Snow Squall Warning for Millions of Americans

A warning for a “dangerous” snow squall—a sudden, moderately heavy downfall of snow—has been issued for central Iowa by the National Weather Service (NWS). Residents of the state have been told that travel “will become difficult and potentially dangerous within minutes.” A snow squall warning was also issued in Canada, according to the Weather Network, which predicted that up to 60 centimeters (almost 2 feet) of snow could fall on parts of Ontario, potentially making travel “treacherous.” Why It Matters Snow squalls can come on very suddenly, causing whiteout conditions and icy roads within minutes. Iowa residents have been warned to slow down while driving because of “rapid changes in visibility and road conditions.” Snow squalls are a winter weather hazard, but are not the same as a snowstorm because of their duration, the NWS says. A snowstorm is typically a lot longer, lasting for several hours or even days, while a snow squall lasts for around 30 to 60 minutes. However, they can have an extreme impact on a local level, such as deadly traffic accidents. Warnings are vital for ensuring the public’s safety in those areas. In a stock photo, a car navigates nearly whiteout conditions during a snow squall. The National Weather Service has warned residents of Iowa to be cautious when driving because of an incoming snow squall. In a stock photo, a car navigates nearly whiteout conditions during a snow squall. The National Weather Service has warned residents of Iowa to be cautious when driving because of an incoming snow squall. Neil Blake/Grand Rapids Press-MLive.com via AP What To Know The NWS issued the warning at 8:30 a.m. local time on Thursday for central Iowa. The NWS said the dangerous squall was located along a line extending four miles northwest of the city of Nevada to near Bondurant and New Virginia. The snow squall was moving east at a speed of 35 mph. The NWS warned the millions living in the region that the snow squall could bring “intense bursts of heavy snow significantly reducing the visibility below a half a mile.” It added that the squall would also bring winds of around 15 mph, which could “blow the snow and further reduce the visibility.” The highways that the NWS has warned could be affected by the snow squall include Interstate 35 between mile markers 45 and 72 and between mile markers 87 and 124, Interstate 80 between mile markers 119 and 177, and Interstate 235 between mile markers 1 and 14. This is what a sudden snow squall can look like and why Snow Squall Warnings get issued. The visibilities drop rapidly and traveling becomes dangerous in an instant. This is a view from I-35 north of Des Moines. #IAwx pic.twitter.com/x6MTCOphXU — Tyler Roney (@TylerJRoney) January 2, 2025 What People Are Saying In Des Moines, WHO 13 meteorologist Ed Wilson wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “The Iowa DOT Road Conditions Map shows roads are 100 percent snow covered in western Iowa, partially to mostly covered in central Iowa. The snow squall is making travel difficult west of the Des Moines metro.” In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Dakota News Now meteorologist Tyler Roney wrote on X: “This is what a sudden snow squall can look like and why Snow Squall Warnings get issued. The visibilities drop rapidly and traveling becomes dangerous in an instant. This is a view from I-35 north of Des Moines.” Roney shared footage of Interstate 35 and Oralabor Road in Iowa, with poor visibility. What’s Next The snow squall warning is expected to lift at 9:30 a.m. local time. Iowa drivers should use extra caution when traveling because of potentially icy conditions. Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.