What's a snow squall? What to know about the weather phenomenon

"Snow squalls" are popping up in the Northeast and elsewhere. But, what exactly is a snow squall, and what should you expect when the weather forecast includes a snow squall warning? Here's what to know about this winter weather phenomenon.

What is a snow squall?

Often referred to as a whiteout, a "snow squall" is a sudden, moderately heavy snowfall that blows snow and strong surface winds, suddenly reducing visibility, AccuWeather explains.

Though the snow accumulation is not typically significant because they are so brief, snow squalls can create dangerous driving conditions due to visibility issues and quickly-forming ice.

Snow squalls actually have similarities to the types of thunderstorms you usually see in the summer, AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno explained.

"A snow squall is similar to a summertime thunderstorm in that it can have heavy bouts of precipitation in a short period of time and strong, gusty winds," he said, "except instead of getting rain, you're getting snow. And when you get heavy snow and wind, you could reduce visibility and make roads a sheet of ice in minutes."

MORE WINTER WEATHER STORIES

• Here are the things that define a blizzard


• What is a polar vortex?


• Driving on black ice: Tips to avoid the hidden road dangers


• How to safely drive in snow

This story was originally published in January 2020 and has been updated.