MOLINE, Ill. — Friday night, Feb. 18, we experienced a snow squall. What does that mean? A snow squall is an intense short-lived burst of heavy snowfall that leads to a quick reduction in visibilities and often accompanied by gusty winds, according the National Weather Service.
Snow squalls can create hazards because they can cause a quick reduction in visibility and sudden slick road conditions. These hazards can cause car wrecks, pileups, injury and death. In some cases, snow squalls can create whiteout conditions in a matter of seconds.
Squall visibility was below one mile on Feb. 18 when squall line made its way through the immediate Quad Cities. At the same time, it approached our hometowns to the north, which the line had passed through earlier, visibility increased 10 miles, which is the average visibility.
Snow squall can happen at any point during the day. They also mainly occur during the winter months when colder temperatures can cause snow.
During a snow squall, it's important to stay weather aware and best to avoid or delay traveling until the line passes through. The QC snow squall featured multiple warnings sent about the squall moving through the area.
If you have to drive during a snow squall, make sure to give yourself extra time to drive due to road conditions and visibility. Have your headlights on, regardless of the time of day because visibility can change quickly and drastically.
Finally, do not slam on the breaks. This can cause loss of the vehicle control and increase the chance of a chain-reaction crash.