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WeatherMatrix
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Prohibited. Usage logged.
From: Jesse Ferrell (WeatherMatrix) 2 (jesse{at}weathermatrix.net)
Date: Wed Jan 07 2004 - 09:38:14 EST
Below is additional information on the tragic accident & fire yesterday
morning involving 50 vehicles on I-80 in Central Pennsylvania yesterday (10
miles from WeatherMatrix HQ). It was caused by slick roads and low
visibility in extremely heavy snow squalls. Photos are also available on
the newspaper site below.
ANALYSIS:
Here is a radar shot from the time of the accident, showing a 34dbZ (very
heavy) snow squall exiting the area. The radar image is (C) AccuWeather.com:
http://www.weathermatrix.net/2004/0106/inxr1kunvs.gif
Despite what is said in the article below, wind cannot "flash freeze" water
on the road. Increasing wind only "feels" colder on humans and
animals. It has no effect on water.
A more likely scenario that happens often is evaporative cooling, whereby
the temperature falls quickly below freezing when rain or snow begins
(meteorological rule: humidity up = temperature down).
However, looking at the observations from University Park Airport, this did
not happen either -- the temperature was steady during the hour around the
accident, and precipitation had been falling off and on for some
time. More likely, it was just cold, already mid-20's when the snow
squalls started. The squalls were sudden, the road may have been
untreated, if it was treated, the treatment works less well the closer to
20 degrees you get, and the friction of the cars on the road both melted
and refroze the snow into ice.
-- WeatherMatrix Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell
Today's report from CentreDaily.com, with photos:
http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/7651603.htm
"BOGGS TOWNSHIP - At least four people died and 17 were injured Tuesday
after 50 vehicles, 30 of them tractor-trailers, crashed during a blinding
snow squall, creating a scene of mangled metal along Interstate 80.
Two tractor-trailers, one carrying hazardous material, caught fire, sending
thick, black smoke rolling across the scene. Rescue workers were still
fighting last night to put out the fires so they could search the burning
trucks -- and vehicles buried beneath and among them -- for more victims.
"We don't know how many people may still be in (the wreck)," Trooper David
White said Tuesday afternoon. "There may be people still waiting for aid."
The accident, which closed a 20-mile stretch of I-80, may be the worst in
Centre County's history, some rescue workers said.
It occurred in the westbound lanes of the highway, just east of the
Milesburg exit.
The highway remained closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday, and the westbound lanes were
not expected to reopen until sometime today.
A second accident occurred almost simultaneously on I-80 just east of the
Bellefonte exit when a tractor-trailer carrying a prefabricated home slid
on the ice and its load broke into pieces and fell onto the roadway and
over the embankment. Two other tractor-trailers also became involved in
that crash. No one was injured.
[Mike Boyle, of Clearfield] said the sudden gale limited visibility and
flash-froze the surface of the highway.
Both crashes apparently were caused by a sudden, heavy snow that blinded
drivers, state police said.
Flames were brought under control around 2:45 p.m., and reconstructionists
and forensic science investigators began to work their way into the wreck,
White said. But the fire reignited about an hour later, further delaying
rescue efforts and the investigation."
--=================================================================== Jesse Ferrell - Meteorologist / Webmaster / Founder - WeatherMatrix 7000 Weather Enthusiasts Can't Be Wrong! www.weathermatrix.net
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