Weather History Made - First Snow Squall Warnings Issued For The WMIWX Coverage Area

Yesterday, for the first time ever, parts of our area had Snow Squall Warnings issued.

This provides a unique opportunity for education and to review exactly what a Snow Squall Warning is and why it is so important to treat these warnings different than your average Winter Storm Warning.

Because we're all Michiganders here, we all know what Winter Weather Advisories, Blizzard Warnings, and Winter Storm Warnings are and what they mean, but we bet the term "Snow Squall Warning" is probably pretty new to most of you!

A Snow Squall is an EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! These squalls require a special type of alert, just like a Tornado would! The National Weather Service uses an alert called a Snow Squall Warning to warn the public when one of these situations is occurring or imminent.

These warnings generally last 30-60 minutes in a small, specific area. They trigger WEA on your cell phones just like a Tornado Warning would.

But why? It's just another warning...

To understand why, we have to know the impacts of these snow squalls. Snow squalls combine sub-freezing road temperatures with an intense burst of snow and gusty winds, causing whiteout conditions resulting in very dangerous, life-threatening travel!

There is NO safe place on the road in a Snow Squall. Snow squalls are one of the leading causes of accidents and pile-ups here in the Great Lakes region each winter.

Please, treat these Snow Squall Warnings with the same urgency and seriousness that you do for Tornado Warnings. It could save your life! When a Snow Squall Warning is issued while you're driving, you need to slow WAY down, turn your lights on, proceed cautiously to the nearest safe exit, and pull off the roadway to a parking lot or other safe place until the warning is cancelled and weather conditions improve.