0:00:01 > 0:00:05In February 2013, Boston in the north-eastern USA
0:00:05 > 0:00:09was hit by the biggest blizzard in a generation.
0:00:12 > 0:00:15Fierce Earth made sure I was right there...
0:00:15 > 0:00:18This is easily hurricane force winds.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21..to bring the story of 36 hours of winter chaos
0:00:21 > 0:00:24that brought a city to a standstill.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27The blizzard has definitely arrived here in downtown Boston.
0:00:27 > 0:00:32In this blizzard special, we also meet the teenager
0:00:32 > 0:00:35whose quick thinking saved his friends from freezing
0:00:35 > 0:00:37high up in the mountains.
0:00:37 > 0:00:41When you're in the situation that we were stuck in, it's do or die.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46And Leo gets on his thermals to investigate
0:00:46 > 0:00:49the invisible freezing effect of wind-chill.
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Whoo!
0:00:50 > 0:00:53Welcome to the icy world of a blizzard!
0:00:55 > 0:00:59What happens when the ground shakes, the seas rise up
0:00:59 > 0:01:02and the air tears itself apart?
0:01:02 > 0:01:04The Fierce Earth team move in,
0:01:04 > 0:01:07taking on the most powerful forces on the planet.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25Get ready for Fierce Earth -
0:01:25 > 0:01:28the Earth, and how to survive it.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Boston, one of America's oldest and most historic cities.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39This area is home to more than four million people.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44They're no stranger to winter snowfall here.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47But in early February 2013,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51everybody was told to prepare for a potentially massive blizzard.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54This is a storm of major proportions.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56Stay off the roads, stay home.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59It looks like everyone's aware the storm is coming.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02You've got to plan ahead. Two feet of snow would shut everything down.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07It's 9:15 Friday morning. Everyone is trying to get home.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11The news channels are warning people to brace themselves.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15'Everybody's in a panic, getting ready. We don't know what to expect.'
0:02:15 > 0:02:17'Well, we do know what to expect.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'At least one to even two feet of snow for some of the biggest cities
0:02:20 > 0:02:23'in North Eastern New England.'
0:02:23 > 0:02:25And, 20 miles out of town,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28I'm also getting ready to take on this huge weather event.
0:02:30 > 0:02:33I've chased extreme weather all over the world.
0:02:33 > 0:02:34Tornadoes...
0:02:36 > 0:02:37..hurricanes...
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Here we are in Hurricane Ivan!
0:02:40 > 0:02:42..and blizzards.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Back in Boston, I've got loads of technology to help me stay
0:02:48 > 0:02:51one step ahead of the storm, like this snowfall tracker.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56If you see this red bull's-eye area, it's centred right on top of Boston.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00What it's saying is, it thinks Boston will receive
0:03:00 > 0:03:05up to three feet of snow - that's 36 inches, which is incredible.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07Looking at this, the blizzard's here, I'm here.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11I'm ahead of the game because I'm in Boston before the blizzard arrives
0:03:11 > 0:03:14and I'm ready to document what could be the storm of the century.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18So, what am I going to be up against?
0:03:22 > 0:03:26A blizzard is the name given to weather like this.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Gale force winds mixed with intense snowfall
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and virtually no visibility.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36We need two ingredients to form a blizzard.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Warm moist air which blows across a lake or the sea
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and rises to form huge clouds.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47And, cold, dry air which sits near to the ground
0:03:47 > 0:03:49to chill all rain into snow.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54When the cold, dry air collides with the warm, moist front,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57we get stormy, windy conditions.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00You now have everything you need for a blizzard.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04Boston is no stranger to extreme weather.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07The city has a well-rehearsed emergency drill.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12RADIO: 'Boston is on lockdown.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16'Their airport shut down and states of emergency were declared
0:04:16 > 0:04:18'in at least five states.'
