Daily News | Here’s what made that snow squall in central Pennsylvania so deadly
and it was by no means the strongest squall of a day that produced perhaps hundreds of them across Pennsylvania, including several in the Philadelphia region.
But in a matter of minutes, the one that blew up shortly after 10:30 a.m. Monday along Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County would result in horrific collisions involving as many as 60 vehicles, multiple deaths, 20 or more serious injuries, and a widely circulated social-media video almost too gruesome to view.
Snow squalls are not to be confused with flurries or snow “showers.” They are short-lived, ferocious mini-blizzards that can reduce visibilities and rapidly cover road surfaces. Think of the difference between a draft seeping through the door on a cold day and the door flying open with a gust of frigid wind.Aware of the threat on Monday, PennDot spokesperson Ronald Young said trucks were spreading de-icing material on the interstate every two hours, starting at 8 a.m.
So why was this squall so problematic? Meteorologists cited an unusual alignment of circumstances in an area not well-observed by radar, including ultra-cold air in the upper atmosphere and a dash of moisture from the Great Lakes.“The wind was the worst of it,” said David Martin, veteran meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in State College, which covers Schuylkill County.
“I think there are some people who are naturally oblivious,” said Pennsylvania State Police Trooper David Beohm.
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