Changes Announced Regarding Snow Squall Alerts

Posted: December 10, 2022 3:00 am

There is now a new way to find out important information about dangerous snow squalls. A new system designed to provide faster and more accurate information about the potential of snow squalls will help the National Weather Service (NWS) inform the public more effectively. Here is what you need to know.

Understanding Snow Squall Dangers

One of the most vital functions of modern smartphones is their ability to alert users of the potential of flash flooding, severe thunderstorms, and tornadoes. These warnings are sent as part of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. A new set of criteria adopted by the NWS is now changing how alerts about snow squalls are sent through smartphones.

Snow squalls are short but intense bursts of heavy snow. The snow is typically paired with strong winds, triggering whiteouts and flash freezes on the roadways. While a snow squall can occur any place that sees winter weather, they are a particularly common occurrence during times of lake-effect snow in the Great Lakes region.

Snow squalls are also more likely to lead to suddenly hazardous roadways due to how swiftly and strongly these storms can hit. Pileup accidents are a common occurrence during snow squalls because of how quickly the conditions can deteriorate.

New Criteria for Snow Squall Alerts

The NWS has been issuing phone alerts warning of snow squalls since 2018. Prior to the recent changes in the system, the alerts were sent to the public any time there was a snow squall warning in the area. However, recent feedback detailed that the NWS was issuing too many snow squall warnings. Of particular concern was the fact that many of the warnings came in the middle of the night, unnecessarily waking up people.

In an effort to lower the number of warnings and make people less desensitized to the alerts, the NWS created new rules regarding when a warning can be sent to phones through the WEA system. As of November 7, these warnings will only result in a phone alert when it has been deemed to be significant by the NWS.

In order to be designated as significant, the snow squall must be traveling in the direction of a major roadway between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm. In addition, a snow squall alert will only be triggered if the event happens in the middle of an existing winter weather advisory or if there have not been additional winter alerts issued.

For instance, the NWS will not issue a snow squall alert if there is an existing winter storm warning or blizzard warning in fact. The reasoning behind this decision is that these types of alerts already encompass the dangers triggered by a snow squall.

What to Do if a Snow Squall Warning is Issued

Just like any other severe weather event, you will want to know what to do in the event that you receive a snow squall alert on your phone. Knowing what to do and what to avoid can mean the difference between safety and a serious vehicular accident.

Do not leave your home or safe location if there are snow squalls developing in your area. If you are already on the road when a snow squall develops, the best strategy is to attempt to leave the highway and wait out the squall. It is important to not feel the pressure to simply try to drive through the squall. Instead, you should slow down and be sure to leave a good amount of room between your vehicle and the traffic in front of you.

It is also vital to turn on your headlights if you find yourself in a squall. Turning on your hazards can be helpful in alerting other drivers that they need to proceed carefully.

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