A quick-moving winter system barreled throughout northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York on Saturday, January 17, 2026, triggering a widespread sequence of Snow Squall Warnings from the Nationwide Climate Service (NWS).
The alerts, spanning a number of counties and interstates, underscored the sudden, life-threatening nature of the climate occasion as bands of heavy snow, gusty winds, and quickly falling visibility created hazardous driving circumstances inside minutes.
Ohio is among the many Hardest Hit by Sudden Whiteouts and Flash Freezing
Northeastern Ohio was struck by a number of, radar-indicated snow squalls, a few of which stretched throughout Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, and Carroll Counties, because the storm system superior eastward at 25 to 35 mph.
At 1:46 PM EST, the NWS Cleveland workplace issued a warning for Mahoning and southeastern Trumbull Counties, noting the event of a snow squall line from Vienna Heart to close Salem.
“We’re intense, short-lived bursts of snow that may fully blind drivers and flash-freeze highway surfaces,” stated James Conley, Lead Meteorologist with NWS Cleveland. “Circumstances change so quick, there’s nearly no time to react.”
Hazards included:
- Close to-zero visibility on account of heavy snow and blowing wind
- Flash freezing on roads, creating quick traction loss
- Wind gusts as much as 35 mph
Journey on main routes equivalent to I-80, I-76, I-680, and US-422 was considerably disrupted. Cities like Youngstown, Boardman, Canfield, and Austintown reported sharp temperature drops, adopted by instantaneous highway slickening.
Jap and Northeastern Ohio: A number of Counties Underneath Snow Squall Warnings
Earlier within the afternoon, extra snow squalls had developed additional west. At 1:28 PM, a warning was issued for northeastern Trumbull County, with a squall line stretching from Kinsman to Warren. This led to delays and harmful circumstances in Howland Heart, Vienna, Brookfield Heart, and close by areas.
By 1:46 PM, the NWS Pittsburgh workplace issued one other Snow Squall Warning for Columbiana and Carroll Counties, together with communities like Salem, Lisbon, and Leetonia, the place roads rapidly deteriorated.
“These aren’t the form of snowfalls you may simply drive by way of,” warned Lieutenant Karen Diaz, Ohio State Patrol. “It’s sudden, blinding, and completely treacherous. We’ve already responded to a number of spinouts and accidents.”
The mixture of radar and webcam observations confirmed that the squalls introduced not solely whiteout circumstances but in addition vital highway hazards, together with black ice formation on bridges and overpasses.
Northwestern Pennsylvania and New York Additionally Underneath Siege
The snow squall system prolonged nicely past Ohio’s borders. The Cleveland and Buffalo NWS workplaces coordinated a number of warnings throughout northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York, highlighting the broad geographic influence.
At 1:31 PM EST, a snow squall warning was issued for central Erie County and western Crawford County in Pennsylvania, with squalls transferring northeast at 35 mph. Key affected areas included:
- Erie
- Edinboro
- Waterford
- Conneaut Lake
- Lawrence Park
Inside an hour, a second, vital squall entered japanese Erie and central Crawford Counties, triggering one other pressing warning round 1:54 PM. These intense snow bands diminished visibility to zero and dropped temperatures quickly, initiating flash-freeze occasions alongside highways I-79 and I-86.
The NWS Pittsburgh workplace additionally flagged western Mercer and Lawrence Counties, affecting vacationers on I-80, I-79, and I-376. Native authorities in these areas started deploying plows and remedy crews as quickly because the squalls cleared, although black ice remained a major post-squall hazard.
Western New York Hit by Quick-Shifting, Noticed Squalls
Concurrently, the Buffalo NWS workplace issued a Snow Squall Warning at 1:45 PM EST for Erie, Chautauqua, and Cattaraugus Counties in western New York. A radar-confirmed squall line moved east at 45 mph, affecting key inhabitants facilities equivalent to:
- Buffalo
- Jamestown
- Cheektowaga
- North Tonawanda
- West Seneca
Interstate journey on I-90 and I-86 rapidly turned perilous, prompting warnings from New York State Police and the Division of Transportation. Plow vans and emergency autos have been dispatched throughout Erie County as whiteout circumstances stranded a number of autos close to Depew and Lackawanna.
“Visibility dropped from clear to completely nothing in about 10 seconds,” stated Michael R., a truck driver caught on I-90 close to Angola. “I couldn’t see the tip of my hood.”
Flash-Freezing and Black Ice Complicate Publish-Squall Restoration
One of the harmful points of Saturday’s snow squalls wasn’t simply the heavy snow or wind—it was the fast temperature drops that accompanied every squall line. This led to flash-freezing on untreated roads, a state of affairs through which moist pavement turns into ice in seconds, creating invisible hazards.
The NWS reiterated that even after the squalls handed, the hazards remained.
Key dangers after squalls included:
- Black ice on overpasses, bridges, and curves
- Lowered braking effectivity for autos
- Lack of ability of highway remedy crews to catch up between waves
Motorists have been suggested to wait a minimum of half-hour after a snow squall passes earlier than resuming journey and to observe climate.gov and native forecasts for updates.
Preparedness and Security: What Authorities Urge Drivers to Do
Whether or not in Ohio, Pennsylvania, or New York, officers emphasised a shared message: “If you happen to’re driving and a snow squall warning hits—get off the highway.”
Security suggestions for snow squalls:
- Exit highways instantly and discover shelter
- Keep away from overconfidence even when driving an SUV or truck
- Activate hazard lights and cut back velocity
- Wait it out—squalls often move in half-hour or much less
- Be cautious even after it clears—black ice lingers
“These circumstances are deceptively lethal,” stated NWS Buffalo meteorologist Andrea Milton. “Snow squalls are liable for a number of the most devastating winter pileups we see.”
Outlook: Extra Squalls Potential Via Night Hours
As of late Saturday afternoon, the storm system was nonetheless energetic, and extra snow squalls could develop in a single day throughout the Nice Lakes area. NWS forecast workplaces in Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh proceed to observe the evolving system.
Motorists planning journey by way of northeastern Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York are urged to delay non-essential journeys till climate circumstances stabilize.
Actual-time updates may be accessed at climate.gov.
