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Over the weekend, a snow squall warning was issued throughout Kansas due to a band of heavy snow, accompanied by high winds. Snow squalls cause treacherous travel conditions, with icy roads and near-zero visibility.

Multiple slide-offs and accidents were reported, stretching from Dickinson County east to Kansas City. Riley County reported five traffic accidents, one including a fire department vehicle, on Sunday in a two-hour period. The squall travelled along I-70 for travelers returning home from the Christmas holiday.

Like severe thunderstorms, snow squalls can happen very quickly and pass through an area quickly. These squalls dump heavy snow in a short amount of time, with gusty winds creating ‘whiteout’ conditions.

While the best option is to delay travel until the squall has passed, those caught in a snow squall are urged to turn on their lights, slow down, and increase their travel distance as conditions will deteriorate very rapidly.