(Des Moines) The meteorological winter months of December, January and February are upon us. Soon the precipitation will change from rain to snow, and with that comes the typical Winter Weather Advisories, and the dreaded Winter Storm Warnings, Blizzard Warnings, and new this season is the Snow Squall Warning.
On Wednesday, we talked about when and why the National Service issues a Winter Weather Advisory. Today, Chad Hahn, Meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines, touches on Blizzard and Winter Storm Warnings.
Hahn says the main take away is a greater impact on travel with reduced visibility, along with snow and ice-packed roadways.
Hahn says Blizzard Warnings have no criteria for accumulating snow. In fact, the only criteria are wind gusts over 35-miles per hour, visibilities one-quarter of a mile or less, lasting three hours or longer.
The National Weather Service added a new warning over this past year. It’s called the Snow Squall Warning. That topic will be covered in the third and final story in this series.
