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Alert for snow flurries: States affected and why they are so dangerous

Several states are on alert due to dangerous snow flurries. How long will the bad weather last?

Daniela Barrera
Daniela BarreraDann_arvz
Estados Unidos
Snow from a recent nor'easter storm covers the town common and the First Parish Church in Ashby, Massachusetts, U.S., March 15, 2023. REUTERS/Brian Snyder TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
BRIAN SNYDERREUTERS

The National Weather Service has issued a series of Winter Storm Warnings, with some areas expected to receive up to a foot of snow early this week.

There are currently nine Winter Storm Warnings active in the United States: 

Indiana 

  • Where: In Indiana, Elkhart and Eastern St. Joseph. In Michigan, Cass MI, Northern Berrien and Southern Berrien Counties.
  • What: Lake effect snow (4-8 inches) and high winds (35 - 45 mph).
  • When: Monday 5 AM EST to Tuesday 4 AM EST
  • Travel could be dangerous as visibility could be reduced due to the snow. 

Maryland & West Virginia 

  • Where: In Maryland, Garrett County. In West Virginia, Western Grant and Western Pendleton Counties.
  • What: Heavy snow (3-6 inches) and wind (30 to 50 mph).
  • When: Monday 1 PM EST to Tuesday 10 AM EST
  • Travel could be dangerous as snow is expected to reduce visibility and make roads slick.

 

  • Where: Western Highland County (Maryland)
  • What: Heavy snow (3-5 inches) and high wind (30 to 50 mph).
  • When: Monday 1 PM EST to Tuesday 10 AM EST
  • Travel could be dangerous as snow is expected to reduce visibility and make roads slick. Be careful during commuting hours. 

 

  • When: Southeast Webster, Northwest Pocahontas and Southeast Randolph Counties (West Virginia)
  • What: Heavy snow (6 - 12 inches) and high winds (up to 45 mph)
  • When: Monday 1 PM EST to Tuesday 10 AM EST
  • Travel could become dangerous as snow is expected to reduce visibility

Michigan 

  • Where: Van Buren County
  • What: Lake effect snow (4-8 inches) and high winds (up to 50 mph).
  • When: Monday at 4 AM EST - Tuesday at 4 AM EST
  • Be careful on the roads as Interstate 94 West of Kalamazoo and I-196 south of Holland could be impacted by sudden whiteouts on Monday night. Travel with caution.

Pennsylvania 

  • Where: Somerset County
  • What: Heavy snow (6 - 8 inches) and wind (up to 50 mph)
  • When: Monday 1 PM EST to Tuesday 10 AM EST
  • Be careful on roads as they could become slick and snow could reduce visibility. 

Virginia 

  • Where: Western Greenbrier County
  • What: Heavy snow (6 - 9 inches) and wind (up to 45 mph).
  • When: Monday 1 PM EST to Tuesday 10 AM EST
  • Travel could be dangerous as strong winds could bring down power lines and cause outages. 

Source: National Weather Service 

What are snow flurries?

A blizzard is a long-lasting snowfall that results in significant snow accumulation. On the other hand, snow flurries are short-lived and occur when snow falls in strong wind conditions, creating thin layers of instant freezing.

Snow flurries come in two types: frontal effect and lake-effect. Frontal flurries occur along, in front of, or behind an Arctic front, producing narrow bands of intense snowfall for short periods of time. Lake-effect snow flurries, on the other hand, occur near large bodies of water and can last for hours.

Why are snow flurries so dangerous?

Unlike winter storms, snow flurries can quickly create a slippery layer of ice on roads due to strong wind conditions, threatening drivers. The National Snow and Ice Data Center defines a snow squall as “a brief but intense snowfall that greatly reduces visibility.”

Rather than the temperature, it is the danger these storms create for drivers that make them such a threat.