snow squall

noun

variants or less commonly snowsquall

ˈsnō-ˌskwȯl 

plural snow squalls also snowsqualls

: a sudden, brief, and intense storm of wind and snow : a squall accompanied by snow

While major snowstorms are predicted ahead of time, snow squalls can begin suddenly and typically last less than an hour.

—Aleanna Siacon

Examples of snow squall in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This latest round of rough weather comes after a snow squall caused a deadly pile up in Pennsylvania on Monday. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2022

This area experienced wind gusts of more than 70 mph with snow squall warnings that impacted visibility, according to CNN meteorologist Robert Shackleford. —Aya Elamroussi, CNN, 22 Dec. 2022

At least 50 vehicles were involved in a pileup on Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania during a snow squall Monday morning, leaving dozens of people injured. —Talal Ansari, WSJ, 28 Mar. 2022

The National Weather Service (NWS) forecast office for the Twin Cities said there was a snow squall warning in effect in the region at the time. —Fox News, 12 Nov. 2020

There probably won’t be much falling at this point, but some flurries, snow showers or a brief snow squall could blow by. —Ian Livingston, Washington Post, 19 Dec. 2022

There wasn't a snow squall warning issued for the location of the accident at the time the crash happened. —Laura Studley, Eric Levenson and Caroll Alvarado, CNN, 30 Mar. 2022

Monday's pileup during a spring snow squall in Pennsylvania killed six people, injured 24 others and involved 80 vehicles, state police said Wednesday. —NBC News, 30 Mar. 2022

The highway was snow-covered when the snow squall came through, according to Pennsylvania State Police Trooper David Beohm. —Julia Musto, Fox News, 29 Mar. 2022

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above