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Sudden Snow Squalls Spark Travel Warnings
19 Feb
Summary
- Snow squall warnings issued for over 33,000 people in Washington.
- Sudden heavy snow and strong winds caused near-zero visibility.
- Winter storms are dumping up to 8 feet of snow in high elevations.
Dangerous winter weather conditions prompted a snow squall warning from the National Weather Service in Spokane, Washington, affecting more than 33,000 individuals. The warning advised people to delay travel on Thursday due to rapidly deteriorating visibility caused by heavy snow and strong winds.
This severe weather is occurring as the western United States experiences back-to-back winter storms, with forecasts predicting up to 8 feet of snow in the highest elevations. Similar snow squall warnings have been issued across the country, including life-threatening conditions in Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado.
The NWS Spokane office issued its warning shortly before 8 a.m. local time on Thursday, describing "whiteout conditions with near zero visibility associated with intense bursts of heavy snow." The affected areas included southeastern Stevens County and southern Pend Oreille County in northeastern Washington, impacting major roadways like U.S. Highway 20 and U.S. Highway 395.
A snow squall is defined by the NWS as a sudden, short-lived hazard, lasting less than an hour. These events can rapidly create icy roads and extremely dangerous conditions for motorists, even with minimal snow accumulation. While snow squalls are brief, they can cause significant localized impacts, a stark contrast to blizzards, which are characterized by sustained high winds and prolonged low visibility.
