How To Stay Safe During Colorado's Snow Squall Events

If you were driving along the Western Slope on Wednesday afternoon, you may have noticed sunshine one moment and near-zero visibility the next. A fast-moving snow squall swept over the plateau into the Grand Junction area, triggering travel alerts and some slick roads.

The National Weather Service warns squalls can quickly cause whiteout conditions and are worth being prepared for. So, what is a snow squall, and how often does that happen in Grand Junction?

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What Happened in the Grand Valley — Snow Squall vs. Snowstorm

Snowstorms can last for hours or even days, but a snow squall happens quickly. By the time you can alert people, it has usually blown through. Here and gone in under an hour, the National Weather Service says a snow squall is a short burst of heavy snow and strong winds that can cause whiteout conditions and rapid icing. That was the pattern we saw in Mesa County this week. A fast-moving squall that shook all our windows, then moved out just as fast.

Hazardous Travel, Sudden Visibility Loss & Safety Tips

Members of our staff at the radio station got caught out on U.S. 50 when the squall arrived, and the PG version is that conditions “were not fun.” Looking out the window at the radio station, I could not even see across Kennedy Avenue over to Sherwood Park.

When stuck in a snow squall, the National Weather Service recommends slowing down, turning on low beams, increasing following distance, and avoiding slamming on the brakes. Squalls can be tricky. You are tempted to pull over. But you might not get going again if the road ices over. Before this week’s event, the last snow squall in Mesa County occurred on February 28, 2023. Before that, we had one on December 22, 2020.

Travel Alerts, Road Conditions & What Comes Next

Listeners with our station app got a heads-up as the squall moved into town. A snow squall warning carries the same urgency as a flash warning. It means the event is happening right now, and the impact could be instantaneous. We say it all the time, in the Grand Valley, winters are mild, until they are not. Similar squalls like the one we experienced this week have caused multi-vehicle pileups

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Source: Quick Snow Squall Creates Hazardous Driving In Grand Junction