A snow squall, or snowsquall, is a sudden moderately heavy snowfall with blowing snow and strong, gusty surface winds. It is often referred to as a whiteout and is similar to a blizzard but is localized in time or in location and snow accumulations may or may not be significant.
A hybrid Frontal-Lake Effect Snowsquall hitting Toronto, Canada during rush hour.
Radar trace of lake-effect snow squalls off the Great Lakes from US radars.
Radar image of a strong snow squall off Lake Huron in December 2010. Over 150 cm of snow from this squall, fell north of London, Ontario.
A linear single banded snow squall over Southern Ontario
Snow comprises individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes. It consists of frozen crystalline water throughout its life cycle, starting when, under suitable conditions, the ice crystals form in the atmosphere, increase to millimeter size, precipitate and accumulate on surfaces, then metamorphose in place, and ultimately melt, slide or sublimate away.
Norwegian train plowing through drifted snow
Cold northwesterly wind over Lake Superior and Lake Michigan creating lake-effect snowfall
Freshly fallen snowflakes
An early classification of snowflakes by Israel Perkins Warren
