(NEXSTAR) – A massive winter storm system was forecast to bring heavy snow, freezing rain and dangerously cold wind chill to much of the country starting Friday. Another potential danger lurks in the forecast for a few states: squalls.
Snow squalls are an intense burst of snowfall and gusty winds that can pop up without much warning. They usually move in and out of an area in less than an hour, according to the National Weather Service, but can be life-threatening if you’re caught in one.
“Snow squalls create an extremely dangerous combination of heavy snow rates and strong, gusty winds, leading to snow-covered roads and near-zero visibility,” the NWS said.
Drivers may be caught off guard by a squall that takes over within a matter of minutes, making it impossible to see the road in front of them. In that case, you should try and safely get off the roadway as you slow down and turn on hazard lights. The NWS adds you should avoid slamming the brakes so you don’t skid on ice.
But the best thing you can do during a squall is stay off the road entirely. “There truly is no safe place on the highway during a snow squall,” says the NWS.
Dangerous squalls had already started moving through Western New York and Maine in the early evening hours on Thursday. In a forecast update on Thursday afternoon, the NWS said squalls were possible for the Northeast and New England states through Friday.
It wasn’t just the northeast bracing for impact on Friday. The huge storm is threatening to bring severe ice and snow from Texas to Boston.
Forecasters are warning the damage, especially in areas that get a large amount of ice, could rival a hurricane. About 160 million people were under winter storm or cold weather watches or warnings — and in many places both.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
