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

The exceptions will be for parts of the Great Lakes where snow showers and flurries will fall, along with perhaps some locally heavy lake-effect snow squalls, especially for northeast Ohio, northwest Pennsylvania, and western and northern New York State. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 27 Nov. 2025

Unlike a regular snowstorm, which can go on for hours, a snow squall can happen in a flash. —Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025

During snow squalls, the visibility may suddenly drop to near zero in whiteout conditions! —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025

The weather service defines snow squalls as short, but intense bursts of snow which typically result in minor accumulations. —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for snow squall

• aldol
• armhole
• atoll
• awol
• backhaul
• banal
• baseball
• befall
• cabal
• catchall
• cecal
• centrale