
By Shannon Lukens for Steamboat Radio News/Blizzard Broadcasting.
An Emergency Alert was issued at 5:56 a.m. for a Snow Squall Warning until 6:45 a.m. Be aware of zero visibility for travel, and icy roads in the Steamboat Springs area.
Here’s more on snow squalls from the National Weather Service.
What are snow squalls?
Snow squalls, often associated with strong cold fronts, are a key wintertime weather hazard. They move in and out quickly, and typically last less than an hour. The sudden white-out conditions combined with falling temperatures produce icy roads in just a few minutes. Squalls can occur where there is no large-scale winter storm in progress and might only produce minor accumulations. 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.