0:04:18 > 0:04:21As we near the city, the snow gets heavier,
0:04:21 > 0:04:24but this is just for starters.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28One thing to keep in mind is blizzards can come out of nowhere.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30They can just ramp up from just a light snow
0:04:30 > 0:04:33to extreme blizzard conditions, white-out conditions.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39Downtown Boston. The city is preparing for the worst.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Every snowplough, shovel and emergency truck
0:04:42 > 0:04:44is out on the street.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47These guys are doing what they can do, but let's face it,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50man versus nature, nature's going to win every time.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54These conditions are getting too dangerous for driving,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57so I'm taking the car into an underground car park.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02If worst comes to the worst, it can be my home for the night.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08Out on foot, the city feels a very different, scary place.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Well, you can see the snow trucks are starting, ploughing the roads.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Basically, this will be an emergency situation.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Everything will be in full force -
0:05:17 > 0:05:20the firefighters, the ambulance, the snow ploughs.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Emergency rescue is all on right now, and this is just the beginning.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30As the hours pass, two massive weather fronts are colliding
0:05:30 > 0:05:34right over the city to set this blizzard into motion.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40As day turns into night,
0:05:40 > 0:05:45for those still on the streets, the rush is on to get home.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47But I'm going nowhere.
0:05:54 > 0:05:59By 7pm, the wind is whipping through downtown Boston
0:05:59 > 0:06:01and the snow is blowing in all directions.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19The winds are starting to really pick up here.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23The blizzard has definitely arrived here in downtown Boston.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26Wow! It feels like little needles hitting you all over the face
0:06:26 > 0:06:28and it's freezing cold.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31You can see the winds are funnelling between these buildings
0:06:31 > 0:06:35and just whipping down the road and bringing all the snow with it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37This is getting fierce.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43Agh!
0:06:46 > 0:06:50I want to find out whether we're now in official blizzard conditions.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54If I can hold steady for long enough I'm going to take a reading
0:06:54 > 0:06:56on a wind-speed metre.
0:06:56 > 0:07:02So, basically what defines a blizzard is 35mph winds sustained.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Also low visibility.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08So what I'm going to do now is take wind readings to see if we meet
0:07:08 > 0:07:10that 35mph criteria.
0:07:10 > 0:07:15We're in the 30s, so we ARE in blizzard conditions.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18'It's official! This is now a blizzard.'
0:07:18 > 0:07:21It's no wonder the streets are almost deserted.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24These are nearly gale force winds.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27In the UK, wind speeds rarely get this high
0:07:27 > 0:07:30and, here, I have the snow to contend with.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33The fierce wind is chilling all my exposed skin,
0:07:33 > 0:07:36so whenever I find shelter, I take it.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Because what's happening is we're getting hurricane force winds,
0:07:39 > 0:07:41which I'm used to,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43but its combining with these freezing temperatures,
0:07:43 > 0:07:47now you have wind-chill, and that can be extremely dangerous.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51The temperature is staying around minus two degrees,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55but it feels a lot colder, and that's down to the wind.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58While I get myself warm...
0:08:03 > 0:08:06..Leo's heading to the coldest lab in Britain to find out
0:08:06 > 0:08:08more about wind-chill.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13I'm no stranger to icy conditions.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16In my job as a climber, I end up working in some pretty chilly places,
0:08:16 > 0:08:20but normally I have loads of very thick clothes to protect me.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24The rules are changing today.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29In this special lab, I'm about to put my body through an extreme test,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33to find out how it reacts to blizzard-strength wind-chill
0:08:33 > 0:08:36with almost no protective gear at all. Wish me luck!
0:08:39 > 0:08:41This room is a climatic wind tunnel.
0:08:44 > 0:08:47And it's used to put cars through their paces
0:08:47 > 0:08:50in the nastiest weather imaginable.
0:08:52 > 0:08:56Today, the car's being given a day off and I'm the test subject.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59- Dr Ian!- How are you doing, Leo? - Excellent.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04Making sure I stay safe in this extreme test is Dr Ian Davies.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08He's an experienced polar explorer, so this place feels like home to him.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12If I start by listening to your heart.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14'After a quick medical...'
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Let's have a listen to your back.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19- I'm happy that you're nice and fit. - OK.
0:09:19 > 0:09:23'..it's time to get kitted up ready to face the minus 15-degree chamber.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26'That's the same temperature as your freezer at home.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29- 'Thick clothes, surely?' - That's it!
0:09:31 > 0:09:34'Unfortunately for me, the only way to show how wind-chill works
0:09:34 > 0:09:39'is for me to brave this sub-zero lab wearing just one layer of clothing.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:41This is what I'll be wearing.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44And that's what Ian'll be wearing.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46- Let's go!- Let's go!
