Monday, March 23, 2015

Spring Snow Slows Travel in Chicago and Takes Aim at Central Appalachians

By , Senior Meteorologist
March 23,2015; 8:37PM,EDT
 
 
The official start to spring has not ended the opportunity for snow to whiten the Midwest, which will be evident as the new week kicks off.
Since snow fell at a heavy rate during the nighttime hours from southern Minnesota to northern Illinois and southwestern Wisconsin, roads became snow-covered and slippery.
According to AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski, "As the snow continues to streak southeastward into the Ohio Valley states during Monday afternoon, it will begin to struggle to accumulate on roads."
Due to the recent mild air and the March sun, the heaviest accumulations will be measured on grassy and elevated surfaces.
That does not mean that motorists should let their guard down.
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"While roads will become wet in most locations, there can be areas of slushy roads and sidewalks where the snow comes down hard," Sosnowski said.
"Where the snow continues to fall at a heavy rate on localized areas, it can overcome the warming effect of the March sun."
Motorists traveling on Interstate 69, I-70, I-75 and I-80/90 should use caution and be on the lookout for changing road conditions.
During Monday afternoon, the swath of accumulating snow will spread across northern Indiana, southwestern Michigan and central Ohio. This includes Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Columbus, Ohio.

The storm system producing the snow will gradually weaken as it travels to the southeast toward the central Appalachians during Monday night.
However, once again due to cooler road surface temperatures at night, a small slushy accumulation can occur in southeastern Ohio, southwestern Pennsylvania, western Maryland and northern West Virginia.

Motorists and pedestrians should be prepared for slippery and slushy conditions around Pittsburgh and Morgantown, West Virginia, during Monday night.
The accumulating snow is not expected to reach the I-95 corridor of the mid-Atlantic. However, a slippery conditions can occur along part of the I-68 and I-70 corridors northwest of Washington, D.C. late Monday night into early Tuesday.
The snow that fell on the northern Plains and the Midwest Sunday through Sunday night will quickly melt later Monday as temperatures approach or pass the 40-degree mark. Any lingering standing water or wet spots from the melting snow could turn icy Monday night as temperatures then dip back below freezing.
Further warming will occur on Tuesday ahead of the next storm set to be a rain event for most areas ending this weekend with snow. The main exceptions will be across North Dakota and northern Minnesota.
 

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