‘Tis the time of year to beware of one of the most dangerous and overlooked winter hazards on the road: Snow squalls.

A snow squall is a brief period of heavy snowfall and wind, resulting in whiteout conditions, lack of visibility, possible flash freeze and dangerous traffic accidents. Snow squalls are most common in the northern United States – particularly around the Great Lakes – between November and March.

Snow squall vs. blizzard

The biggest difference between a blizzard and a blizzard is the duration of the event. Snow squalls are typically extremely intense and very short-lived (on the order of 30-60 minutes) and can maintain this intensity throughout their entire duration in a localized event. A snowstorm can last several hours or even days and typically affects a much larger geographic region.

According to the Department of Transportation, each year, “over 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 people are injured in vehicle accidents on snowy, slushy or icy roadways.”

So what should you do if you are affected by this potentially deadly weather phenomenon? Check out these four simple steps you can take to stay safe during a snowstorm.

1. Delay travel.

There is no safe place on the road during a snow squall.

If snow squalls are forecast, the safest course of action is to avoid or delay motor travel. Enjoy a hot drink or that breakfast you never have time for and wait out the storm. Follow the latest forecasts and warnings on Weather.gov or at your local National Weather Service Forecast Office before you go.

2. Enable wireless emergency alerts on your cell phone.

If you don’t have the option to reschedule your trip, be prepared to respond if a snow squall warning is issued for your area. The best way to stay informed is to make sure you have Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled on your cell phone. These alerts cause your phone to vibrate and sound an alarm (if enabled) when the National Weather Service has issued a snow squall warning with significant impact. If you receive a warning, safely exit the road at your earliest opportunity and wait 30-60 minutes or until the warning expires.