New Snow

From TWC:

"New Type of Snow Warning Will Be Issued by the National Weather Service This Winter"

A new type of snow warning will be issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) this winter to convey the danger travelers face from an extreme reduction in visibility during short-term bursts of heavy snow. A snow squall warning will be issued when conditions warrant by seven NWS offices in the Lower 48 starting in early January. Snow squalls have historically been a contributor to major highway pileups due to their brief but intense snowfall rates, which drop visibility at moments notice while slickening roads. Snow squalls can occur in situations where there is no major large-scale winter storm in progress and may only produce minor accumulations. "Annual highway fatalities from these events can exceed fatalities due to tornadoes in many years," the NWS said in its product description for the new snow squall warning.   The seven NWS offices that can issue the snow squall warnings starting on or about Jan. 3 are State College, Pennsylvania; Buffalo, New York; Binghamton, New York; Burlington, Vermont; Detroit; Pittsburgh and Cheyenne, Wyoming. Some of the above-mentioned locations near the Great Lakes are prone to lake-effect snow squalls. In general, these snow squall warnings will be of short duration and specify a localized area similar to what you would see with a tornado, severe thunderstorm or flash flooding warning. As with all other warnings the NWS issues, they are targeted at state and local officials, media, the general public and others.

If snow squall warning is issued for your area, the NWS has this advice:

• Consider avoiding or delaying travel until the snow squall passes your location.
• If you must travel, use extra caution and allow extra time.
• Rapid changes in visibility and slick road conditions may lead to accidents.

^ It's important to know the different types of weather hazards (including the different types of snow.) I live in a place that gets snow squalls and could really use these new alerts since it will help me decide whether to drive to my mailbox or not. Of course when I look out the window and see heavy snow that also tells me. ^

https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/snow-squall-warning-national-weather-service-winter-2018