0:09:46 > 0:09:49- Are you sure you'll be warm enough? - I'm going to roast.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56'It doesn't look cold in here, but, trust me, it's freezing.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59'Britain rarely experiences temperatures below minus 15.'
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Woo!
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Brisk!
0:10:04 > 0:10:08'The air in here is still, so I can just about cope with the cold,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10'but if that air starts being blown around,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12'I'll have wind-chill to worry about.'
0:10:14 > 0:10:15So, what is wind-chill?
0:10:15 > 0:10:18Well, you know when you have a hot cup of tea
0:10:18 > 0:10:20and it's too hot to drink... so you blow on it...
0:10:22 > 0:10:25..and it cools down? Well, that's wind-chill.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28What's happening is, you're blowing away a thin layer of warm air
0:10:28 > 0:10:33that's sitting on top of the tea and replacing it with cold air.
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Imagine that I'm the tea.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38Even with thin clothes, there's a layer of air trapped keeping me warm.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41As soon as the slightest breeze comes along,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44that air gets pushed away and a new layer of cold air comes,
0:10:44 > 0:10:47and your body loses heat warming up that cold air.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52'Dr Ian's got a thermal-imaging camera
0:10:52 > 0:10:55'which will show where my body is losing heat.'
0:10:55 > 0:11:00Your face is already losing a lot of heat. It's red on this camera.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02'Red, like you see on my face,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05'means that's a lot of heat is escaping.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09'Blue, like we see on Dr Ian's thick clothing, means his body
0:11:09 > 0:11:11'is staying insulated.'
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Even the thin layer of clothing you've got on is keeping you warm,
0:11:15 > 0:11:18which is good because there's no wind in here.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20- Trapping that layer of air. - Yeah, it is.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23'But that's all about to change.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26'The guys start the fan at 10mph.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29'That's a light breeze, but the effect is immediate.'
0:11:29 > 0:11:31That's getting you really cold.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35- 10mph to begin with. - Here comes the pain!
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- Ooh!- Feel the wind. How are you feeling?
0:11:39 > 0:11:44'Remember, blizzard-strength wind needs to be 35mph.'
0:11:44 > 0:11:47It's like ten times worse immediately. Awh!
0:11:47 > 0:11:50HIS TEETH CHATTER
0:11:50 > 0:11:54'Scientists use complex calculations to combine the actual temperature
0:11:54 > 0:11:57'with the wind speed, to come up with a "feels like" temperature -
0:11:57 > 0:12:00'how much colder your body feels with the wind.
0:12:00 > 0:12:06'So for minus 15 and 10mph winds, it now feels like minus 23.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08'And it's about to get much worse.'
0:12:10 > 0:12:14- OK, the wind's going to go up to 20mph now, Leo.- OK.
0:12:14 > 0:12:19That's, like, quite a noticeable wind. Now my face is freezing.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22'It's now minus 15 degrees Centigrade
0:12:22 > 0:12:26'and, with the wind speed, my body feels like it's minus 27 degrees.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29'That's the same as the lowest temperature ever recorded
0:12:29 > 0:12:31'in Britain.'
0:12:32 > 0:12:35And for your body to survive, it tries to suck all of the warm blood
0:12:35 > 0:12:39into the middle to keep your heart going and your lungs going.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43You're beginning to shiver, so your muscles are moving to get you warm
0:12:43 > 0:12:45and your eyes are running as well.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47Your eyes run to keep themselves lubricated.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52'Dr Ian is worried that I'm cooling down too quickly in this clothing.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55'We haven't got long, so it's all or nothing,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58'as we increase the winds to blizzard speed - 35mph.'
0:13:01 > 0:13:04'And, as a really nasty surprise, they turn on the snow!'
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Whoo!
0:13:06 > 0:13:11This is it! This is a proper blizzard! 35mph winds!
0:13:11 > 0:13:13It's minus 15, our temperature.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Combined with the wind-chill that's minus 40.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18And I'm in my undies!
0:13:18 > 0:13:21'Of course, you should never go out in temperatures like this
0:13:21 > 0:13:25'without proper clothes. You could get very ill very quickly.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'I'm doing it for science and I've got a doctor with me.'
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Aaargh! That is cold!
