National Weather Service Issues Clear Warning Amid 'Dangerous' Winter Storm Conditions

Over the past few weeks, much of the country has been hit with severe winter weather that has brought heavy snow, bitterly cold temperatures, and strong winds. Obviously, those conditions often produce slick roads, but there is another dangerous situation that often arises during the winter: snow squalls.

As winter weather moves across much of the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, and Northeast, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning about potential snow squalls that could impact several states without much warning.

What is a Snow Squall?

Often associated with a cold front, a snow squall is a sudden, intense, and short-lived burst of heavy snow and strong winds that create dangerous whiteout conditions that make it difficult for drivers to see.

The NWS describes snow squalls with four defining characteristics:

• Intense bursts of snow and wind.
• Short duration.
• Whiteout visibility.
• Rapidly deteriorating road conditions.

Those conditions, combined with slick roads from snow and ice, can quickly create a very dangerous situation for drivers. It can also create massive, chain-reaction accidents and pileups.

"Snow squalls pose serious threats to personal safety and property and produce costly transportation disruptions due to multi-vehicle pileups," the NWS warns. "There is no safe place on a highway when snow squalls are approaching."

Possible Snow Squalls

With winter weather moving in throughout the Ohio Valley, central Appalachian Mountains, and the Northeast, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning about possible snow squalls beginning on Sunday, with the threat stretching into Monday.

"Be sure to have ways of receiving warnings and when a Snow Squall Warning is issued, slow down or delay travel," the NWS wrote in a post on X.

The NWS provided more information about its snow squall warnings:

• Issued when a snow squall is occurring or imminent.
• Typically, in effect for 30-60 minutes in a small, targeted.
• Can trigger a Wireless Emergency Alert to your phone.
• When issued, slow down or delay travel.

Because these conditions are short-fused and fast-moving events, it's important to stay alert and stay informed.

States Impacted by These Warnings

The conditions are expected to develop downwind in the Great Lakes region before extending into parts of the Ohio Valley. Eventually, the conditions were expected to stretch into interior New England. This could also involve lake-effect enhanced snow squalls in the Great Lakes region, as well.

More specifically, the areas most at risk for snow squalls on Sunday into Monday were New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Ohio, but the conditions obviously could shift to other states in those regions, as well, given the suddenness with which snow squalls can develop.

'No Safe Place'

If you are in an area that is at risk for snow squalls, the NWS warns that drivers pay special attention to snow squall warnings and to "avoid or delay" all motor travel until the squall passes.

"If a snow squall warning is issued for your area, avoid or delay motor travel until the squall passes through your location. There truly is no safe place on the highway during a snow squall," the NWS warns.

However, if you are caught in a snow squall in the midst of your travels, the NWS has some guidance to avoid potential collisions or crashes.

"If you are already in transit and cannot exit the road in time, reduce your speed, turn on your headlights and hazard lights and allow plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you," the NWS warned. "It’s also best not to slam on your brakes. With slick/icy roads, this could contribute to the loss of vehicle control and also increase the risk of a chain reaction crash."

If you do have to travel despite these warnings, it's important to be careful and take extra precautions to keep yourself and others safe on the road.