snow squall: What is a snow squall, and is it the same as a blizzard as the US and Canada face harsh winter weather?

As harsh winter weather grips large regions of the United States and Canada, weather agencies are cautioning residents about dangerous situations ranging from snow squalls to full-scale blizzards. Although the two terms are often confused, they refer to very different types of winter hazards.

What is a Snow Squall

Snow squalls are fast-moving winter events generally connected to strong cold fronts. Unlike prolonged snowstorms, these systems arrive and disappear rapidly, often within 30 to 60 minutes. Despite their short lifespan, they can be really hazardous.

In a snow squall, visibility can collapse suddenly to near zero, temperatures fall quickly, and roads can freeze in a matter of minutes. These conditions may happen even when there is no significant winter storm underway and normally leave behind minimal snow accumulation, typically around an inch or less.

However, their impact can be dangerous. The combination of gusty winds, quickly icing roads, and abrupt whiteout situations has resulted in a long history of deadly highway accidents. Snow squalls can briefly interrupt travel and commerce while posing critical risks to unsuspecting drivers.
The National Weather Service explained these intense bursts as abrupt and localized, citing that the so-called “mini storms” can decrease visibility to a quarter mile or less when winds range up to 35 mph or higher. As per the agency, the major distinction between a snow squall and a snowstorm is duration, snow squalls are brief, while snowstorms can persist for hours or even days.

When Does a Blizzard Occur?

Blizzards are more prolonged and expansive in winter weather conditions. They generally involve many inches of snowfall combined with persistent strong winds that blow snow into the air, resulting in extended whiteout situations. However, not all blizzards need heavy snowfall.

Across the Midwest, ground blizzards can happen even without fresh snow. These occur when an Arctic cold front moves in quickly, causing the temperatures to plunge and winds to intensify, frequently gusting between 50 and 60 mph. If deep snow is already on the ground, powerful winds can whip it into the air, generating hazardous visibility conditions.

Another major risk connected to blizzards is the intense cold that often follows the Arctic front, elevating the risk of frostbite, hypothermia, and infrastructure strain.

Major US Impacts: Midwest and Michigan

Recently, a powerful winter storm system threatened blizzard-like conditions throughout the regions of Upper Midwest, resulting in treacherous travel, heavy snowfall, and power outages. Snow and increasing winds spread across the northern Plains, leading the National Weather Service warnings of potential whiteout situations that could make travel impossible.

Snowfall totals were anticipated to surpass one foot across areas of the upper Great Lakes, with regions along the south shore of Lake Superior possibly seeing double that amount.

In Michigan, a winter storm sparked by a bomb cyclone, a quickly intensifying system resulted in ice, snow, and high winds on Monday, Dec. 29. Residents experienced several alerts, that included winter storm, high wind, and blizzard cautions. Wind gusts ranging up to 60 mph lead to widespread power outages and increased the risk of snow squalls throughout the state.

The bomb cyclone was also predicted to result in heavy snow and strong winds in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula through Monday.

Widespread Alerts Across Eastern Canada

Harsh winter weather has also triggered extensive warnings in Eastern Canada. Freezing rain, blowing snow, ice pellets, and strong winds initiated alerts for much of the area. Orange alerts, the second-highest warning level, were published for Ontario, Quebec, and regions of Nova Scotia.

The Ottawa and Montreal regions were predicted to get up to 15 millimetres of ice accretion from freezing rain between Monday and Tuesday evening. Wind speeds were expected to range up to 70 km/h, with gusts increasing to 90 km/h in Montreal and western regions of the island.

Several residents were left without electricity in Ontario and Quebec. Environment and Climate Change Canada cautioned that Toronto, London, and regions near Lake Huron and Georgian Bay could experience blizzard situations accompanied by hazardous snow squalls.

“An initial brief, intense snow squall is expected this morning along a cold front,” the agency stated, mentioning that snowfall followed by rapidly dropping temperatures might result in icy surfaces and dangerous travel. The caution also cited northwesterly winds between 70 and 90 km/h.

Travel Disruptions and Extreme Forecasts

Air travel was heavily impacted as well. Montreal’s Trudeau Airport reported that almost 12 per cent of flights were affected, while Toronto Pearson International Airport saw over 60 delays and almost 10 cancellations.

Northern Ontario and Quebec were also expected to encounter blizzard situations, that includes heavy snow and strong winds in regions like Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Val d’Or. Snowfall totals between 40 and 60 centimetres were predicted for the areas of Quebec’s eastern St. Lawrence region.

Meanwhile, northern Nova Scotia, mainly the province’s northeastern tip, was bracing for intense winds ranging up to 140 km/h, adding to concerns over power outages and hazardous travel situations.

FAQs:

Q1. What is a snow squall?
A snow squall is a short-lived but heavy burst of snowfall. It can immediately reduce visibility and result in icy roads within minutes.

Q2. How long do snow squalls usually last?
Most snow squalls persist less than an hour. Despite their brief duration, they can be really dangerous.