0:13:32 > 0:13:36'Within seconds, my clothing is soaked with the snow,
0:13:36 > 0:13:40'meaning heat is escaping from my body even quicker.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42'Dr Ian is worried.'
0:13:42 > 0:13:44WHOA! HA-HA!
0:13:44 > 0:13:48The wind is dropping your core temperature to a dangerous level.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51You need to start thinking about how you can protect yourself
0:13:51 > 0:13:54from the wind that's coming through. What are you going to do?
0:13:54 > 0:13:59- Start to think, Leo. Come on, I know you're cold, but think!- Hide!
0:13:59 > 0:14:04'No matter how much it tries, my body is now unable to keep itself warm.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Aaaargh!
0:14:06 > 0:14:09I can't handle it! Aaargh!
0:14:09 > 0:14:11'I've got to get out of the chamber.'
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Ah-a-ah!
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Argh!
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Argh! That's cold!
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Cor, it's...
0:14:21 > 0:14:26You can't describe how much worse it is with the wind and the snow.
0:14:26 > 0:14:27Ugh!
0:14:27 > 0:14:29HE SHIVERS
0:14:32 > 0:14:36'The only way to beat wind-chill is to put a barrier up between you
0:14:36 > 0:14:40'and the icy wind, so I put on my special down-filled suit
0:14:40 > 0:14:42'and head back in for round two with the blizzard.'
0:14:44 > 0:14:45This is more like it!
0:14:45 > 0:14:48This is what you should be wearing in these kind of conditions.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54'Dr Ian and I can now face this extreme wind head-on.
0:14:55 > 0:14:59'This is the kind of weather you'd face in a storm on Mount Everest.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03'But, even with our polar gear on, we still wouldn't last long
0:15:03 > 0:15:06'in a temperature that feels like minus 40 degrees.'
0:15:08 > 0:15:11'Like a snow shelter, this tent is going to add another
0:15:11 > 0:15:15'layer of protection between us and the fierce wind.'
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- Wow! Different story in here, isn't it?- You'd be fine in here.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Out of the wind, it's quite warm.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24- You've got to put something between you...- And the wind.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27The stuff that steals your body heat.
0:15:27 > 0:15:28And that was good teamwork as well.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32- Nice one. Well done, sir.- Well done. We've survived a blizzard.- Agh!
0:15:34 > 0:15:36'Wow! What an experience!
0:15:36 > 0:15:40'I lasted just 45 second in blizzard-strength wind-chill
0:15:40 > 0:15:42'in my thermals...'
0:15:42 > 0:15:44This is it. This is a proper blizzard!
0:15:45 > 0:15:48'..before I had to run for shelter.'
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Argh!
0:15:50 > 0:15:53'But once I got a warm layer on and we got inside the tent,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56'we gave ourselves a chance of survival.'
0:15:58 > 0:16:00'This place is so realistic.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03'I bet it's pretty similar to what Mike's experiencing right now
0:16:03 > 0:16:05'over in the US.'
0:16:10 > 0:16:15Back in Boston, it's 9pm and the blizzard is raging.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20NEWSREADER: 'In Boston tonight, nine o'clock, heavy snow over the region,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24'and look at these winds, 35 to 65mph sustained.'
0:16:24 > 0:16:28In the shelter of an underground car park,
0:16:28 > 0:16:32I'm checking the latest data on how this monster blizzard is developing.
0:16:32 > 0:16:37As fierce as it was outside, we were only in these yellow areas.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41These areas is precipitation or basically how heavy the snow is.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45But this red area and dark orange - that is where the real action is.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48This is telling me that the worst has yet to come.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51So, if I thought it was dangerous before, looking at this,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53it's about to get really dangerous.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57'Time to head out for round two.'
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Man, we're getting nailed by this blizzard right now!
0:17:01 > 0:17:02Just look at this! This is insane!
0:17:02 > 0:17:06I just witnessed a woman getting blown down the street right here.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09She had her umbrella and the wind just brought her straight down.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11This is easily hurricane force winds
0:17:11 > 0:17:14that's basically blowing between these buildings.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16It's incredible!
0:17:16 > 0:17:18You need things like this just to hold on to
0:17:18 > 0:17:21because you'll get blown down the road.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25'Keeping your footing is now really difficult.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30'Over 40cm of snow has fallen in just eight hours
0:17:30 > 0:17:34'and the city centre now looks like a mountain ski resort.'
