Snow Squalls Pose Deadly Dangers, Safety Officials Say

HARRISBURG, PA — Snow squalls can kill. That was the somber message delivered Monday by Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service and Pennsylvania State Police officials reminding people that winter brings particularly daunting driving challenges for motorists.

Snow squalls can spring up suddenly on otherwise partly cloudy weather. They bring a brief period of heavy snow - as much as 2 inches in 30 minutes - winds of 30 mph reduced visibility of less than a quarter of a mile. They can cause multi-vehicle accidents that often are deadly.

"Snow squalls can produce whiteout conditions that are difficult for everyone on the road to see
other vehicles and even the lanes of travel," said Major Robert Krol, director of the state police Bureau of Patrol.. "These conditions have led to major pileup crashes with multiple injuries and even deaths."

The weather service, along with PEMA, the state police, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike have created a web page to help educate motorists about the dangers of snow squall. The weather service also issues warnings to highway travelers when those life-threatening conditions develop on highways.

“If you are driving on an interstate when a Snow Squall Warning is issued, the best thing to do is to exit the roadway at the next opportunity," said Jonathan Guseman, weather service warning
coordination meteorologist.