Death toll rises as snow hammers Midwest and Northeast

At least five have been killed in accidents across the Great Lakes region, with more lake effect snow forecast for later this week and freeze alerts as far south as Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

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[jimmylieb]

so glad I am finally retired and don't have to get up at 6 AM every morning and most importantly don't need to drive on icy roads with dumbass jerks.

[GFettJake]

My Dad told me, “When you think you’re going slow, go slower.” If it means it takes you longer to get to your destination so be it. I rather be safe and drive slow, than get into an accident, or go off a ditch. It’s not worth it people! I see people flying by me in terrible weather, and guess what I drive by them and they are in the ditch. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[matthewtaylor]

Tires. Tires, tires, tires. Make sure you've at least got some decent all seasons on there, with some tread on them. Slow down and drive safe.

[Love-bodf]

As I Canadian I once drove in winter weather in the states, they are maniacs on the road with absolutely no common sense. I was shocked only because they get heavy snow every year but drive like it’s the first time ever seeing the stuff. I watched people spinning out of control, at 20 vehicles in about a 3 mile stretch. I got off the highway and stayed in a hotel for the night. When I got off the highway just past the bridge all hell broke loose and I watched a pile up happening on both sides of the highway. God was with me for sure and I have never gone state side in the winter since.

[familyfarmcountry]

As the daughter of a truck driver, that train incident is a nightmare scenario. Glad the driver made it out and no one on the train was injured.

[Dosha.Khalid.]

In michigan when the roads start getting bad on the highway people will drive 30-40 mph its annoying but glad they are cautious

[meatyboy]

Look after the homeless Americans. Can't imagine what they are going through! Give them a blanket sleeping bag food and water if you see any!

[familyfarmcountry]

Northwest Pennsylvanian here. For those that don’t live in the area, I’ll explain. Lake Erie (water) is “warm” from our unusually too warm and way too dry Autumn. Lake Effect Snow makes for heavy snowfalls and often wet snow, making things slick. We can also get rain, sleet, graupel, and mixes with it… which where we are in The Snowbelt we did while Erie got dumped on with snow.

Here it melted underneath as the inches fell. I filmed some the other day. Instead of individual snowflakes we get large clumps of them by time of they reach the last several feet. This accumulates fast. We don’t just get snowstorms, we get mixes of some of the cruddiest weather all at once. Temperatures can fluctuate fast. Snow squalls can move in very quickly. Whiteouts or near whiteouts don’t come by their names because the weather is lovely and it’s easy to see. Then add in the wind, which we have had.

There was a distinct line of when the snow let up. Parts of Crawford County were bad, but other parts were okay and in a mile or two from where it was questionable it was fine. For the first couple of days some areas in Southern Crawford didn’t even have snow accumulation.

We were supposed to get 28+ inches the first 24 hours here. We got several, with rain, sleet, graupel, and mixes and the first few inches melted underneath because the ground was wet. It was a bit colder here than Erie. Meanwhile Erie got the snow we were supposed to get.

Today we got 10-12 inches in a few hours. Visibility was very limited at times. The snow was in clumps as well as fine mist-like snow, even at the same time. Plows went by here frequently, but when it is falling that much that quickly it is impossible to keep up. If the plow kept shoes on the blade it also didn’t clear as much as without.

I-90 is the start of what is known as “The Snowbelt” and runs just about parallel to the lake. I-90 can create its own weather systems in a sense. It will be like a wind tunnel because it’s open. Snow clouds will hang around there or sometimes let up there and be worse surrounding. Depends. It can get slick fast. That area, especially where it connects with I-79, has a massive amount of traffic. It’s a major connector. Pennsylvania is not called “The Keystone State” for nothing (even though we’re a Commonwealth).

All of those semis have been delayed for days. A semi driver I know has been unable to complete a load to Erie for days. They also only have so much food and supplies. They are not only working in their trucks they also live in them much of the time. Even being prepared you do need to move and make your deliveries and pickups. It’s even more difficult if the companies or broker involved are complaining about delays because they don’t have snow

The severity this time around varied so drastically and quickly at the start. It’s why they limited traffic on the Interstates and major highways for the start, but that can’t stay that way forever.

Then there are a lot of folks who have to work and others who need to care for folks, plus first responders. That’s why many folks are out. Snow happens in NW PA. And then add in those that don’t necessarily have to be out and forget how to drive in snow every fall. And among those the ones that don’t keep distance between vehicles, especially on major highways and interstates. Keeping semi with trailer length behind cars and a few behind actual semis with trailers can help. But it doesn’t help if the guy behind you stays too close.

[karinjudd]

Stupitiy is people drive in bad weather. The worst part is they claim to be sober.

[YouTubeBBQ]

That's why I moved to Scottsdale AZ 😊....I rather deal with the heat than that snow

[HagemeisterEnterprisesINC]

So how did those electric cars and trucks do in the frozen Traffic jam?? 2:54 2:57

[semperparatus]

Hey honey! Do we need anything to ride out this storm? No. We topped off our bad weather emergency supplies kit a few weeks ago. Ok! Time to watch Lord of the rings back to back!

[kartiersupremewhite]

Extremely interesting and informative. BE SAFE OUT THERE.

[dianevanhandel]

Pennsylvania is known for for doing a bad job at clearing snow 😠

[Cat-Benatar]

Its the idiots with the big trucks and SUVs thinking just because they have vehicles like that they can drive normally and speed still and end up killing themselves and other people...its always those guy's smh

[charleswinthrop]

Its weather like this that backs up what i told my wife when she gave me hell for buying a new snowmobile a few weeks back!

[loreneaustin]

If there are winter weather warnings, why are people still on the roads.

[popi]

45 seems too fast for those slick roads

[wigwamer]

Here in Allentown pa we got 2 inches of snow because of snow squalls today

[JoshuaHeald]

A winter wonderland is a landscape of nightmares in disguise. Don't underestimate it!

Oh, and *Merry Christmas!*