Snowburst

A snowburst is a sudden, localized, and often intense snowfall of short duration. It is characterized by a rapid accumulation of snow, significantly reducing visibility and potentially creating hazardous travel conditions. Unlike a blizzard, a snowburst typically lasts for a shorter period, often less than an hour. Snowbursts can occur independently or be associated with larger winter storms.

The formation of a snowburst is often linked to specific atmospheric conditions, such as:

• Lake-Effect Snow: When cold air passes over relatively warmer lake waters, moisture is picked up. As the air rises and cools over land downwind, heavy snow showers can develop quickly, resulting in localized snowbursts.

• Orographic Lift: As air is forced to rise over a mountain range, it cools and condenses, leading to precipitation. In cold weather, this can result in a localized increase in snowfall intensity, producing a snowburst effect on the windward side of the mountains.

• Convection: Localized areas of strong upward air currents can trigger the rapid development of snow showers, leading to snowbursts. This is more common in unstable atmospheric conditions.

While snowbursts are generally short-lived, their intensity can be deceiving. Drivers should exercise extreme caution when encountering a snowburst, reducing speed and increasing following distance. The rapid reduction in visibility can quickly lead to accidents. Meteorological services often issue warnings or advisories when conditions are favorable for the development of snowbursts, particularly in areas prone to lake-effect or orographic snowfall.