More than 1.1 million people in New York were warned of sudden whiteout conditions and dangerous travel on Tuesday afternoon after a snow squall developed rapidly.
The sudden warning was issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Buffalo shortly before 3:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon after weather radar and webcams detected “intense bursts of heavy snow” hitting the area.
More than 1.1 million people live in the warning area, which encompasses Northwestern Wyoming County, Northern Erie County, Southeastern Niagara County, Orleans County, Genesee County, and Northwestern Monroe County. Cities and towns affected include Buffalo, Cheektowaga, West Seneca, North Tonawanda, Clarence, Lockport, Lackawanna, Batavia, Kenmore, and Depew.
As of the time of the warning’s issuance, the “dangerous” snow squall was located near Point Breeze, 11 miles northwest of Angola on the Lake. It was moving east at 30 mph.
Roads impacted include Interstate 90 between exits 48 and 57.
“Intense bursts of heavy snow,” NWS Buffalo said in the warning. “Gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts up to 20 mph.”
People driving in the affected areas will be most impacted.
“Visibilities are very poor, a quarter mile or less is what we are observing,” NWS meteorologist Phillip Pandolfo told Newsweek.
Pandolfo added that the snowfall rates were significant enough to make the road conditions slick.
The warning will remain in place until 4:30 p.m. ET, although additional warnings may be issued in nearby areas as the snow squall moves through the area.
“Slow Down! Rapid changes in visibility and road conditions are expected with this dangerous snow squall. Be alert for sudden whiteout conditions.”
What Is a Snow Squall?
A snow squall develops quickly, causing sudden whiteout conditions that can be fatal for drivers caught in it. When combined with falling temperatures, roads become icy in minutes. Snow squalls typically last for around an hour.
“Squalls can occur where there is no large-scale winter storm in progress and might only produce minor accumulations,” the NWS says. “Snow squalls can cause localized extreme impacts to the traveling public and to commerce for brief periods of time. Unfortunately, there is a long history of deadly traffic accidents associated with snow squalls. Although snow accumulations are typically an inch or less, the added combination of gusty winds, falling temperatures and quick reductions in visibility can cause extremely dangerous conditions for motorists.”
Much of the Northeast is at risk of snow squalls this weekend amid an incoming Arctic blast that is set to plunge temperatures across the region.