0:17:34 > 0:17:38It's hard to believe that just 12 hours ago, I was right here.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41The snow wasn't even sticking, it was a very light snow.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Now look at it! Look at these snowdrifts behind me.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53'As snow relentlessly blankets Boston, I have the city
0:17:53 > 0:17:57'almost to myself, so I set about documenting this amazing storm.'
0:18:03 > 0:18:08'At just after 1am, the winds finally start to ease off.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09'I'm still in one piece,
0:18:09 > 0:18:13'but all around me there's evidence of the power of this blizzard.'
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Wow! Just look at this tree that came down
0:18:15 > 0:18:18because of all of the heavy snow. Basically it accumulated
0:18:18 > 0:18:22and all that weight snapped the tree like a toothpick.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25This is a prime example of just one of the many dangers in a blizzard.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28'I'm lucky.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30'I'm in a city with buildings to protect me
0:18:30 > 0:18:32'from this terrible weather.'
0:18:34 > 0:18:37If you can see around me, there's nobody on the streets.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40It's completely deserted. Everything is shut down.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43There's no way that anybody can even get around.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45This city is officially shut down.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49'I think it's about time to call it a night.'
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Man, this is a tough chase.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56This ranks right up there with a big hurricane, for sure.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58I'm beat.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01'I'm lucky that I'm in a city where there are buildings to protect me
0:19:01 > 0:19:04'from this terrible weather.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07'Tonight has taught me that your number one priority
0:19:07 > 0:19:10'if you're stuck in a blizzard is find shelter.'
0:19:13 > 0:19:18No story proves this more than this amazing tale of survival
0:19:18 > 0:19:21from the Rocky Mountains in the USA.
0:19:21 > 0:19:2617-year-old Justin lives in Colorado in the USA,
0:19:26 > 0:19:30where mountains and lakes create the ultimate extreme playground.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35While some come for peace and quiet, for Justin,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38it's all about hitting the trails on his snowmobile.
0:19:43 > 0:19:47When I was seven, my dad bought me my first snowmobile.
0:19:47 > 0:19:52It was kind of hard to learn at first and now I enjoy it every day.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58One Saturday morning in February 2012,
0:19:58 > 0:20:02Justin and two friends had planned an early-morning ride.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06A lifelong boy scout, he knew the importance of taking
0:20:06 > 0:20:09the correct survival kit out onto the mountain.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12The preparations I make before I go out riding is normally
0:20:12 > 0:20:16check my bag for all my supplies, check my sled.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23At 9am, the boys hit the slopes in perfect blue skies.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27But the forecast wasn't good, so Justin let his parents know
0:20:27 > 0:20:30he would be back at the car park at 5pm.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33We knew there was a storm rolling in,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36but we figured we were just going to go for a short little ride,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39hit a few meadows and come around way before it hit.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41That plan went out the window
0:20:41 > 0:20:46when a wrong turn left the group stranded in a ravine in deep snow.
0:20:51 > 0:20:52With daylight fading,
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Justin called 911 and told rescuers where they were.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59But he knew a blizzard was coming.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02Justin's survival training kicked in
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and he started digging a snow hole for shelter.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10And then I piled up all the snow around the edges to block the wind.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16He gathered some dry wood and lit a small fire inside.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Back at home, Justin's dad knew there was something wrong.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24He was supposed to hit the parking lot at five o'clock
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and we didn't get a text message.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29That's when the wait started.
0:21:29 > 0:21:34Out on the mountain, things were going from bad to worse.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36And then, boom, the blizzard hit.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39And no warning, nothing. It was just there.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44Heavy snowfall and freezing winds swept across mountain.
0:21:44 > 0:21:48The snow shelter was now the boys' ONLY means of survival.
0:21:48 > 0:21:53It was lining the ground with snow, piling it, piling it, piling it.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58Justin and his dad text each other to help direct the rescue teams
0:21:58 > 0:22:01searching in near-zero visibility.
