Snow squall warnings were in place as the Arctic front brought heavy bouts of heavy snow and strong winds to parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts on Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service said. snow flurries deliberate meteorological agency to be “one of the most dangerous winter weather events”.
Warnings were in effect in parts of eastern Pennsylvania and New York, as well as northern New Jersey and western Massachusetts. The NWS confirmed that snow squalls were recorded earlier in the day in all four states. By evening, some of the squalls dissipated.
Heavy snowfall brought whiteouts with zero visibility. Wind gusts exceeded 40 mph in some areas, creating travel conditions that ranged from dangerous to life-threatening, according to the NWS.
Wind advisories are in effect in parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut until midnight ET. Wind gusts can reach 50 mph, CBS New York reports.
“Slow down and turn on the headlights!” the agency said. “During snow squalls, visibility can suddenly drop to almost zero in whiteout conditions.”
What is a snow flurry?
According to National Weather Servicebut snow flurry is “an intense short-term burst of heavy snowfall that results in a rapid reduction in visibility and is often accompanied by gusty winds.”
Unlike a blizzard, which can last for many hours or even days, snow flurries occur in fast, intense bursts, according to the National Weather Service. BUT snow flurry usually lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
The service warned that snow squalls could cause “sudden blackouts” as well as “slippery roads” that could lead to traffic accidents.
“While snow accumulations are typically an inch or less, the added combination of gusty winds, dropping temperatures, and severely reduced visibility can create extremely hazardous conditions for motorists,” the service said in a statement. wrote on his website. “Unfortunately, there is a long history of fatal traffic accidents associated with snow squalls.”
Victoria Albert contributed her report.