Definition
A brief, light snow shower characterized by sudden onset and ending, with little or no measurable accumulation on the ground. Snow flurries are typically associated with cumuliform clouds and are generally short in duration and limited in area.
Plain English
A short, light snowfall that starts and stops quickly and usually doesn't leave much, if any, snow on the ground.
Context Anchor
You may see this term in aviation weather forecasts, airport weather discussions, or preflight weather briefings.
Derivation
Flurry' comes from an older English word meaning a sudden gust or burst of activity. That sense carries over directly: a snow flurry is a quick burst of snow rather than a steady, prolonged snowfall.
Why Pilots Care
Snow flurries can briefly reduce visibility and may affect runway braking action or require a pilot to reassess takeoff or landing decisions.
Grounding Statement
Picture a few minutes of light snow passing across the airport, then stopping or moving away.
Intuition Check
Do not read “snow flurry” as heavy snow or a snowstorm. It means light snow in brief bursts, usually with little or no buildup.
Example Sentence 1
The morning briefing mentioned scattered snow flurries along the route, so the pilot expected brief drops in visibility but no significant accumulation on the ramp.
Example Sentence 2
The pilot checked the forecast, noted the snow flurries, and decided conditions were still suitable for departure.