A new type of alert was used for the first time this week by the National Weather Service in Iowa – a snow squall warning. Snow squalls are defined as intense winter storms, with limited duration, periods of moderate to heavy snowfall, that are accompanied by gusty surface winds. These conditions result in reduced visibility and whiteout conditions. An added risk is that rapidly falling temperatures in conjunction with the snow can cause dangerous changes to the conditions of roads. Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen explains snow squalls, “It’s just like squalls that we see in the spring and summer with thunderstorms. They’re a really long, really narrow line of storms. They’re very intense and luckily they don’t last long. But it can get really bad for a very short period of time.”

Check weather forecasts before traveling. The first snow squall warnings were issued Monday. Reisen advises that it’s best to not travel during these fast moving storms and to either get to your destination before the storm arrives or wait with the understanding that the road conditions may be altered.