Snow Squall

En route from Chicago to Detroit, I have driven through many, many squalls.

However, I didn’t know the official term for it until my friend Heather told me over drinks.

squall—1. A strong wind characterized by a sudden onset, a duration of the order of minutes, and then a rather sudden decrease in speed.

in U.S. observational practice, a squall is reported only if a wind speed of 16 knots or higher is sustained for at least two minutes (thereby distinguishing it from a gust). See line squall, white squall, williwaw. 2. In nautical use, a severe local storm considered as a whole, that is, winds and cloud mass and (if any) precipitation, thunder and lightning.