Snow squalls and temperatures dropping below freezing Monday night caused icy roads and multiple accidents across the area.
A crash involving 13 vehicles — both tractor-trailers and passenger vehicles — on Interstate 80 in Clinton County stopped all lanes of traffic in the late afternoon. That initial crash was followed by several other minor collisions, state police at Lamar reported Tuesday.
There were no serious injuries resulting from the crashes, police said. The initial crash occurred about 4:30 p.m., between mile post 189 and 190, between the Loganton and Jersey Shore exits.
At about 5 p.m., Centre County ambulances were heading to the area to provide standby coverage.
Closer to home, crews responded to vehicle accidents between 5 and 7 p.m. on Interstate 99, Boal Avenue, the intersection of West Beaver Avenue and South Atherton Street, and several other places.
At about 8:45 p.m., most local police and fire stations reported no further incidents. State police at Rockview and Philipsburg and the Alpha and Undine fire companies reported responding to crashes, but no major injuries.
AccuWeather meteorologist Mike Pigott said the area along I-80 and around State College saw squalls Monday, which combine falling snow and wind gusts above 25 mph, and create periods of low visibility. While the lowest visibility point at University Park Airport was about a mile, Pigott said there were brief periods of visibility at a quarter-mile or less.
Many of the squalls took place between 3 and 5 p.m., Pigott said, contributing to the accidents. Temperatures in the low 30s, combined with sunshine, melted snow on the roads. When the sun set, temperatures dropped into the high 20s, creating icy conditions.
“With the cold, Arctic air that has been pouring into the area, the wind hasn’t had time to dry things out,” Pigott said. “It’s quickly icing things with the sun going down and temperatures falling.”
The squalls came from lake effect snow to the north, which is expected to continue through this morning. There may be light snow this afternoon, with a high of 20 degrees.
Jessica VanderKolk can be reached at 235-3910.
