The National Weather Service in Flagstaff issued a snow squall warning for Coconino County Wednesday as a winter storm moves through. Near zero visibility whiteout conditions with gusty winds up to 35 mph and intense bursts of heavy snow is expected to affect Flagstaff, Kachina Village, Mountainaire, and Pine Del.

But what is a snow squall and is it dangerous?

These wintertime weather hazards can be incredibly dangerous, though they typically last less than an hour. Different than a winter storm, snow squalls bring sudden white-out conditions accompanied by rapidly falling temperatures that cover roads with ice in a matter of minutes.

While they are capable of being hazardous, squalls may only bring small accumulations of snow. But because they come on suddenly and are so intense, they can affect travel in extreme ways.

The National Weather Service advises avoiding or pushing back travel plans until the squall passes, but if you are already on the road when the squall hits, the service advises people to “reduce your speed, turn on your headlights and hazard lights, and allow plenty of distance between you and the car in front of you.”

It’s also best not to slam on your brakes: With ice on the roads, the chances of losing control of the vehicle increase, and low visibility could result in a chain reaction crash.

For up-to-date road conditions, visit AZ511, and make sure to stay prepared when traveling in cold weather.

Caralin Nunes writes about weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral. Email her with story tips at caralin.nunes@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is a snow squall warning and why is it dangerous?