Snowstorm: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when referring to a storm with heavy snow and strong winds. It's a general term for widespread snowfall that might impact visibility and make travel difficult.

• The snowstorm made it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.
• We're expecting a significant snowstorm this weekend, so please stay indoors.

Use 'blizzard' for severe snowstorms with very strong winds and often poor visibility. This term implies extreme conditions that are more severe than a typical snowstorm.

• Last night’s blizzard caused the roads to be completely impassable.
• During the blizzard, visibility was reduced to almost zero.

Use 'snowfall' to refer specifically to the amount of snow that falls during a certain period. It is less intense, referring merely to the act of snow falling from the sky.

• This year’s snowfall broke all previous records.
• The gentle snowfall created a picturesque winter scene.

A snowstorm refers to a heavy fall of snow, often accompanied by strong winds, and is typically used to describe prolonged periods of significant snowfall.

• The city is preparing for a major snowstorm this weekend.
• Last year, we were stuck at home for two days due to a snowstorm.

A snow squall is a sudden, brief, and intense snowfall accompanied by strong winds, often leading to very poor visibility. It's short-lived compared to a snowstorm.

• We had to pull over on the highway because of a sudden snow squall.
• A snow squall can make driving conditions extremely dangerous in a matter of minutes.

A whiteout occurs when snowfall or blowing snow reduces visibility to near zero, making it difficult to see landmarks and creating a disorienting situation. It can happen during a snowstorm or a snow squall.

• The hikers got lost in the whiteout conditions on the mountain.
• The pilot had to delay the landing due to a whiteout at the airport.