could be deadly.

The National Weather Service defines blizzards by specific criteria that may surprise many people who associate the storms primarily with heavy snowfall. According to the weather service, a blizzard requires sustained winds over 35 mph,

Blizzard warnings are in effect for the Philly area and all of New Jersey and Delaware Sunday through Monday as a storm forecast to match the intensity of a Category 1 hurricane generates “potentially historic” snowfall amounts,

The National Weather Service says that it issues blizzard warnings "for winter storms with sustained or frequent winds of 35 mph or higher with considerable falling and/or blowing snow that frequently reduces visibility to 1/4 of a mile or less.