Ocean Effect Snow Causes Pileup, Multiple Wrecks in Massachusetts

Eric Chaney
Published: January 4,2016
Police responded to the scene of a multi-vehicle pileup along Route 3 near Duxbury, Massachusetts, Monday. The Massachusetts State Police reported numerous crashes along the highway due to icy conditions between exits 10 and 12.

A crash on Massachusetts Route 3 due to ocean effect snow.
(Duxbury Police Department)

The Duxbury Police Department posted several photos of individual vehicles off the road, including a car that crashed into a stand of trees. Driving conditions were hazardous due to a large area of ocean effect snow, which develops as cold air flows over warm water.
"With ocean-effect snow, similar to lake-effect snow, visibility can drop quickly due to a band of heavy snow," said weather.com meteorlogist Linda Lam. "Unfortunately, this can lead to travel impacts and traffic accidents."
There was no immediate information if anyone was injured.
This is a developing story. Please check back with weather.com for more information.
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