Snow Squall? Snow Belt?

Hello,
It’s getting to be that time of year… close to the end… snowy & cold here is some “flakey” information for you. ;)

Just kidding, it’s true.

I was recently asked what causes snow squalls and what are snow belts, here are the answers!

Just to clarify, the Snow Belt is not an event, it is a place. The Snow Belt is a north eastern region of the United States, generalized around the Great Lakes. This is one area where heavy snow is common.

Also in this region, where the reader lived (northeastern Ohio) snow squalls are common. A snow squall (also known as lake effect snow) is sudden heavy snow with strong winds and sometimes referred to as whiteout. Which is obvious why visibility would be poor in this event. It is like a blizzard, but on a smaller scale and localized. These are caused by cold air passing over warmer water. (These bodies of water, usually the Great Lakes, rarely freeze and hold summer heat for a while into winter) The wind picks up moisture and heat from the water, and has to drop it somewhere. The down wind shore… on the shore, it is all of a sudden SNOW.

Now, as far as the snow curtain… precipitation of any kind doesn’t happen everywhere at the same time, not even in the same city. Much like you can see where it is/is not raining in the distance… the same with snow.

Hope you are enjoying the blog! Thanks for reading, and remember, I'm here at your disposal so ask away! It’s as simple as can be! What do you want to know!?

I'm answering WEATHER U LIKE IT OR NOT!