Dangerous snow squalls, flash freeze expected from quick-moving front crossing Great Lakes, Northeast
Snow squalls are sudden bursts of precipitation typically lasting less than an hour, but they can produce heavy snowfall rates and drop visibilities.
Snow squalls potential to produce heavy snow in Great Lakes, Northeast
A quick-moving front is bringing snow squalls to the Great Lakes and parts of the interior Northeast through Wednesday. Drastic temperature drops are expected and intense bursts of snow may reduce visibility.
As the calendar pushes deeper into spring, signs of winter were prevalent across the eastern Great Lakes and interior Northeast on Wednesday as a frontal boundary brought the risk of intense bursts of snow, wind and a drastic temperature drop.
A front’s sharp dividing line dropped temperatures and brought the threat of snow squalls.
Snow squalls are sudden bursts of precipitation typically lasting less than an hour, but they can produce heavy snowfall rates and drop visibilities.
On Wednesday, communities under threat from these conditions stretched from the eastern Great Lakes through the interior Northeast and New England. Cities such as Cleveland; Buffalo, New York; State College, Pennsylvania; and Burlington, Vermont, saw brief rounds of snow with poor visibilities.
WHAT ARE SNOW SQUALLS AND WHY ARE THEY SO DANGEROUS?
Snow squalls threatened Wednesday evening commutes
Snowfall rates varied drastically by city, but drivers had a tough time on roads Wednesday evening.
Snow squall overtakes Ithaca, New York
Visibility was reduced for drivers Wednesday evening as a snow squall moved through Ithaca, New York.
These snow squalls pose the biggest threat to travelers when roads became slick during whiteout conditions.
HOW MUCH SNOW DOES YOUR CITY NORMALLY GET IN A YEAR?
"We likely are going to see some snow squall warnings in effect. It is a very intense, short-lived burst of heavy snow that can be immediately blinding. You could be driving on the interstate, things look just fine one minute, and then the next second, that’s where you see the blinding conditions," said Mahoney.
What is a snow squall?
(FOX Weather)
Forecast models show wind gusts could reach 30-50 mph before tapering off in the late evening.
Northerly winds are also expected to help usher in some colder-than-normal air that will only last for a day or so.
By Friday, highs area-wide will reach above-average levels, ahead of another storm system that could produce more cold rain and snow over the weekend.
(FOX Weather)