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Precautions and what to do when driving during snow squalls

  • Scott LaMar
The smoky aftermath of a massive pile-up during a snow squall March 28, 2022, on Interstate 81 North in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

 Mike Nester / lehighvalleylive.com

The smoky aftermath of a massive pile-up during a snow squall March 28, 2022, on Interstate 81 North in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

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Eighty vehicles crashed on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County, killing six people and injuring two dozen more, during a white-out caused by snow squalls Monday.

Video of the crashes showed how drivers in cars and tractor trailers didn’t and couldn’t see the pile-up as it occurred in front of them. It had to be a helpless feeling for those involved.

According to the National Weather Service, “Snow squalls, often associated with strong cold fronts, are a key wintertime weather hazard. They move in and out quickly, and typically last less than an hour. The sudden white-out conditions combined with falling temperatures produce icy roads in just a few minutes. Squalls can occur where there is no large-scale winter storm in progress and might only produce minor accumulations.”

What can motorists do to stay safe in a snow squall and what kind of warnings or precautions are taken to warn drivers?

Fritzi Schreffler, Safety Press Officer for Penndot District 8, CBS21 meteorologist Tom Russell and Detective Denelle Owen of the East Pennsboro Township Police Department are on Thursday’s Smart Talk to answer those questions.

 

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