New York, New York – Drivers across parts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio face a heightened risk for dangerous travel conditions today as snow squalls develop behind an advancing arctic cold front. These fast-moving bands of snow can create near-whiteout conditions with little warning, especially along major interstates.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, snow squalls are possible from Ohio into Pennsylvania and interior New York through this afternoon. The greatest concern is for brief but intense bursts of heavy snow combined with gusty winds, which can rapidly reduce visibility and coat roads in minutes.
High-risk travel corridors include Interstate 80 across northern Pennsylvania and Interstate 90 from northeast Ohio into western and central New York. Additional impacts are possible along connecting routes such as I-79, I-86, and I-81. Snow squalls can cause sudden drops in visibility from clear conditions to near zero, making them especially dangerous for high-speed traffic.
Winds gusting behind the cold front may worsen conditions by blowing snow across open roadways, leading to rapidly changing travel conditions. Even brief squalls can trigger multi-vehicle accidents if drivers are caught off guard.
Motorists are urged to slow down immediately if snow squalls develop, turn on headlights, avoid sudden braking, and be prepared to pull off the road if visibility drops sharply. The snow squall threat diminishes later today as the front pushes east, but cold, windy conditions will remain in place into tonight.
