Severe snow squalls are expected to impact the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia and New York City.
Snow showers and perilous snow squalls are set to bring unexpected dangers to the roads during Thursday morning’s commute as frigid Arctic air advances toward Interstate 95 in the mid-Atlantic and southwestern New England.
With a series of snow squalls sweeping through the Upper Midwest to the Appalachians and temperatures dropping sharply, there is a significant risk of numerous vehicle pileups extending into Thursday. AccuWeather meteorologists caution that squall activity is expected to impact the Interstate 95 corridor in the northeastern United States.
Travelers along I-95, stretching from Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City, should expect squalls during the Thursday morning commute.
A Canada clipper storm has brought steady snow overnight, covering roads across the lower Hudson Valley of New York and parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island by Thursday morning. Snow squalls are set to move across parts of New England this afternoon, potentially leading to rapid accumulation.
Heavy rainfall or occasional rain showers will come before the onset of a frigid Arctic cold front.
“Along that front and immediately behind it is where and when the snow showers and heavier snow squalls can occur,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Alyssa Glenny said.
Snow squalls can be compared to the intense downpours and storms that occur during the summer months. Powerful squalls, caused by a swiftly cooling upper atmosphere, can produce fierce wind gusts, thunder, and even lightning.
Snow squalls are well-known for causing abrupt reductions in visibility. Drivers might find themselves smoothly navigating clear streets one moment, only to be engulfed in a blizzard the next, battling visibility and traction challenges. The urgency to speed on busy highways during heavy traffic heightens the danger of fatal accidents, often triggered by abrupt stops when visibility decreases sharply.
Drivers are urged to minimize distractions behind the wheel, stay alert to swiftly shifting weather patterns, and pay attention to snow squall alerts from the National Weather Service.
In certain situations, opting for less-traveled routes with reduced speed limits or steering clear of travel during snow squalls might prove to be more prudent choices.
“Along I-95, on Thursday morning and midday, rain showers will transition to snow showers. In most cases, the snow showers will bring just wet roads. However, a sudden drop in visibility will occur, and that alone can boost the risk of accidents. In some cases, a heavy snow squall will pass through a portion of the I-95 zone, which can briefly make bridges, overpasses and elevated surface slushy in a matter of minutes,” Glenny explained.
In a dire situation, an intense snow squall could potentially render roads treacherous over a stretch of one to two miles on the highway. Increased chances of intense snow squalls are expected to occur more frequently in the northern and western regions beyond I-95, particularly in suburban and rural locations.
