Winter Weather — Northern Centre, Pennsylvania

2024-12-12 · Northern Centre, Pennsylvania

Event narrative

SNOW SQUALL. An RWIS sensor at mile marker 146 of Interstate 80 observed a rapid drop to one-quarter mile visibility in a snow squall. Heavy snowfall with this snow squall covered the highway with road temps already below freezing at the time of the snow squall.

Wider weather episode

A cold frontal passage during the early morning hours of December 12, 2024 provided ample lift in an environment with surface-based instability to spawn snow squalls along Interstate 80 in Clearfield County. Road surface temperatures slightly above freezing prior to the snow squall allowed for flash freeze potential with heavy snow covering roadways in a 5 to 10 minute span prior to sunrise. These snow squalls closed the westbound lane of Interstate 80 between exits 120 and 133 for an extended period of time with multiple incidents with five injuries with no fatalities reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1220997. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.