State College, Pennsylvania – Drivers across central and northern Pennsylvania face a heightened risk for dangerous travel conditions today as snow squalls develop behind an advancing arctic cold front, capable of turning dry roads treacherous in minutes.
According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, snow squalls are possible across much of Pennsylvania through this afternoon. These fast-moving bands of snow can produce brief but intense snowfall, gusty winds, and sudden drops in visibility, creating near-whiteout conditions with little warning.
The greatest travel concern is along major corridors including Interstate 80 from Clearfield through Centre, Clinton, and Union counties, Interstate 81 from Harrisburg north through the Susquehanna Valley, and Interstate 79 across western Pennsylvania near Mercer and Butler counties. Additional impacts are possible along I-76, I-99, and US-15, especially on bridges and elevated roadways.
Gusty winds behind the cold front may blow snow across open stretches of highway, quickly coating pavement and sharply reducing visibility. Even short-lived squalls can cause chain-reaction crashes if motorists are caught off guard at highway speeds.
Drivers are urged to slow down immediately if snow squalls develop, turn on headlights, avoid hard braking, and be prepared to pull off the road if visibility drops suddenly. The snow squall threat diminishes later today, but cold and windy conditions will persist into tonight, keeping winter hazards in place.