0:22:01 > 0:22:06But a mile on the mountains and in the woods with blizzard conditions
0:22:06 > 0:22:09just as well be 500 miles.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11It started to worry us every single hour
0:22:11 > 0:22:15because one time they thought that they were near us and they weren't.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18Every minute in the cold was now critical.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Imagine trying to stay warm in these terrible conditions.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25It was hands blistering, you had to keep them in.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27You pulled them out, instantly frozen.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31You couldn't move, your whole entire body was froze up, shut down.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36Things were desperate.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38There was no wood left to burn,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41so Justin decided to set fire to his snowmobile,
0:22:41 > 0:22:46in the hope the heat would keep them warm for a bit longer.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48I only had one match left.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Only having one chance...
0:22:52 > 0:22:55..I decided to drop it in the gasoline tank.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57We're taught not to do this,
0:22:57 > 0:23:02but when you're in the situation we were stuck in, it's do or die.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07This was a very dangerous thing to do but Justin had no choice.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12As this footage shows, the snowmobile burned well
0:23:12 > 0:23:15providing crucial warmth during the dark, cold night.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18It paid off.
0:23:18 > 0:23:22Because just after dawn, a rescuer appeared through the gloom.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26Seeing him was wonderful.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29It was probably the best feeling I'm ever going to get.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34They were evacuated off the mountain, freezing cold, but safe.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Justin's training had taught him to stay calm...
0:23:41 > 0:23:42..call for help,
0:23:42 > 0:23:46then create shelter and warmth until help arrived.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49I am very proud of him.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52He did... He got into the situation,
0:23:52 > 0:23:55but once he got there, he knew how to get himself out of it,
0:23:55 > 0:23:56and stay alive.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00The skills that my father taught me are life-changing.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Without that training, me and my friends, we would've died.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08I wouldn't be sitting in front of you.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16NEWSREADER: 'Hundreds of thousands are without power
0:24:16 > 0:24:17'throughout the region.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22'The effects of the storm will be felt for days to come.'
0:24:22 > 0:24:26It's the morning after the great Boston blizzard of 2013.
0:24:26 > 0:24:27Whoa!
0:24:28 > 0:24:30Fancy a bike ride?
0:24:31 > 0:24:37The city is a very different place to when I arrived just 18 hours ago.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48This is by far the worst blizzard I've ever seen
0:24:48 > 0:24:50and I've never seen snowdrifts like this, never.
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Only in pictures in books and stuff.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58'A massive clean-up is under way.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02'But not everybody has a digger to help them out.'
0:25:02 > 0:25:05Are you telling me there's a car in there?
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- Yes.- Your car's in there. - My car is in there.- Oh, my gosh!
0:25:09 > 0:25:13'It's hard to believe how much snow has fallen overnight.'
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Look at this massive pile of snow that I'm standing on.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It's as tall as that coffee house over there.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25'So, what are the stats?'
0:25:25 > 0:25:30The official snowfall total is 63cm.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35That's the biggest fall here for ten years.
0:25:39 > 0:25:45Hurricane force winds of over 80mph have damaged property and trees.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50The icy tentacles of this storm have spread far and wide...
0:25:52 > 0:25:56..covering large parts of the country in a white blanket.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02Out on the coast, huge waves have battered property,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05encasing everything in a beautiful, salty ice.
0:26:05 > 0:26:09Everything looks frozen at the height of the blizzard.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15But blue skies means this chase is over for me.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25The last 36 hours have been a crazy ride.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30While four million people retreated to the safety of their homes...
0:26:31 > 0:26:35..I went head-first into hurricane strength winds,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38biting wind-chill...
0:26:38 > 0:26:40and deep snowdrifts.
0:26:41 > 0:26:46But, we've come through the other side, and it's incredible how quick
0:26:46 > 0:26:50Boston is back on its feet, ready to fight another day.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53Well, we made it through the blizzard.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56It was not easy and we've learned there's a lot of dangers involved.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00I was here documenting it, I prepared, I lived through it.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02Mike Theiss signing out.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10This frozen Fierce Earth special has revealed that a blizzard can make
0:27:10 > 0:27:14minus 15 degrees feel like minus 40.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20It can bring a city to a standstill in hours.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24But if you prepare before one arrives,
0:27:24 > 0:27:26make sure you get some shelter.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29You can escape its icy grasp.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36Next time on Fierce Earth,
0:27:36 > 0:27:41things get wet, as we discover the power of waves and tides.
0:27:41 > 0:27:43Claire and Leo get a surf lesson.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47And Leah witnesses one of the fastest tides in the world.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49It's starting to get a bit scary, actually.