Squall vs. Thunderstorm — What's the Difference?

A squall is a sudden, sharp increase in wind speed lasting minutes, contrary to a wind gust lasting seconds. They are usually associated with active weather, such as rain showers, thunderstorms, or heavy snow.

A thunderstorm, also known as an electrical storm or a lightning storm, is a storm characterized by the presence of lightning and its acoustic effect on the Earth's atmosphere, known as thunder. Relatively weak thunderstorms are sometimes called thundershowers.

A loud, harsh cry.

A storm with thunder and lightning and typically also heavy rain or hail.

A brief sudden violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow.

A transient, sometimes violent storm of thunder and lightning, often accompanied by rain and sometimes hail.

(Informal) A brief commotion.

A storm consisting of thunder and lightning produced by a cumulonimbus, usually accompanied with heavy rain, wind, and sometimes hail; and in rarer cases sleet, freezing rain, or snow.

To scream or cry loudly and harshly.

A storm accompanied with lightning and thunder.

To blow strongly for a brief period.

A storm resulting from strong rising air currents; heavy rain or hail along with thunder and lightning

(meteorology) A squall line, multicell line, or part of a squall line.

A sudden storm, as found in a squall line.

A loud cry or wail.

To cry or wail loudly.

A sudden and violent gust of wind often attended with rain or snow.

A loud scream; a harsh cry.

To cry out; to scream or cry violently, as a woman frightened, or a child in anger or distress; as, the infant squalled.

Sudden violent winds; often accompanied by precipitation

Make high-pitched, whiney noises

Utter a sudden loud cry;

Blow in a squall;