Your phone may be buzzing start the new year and showing an alert you're not accustomed to: A snow squall warning. So, what's a snow squall? According to the National Weather Service, "a snow squall is an intense short-lived burst of heavy snowfall that leads to a quick reduction in visibilities and is often accompanied by gusty winds.

The first snowfall of the year in Iowa left a mark. Many experienced an alarm going off on their cell phones with a snow squall warning early Thursday morning. This is issued by the National Weather Service.

Iowa is still on track to be grazed by a powerful winter storm Saturday night through Sunday.Sign up for our NewslettersClosings | Interactive Radar | Weather AlertsA winter storm warning runs from 9 p.